Pavel Eljanov vs Viswanathan Anand (2008)

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Pavel Eljanov vs Viswanathan Anand
Corus Group A (2008), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 3, Jan-14
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical. Noa Variation (E34) · 1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Jan-14-08		Udit Narayan: I can't think of any reason for Anand to draw this, against probably the weakest opponent in the A group.

Jan-14-08		rezubler: No major flaws in the opening - maybe Anand did not want to expend any energy on this match?

Jan-14-08		Riverbeast: Eljanov is not exactly a weakie...and it's difficult to win when a strong GM so obviously plays for a draw with white. After 17. Bxd5 black has no realistic winning chances.

Jan-14-08		ganstaman: I've found one other use of 11. g4. Any thoughts? It doesn't quite look like a move that's trying to draw, but maybe I'm wrong. [Event "WCh U18 Boys"] [Site "Oropesa del Mar ESP"] [Date "1999.??.??"] [White "Krush,I"] [Black "Schenk,Andreas"] [Round "11"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2432"] [BlackElo "2241"] [ECO "E34"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qb3 c5 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 Nbd7 10. g4 Qd5 11. Bg2 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. Nd4 Bd7 15. b4 Na4 16. O-O f6 17. e4 Ne7 18. e5 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Bxc6+ bxc6 21. Be3 Nc3 22. Rfe1 Nd5 23. Rac1 Kd7 24. Rc5 a6 25. Kg2 Rhf8 26. exf6 gxf6 27. h4 a5 28. bxa5 Rfb8 29. Rec1 Ra6 30. Bd2 Rb3 31. a4 e5 32. R5c4 Kd6 33. R1c2 Rd3 34. g5 Rd4 35. Kf3 fxg5 36. hxg5 Rd3+ 37. Kg4 Rb3 38. Rc1 Rd3 39. R4c2 Rd4+ 40. Kf3 Nf4 41. Rb1 Ra7 42. Be3 Ne6 43. Rb6 Rc7 44. Rd2 Rxd2 45. Bxd2 Ra7 46. Kg4 Kd5 47. a6 Nc5 48. Be3 Nxa6 49. Rxc6 Ra8 50. Rh6 Nc7 51. Rxh7 Rxa4+ 52. Kf5 Ne8 53. Rd7+ Nd6+ 54. Kf6 Ra8 55. g6 Rf8+ 56. Kg7 Re8 57. Kh7 Ke6 58. Rxd6+ 1-0

Jan-14-08		acirce: <Eljanov is not exactly a weakie...and it's difficult to win when a strong GM so obviously plays for a draw with white.> What makes it so obvious that Eljanov was playing for a draw? Actually, by the choice of opening line it seems that it was Anand who would have been perfectly happy with a draw, and Eljanov if anyone who tried to be ambitious. I don't doubt that Anand would have accepted if White had just played 7.Qxf5, made some standard moves and then offered a draw. Black has very few winning chances in the endgame if White just plays normal chess, but on the other hand he has excellent drawing chances. That's the point of it. Also, Krush's 11.g4!? is sharp enough, even though Anand could prove it to lead to nothing.

Jan-14-08		Eyal: <ganstaman: I've found one other use of 11. g4.> Here's another - and very recent - one, where it's played in the same position a move earlier (since the players skipped Ba5/Qc4): T Kotanjian vs K Asrian, 2008.

Jan-15-08		shintaro go: A short draw by a World Champion..Hmmm where are the trolls and bashers now....

Jan-15-08		cuendillar: Why should they be here? The final position, with opposite coloured bishops and no weaknesses at all is just drawn (assuming 17.Qxd5 Qxd5 18.exd5). Sure, this tournament have seen some incredible stubborness but it can't be expected in every game.

Jan-15-08		acirce: I think the point was that "the trolls and bashers" don't care about rational reasoning, but that on the other hand their main target was never Anand.

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