Anand,V – Rebel10 (exp)

Rather passive and probably chosen to get Rebel out of its book as quickly as possible.

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Date: July 21, 1998
Location: 8 game match
Tournament: game-2
Round:
Opening: D02 Queen's Pawn Game, 2.Nf3 (including the London System)
Submitted by:
Published on: February 20, 2020

[Event "game-2"] [Site "8 game match"] [Date "1998.07.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand,V"] [Black "Rebel10 (exp)"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [BlackElo "?"] [ECO "D02"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 { Rather passive and probably chosen to get Rebel out of its book as quickly as possible. } 3... g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 { Rebel out of book. } 6... c5 7. Bb2 Ne4 8. c3 { Again passively played! } 8... Nc6 9. e3 Bg4 { I would prefer 9 ... b6, to get the bishop to a6 or b7. } 10. h3 cxd4 { A little trick: If 11 hxg4, then 11 ... dxc3 and if the bishop moves, 12 ... c2 will follow. } 11. cxd4 Bf5 12. Nfd2 { Anand continues to play passively. More logical was 12 Nh4 and then 13 Nd2 to get rid of the e4-knight. } 12... Nf6 { Preventing piece exchanges. } 13. Nc3 { Now the black c6-knights enters the White position. It was possible to play 13 a3 to prevent this. } 13... Nb4 14. Nf3 Nd3 { A so called 'octopus'. It appears that it is very difficult to get rid of this awsome knight. } 15. Ba3 Rc8 16. Ne2 Be4 17. Nh2 { This is too passive. Rebel expected the stronger 17 Ng5. Also 17 Nc1 to remove Nd3 was better. Perhaps Anand hoped to take advantage of the loose Black pieces. } 17... Bh6 18. Qd2 Re8 { Even after a longer thought Rebel prefers this somewhat srange move. More natural would be 18 ... Qd7, or 18 ... b5. } 19. Ng4 { This is a clear mistake! After 19 f3! Rc2! 20 Qxc2 Bxe3+ 21 Rf2! the game would end in perpetual check (try it out yourself!). Now Black is better. } 19... Nxg4 20. hxg4 Qc7 { Taking the c-file. } 21. Rfd1 { This was the last chance for Nc1. } 21... Qc2 22. Kf1 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 b5 { Keeping the pressure and preparing a brilliant piece sacrifice. } 24. f3 Bxe3 25. Rdd1 f5 { Fantastic! Vishy looked very surprised and nervous. Black opens the f-file to attack the poor white king. } 26. fxe4 fxe4 27. Rxd3 { It is understandable that Anand wants to get rid of the huge knight on d3, but after the game we found out that 27 Nf4 was the only chance to fight. Now it is all over. } 27... exd3 28. Nf4 Rc2 29. Bxd5+ e6 { And there is no defence: 30 Bxe6+ Rxe6 31 Nxe6 Rf2+ 32 Ke1 d2+ 33 Kd1 Rf1+ followed by 34 ... Rxa1 and 35 ... d1Q. So Anand resigned. 0-1 } 0-1