1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nd2
Nf6
4.e5
Nfd7
5.c3
c5
6.f4
Anand's favorite [followed by Nge2 6.Bd3
]
6...Nc6
7.Ndf3
Be7?!
[7...Qb6
White often plays h2-h4 and Ke1-f2 (and sometimes even g3!)]
8.Bd3
cxd4
9.cxd4
0-0
10.Ne2
f6
[10...f5
Is this a good pawn structure for Black? It blocks the diagonal and closes the center--not so bad for Black.]
11.0-0
Nb6
12.Kh1
Idea: Rf1-g1, and g2-g4-g5 to open up the g-file; also Bc1-e3 and after ...Nc4, Be3-g1
12...Bd7
13.a3
Na5
14.b3
Rc8
15.Bd2
Na8!
Idea: ...b7-b5, ...Na8-b6-c4 (at some point) [Eric] I was thinking ...Qb6 and/or ...Nc7 then ...Bd7-b5 to exchange off Black's problem bishop. White's bishop is also keeping Black from penetrating on c-file.[Marshall]
16.Qb1
f5
[16...h6?!
weakens White squares]
17.Rg1
Qb6
18.Bxa5
Idea: to gain time, and to get rid of Black's probing knight. [18.b4?!
Nc4
19.Bc1
]
18...Qxa5
19.g4
with the initiative
19...Bb5
20.gxf5
Bxd3
21.Qxd3
Rxf5?!
[21...exf5
may be better. Black's knight comes ...Na8-c7-e6 22.Ng3
and Black comes in with rook or queen on c3.]
22.Rg4
the b1-h7 diagonal is very weak
22...Rcf8
23.Rag1
g6
24.b4
Qd8
25.Nd2!
eyeing c5 or e3; also opens third rank for White's queen.
25...Nb6
26.Qg3
[or 26.Qh3
]
26...Qe8
[26...Kf7
27.Rxg6!
]
27.Nf1
Nc4
28.Ne3
Nxe3
29.Qxe3
Score incomplete (time pressure) 1-0