notyetagm:  click for larger viewPosition after 24 ... ♘e7x♘g6 25 e5xf6! <zwischenzug>
 click for larger view<ravel5184: <notyetagm> This may be a craZy question with a capital Z, but what happens if Black just plays 25 ... Nh4 ?> (VAR) Position after 25 ... ♘g6-h4?
 click for larger viewI did not understand the strength of Anand's play until you asked this obvious question. Now I see. :-) I think Anand planned 25 ... ♘g6-h4? 26 f6xg7 ♖h8-g8 27 f5-f6, shown below. (VAR) Position after 25 ... ♘g6-h4? 26 f6xg7 ♖h8-g8 27 f5-f6
 click for larger viewThis position looks completely crushing to me, a USCF 1758. How exactly is Black planning to prevent the promotion of the connected passed White f6-,g7-pawns, which are supported by the White f1-rook to boot? Great tactical alertness by the Indian genius Anand to see that the <ZWISCHENZUG> 25 e5xf6! was much stronger than the obvious recapture 25 f5x♘g6?!. A good example of the power of <ADVANCED PAWNS>, Anand's (White's) advanced kingside pawn front. |