World Championship Anand - Topalov - Page 5 - Chess and Board Game Strategy

Computer consensus was stone busted in all lines by this point, and that the decisive mistake was 22. ... Rad8. I think at least, based on watching ICC analysis/commentary.

Correct on the bust.

The position after 22. - Rad8 may already be busted too. 21. - Qg5! instead of 21. - Qa7? may have been the last chance to stay in the game. Of course, there are possible improvements earlier too; 16. - exd5 and 17. - Nd3 come to mind.

Great attacking game by Anand. Calculating an attack such as in this game with a World Championship on the line is no small feat!

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04-28-2010 , 10:09 PM

#102

All-inMcLovin

Wholesome Mod

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 50,089

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundTower

would make much more sense

I agree completely, while I was typing that post I thought of putting "play solidly with black when ahead or behind." But just strictly behind does make much more sense. I don't know what I was thinking -- that's what I get for massively multitasking I guess.

Thanks for pointing that out RT!

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiskeytown

I did - with 27 offsuit at the Aria tourney

now This I approve of.

Did you show afterward?

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04-29-2010 , 01:50 AM

#103

whiskeytown

sleepless songwriter

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,342

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-inMcLovin;

now This I approve of.

Did you show afterward?

there was a barely enforced informal fun table rule you were supposed to show one card - I showed the Deuce

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04-29-2010 , 02:56 AM

#104

Shandrax

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Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,818

Unfortunately I couldn't watch the game. It looks like Anand's match strategy is based on playing positional pawn sacrifices with long term compensation. That is a very good anti-computer strategy, because the engine will always think it is a pawn up for nothing.

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04-29-2010 , 05:21 AM

#105

Dire

banned

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,581

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shandrax

That's actually a really good point...

Spoiler:

It was actually going through my mind that Anand seems to really hate having as much material as his opponent in this event. But if Topalov is as booked up as it seems so far, it really could be a reasonable strategy.

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04-29-2010 , 05:54 AM

#106

Ortho

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Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,113

So are we going to have some rest-day shenangians by Danilov now that Topa is behind?

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04-30-2010 , 01:05 AM

#107

All-inMcLovin

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Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 50,089

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiskeytown

there was a barely enforced informal fun table rule you were supposed to show one card - I showed the Deuce

Haha nice one.

-------

Excellent point Shandrax.

Such positions give Anand ample room and opportunity to outplay Topalov.

I'm sure it has to be at least a little psychologically unsettling for Topalov to be forced out of his preparation and into uncharted waters/imbalanced positions.

There's also the thought of all those hours being "wasted" preparing for lines that never see the light of day.

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04-30-2010 , 08:12 AM

#108

playinpoka

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Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 340

link with english commentary??

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04-30-2010 , 08:38 AM

#109

Shandrax

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Here we go again. Anand deviating first with h5. Slightly surprising, isn't it?
Topa reacting with Be3 and the idea of Nf4 which the threat of winning the bishop pair.
I doubt that black can play e5, so I don't like Anand's position already.
Obviously his preparation is much deeper and he took this all into account.

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04-30-2010 , 08:44 AM

#110

Ortho

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lol @ power failure in hall.

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04-30-2010 , 08:47 AM

#111

Shandrax

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Wouldn't be the worst moment for Anand to pull the plug. What the hell was he trying to accomplish with h5???? Looks like a terrible positional blunder to me. I don't know the theory of this line, but black must have something very creative in mind, otherwise this would be just plain bad.

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04-30-2010 , 08:58 AM

#112

sixfour

should be called sevenfour

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 74,925

wow, 2010 is the year of power outages in major quasi-sporting finals

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04-30-2010 , 08:59 AM

#113

Dire

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the idea of h5 I'm guessing was an alternative to h6/g4 stuff when white gains space and gets some initiative for free... and though Topalov may not be doing too hot in the quiet positions, he seems to gain about 500 elo in positions where he can start complicating stuff and getting an initiative.

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04-30-2010 , 09:33 AM

#114

RoundTower

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Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 14,563

h5 certainly seems bizarre and unnatural especially when he had a fairly comfortable draw in the previous game. I wonder if he found an improvement for White in the other game, or is just worried that Topalov has.

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04-30-2010 , 10:01 AM

#115

Shandrax

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Looks like Anand's pieces are active enough to keep everything under control.

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04-30-2010 , 10:04 AM

#116

holla

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Seems like a draw now after the good f6 move.

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04-30-2010 , 10:15 AM

#117

Shandrax

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That whole line is dead!

Topalov has to try 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4!?
Either that or 1.c4 which gives some additional options to deal with the Slav.

It is quite amazing, but the Slav and the Marshall-Attack in the Ruy Lopez seem to put an end to the claim of white's opening advantage by force. If that is true, then 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 or some flank opening like 1.g3 or 1.b3 should be tried, or we simply randomly shuffle the pieces on the first ranks.

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04-30-2010 , 10:24 AM

#118

hoyasaxa

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Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,273

Quote:

Originally Posted by holla

Seems like a draw now after the good f6 move.

Can we talk about this move a bit? Im sure anand didnt hang the e pawn but im not sure of the continuation. Maybe if bishop takes then Rc2 causes problems, and if knight takes bf7 wins a piece?

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04-30-2010 , 10:36 AM

#119

YouKnowWho

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6,985

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoyasaxa

Can we talk about this move a bit? Im sure anand didnt hang the e pawn but im not sure of the continuation. Maybe if bishop takes then Rc2 causes problems, and if knight takes bf7 wins a piece?

exactly.

edit: i misread your post - the main idea is Rc2 in both lines, after Bf7 Nd4 Bb3 Nb3 it's still Rc2 and black is probably better.

Meh, the resulting endgame after trade on b4 is actually quite playable for White IMO, even though draw is still of course the most likely restult

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04-30-2010 , 10:39 AM

#120

Dire

banned

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I don't think the position is entirely dead just yet. That pawn on h5 is not inconsequential imo. And if a pair of pawns is exchanged.. the bishop can start to show it's flex more.

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04-30-2010 , 10:39 AM

#121

Shandrax

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At least white has the symbolic advantage of the better tandem. R+B > R+N!

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04-30-2010 , 10:54 AM

#122

Shandrax

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Can white break the Ra8-h8-a8-h8 fortress?

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04-30-2010 , 11:03 AM

#123

Shandrax

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g5 creates losing chances imo. If there is a way to win this for white, then black found it.

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04-30-2010 , 11:05 AM

#124

YouKnowWho

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meh, Ra8 - Rh8 shouldn't work.. White can regroup with like Ke3, Bd1, Be2, and try pushing b4-b5 maybe.. I don't think black can be passive in that position

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04-30-2010 , 11:12 AM

#125

Shandrax

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If that is true then Anand did the right thing. According to Dorfman in "The Method in Chess" you should make a dynamic move when the static evaluation is negative. Here white has the better pieces, so the position is worse for Anand.

On the other hand I don't see a way for white to make progress if black stays completely passive. Although, the pawn on h5 (white square) may be a factor.

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