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Hello everyone, I am GM Kamil Miton and will be joining you today for live commentary from the Bilbao Grand Slam.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 And we are off to a interesting Nimzo Indian start! It has been widely analysed in the previous competitions on Chessdom video section
4. Nf3 b6 5. Qc2 Queen is best placed on c2, just as explained by GM Henrik Danielsen here
5... Bb7 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 O-O 8. Bg5 Magnus put the bishop on g5 because the plan with b4-Bb2 compared to the line 1.d4-Nf6 2.c4-e6 3. Nf3-Bb 4.Nbd2 is with tempo less for white, also other plan is by g3-Bg2
8... d6 9. Nd2 White is going to play e4 and take control in center, so black probably will try avoid this by move c5. Usually in these structures the main task of white is to reduce black bishop on b7 after f3 move its also typical when white bishop is on b2.
9... Nbd7 10. f3 h6 11. Bh4 Following the well known theory, explained here in a concise way. White has advantage of two bishops, but black has better developed pieces, so black should try create as soon as possible some contrplay by center (by c5 and d5 )
11... Rc8 Note the interesting earlier white knight jump Nb1-f3-d2, this was all provoked to avoid the Karpov invented ...Ba6
12. e4 c5 13. Bd3 Usually very good for white is to play d5 to close bishop on b7 but in this position is not possible because 13...,exd5 14cxd5,Nxe4!
13... d5
14. exd5 Instead the 13...d5 move, I checked an interesting idea 13...Nxe4 14Bxd8 (14Bxe4 Qxh4 15. g3 Qf6 16. Bxb7 cxd4 17. Qc2 Rc7 and d5 next with compensation for piece)14...Nxc3 15. Be7 Rfe8 16. Bxd6 Na4 17. Bc2 (17b3 Nc3 and the knight on c3 is safe and position is around equal) Nxc4 18Nxc4 cxd4 with unclear position.
14... exd5 15. O-O dxc4 16. Bxc4 cxd4 17. Qxd4 Nc5 White has advantage of two bishops, black knights do not have any potential good squares in the center, the bishop on b7 is reduced by f3, but black at the same time does not have any weekness. Also after Nc5 move white probably has to exchange on f6.
18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Rfd1 The position is around equal because the double pawns on black king side don't make black's position worse, maybe white should try somehow transfer the knight to f5 square. Magnus probably wants to improve his knight Nf1-Ng3 or Nf1-Ne3-Kf2
20... Na4 Correct move, black does not allow white to improve pieces. Now white has to play 21. Rab1, some trick with 21. Bb5 with idea catch knight on b2 will not work
21. Rab1 In my opinion after 21...Rfd8 Anand should have an easy draw because it is hard to imrpove the knight from d2, just no time for maneuvre Nf1-Ne3 or Ng3
21... Rfd8 To solve the problem with b2 pawn, white has lose time again like 22. Bb3 Nc5 23. Ba2 then black for example can play 23...Bd5 with equal game.
22. Bb5 Interesting move, Magnus provokes 24...Rc2 then after 25. Ne4 he can get some initiative, but looks that 24...Bc6 is the best for black and after 25. Ba6 Rc7 the black knight still presses white pawn on b2
22... Bc6 23. Be2 Magnus played 25. Be2 because he prepares the move Nc4 or Nf1, so he needs Bxd1 after exchanging the rooks on d1.
23... Bd5 Anand plays very logical, he improves his bishops on the diagonal a2-g8 and he will have some moves like Ba2 (press pawn b2) or Be6 control f5 square or also Bb3 with idea fighting for d line
24. Nf1 Be6 the bishop on e6 is much stronger than on b7.
25. Ne3 We saw a very good example of how not allow to consolidate and develop initiative, moves Na4 for pressuring b2 pawn and Bd5 for improving the bishop were very accurate and logical, as in other case white could get some slightly better position.
25... f5 Probably Anand could play 27...Ba2, but maybe he is afraid of some ideas with sacrifice of pawn b2, the move makes black squares a bit weaker, but Anand plays very practical and he wants improve the king and put it on f6.
26. g3 Kg7 27. Kf2 Kf6 White needs to take away the knight from a4, now Magnus can try 30. Ba6 and after Rb8 31. Bb5
28. Ba6 Rb8 29. b4 30. Ba6 Rb8 31. Bb5 Bb3 32. Bxa4 Bxa4 33. Nd5 Kg7 34. b3 Bd7 and white has has better structure on king side, but its hard to exploit it when black set up Kf6-Be6 and black is also looking for contreplay on queen side.
29... Nc3 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Rc1 Nd5 32. Rd1 Rd7 33. Nxd5 Rxd5 34. Rxd5 Bxd5 35. Ke3 Ke5 and bishop endgame is drawish because only one weeknes on f5 is not enough to win the game,or 32. Nxd5 Rxd5 33. Rc7 Rd7
32. Ng2 Magnues played 32. Ng2 for keep more material on the board but looks that black position is safe and game should finish draw
32... Rd7 33. Rc2 Rc7 The style of Anand is very simple, just quick and very practical
34. Ne3 Rxc2+ 35. Nxc2 f4 The position is totally equal, Anand played good f4 and solve problem of potentail weak pawn f5
36. Nd4 Bd7 37. Ke2 Instead of 37. Ke2 if white played 37. Nb5 idea after 37...Bxb5 38. Bxb5 is to get position bishop against knight because usually the bishop is better when pawns are on both sides, but probably Anand had some quick conterplay Ke5-Kd4-Kc3 and pressing white pawns on queen side
37... fxg3 38. hxg3 Ne7 39. Ke3 After 39...Nf5 is draw because white king should not come for a7 pawn
39... Nf5+ 40. Nxf5 Kxf5 41. Kd4 Ke6 42. Bc4+ Ke7 43. f4 f6 44. Bd5 Kd6 45. Bf3 Be6 46. Ba8 Bf5 47. Bf3 Be6 48. Ba8 Bf5 49. Bf3 After some shuffling due to the Sofia rules a draw was agreed. Thank you for following with me GM Kamil Miton and the Chess Evolution team and see you tomorrow for more commentary!
49... Be6 ½-½

Wszystkie partie Grand Slam Bilbao