Anand vs. Leko (Linares – Round 13)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 Re8 10.Nc3 h6 11.Nd5 Na5 (This is the first interesting move. Black chose to give up a Bishop instead of retreating to f8.) 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Nh4 (I like White’s position here.) 13…Nxb3 14.Nf5 Qe6 15.axb3 d5 16.Qf3 dxe4 17.dxe4 Kh7 18.Qg3 (White has an incredible Knight on f5. Black has a weak a6 pawn. Small edge for White.) 18…Rg8 (A curious move. I like 18…Nh5 a lot better.) 19.f3 Ne8 20.Bd2 Nd6 21.Ne3 (White is in good shape. Black has a tactical shot by playing Bxe4.) 21…Bxe4 (After spending a lot of time on this move, Leko decided to take the Pawn. This should make the game quite interesting. The only way for White to maintain an edge is by playing 22.Bc3. 22.fxe4 will lose due to Nxd4 forking the Queen and Bishop.) 22.Bc3 Bg6 23.Qxe5 Qxe5 24.Bxe5 Rgd8 (This is the best continuation for White that leads to a small edge. I don’t expect Anand to push here. We may see a draw soon.) 25.g4 f6 26.Bg3 (White has nothing to lose. Black has to solve the a6 pawn problem but that is not a big deal.) 1/2 Vishy is coasting to his Linares victory.

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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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