[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Game 2: Anand-Kramnik: Live blogging with regular updates

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Game 2: Anand-Kramnik: Live blogging with regular updates
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1224077683.shtml


   (Every half hour or so I will update the moves and commentary for
   this, game 2. Anand has White.)
   9:30: Initial thoughts:
   Wow! Anand has gone heavily against type by opening with 1.d4! He has
   been an almost exclusive 1.e4 player in his career, so this is
   certainly a surprise for Kramnik. In Kramnik's 2004 world championship
   match, he was similarly shocked when Peter Leko trotted out 1.d4 in
   game 5, and has admitted that he spent no time at all preparing for
   that move. I'm sure this time will be different, but whether he spent
   enough time on it remains to be seen.
   The game continued 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3! Bb4 4.f3 - a very aggressive
   line that has the further advantage of being somewhat out of fashion.
   This is a great choice for Anand, and if Kramnik survives today, it
   will be a tribute to his preparation and/or skill. More moves: 4...d5
   5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5
   All well-known so far. White's pawn structure may look hideous, but he
   has an extra pawn and controls lots of dark squares thanks to the
   queenside pawns. And the nice thing for us as fans is that whatever
   happens here, a dull draw is the least likely possibility. The game
   continued 8...f5 (a main line, but less commonly seen than 8...Qa5)
   9.Qc2 Nd7 (9...O-O is usual, as I'm sure Kramnik knows. He is probably
   making a calculated decision to look for good, playable moves that
   aren't the main lines, in the hopes of achieving a playable if
   slightly worse position he can patiently defend, rather than go into
   some main line Anand has prepared to the teeth) 10.e4 (after a fair
   amount of thought) 10...fxe4 11.fxe4 N5f6 and this is as good a place
   as any to stop and post. Here's the current position:
   [anand_kramnik_2008_2_move10.jpg]