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The main part of this update concentrates on the recently finished World Title match between Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. A rare line in the Meran which Anand and his team prepared for the battle became a key to his overall success and opened a new chapter in opening theory. Generally speaking, Anand was much better prepared in the openings which were actually played. He introduced some interesting ideas in some forgotten lines - to my great surprise the roadmaps I updated with these games had not been touched since 2006, 2004 and even 2002! Kramnik had to fight alone against Anand's team, as well as the clock, and it certainly took its toll on the final result.

Download PGN of November '08 1 d4 d5 games


Slav Exchange [D14]

Kramnik - Anand: In a rather harmless Slav Exchange line Anand avoided any possible problems by a clever pawn sacrifice. Kramnik gained an extra pawn in the endgame but it was hardly likely to be converted.



Main Slav Variation [D19]

Anand - Kramnik: A classical line led to a quiet position in which White keeps some pressure thanks to his space advantage. Kramnik's novelty looked a bit risky as it gave Anand a comfortable edge in the ending but in fact Black's fortress was unbreakable.



QGD - 5 Bf4 [D37]

Anand - Kramnik: Here Vladimir defended a typical position with an isolated pawn without any problems - White never had real chances to establish proper control over the key d4-square.



QGD - Vienna Variation [D39]

Kramnik - Anand: Anand came up with a surprising and very interesting novelty in a well-known position, 10...Bxb5!?, and achieved acceptable play:

Nevertheless, Kramnik was able to maintain some edge, which he eventually spoiled with slightly slow play.



Meran Variation [D49]

Kramnik - Anand: Winning with black in the World Championship is an extremely difficult task. However, it seems to be quite common for Vishy Anand - you may remember that the Anti-Moscow Gambit played a significant role in his overall success in Mexico 2007. But to beat Kramnik (and his team!) twice in the same line was a far more difficult task and this great achievement was certainly the key to Anand's victory in Germany. Here is the first of these two wins, which Anand won in brilliant style and which happened to be the first decisive game of the match.

Kramnik - Anand: Kramnik and his team decided to fight on Anand's territory but this turned out to be unwise. Vishy was first to come up with a slight innovation, 15...Rg8!?, which forced Vladimir to go into deep thought:

White found a decent way to treat the position but eventually collapsed under the tension and time pressure. This disaster has broken all Kramnik's dreams for the World Title.

Svidler - Inarkiev: Peter Svidler came up with an interesting set-up and gained a full point without much sweat:

Sargissian - Gustafsson: Both players are famous for their deep opening preparation but here Gabriel Sargissian surprised his opponent with a rare idea in a principled and very sharp line, 15 Be3!?:

His later surprising novelty did not look so dangerous at first sight but Black's task was really not easy and he failed to hold on. Thorough analysis shows that Black could have probably defended so the dispute might be continued.



Anti-Meran [D45]

Adly - Sebag: Marie Sebag clearly outplayed the former World under 20 Champion. White did not play the best moves in the opening which was sufficient to get problems.



Ruslan

 

If you have any questions, then please post a message at the 1 d4 d5 Forum, or subscribers can email me at ruslan@chesspublishing.com.