[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Game 6: Anand-Kramnik: Live blogging with regular updates

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Game 6: Anand-Kramnik: Live blogging with regular updates
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1224596845.shtml


   9:30
   Good morning and welcome once again! This game will complete the first
   half of the match, and it begins with Anand enjoying a 2-point lead,
   3.5-1.5. For Anand, a draw is pretty good and a win just about ends
   the match; for Kramnik, it's still a little too early to do something
   stupid in a desperate bid for victory, but if he can safely introduce
   some aggression into the game he certainly should. Let's see the moves
   (Anand has White):
   1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3 Nc6
   8.Bd2 O-O 9.h3N b6 10.g4 Qa5
   Some initial comments:
   (1) Anand's choice of the 4.Qc2 Nimzo-Indian at least seems more
   conventional, and it's a good choice. White's losing chances are quite
   low in most of the main lines, so Anand can play for a win "for free".
   (2) The line chosen by Kramnik, the Romanishin Variation (4...d5 -
   6...Qf5) is considered pretty solid for Black, and according to theory
   White's most principled move is to trade queens. Anand's choice of
   7.Qb3 is feistier, giving both sides more chances to stir up mischief.
   (3) Anand's 9.h3 is a very interesting novelty. The point is obvious
   but no less strong for that: White wants to play g4. Black's queen
   will have problems finding a safe home. And it's not clear that 9...b6
   was the best reaction.
   (4) One fantastic line: Seirawan thought that 10...Qg6 was impossible
   due to 11.Nh4 Nxd4 12.Qc4, winning a piece. But White's position is
   funny somehow, and Black has tactical resources: 12...Qc2 13.Qxb4
   (Seirawan stopped here, but) 13...c5! 14.Qa3 Ne4! 15.Nxe4 Qxe4 16.f3
   Nc2+ 17.Kd1 Qc4 18.b3 Ne3+! 19.Bxc3 Qc3 20.Qc1 Rd8+ 21.Bd2 Rxd2+
   22.Qxd2 Qxa1+ 23.Kc2 Qxa2+ 24.Kc1 Qa1+ with equality. This doesn't
   mean that 10...Qg6 is good, because if White doesn't hurry with Nh4
   the Black queen remains vulnerable and out of play on g6.
   Unfortunately for Kramnik, the queen may not be thrilled with life on
   a5, either, so it's nervous time for Kramnik fans.
   Time so far: Anand is at 1:29 and counting, Kramnik at 1:45. For once,
   Kramnik is ahead on the clock in the opening, but it might be because
   Anand is looking for the kill.