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Zoltan Almasi vs Viswanathan Anand
Groningen Candidates (1997), Groningen NED, rd 4, Dec-17
Sicilian Defense: Kan. Modern Variation (B42)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Aug-26-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: Game 1 of their fourth round match in the World Championship tournament. Anand won game 2 to clinch the match. He then went on to defeat Shirov, Gelfand and Adams before losing to Karpov in the finals. 12..Nd7 was new; 12..b6 had been played previously. Almasi does not criticize 15 Nxe5 but after 15..dxe Anand had control of d4 and had eliminated his weak d pawn. White, on the other hand, did obtain a queenside majority. If 19 Bb1..Rd7 20 Bxd4..Rad8 and black wins. Almasi offerred a draw after 20 Bd2. 22..a5?! sacrificed a pawn to break up the queenside pawns but did not work out well. Anand sacrificed an exchange with 29 Qxa5!? counting on dark square counterplay. Almasi chose to accept rather than playing for an attack with 30 Be5..Qd8. Almasi missed a win with 33 a5..Bd6 34 e5..bxa 35 exd!..Rxb1+ 36 Kh2..a4 37 c5..a3 38 c6..a2
39 Rxa2..Bxa2 40 Bf5! and white wins. 35 a5? gave up a pawn to activate his rooks but the passed pawn ended up being decisive for black.
Jul-28-13  technical draw: Interesting 15th move by Anand, 15..dxe5. I probably would capture with knight or bishop to avoid doubled pawns.
Feb-15-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  LittleKibitzer: <Opening Tips>

Unlike the Hedgehog structure, black develops the queen's knight to Nc6. And this allows black to later play Nfd7. This is an essential part of reinforcing e5. The knights work together, and the convenient development of the bishop, 9 Bg7, also helps reinforce e5 and d4.

<Strategic question>

Do the plans used in this setup work effectively by ensuring black has central space, control of the a1-h8 diagonal, and activity as compensation for any weaknesses?

Notice that e5 does even become a liability with 28 f4.

Is it okay that black doubled the pawns with 15...dxe5 because, one way or another, a pawn ends up on e5 and fulfills black's desires vis-à-vis d4 as well?

<One last question>

How reliable or flexible is this combination of opening moves in the Sicilian Kan? Does it give enough compensation compared to Hedgehog lines?

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