Vescovi, Giovanni (2648) - Anand, Viswanathan (2782) [D17], Sao Paulo (7) rapid 2004

Chess Siberia

Vescovi, Giovanni (2648) - Anand, Viswanathan (2782) [D17]
Sao Paulo (7) rapid 2004
Notes by Boris Schipkov

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8. Ne5
The move 8. Ne3 is harmless, 8...Bg6 9. a5 Nbd7 10. g3 e6 11. Bg2 Rc8 12. O-O Be7 13. Nc4 O-O 14. e4 b5 15. axb6 axb6 16. Ne3 with equality in Xu Jun - Rublevsky, S, Match Russia-China, Moscow (4) 2004.
8...a5

9. g3
White has a small edge after 9. f3 Nfd7 10. e4 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Be6 13. Kc2 f6 14. Rb1 fxe5 15. b4, Vallejo Pons, F - Kasparov, G, Linares (6) 2003. The alternatives are 11...Be6!? 12. Be3 (12.Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. f4 g6) 12...Nc4 13. Bxc4 Bxc4 14. Qc2 e6 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. f4 g5 17. fxg5 Bb4 and 11...Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Be6 (12...O-O-O+) 13. Kc2 g6!? 14. Rb1 O-O-O 15. b4 Bg7 16. bxa5 Nc4 17. f4 f6 18. exf6 exf6 19. Bd3 Nxa5 20. Rd1 Bg4 21. Rd2 Rhe8 22. Ba3 Be6 23. Bc5 Nc4 24. Rdd1 Bf8 25. Bxc4 Bxc4 26. Bb6 Rd6 with counterplay.
In the case of 10...Bg6 11. Be3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Qxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Nd7 14. h4 h5 15. e6 fxe6 16. g3 (16. Bc4!?) 16...e5 17. Bh3 (17. Rh2!?) 17...Nf6, Janssen, R - Savchenko, S, Dieren (7) 2002 and 11...e6 12. h4 f6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Qb3 e5 15. O-O-O exd4 16. Bxd4 Qc7 17. Qe6+ Be7, Lputian, S - Sokolov, I, Bled ol 2002, White obtains some edge.
9...e6 10. Bg2 Bb4 11. O-O h6!?

12. f3
A novelty. The common continuation is 12. e3.
12...O-O
Or 12...Bc2 13. Nxc6 (13. Nxf7 Bxd1 14. Nxd8 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 Rxd8 16. Nf4 Kf7 17. Nd3 Nc4 with better play) 13...Bxd1 14. Nxd8 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 Rxd8 16. f4 Nbd5 17. f5 with counterplay.
13. e4 Bh7 14. Be3 Nfd7!

15. Qe2 Nxe5
15... f5 is also possible.
16. dxe5 Nd7 17. Rfd1
Probably 17. Rad1!? is better.
17...Qe7 18. f4 Rfd8
Or 18...f6.
19. Qf2

19...f6!
Seizing the initiative.
20. Na2?!
Now 20. exf6 is correct, 20...Nxf6 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Qe2.
20...fxe5 21. Nxb4 axb4 22. f5?!
22. Qc2 is more precise.
22...Nf6 23. h3

23...Rxd1+
Black can play also 23...exf5 24. exf5 Rxa4! 25. Rxa4 (25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Rxa4 Qd1+ 27. Kh2 Qxa4) 25... Rxd1+ 26. Kh2 Rd8 27. Bc5 Qd7 28. g4 Nd5 29. Bxb4.
24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8
Black has a small edge.
26. Qc2
The move 26. fxe6 is more interesting.
26...exf5 27. Qc4+?!
After 27. exf5!? Kh8 Black has only a small edge.
27...Kh8 28. Qxb4

28...Qd3!
With a clear advantage.
29. Kf2 f4 30. gxf4 exf4 31. Qf8+ Bg8 32. Bxf4 Qd4+ 33. Kg3

33...Qg1!
Black attacks.
34. Kf3 Nxe4!
A fine blow.
35. Be3 Qd1+ 36. Kf4 g5+ 37. Kf5

37...Qd7+ 38. Kg6
If 38. Kxe4 then 38...Qd5 checkmate.
38...Qe6+
Black mates 39. Kh5 Ng3.
White resigned. 0-1

Top