Anand Wins Again With Black!
By Arvind Aaron
 

Viswanathan Anand's magical punch with the black colour is working. The novelty with 15...Rg8 and then a brilliant tactical finish in the ending to deliver the coup de grace gives the 1969-born Indian a 3.5-1.5 lead after five games in the best of 12 series.

Anand has had plenty of work and it showed in this battle. He had worked for his novelty prior to the game and also at the board for the brilliant finish. Tactics do occur in the endgame and Anand proved that he was up to it when the opportunity came.

Kramnik is in big trouble in the match and it has come very early. The problem of staying in the same hotel is going to affect Kramnik more as Anand camp might see more of the big Russian and how two defeats should have shaken the former title holder.

In stark contrast, both decisive games have seen the Indian win with black. In 2000, at London, Kramnik won two games with white and drew the rest to wrest the title from Kasparov. In 2004 and 2006 Kramnik defended the title against Leko and Topalov. In Mexico City 2007, Anand won the world title in a six player tournament. Kramnik is having his revenge or return match.

One good idea by black is not enough to win a game. White's 29th move Nd4 passed the baton of advantage to black and Anand called the shots after that. Thereafter, the 34th move knight sacrifice by black saw one of the most elegant finishes in a title match.

Many experts have given up on Kramnik at this stage. Two points to bridge and only three whites on hand. Kramnik can look at history and hope to do what Kamsky did from a similar state in Sanghinagar in 1994 against Anand. Looking at Sanghinagar now, all three favourites lost there. Anand to Kamsky, Kramnik to Gelfand, Timman to Salov. At Bonn, a match which was expected to be very closely fought suddenly looks one sided.

The best strategy for Anand will be to remain quiet with the white games. He can turn the heat on now with his white as well but if that was a longer 24-game match that strategy might work. A still calm draw with white is what will be required.

This win by Anand is the second in the match and third from the black side using the Semi-Slav. First, he won against Kramnik in the Investbanka Tournament at Belgrade 1997. The Semi-Slav appears to come naturally for the Indian champion.

The moves:

Vladimir Kramnik-Viswanathan Anand
Semi-Slav D49
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2 Bb7 15. Bxb5 Rg8 16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Bg3 f5 18. Rfc1 f4 19. Bh4 Be7 20. a4 Bxh4 21. Nxh4 Ke7 22. Ra3 Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Ra1 Qc5 25. Qg4 Qe5 26. Nf3 Qf6 27. Re1 Rc5 28. b4 Rc3 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Rxd4 Nxg4 32. Rd7+ Kf6 33. Rxb7 Rc1+ 34. Bf1 Ne3 35. fxe3 fxe3 0-1.

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