[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. h3 (12. a5 Qe7 (12... Ne7 13. Nxe5
Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 Qd4+ 15. Kf1 Qxe5 16. Nf3 Qb5+ 17. Qd3 Bb7 18. Qxb5 axb5 19. Bf4
c5 20. Bd6 c4 21. Bxe7 Rfe8 22. Bxc4 bxc4 23. Bxb4 Bxe4 24. c3 {1-0 (44) Ter
Sahakyan,S (2574)-Melkumyan,H (2625) Yerevan ARM 2014}) 13. Bd5 Bb7 14. Nb3 Ba7
15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qd3 {1-0 (53) Caruana,F (2782)-Nyback,T (2586)
Warsaw POL 2013}) (12. Qe2 Bg4 (12... Qe7 13. Nc4 Bg4 14. c3 Nh5 {1/2-1/2 (75)
Inarkiev,E (2693)-Onischuk,A (2667) Poikovsky RUS 2013} (14... bxc3 15. bxc3 h6
16. Bc2 Qe6 17. Ne3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Na5 19. Nd2 Qc6 {1/2-1/2 (41) Grischuk,A 
(2764)-Svidler,P (2747) London ENG 2013})) 13. h3 Bh5 14. c3 Na5 15. g4 Bg6 16.
Bc2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 (65) Grischuk,A (2779)-Caruana,F (2774)
Thessaloniki GRE 2013}) 12... Bb7 13. Qe2 Nd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Bc4 a5 16. Bd3
Nd7 17. Nf3 Nc5 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Bf4 Re8 {"The opening was a comlicated
positional fight but then he made a not very good move which was 19...Re8
because he blundered 20.Qh5" - Topalov. Aronian disagreed "You cannot really
say it's a wrong move because the idea in general is double-edged."} (19...
Nxd3 {"Certainly Nd3 should lead to equality but I was too adventurous. Maybe,
perhaps, not too wisely." - Aronian.} 20. cxd3 c5 {was Topalov's suggestion
instead of Re8. "Then it's rather equal."}) 20. Qh5 {"Now of course white
should be better." Topalov. "20.Qh5 is a splendid move because it seems black
can take on e4 for free but the position although black has taken the central
pawn black's position is kind of unpleasant I think."} (20. f3 f5 {with sharp
play which may still favour white was what Aronian was looking for.} 21. Bb5 c6
22. Qc4+ Ne6 {was the trap that Aronian was going for and indeed Topalov fell
into it in the post-mortem.}) 20... Qe7 (20... Nxe4 {Looks far to risky.
"Taking on e4 is not good." Topalov.} 21. f3 g6 (21... Nf6 22. Qc5 {seems
better for white.}) 22. Qh6 Nf6 23. Qh4 Nd5 24. Bg5 Qd6 25. Qxd4) 21. Bb5 {
Whilst it's tempting to play this and block the light square bishop the
decision isn't clear because sometimes the c7 pawn is hanging if you play Bc4
straight away.} (21. Bc4 {"immediately was probably better." Topalov who was
unhappy he didn't get more in the game but it doesn't seem all that clear.
"Certainly it's white who is pressing" - Aronian. "I can already make a draw."
- Topalov.} Nxe4 (21... Ba6 22. Bd5 Bb7 {is about equal.} 23. Kh2 (23. Rad1)
23... c6 24. Bc4 Ba6 25. Bxa6 Rxa6 26. Rad1 Nxa4 27. b3 Nc3 28. Rxd4 c5) 22. f3
Qf6 {leads to big complications.}) 21... c6 22. Bc4 Ba6 23. Bd6 $5 {"In
general of course Bd6 is so tempting and I couldn't really see another move
for me to make to justify my Qe7" - Aronian.} Qxd6 24. Bxf7+ {This seems to
dynamic equality.} Kf8 25. e5 Qd7 26. e6 Nxe6 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Qxh7 {Already
perpetual checks are in the air.} (28. Qxa5 Bb7 29. Qxb4+ c5 30. Qa3 {is at
least fine for black.}) (28. Re5 {"This is a very interesting position. I was
actually considering Re5 to be the main move." - Aronian.} g6 {This seems to
be the problem with Re5. "It felt like you might slowly start attacking me." -
Aronian.}) 28... Qd5 {"After this I think I have to play Qd5. If white manages
to get the Re5 I think I'm busted." Aronian.} 29. f4 d3 30. f5 (30. Re5 Qd4+
31. Kh1 Qxb2 32. Rae1 d2 33. Qh8+ {and again perpetual.}) 30... d2 {Now
Topalov thought for a while but eventually has to take the final chance for
perpetual check before he loses the option and gets a lost position.} (30...
Nc7 31. f6 gxf6 (31... Qd4+ 32. Kh1 Qxf6 (32... Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Qxf6 34. cxd3 {
and Topalov thought it difficult to find a move for black with the pawn on a5
being a potential weakness.}) 33. Rf1) 32. Qh8+ Kf7 (32... Qg8 $4 33. Qxf6+ Qf7
34. Qh8+ Qg8 35. Rxe8+ Nxe8 36. Rf1+) 33. Qh7+ Kf8) 31. Qh8+ (31. Re3 $2 Qd4) (
31. fxe6 dxe1=Q+ 32. Rxe1 Rxe6) (31. Rxe6 Qd4+ 32. Kh2 Rxe6 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34.
fxe6 Qd6+ 35. Kg1 d1=Q+ 36. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 37. Kh2 Qd4) 31... Kf7 32. Qh5+ Kf8 33.
Qh8+ Kf7 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "User,Windows"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4
exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. h3 d5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Bd3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. Rd1 {
Andreikin's attempted improvement over Svidler-L'Ami.} (14. Nb3 f6 15. Be3 Qd7
16. Rac1 a6 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Rg6 20. Kh2 Qe7 21. Bxb6 cxb6
22. Bxe4 Qxe5+ 23. f4 Qxe4 24. Qd2 Qd3 25. g4 Qxd2+ 26. Nxd2 Be4 27. Rc7 Rc6
28. Rxb7 Re8 29. Rf2 Kf8 30. f5 Rd6 31. Re2 h6 32. Kg3 g6 33. Kf4 g5+ 34. Kg3
Bd3 35. Rxe8+ Kxe8 36. h4 gxh4+ 37. Kxh4 d4 38. Rh7 Be2 39. Ne4 Rc6 40. Rh8+
Kf7 41. Rh7+ Ke8 42. Kg3 d3 43. b3 Rc1 44. Rxh6 Rg1+ 45. Kf2 Rf1+ 46. Ke3 Rf3+
47. Kd2 Rf4 48. Nd6+ Kd7 49. g5 Bf1 50. Ke1 Bg2 51. g6 d2+ 52. Kxd2 Rd4+ 53.
Ke3 Rxd6 54. Kf4 Rd3 55. g7 Bd5 56. Rxb6 Ke7 57. Rb8 Rd2 58. Ke5 Kd7 59. f6 Kc6
60. Rc8+ Kd7 61. Rf8 Kc6 62. f7 Re2+ 63. Kd4 {1-0 Svidler,P (2752)-L'Ami,E 
(2648)/Warsaw POL 2013/The Week in Chess 993}) 14... Bxd4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16.
Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Nxd4 (17. Qxe4 Bxf2+ $1) 17... Qd5 {"Here it is important black
has Qd5 and white has nothing better than just to take on d6." Karjakin.} 18.
Nxc6 Qxc6 19. f3 {"Here I'm not sure I played very precisely." Karjakin.} Bd5 (
19... Qc2 {"Even Qc2 wasn't so stupid" - Karjakin although the computers don't
like it.} 20. Qxc2 (20. Rd2 Qc5+ 21. Qf2 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Bf5) 20... Bxc2 21. Rd7
Rac8 22. Be3 Bf5 23. Rd2 f6 24. f4 fxe5 25. fxe5 b6) (19... Bf5 {was probably
a better move.}) (19... Bc2 {may have been the most precise of all.} 20. Rd4
Qc5 21. Qe3 Rfe8 22. f4 Bf5) 20. b3 {"White doesn't want to put the pawn on b3
as black will always have a5-a4 play." - Karjakin.} (20. Bf4 {But white's
position is hardly better.}) 20... a5 21. Ba3 Rfd8 22. Rac1 Qb6+ (22... Qd7 23.
Bd6 c6 (23... Bc6)) 23. Kh1 Be6 {Karjakin thought this most precise but the
computers don't agree.} (23... Rd7 24. Rd3 Qe6 25. Rcd1 a4 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27.
Qd2 c6 {and black is better.}) (23... c6 24. Bc5 Qa6 25. Qe3 a4 26. Rd4 axb3
27. axb3 Qa2 28. Be7 Re8 29. Bf6 {and white has suddenly whipped up an attack.}
) 24. Rxd8+ {Now they head for a draw.} Rxd8 25. Rd1 (25. Bc5 Qc6 26. Be3 Qd7
27. Qc2 Rc8 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. f4 Rd8 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. Kg1 {is equal.}) 25...
Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 h6 27. Qd8+ Kh7 28. Qd3+ Kg8 29. Qd8+ Kh7 30. Qd3+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8.
O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd3 Be6 11. Bd2 Qc8 12. b3 ({Relevant:} 12. Nd5 Nxd5
13. cxd5 Bf5 14. e4 Bd7 15. Rfc1 Qd8 16. Qb3 b5 17. Bc3 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rc8 19.
Qe3 Rxc1+ 20. Rxc1 Qb8 21. Bf1 Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Qc3 Bd7 24. Qa5 Kg7 25.
h4 h5 26. a3 Kh7 27. Bd3 Kg7 28. f4 Qb7 29. Kf2 a6 30. Qc3+ Kg8 31. Ke3 Qb6+
32. Qd4 Qa5 33. Qc3 Qb6+ 34. Qd4 Qa5 35. Qc3 Qb6+ {1/2-1/2 (35) Ksieski,Z 
(2352)-Rutkowski,M (2395) Wroclaw 2011}) 12... Bh3 13. Rac1 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Qc6+
$146 ({Predecessor (7):} 14... Qd7 15. e4 a6 16. a4 Rac8 17. Rfe1 b6 18. Bg5 {
1/2-1/2 (18) Vekshenkov,N (2449)-Smikovski,I (2497) Tomsk 2001}) 15. f3 {"To
begin with as usual you try and play something you've never played before and
still Vladimir starts thinking at move 15 in a completely equal position.
Maybe not completely equal" - Svidler. "I have to be in time because white has
a clear plan, it's not that I'm really worse but it's much more difficult to
play with black because white's next 10 moves are very simple." - Kramnik.} e6
16. Rfd1 Rad8 17. Bf4 Rd7 (17... h6 $5 18. Qd2) 18. Qe3 b6 (18... a6 {"Simply
I should have gone a6." - Kramnik. "I don't know why you didn't go a6" -
Svidler. Kramnik was looking to play d5 when a6 weakens the b6 square and
after "take, take Na4" white stands well.} 19. Na4 h6 20. Qb6 e5 21. Be3) (
18... d5 {"Maybe I can go d5 here but OK it was a little strange." Kramnik.}
19. cxd5 exd5 20. Na4 (20. Qxa7) 20... Qb5 {and white should be a little
better.} 21. Qd3 Qxd3 22. Rxd3 Re8 23. Re3 b6) 19. Rd3 Rc8 (19... h6 {"One
critical moment I thought you could play h6. I quite liked that move." -
Svidler. Kramnik was very suspicious of this idea. "I thought it was really
desperate h6 and somehow my position is not that bad." - Kramnik.} 20. Qd2 g5 {
"This is what I expected you will do." Svidler} 21. Bxd6 (21. Rxd6 $2 gxf4 $1)
21... Rfd8 22. Be7 Rxd3 23. exd3 Rd7 {"and black has fantastic compensation
for the pawn" - Svidler.} 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Ne2 {and white is a pawn up.}) 20.
Qd2 {Svidler thought at first he should be better because he solved the
problem of his queen which was "extremely stupid" on d3. But the position is
still very complicated.} Ne8 21. e4 {Svidler was happy here. He threatens e5.}
a6 {"First of all I spent too much time here." Svidler.} 22. e5 (22. a4 Qc5 {
Svidler thought that if it wasn't for this move he'd be much better but now
black will have "typical Sicilian counter-play" against b3.} 23. e5 (23. Rd1) (
23. Be3) 23... Bxe5 24. Ne4 Bxf4 25. Qxf4 {and black is now better.} (25. Nxc5
Bxd2 26. Nxd7 Bxc1 {was a move Svidler almost overlooked.} (26... Bb4 {was the
move Svidler initially considered "and I thought I'm better" but there's
stronger.}))) 22... h6 (22... Rcd8 {is the normal move here. "I got even a
little bit ambitious here." Kramnik "I thought that h6 is a tricky move
because Rd8 I was a little worried about Ne4 here. [after Rd1]"} 23. Rd1 b5 24.
Ne4 bxc4 25. bxc4 d5 26. Bg5 {is the line that h6 is designed to protect
against.}) 23. h4 {"Strangely enough h4 is almost the only move." - Kramnik.}
Rcd8 (23... Kh7 {was the move that Kramnik originally planned.} 24. Ne4 (24.
exd6 e5 25. Be3 Nxd6 (25... Rxd6 $6 26. Rd1 $1)) 24... d5 25. Rcc3 $1) 24. Rd1
b5 25. c5 $1 {Both players agreed this was a good move. "Only move that can
pose any problems but unfortunately it does pose problems." - Kramnik.} (25.
exd6 bxc4 26. bxc4 e5 {was what Kramnik was hoping for. "Strangely enough you
really have to fight for equality" - Kramnik} 27. Bxh6 Rxd6 28. Nd5 {forced}
Qxc4 {and the position is about equal}) 25... Qxc5 26. Ne4 Qb6 {"I thought Qb6
was the best move." Svidler.} (26... Qc6 $2 27. exd6 $1 e5 (27... f5 28. Rc1
Qa8 29. Nc5 {wins.}) 28. Bxh6 f5 29. Rc3 Qa8 30. Bxg7 Rxg7 31. Ng5) 27. Nxd6 (
27. Be3 Qb8 28. Nc5 {was mentioned in commentary on PlayChess as winning for
Svidler.}) 27... Bf8 {Kramnik wasn't sure about this move after the game.} (
27... Nxd6 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 29. exd6 Rd7 30. Qc2 {"I was kind of hoping I might
be winning by force here." Svidler.} e5 31. Qc8+ Qd8 $1 {Only move but it
seems black now has more or less equalised.}) 28. h5 $5 {This may or may not
be the best but Kramnik found it annoying.} (28. Nc8 Rxd3 29. Nxb6 Rxd2+ 30.
Rxd2 Rxd2+ 31. Bxd2) 28... Nxd6 {Absolutely forced.} (28... g5 $2 29. Bxg5 f6 (
29... hxg5 30. Qxg5+ Kh8 31. Nxe8 Rxd3 32. Nf6 Rd2+ 33. Kh3 Bg7 34. h6 Rh2+ 35.
Kxh2 Qf2+ 36. Kh3 Qf1+ 37. Rxf1 Rg8 38. hxg7+ Rxg7 39. Qh6+ Rh7 40. Qxh7#) 30.
Bxh6) (28... gxh5 29. Be3 Qb8 30. Bxh6 {with big advantage to white.}) 29. exd6
g5 {This does seem best.} (29... gxh5 $5 30. b4 (30. Be5 Qc5 (30... Bg7 31. Qb2
Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rc8 {with complete equality.}) 31. Qb2)) 30. Be5 Rc8 $6 {"Rc8 is
a bad move here, I'm lost." - Kramnik.} (30... Bg7 31. Qb2 {was the move
Kramnik feared "very, very powerful" but it just doesn't seem to be the case.}
Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rc8 {with what Houdini thinks is complete equality.} 33. R3d2 (
33. Qf6 Rc2+ 34. Kh3 Qf2 35. Qxh6 Qh2+ 36. Kg4 Rc5 37. f4 (37. Qf6 Rf5 38. Qc3
Rf4+ 39. gxf4 Qg2#)) 33... Qc5 34. Qf6 Qe3 35. Qxh6 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Rc2+ 37. R6d2
(37. Kh3 $2 g4+) 37... Rxd2+ 38. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 39. Kh1 Qd1+ {with perpetual}) 31.
Rc1 Rxc1 32. Qxc1 Qb7 {"It looks like I should be completely winning." Svidler
but things aren't so easy.} (32... f6 $2 33. Bxf6 Rxd6 34. Qb1 $1) (32... b4
33. Qc8 Qb5 34. Rd2 Qxe5 (34... Kh7 35. Qc2+ Kg8 36. f4) 35. Qxd7) 33. g4 {Now
Qc7 is a threat.} (33. Qc7 Rxc7 34. dxc7 g4 $1 {and black is better.}) 33... b4
34. Qc4 {"It's kind of difficult on two minutes because everything looks good.
" - Svidler.} (34. Qc7 Qb5 {holds the balance. The point of b4 is to give
black the b5 square.}) 34... Bg7 35. Bg3 (35. Bxg7 Kxg7 36. Qd4+ {doesn't seem
that clear.}) 35... Qb5 36. Be1 $6 {Svidler must have thought this was a
winner when he played it.} (36. Qxb5 axb5 37. f4 gxf4 38. Bxf4) (36. Rd1 {
white's position is so good he can just pass according to the players.} Bc3 {
was Kramnik's suggestion. Now the suggested} 37. a4 $2 bxa3 $1 {is losing for
white. The problems of playing with your flag hanging.}) 36... Qe5 $3 {The
players were in terrible time trouble and Kramnik stays in the game with this.
Svidler had seen this whilst waiting for Qb5 but forgot about it when he came
to consider his move. "I was very optimistic because it's very difficult for
white when you miss it. He did very well to keep cool." - Kramnik. "Suddenly
the landscape changed completely" Svidler.} 37. Bg3 Qe2+ 38. Bf2 Bf8 {"and I
thought I am even better. I missed 39.Qa6, I simply missed it." Kramnik.} (
38... Bf6 39. Qxa6 Kh7 40. Qc8 Qxd3 41. Qxd7 Kg7 42. Qc6 Qd2 43. Qc5 Bc3 {is
equal.}) 39. Qxa6 {Svidler only had seconds left. "I shouldn't be worse here,
it would be a little bit strange if I were worse." Svidler.} (39. Rd4 Qxc4 40.
bxc4 Rxd6 41. c5 Rc6 42. Rxb4 Rc7 43. Rc4 {may be even keeps an advantage but
there was no time.}) 39... e5 (39... Rd8 40. Qc4 Ra8 {"None of this will ever
work." Svidler.} 41. Qe4) 40. Qc4 Qxa2 {Now the players could settle down with
more time to find out what was going on. "I thought I am just lost here and
with three seconds on my clock I just decided to take on a2. Which is probably
only move. And here I thought it's probably totally gone but all of a sudden I
don't even see a win for white. It's amazing." Kramnik.} 41. Qc6 (41. Qxb4 Qa6
42. Rd5 (42. Qc4 Rxd6 {is almost equal.}) 42... Rxd6 43. Rxe5 {and whilst
white is still better the win if there is one is still a long way away.} Rd8
44. Qc4 Qb7 45. Rb5 Qd7 46. b4 Rc8 47. Qe2 Rc1 48. Rb6) 41... e4 {
"Fantastically the next six moves are forced and we get to this absolutely
alien position." Svidler.} (41... Qb1 42. Rd2 {and white wins immediately.})
42. fxe4 Qe2 43. Rf3 Rxd6 44. Qe8 f6 45. e5 f5 (45... Qxe5 $2 46. Qxe5 fxe5 47.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 48. Bc5 Ke7 49. Bxb4 Ke6 50. Bxd6 Kxd6 51. Kf3 {wins for white.})
46. gxf5 Rf6 $3 {Without this Kramnik is busted. A fantastic move.} (46... Ra6
47. e6 g4 48. Qf7+ Kh8 49. Qxf8+ Kh7 50. Qf7+ Kh8 51. Re3 Qb5 52. e7) 47. Kg3
Qe4 {Now the draw will be forced.} 48. Bc5 Qe1+ 49. Bf2 Qe4 50. Bc5 Qe1+ 51.
Bf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg4 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. g3 e6 8.
Bg2 Be7 9. Ne5 Bh5 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Nb3 a5 13. a4 Bb4 14. e4 e5 {
Anand mentioned they were following Ivanchuk-Vallejo.} (14... Qe7 15. Be3 Rfd8
16. f4 Kh8 17. Rf2 f6 18. Bd2 e5 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. fxe5 fxe5 21. d5 Rac8 22.
Rc1 Nb6 23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Nxc5 cxd5 25. Bh3 Ra8 26. a5 Nc4 27. Nxb7 Rf8 28.
Rxf8+ Rxf8 29. exd5 Nxb2 30. d6 Bf3 31. Rc8 Rxc8 32. Bxc8 Bc6 33. d7 Bxd7 34.
Bxd7 Nc4 35. Be6 b3 36. Bxc4 b2 37. Ba2 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2769)-Vallejo Pons,F 
(2697)/Istanbul TUR 2012/The Week in Chess 931}) 15. Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4 Kh8 $5 {
An interesting moment. Black prepares f6 and Bf7. "What I like was that I'm
getting this move very fast so that I play f6 and Bf7." - Anand.} 17. e5 {Far
too optimistic. "e5 is an attempt to punish black but I think it simply
doesn't work tactically." - Anand. "I understood this was a normal position
for white but I think e5 is a very risky and very interesting move.} (17. f4 f6
18. Qc2 Qe7) 17... Re8 (17... f6 18. f4 fxe5 19. fxe5 Qg5 {was the kind of
line Mamedyarov was looking at to justify e5.}) 18. f4 f6 19. exf6 (19. e6 {
Mamedyarov admitted he missed the refutation of e6 when he entered this line.}
Nb6 {is the only move but one that gives black a big advantage.} 20. Bxb6 (20.
Qc2 Rxe6 21. Be4 Bf7 22. Bf2 Qe8) 20... Qxb6+ 21. Kh1 (21. Rf2 f5 {Mamedyarov.}
(21... Rad8 {is even stronger.} 22. f5 Bd1 (22... Rd1+ 23. Rxd1 Bxd1 24. Nd4
Rd8 {also wins.}) 23. Rc1 Qe3)) 21... Qe3 $1 {"And now this move is very
strong. So we see this typical idea that the bishop on b4 controls this square
on e1. White is always missing this square, on top of that the bishop on h5 is
controling d1. So white's rooks have no squares to come to." - Anand.} 22. f5
Be2 $1) 19... Nxf6 20. Bf3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 {White is now trying to limit the
damage but his position collapses in just 10 moves. Most probably he's lost
anyway. The missing light squared bishop and the pawn on f4 means his king
position is particularly weak.} Re4 {"I was happy with this idea because I
wanted to play Qe8." - Anand} (21... Qd7 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Rd3 {is about equal.
}) 22. Re3 {"I think Re3 is sort of called for but the problem is after Qe8 I
think black must play Bc5" - Anand.} (22. Bxf6 Rxc4 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. Re3 Rc2
25. Rb1 c5 26. Na1 Rcd2 27. Nb3 R2d3 {is also favourable to black but maybe
this is better than the game.}) 22... Rxe3 23. Bxe3 Qe8 24. Bb6 $6 (24. Bd4 Rd8
25. Qc2 Nd5 26. Qf5) (24. Bc5 {was Anand's suggestion but black is still well
on top.} Bxc5+ 25. Qxc5 Qe2 26. Qf2 Qc4) 24... Qh5 $1 {"Very strong. The Queen
now performs the role of the bishop and takes away this square on d1. I was
also surprised how unpleasant it became how quickly." - Anand.} 25. Bd4 (25.
Qd3 {is Houdini's suggestion.} Ng4 26. h4) 25... Re8 {"I didn't see a defence
really." - Anand.} 26. Rf1 (26. Qd3 Ng4 27. Qc2 c5 28. Bc3 c4) 26... Ng4 (26...
Re2 {is not quite as good.} 27. h3 (27. Rf2 Re1+ 28. Rf1 Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Qxh2
30. Bxf6 gxf6 31. Qf7 {is a bit more messy than black would like.})) 27. Qc2 (
27. h4 Ne3 28. Bxe3 Rxe3) 27... c5 $1 {Winning.} 28. Nxc5 Rc8 (28... Bxc5 29.
Bxc5 Rc8 {is also winning.}) 29. Rd1 {Anand took his time here looking a bit
nervous but he brings home the point safely.} Bxc5 30. Bxc5 h6 {All that
remains is to avoid back rank mate.} (30... Nf6) 31. Kh1 0-1

