Anand,V – Rebel10 (exp)

I chose this opening because I wanted an unbalanced game for Rebel, relying on the surprise value. Playing a Queen’s Indian or a Queen’s gambit instead, was probably exactly Anand was hoping for. He knows too much about this opening, so lets play unorthodox!

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Date: July 22, 1998
Location: 8 game match
Tournament: game-7 (40/2:00 all 1:00)
Round:
Opening: D07 Queen's Gambit Declined Chigorin Defense
Submitted by:
Published on: February 20, 2020

[Event "game-7 (40/2:00 all 1:00)"] [Site "8 game match"] [Date "1998.07.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand,V"] [Black "Rebel10 (exp)"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [BlackElo "?"] [ECO "D07"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 { I chose this opening because I wanted an unbalanced game for Rebel, relying on the surprise value. Playing a Queen's Indian or a Queen's gambit instead, was probably exactly Anand was hoping for. He knows too much about this opening, so lets play unorthodox! } 3. e3 { A small success: Anand avoids the main theoretical lines, starting with 3 cxd5, 3 Nc3 or 3 Nf3. } 3... e5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Nc3 { Rebel had 5 Qb3 and 5 dxe5 in its book. Now it had to think for the first time. } 5... exd4 6. Nxd5 Nf6 7. Qb3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Rb8 { White has the two bishops and is probably better here, but I liked the course of the game sofar. It's no quiet position, in which the number 2 in the world can play positionally. } 9. Bd2 Bd6 10. O-O-O O-O { I was very satisfied with the outcome of the opening: Rebel has a solid position, with no weaknesses and a clear aim: Attack the White king. } 11. Kb1 { The tournament bulletin condemns this move, claiming it's a routine move. They propose 11 e4 instead. } 11... Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne5 { Nicely played by Rebel. Of course 13 exd4 wins a pawn, but after 13 ... Ng6 Black controls f4 and the White pawns are very weak. } 13. Be2 Re8 14. h4 { To push the pawn to h5, after which exd4 becomes a threat (the Black knight cannot go to g6 anymore). } 14... c5 { Starting the counterattack and defending the pawn on d4. } 15. f4 Nd7 16. Bf3 { Supporting the advance e3-e4. White's plan is to get the pawns e4, f4 and d5 rolling. Black attacks on the queen's side. } 16... b5 { There we go. I began to like the Black position more and more. I guess Vishy wanted to have a much more quiet game today! } 17. Qd3 Qf6 { A nice place for the queen, also stopping the advance e3-e4 because of the pressure on f4. } 18. Bc1 dxe3 19. fxe3 c4 20. Qc2 Nc5 21. h5 Nd3 { For the second time this match Rebel gets an octopus on d3. See also game 2. } 22. Rxd3 { Rebel didn't expect this exchange sac, but I was sure Anand would play this. It almost came without thinking. In return White gets two bishops and a pawn. For a moment Black's attack is gone and he has to concentrate on the White pawnroller in the centre. } 22... cxd3 23. Qxd3 Rec8 { Well played. Rebel finds a way to bring new life into the Black attack. } 24. Bd2 b4 { Keeping the bishop away from c3. } 25. Be4 Qh6 { The only good move. 25 ... h6 was my first impression, but then 26 Bf5 rook moves 27 e4 comes and the pawns go forward. White is better in that case. } 26. Bg2 { Criticised by Anand after the match. He underestimated Black's 27th. On the other hand it is difficult for White to find a proper plan. His pawns are still not able to move. } 26... Rc7 27. Rf1 b3 { Here it is. Now Anand was visibly getting nervous, as Black's attack suddenly is very strong. The natural 28 a3 would allow the black rook to come to c2, and also sacrifices like Bxa3 are hanging in the air. } 28. e4 { There is no way back! Now we get a very, very interesting game. } 28... bxa2+ 29. Ka1 { Of course any computer would play 29 Kxa2 here, which is very bad. The White king uses the black a2-pawn as a shelter. After Kxa2 the a-file would be wide open to the black attack. } 29... Rcb7 30. Bc1 Bc5 { A crushing move. The idea is ... Rb3, ... Qb6 and ... Bd4 and White is going to get crushed on b2. Rebel's evaluation now showed a big advantage to Black. } 31. e5 { Trying to shut the door to b6 by means of d5-d6. } 31... Rb3 32. Qc2 Bd4 { If 32 ... Qb6, then White has the defence 33 d6 Bd4 34 d7! } 33. d6 Bxb2+ { Too early! After the game we found out that Rebel could have won with the brilliant 33 ... Qe6! 34 Bc6 Rc3!! 35 bxc3 Qc4! On my Pentium 200 Mhz MMX Rebel 9 needs around 11 minutes to find this move. } 34. Bxb2 Rxb2 35. Qxb2 Rxb2 36. Kxb2 g5 { A very surprising move, but Rebel saw that after the normal 36 ... Qxh5 White has 37 Rc1, with back rank problems. Analysis after the game confirmed that there is no win for Black. } 37. Bf3 { Well played. Anand finds the line that secures a draw. } 37... gxf4 38. Rd1 Qe6 39. d7 { The point. Anand's passed d7-pawn is a monster, killing all Black's hopes. } 39... Qxe5+ 40. Kxa2 Qa5+ { As I saw absolutely no way to make progress (Anand looked convinced, too), I offered a draw. Anand accepted and said after the last game the position is drawn. A very exciting game, one to be very proud of. Rebel played great chess IMO. 1/2-1/2 } 1/2-1/2