(1) Anand,Viswanathan (2757) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2727) [B32] Linares 19th Linares (7), 02.03.2002 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.Be2 a6 8.N5c3 Bg5 9.Nd2 Nf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 Nd4 12.Nf3 Bxc1 13.Rxc1 Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 Be6 15.Qd2 Qc7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.h3 h6 18.Qe2 Rac8 19.Bg4 Qa5 20.Nd5 1/2-1/2

(2) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2727) - Anand,Viswanathan (2757) [C89] Linares 19th Linares (14), 10.03.2002 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 g5 16.Qe2 f5 17.Bxd5+ cxd5 18.Re6 f4 19.Rxd6 Bg4 20.Qf1 Qxf1+ 21.Kxf1 Rae8 22.Bd2 Bh3+ 23.Kg1 fxg3 24.hxg3 Re2 25.Be3 Rxe3 26.fxe3 Rf1+ 27.Kh2 g4 28.Rxd5 1/2-1/2

(3) Anand,Viswanathan (2753) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2734) [B32] Corus Wijk aan Zee (7), 19.01.2003 [Avrukh,B] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 Nf6 8.Nc4 [Usually white play here 8.Bg5 transfering to a normal Sveshnikov] 8...b5 9.Ne3 b4?! This novelty only shows,that Ruslan was really out of his usual shape ,during Corus tournament.Probably all the commotion around his match with Kasparov had very bad influence on him. [9...Be6 10.a3?! (>=10.Bd3 ) 10...Rc8 11.Be2? (>=11.Bd3 ) 11...Nd4 12.0-0 Be7 13.f4 Qb6 14.f5 Nxe2+ 15.Nxe2 Bc4 16.Kh1 Nxe4-/+ 1/2-1/2 Alekhine,A-Galindo/Madrid 1941/EXT 99 (22); 9...Be7 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 Rb8 12.Ncd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5 14.a4 b4 15.Bd2 f5 16.c3 bxc3 17.Bxc3 e4 18.Bc2 Bf6 19.g3 Bd7 20.Rb1 Nb7 1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Ivanchuk,V/Wijk aan Zee NED 2003/The Week in Chess 428 (20)] 10.Ncd5! [‹10.Na4 Be7 11.Bc4 0-0 12.0-0 Be6 and black is ok] 10...Nxe4 Obviously it's very clear,that to take this pawn is very dangerous for black,especially against such a player, like Anand.This game shows once again his great feeling of developing the initiative. 11.a3 bxa3 [>=11...b3!? 12.cxb3 (12.c3 Nc5 ) 12...Nd4 13.Bc4 Be7 14.0-0 0-0 15.b4 Bb7 16.b3+/= ] 12.Rxa3 g6 [12...Be7 13.Bb5 Bb7 14.Bxc6+ Bxc6 15.Qg4 Nf6 16.Qxg7+/- ; 12...Bb7 13.c3 (13.Bc4!? ) 13...Nc5 (/\13...Be7 14.Qg4 ) 14.Bc4-> ] 13.c3! Bd7? This is already too optimistic [13...Bb7 14.Qf3 f5 15.Nxf5 gxf5 (15...Nd4 16.Qxe4 Nxf5 17.Nf6++- ) 16.Qh5+ Kd7 17.Qxf5++- ; 13...Nc5 14.b4 ; Necessary was >=13...f5 White has a lot of opportunities to seize the initiative : 14.f3 (14.Nc4!? Rb8 15.Be3 Nc5 16.b4 f4!<=> ; 14.g4!? ) 14...Nc5 15.b4 Ne6 16.b5|^ ] 14.Nc4+/- Rb8 15.Be3 f5 Already very difficult to reccomend something for black 16.Bb6 Rxb6 [16...Qh4 17.g3 Nxg3 18.fxg3 Qe4+ 19.Kf2 Qxh1 20.Nf6++- ] 17.Ncxb6 Bh6 18.Bd3! Easily refuting black idea,in fact Bd2 is not a serious threat. 18...0-0 [18...Bd2+ 19.Ke2 Bg5 20.h4! Bxh4 (20...Be7 21.h5 ) 21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Nxd7 Kxd7 23.Rxa6+- ] 19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.0-0 Be6 21.Rxa6 Qh4 22.Qe2 Nd8 23.Ra8+- It was quite logical to give up here,but Ruslan continues to fight for some moves. 23...Kg7 24.g3! [24.Rfa1!?+- ] 24...Bg4 [24...Qh3 25.Qxe4 ] 25.gxh4 Bxe2 26.Rfa1 g5 27.Nd7! Rf5 28.Rxd8 gxh4 29.Rg8+! Kf7 [29...Kxg8 30.Ne7+ ] 30.Ra7 Rf3 31.N7f6+ Ke6 32.Re7+ Kf5 33.Ng4 Bd2 34.Nge3+ 1-0

(4) Anand,Viswanathan (2753) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2734) [C67] Linares 20th Linares (1), 22.02.2003 [Stohl] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 Nowadays the hight of fashion, after Kramnik's success with the Berlin against Kasparov in 2000 a lot of people started playing it (Ponomariov in the last months of 2002 and was successful with it in Wijk 2003). 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 [5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bd3 0-0= was played already in the first World title match Steinitz-Zukertort in 1886! The symmetric position doesn't promise White much.] 5...Nd6 6.Bxc6 [6.Bg5 practically disappeared from practice after the strong novelty 6...f6! 7.dxe5?! Nxb5 8.exf6 gxf6 9.Re1+ Kf7 10.Qd5+ (>=10.Bf4!? ) 10...Kg7 11.Bf4 Nd6 12.Nh4 Rg8 13.Nc3 Kh8 14.Qh5 Nd4 15.Nd5 b6 16.Nxf6 (>=16.Rad1=/+ ) 16...Qxf6 17.Be5 Bg7 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Re3 Bb7 20.Rg3 Rae8 21.Kh1 Ne4 22.Ng6+ Rxg6 23.Rxg6 Nxf2+ 24.Kg1 Ne2+ 25.Kf1 Nf4 26.Rxf6 Nxh5 27.Rxf2 Kg7-+ Socko,B-Lautier,J/EU-chT Leon/2001/] 6...dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 The basic Berlin position. White has a lead in development and a better P-structure, but a clear road to an advantage is hard to find. This is because Black has also some trumps-his solid setup has no visible weaknesses, he has the ^^ and last, but not least firmly controls the light squares on the >> (e6,f5,g4). 9...Be7 One of the many possible alternatives. Black started playing like this only recently and practice has proven his setup is viable even without the ^^. All in all the Berlin defence is not so much about concrete moves and forced variations, but about long-term plans. Especially Kramnik has studied the nuances of the whole system very deeply, as the following examples prove: [9...h6 10.b3 Ke8 (10...Bd7 11.Bb2 Kc8 12.Rad1 b6 13.h3 Ne7 is not so ideal, after 14.Rd2 c5 15.Rfd1 Be6 16.Ne2 g5 17.Rd8+ Kb7 18.Rxa8 Kxa8 19.h4 g4 20.Nh2 h5 21.Rd8+ Kb7 22.Nf4 Ng6 23.g3 c4 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.bxc4+/= Socko,B-Kharlov,A/EU-ch Batumi/2002/ Black is still far from full equality.) 11.Bb2 Be7 12.Rad1 a5 13.a4 h5 14.Ne2 Be6 15.c4 Rd8 16.h3 b6 17.Nfd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 c5 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Bc1 Kc8 22.Rd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.g4 g6! and Black's fortress seems unbreakable, e.g. 25.f4 (25.h4?! hxg4 26.Bg5 Bxg5 27.hxg5 Ke8 28.Kg2 1/2, Deep Fritz-Kramnik,V/Manama m/2002/) 25...Ke8 26.Kg2 hxg4 27.hxg4 Kf7 28.Kf3 (28.Kh3 Kg7 29.Be3 Kh7 30.Bf2 Kg7 31.Bh4 Bxh4 32.Kxh4 Kh6 33.Kg3 Kg7 34.Kf3 Kf7 35.Ke4 Ke7 36.f5 g5! 37.Ke3 Kf7= and the extra c6 tempo saves Black) 28...Bd8 (28...Bh4 29.Ke4 Be1 30.f5 gxf5+ 31.gxf5 Ke7 32.Bg5+ Kd7 is possibly also sufficient) 29.Ke4 g5!? (29...Be7 30.f5 Bd8 31.Bh6 /\Kf4,Bg5+-) 30.f5 c6 31.Be3 Kg7 32.fxe6 Kg6= and as the << break with b4 is insufficient, White has no visible way to improve his position.; But Black's whole defence hangs on a thin thread and even a slight change of the P-structure can render the _|_ untenable, as witness 9...Ke8 10.h3 a5 11.a3 h6 12.Re1 Be7 13.Ne4 Be6 (>=13...a4!?<=> ) 14.g4 Nh4 15.Nxh4 Bxh4 16.Nc5 a4 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Re4 Be7 19.Be3 c5 20.Rd1 Rf8 21.Kg2 Rf7 22.Kg3 b5 23.h4 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.h5 Kd7 26.c4 c6 27.Rf4! Ke8 28.Rxf7 Kxf7 29.Kf3 g5 30.Bc1 b4 31.b3! axb3 32.a4+- Anand,V-Almasi,Z/Bundesliga 0203/2003/ and after picking up the Pb3 White went on to win.; Later Almasi tried 9...Ne7 10.h3 h6 11.b3 (11.Ne4 Bf5 12.Re1 Nd5 13.Nd4 Bg6 14.Bd2 c5 15.Nb5 a6 16.Na3 Kc8 17.Rad1 Nb4 18.Bxb4 cxb4 19.Nc4 a5 20.Rd5 b6 21.Ned6+ Kb8 22.Nb5 Bc5 23.Rd7 Rc8~~ Shirov,A-Almasi,Z/Monte Carlo blind/2003/) 11...Ng6 12.Bb2 Bd7 13.Rad1 Kc8 14.Rfe1 Nf4 15.Nd4 a5 16.Nce2 Ne6 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.Nd4 a4 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Re4 axb3 21.axb3 Ra2 22.Bc3 b5 23.Rd2 Be7 24.g3 c5 25.Rde2 Rd8 26.Kg2 Rd1 27.Be1 g5 28.c4 Rxe2 29.Rxe2 bxc4 30.bxc4 Rd4 31.Rc2 Re4 32.Bd2+/- Anand,V-Almasi,Z/Monte Carlo blind/2003//\ 32...Rxe5? 33.g4! Re4 34.Be3 Kd7 35.Kf3+- ] 10.Rd1+ [Pono's first experience woith the line was 10.h3 Be6 (10...h6 or; 10...Ke8 can lead to the above mentioned positions.) 11.Bg5 Bxg5 12.Nxg5 Ke7 13.Rad1 Bc4 14.Rfe1 h6 15.Nf3 g5!? 16.g4 Ng7 17.Nd4 Be6 18.Ne4 Rad8 19.Ng3 c5!? 20.Ndf5+ Bxf5 21.gxf5 f6!= Polgar,J-Ponomariov,R/Benidorm 5' plof/2002/; 10.Bg5 Bxg5 11.Nxg5 Ke7= /+/= enables Black to save a tempo in comparison with the game, on the other hand it's to White's advantage to occupy the <->d with his Ra1, leaving the other R to support his >>P.] 10...Ke8 11.Bg5 [11.g3 h6 12.b3 Be6 13.Bb2 Rd8 (13...g5!?~~ ) 14.h3 g5 15.g4 Ng7 16.Ne4 Bd5 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.exf6 Ne6 19.Ne5 Nf4 20.Re1 Be6 21.Bc1 Nxh3+ (21...Nd5? 22.Nd3 b6 23.c4! Nxf6 24.Nb4 c5 25.Bb2 cxb4 26.Bxf6+/- Topalov,V-Ponomariov,R/Wijk aan Zee/2003/) 22.Kg2 Nf4+<=> ] 11...Bxg5 12.Nxg5 Ke7 13.Rd3 h6 14.Nf3N /\g4 The text is new, but at best only a slight improvement compared to [14.Nge4 Rd8 15.Rxd8 Kxd8 16.Rd1+ Ke7 17.f4?! This is premature. (>=17.h3!?+/= ) 17...Ne3 18.Rd2 Bf5 19.Ng3 Bh7 20.Kf2 Ng4+ 21.Kg1 Ne3 22.Kf2 Nc4 Black already spurns a draw by repetition, but White retains enough counterchances. 23.Rd4 b5 24.b3 Na3 25.Nce4 Nxc2 26.Rd2 Bxe4 27.Nxe4 Nb4 28.a3 Nd5 29.Kf3© Grischuk,A-Ponomariov,R/Wijk aan Zee/2003/] 14...g6 [The active 14...g5!? 15.Rad1 Ng7 16.Nd4 Nf5 has its positive (gains space on the >>) and negative (also weakens the >>) sides, it's difficult to say if it's better than the text.] 15.Rad1 Ng7 16.h3 [The seemingly promising 16.Nd4 Nf5!? probably didn't seem enough to Anand, the text fits his plans as well.] 16...Be6 17.Nd4 Rad8 18.f4 [18.Nxe6 >=Rxd3 (18...Nxe6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Rxd8 Kxd8 (20...Nxd8 21.f4 Ne6 22.Ne2+/= is similar) 21.Ne2 g5 22.g3+/= _|_ gives White a pleasant _|_, which he can play for a win without any risk.) 19.Rxd3 (19.Nxg7? Rxd1+ 20.Nxd1 Rg8-+ ) 19...Kxe6!? (19...Nxe6 20.Ne4+/= (20.Ne2 Nc5<=> ) ) 20.f4 g5<=> ; However, the immediate advance of the Pf2 is rather committal, deserving attention was 18.Ne4!?+/= ] 18...Bc4! 19.R3d2 c5 20.Nf3 [20.Ndb5 Nh5= and White can't protect the important Pf4.] 20...Nh5 21.b3 [21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Rxd8 Kxd8 23.b3 Ba6 24.Ne4 Nxf4 25.Nxc5 Ne6!?= ] 21...Rxd2 [21...Be6 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rxd8 Kxd8 24.Ne2 c4 25.b4+/= ] 22.Rxd2 Logical, but interesting was also the other recapture [22.Nxd2!? Be6 23.Rf1 /\ 23...Ng3 24.Rf2 Rd8 25.Kh2 Nf5 26.Nde4+/= ] 22...Be6 23.Ne2 c4!<=> Black exchanges his doubled P and is close to full equality. 24.Kf2! [24.g4 Ng7 /\h5 (24...cxb3!? is also playable, but hardly necessary) 25.Kf2 -24.Kf2; Even after 24.b4 c3 25.Rd4 Bxa2 26.Nxc3 Be6 27.g4 Ng7<=> /= White's advantage is more or less illusory.] 24...cxb3 25.cxb3 White has more space and potentially a more dangerous P majority, but the f5-square is under strong control. [25.axb3 a5 gives Black chances to create a more dangerous outside o^ on the a<->.] 25...c5?! [>=25...Rd8!? ] 26.g4 Ng7 27.Nc3 h5 In the future the weakening of g5 will play a major role, but it's difficult to recommend passive waiting moves. [27...Rd8 is already not ideal due to 28.Rxd8 Kxd8 29.Nb5|^ e.g., 29...a6 30.Nd6 /\Nh4,f5->] 28.Kg3 hxg4 29.hxg4 Rd8? This is however a more serious positional mistake, now Anand coordinates his pieces ideally and shows precise technique. [More in keeping with Black's 27-th move was 29...Rh1!? 30.Nb5 a6 31.Nd6 b6+/= <=>] 30.Rxd8 Kxd8 31.Ng5 First improve the Nf3... 31...Ke7 32.Nge4 b6 [32...c4 33.bxc4 Bxc4 34.Nd6+- Ba6 35.Nd5+ Ke6 36.Nc7++/- /+-] 33.Kh4 /\Kg5,Nd6,f5 Then the K... 33...Bd7 Prevents the aforementioned plan, but now White activates also his Nc3. 34.Nd5+ Kf8 [More active, but weaker is ‹34...Ke6 35.Ndf6 Ke7 (35...Bc6 36.Nd6 /\Kg5-h6 36...Ke7 (36...b5 37.Kg5 Ke7 38.f5 gxf5 39.gxf5 Ne8 40.Nc8++- ) 37.f5 gxf5 38.gxf5 Ne8 and White can afford even a P_|_: 39.Nfxe8 Bxe8 40.Nxe8 Kxe8 41.Kg5 a plausible line is 41...b5 (41...Ke7 42.Kf4 Kd7 43.Ke4 Kc6 44.a4 a6 45.f6 Kd7 46.Kd5+- ) 42.Kf4 f6 (42...Kd7 43.Ke4 Kc6 44.f6+- ) 43.e6 Ke7 44.Ke4 Kd6 45.a3 Kc6 46.a4 a6 47.axb5+ axb5 48.e7 Kd7 49.Kd5 c4 50.bxc4 bxc4 51.Kxc4 Kxe7 52.Kc5+- ) 36.Nxd7!? Kxd7 37.Kg5 Ke7 (37...Ne8 38.Nf6+!+- -see above.) 38.f5 gxf5 39.gxf5 Ne8 (39...Kf8 40.Nd6+- ) 40.f6+! Kf8 (40...Ke6 41.Kf4 /\Ng5+-) 41.e6! fxe6 42.Kg6+- and the o^f6 will cost Black his N.] 35.Nd6 Ne8 [>=35...Ne6!? 36.f5 gxf5 37.gxf5 Bc6 (37...Nd4 38.Kg5 Kg7 39.Nf6 Nf3+ 40.Kf4 Bc6 41.Nc8 Ne1 42.Ng4+/- is also no bed of roses) 38.Ne3 Nd4 39.Kg5 Kg7 40.Nc8 loses material, but Black would get at least a whiff of <=>. Now he will be practically pushed of the board.] 36.Nc4 b5 [36...Be6 37.Nce3 /\Kg5,f5,><Ne8] 37.Nce3 Ng7 38.Kg5 Bc6 39.Nc7! ><c5 [39.f5+/- /+- was also possible, but Anand targets a new >< and for the time being avoids exchanges.] 39...a5 [39...Ke7 40.f5 gxf5 41.gxf5 Kd7 42.Na6+- ] 40.f5 gxf5 41.gxf5 Bd7 [41...Ne8 42.Nxe8 Kxe8 43.Kf6 /\e6+-] 42.Na6 c4 43.Nc5 Bc8[] The only move, but now White has achieved full domination. [43...cxb3 44.Nxd7+ Ke7 45.f6++- ] 44.bxc4 bxc4 45.Ne4 /\Nd6 45...Bd7 46.Nc5 Bc8 [46...Bb5 47.a4+- loses both <<P.] 47.e6!+- Despite the simplification this break is decisive. 47...c3 [47...fxe6 48.f6 Nf5 (48...Ne8 49.Nxc4+- /\Ne5,o^f6) 49.Nxc4 /\ 49...e5 (49...Kf7 50.Nxa5+- /\Nc6) 50.Nb6 Nd6 51.Nxc8 Nxc8 52.Kg6 Nd6 53.Nd7+ Ke8 54.Nxe5 a4 55.a3(.) (55.f7+ Ke7 56.a3? Nxf7! 57.Nxf7 Ke6= ) 55...Kf8 56.Nd7+ Ke8 57.Nb6+- /\Na4] 48.e7+! Ke8 [48...Kxe7 49.f6+ Kf8 50.fxg7+ Kxg7 51.Ne4 Be6 52.a3+- and the last Pa3 will decide the game.; 48...Kg8 49.f6 Ne8 50.Ne4+- loses the o^c3] 49.f6 Ne6+ 50.Nxe6 Bxe6 [50...fxe6? 51.Nc4+- ] 51.Kf4 The B must cover d5 and f5 and is tied to e6. 51...Kd7 52.Ke5! Bg4 [52...Bxa2 53.Nf5 c2 54.Nd6 c1Q 55.e8Q+ Kc7 56.Qc8+ Kb6 57.Qb7+ Kc5 58.Qb5# ] 53.Kd4 Bd1 54.Kxc3 Ba4 Now Black can activate his K, but he will lose a piece in the process and Anand's N will be back on time. 55.Kd4 Ke6 56.Nd5 Kf5 57.Kc5 Ke5 58.a3 [58.Nc7+- ] 58...Ke6 59.Nc7+ Kxf6 60.e8Q Bxe8 61.Nxe8+ Ke6 62.Kb5 Ke5 63.Kxa5 f5 64.Ng7 [64.Ng7 f4 65.Nh5 f3 66.Ng3 Kf4 67.Nf1+- The Pf3 is going nowhere and the Pa3 will decide the game.] 1-0

(5) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2734) - Anand,Viswanathan (2753) [B30] Linares 20th Linares (8), 02.03.2003 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.Qe2 Qc7 7.Ng5 h6 8.Nh3 g6 9.f4 Bg7 10.c4 e5 11.Nc3 d5 12.0-0 0-0 13.g4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Qd7 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Rae1 Nc6 17.Nxd5 Nd4 18.Qg2 Qxg4 19.Ne7+ Kh7 20.Nxc8 Qxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Raxc8 22.Bd2 g5 23.Re7 Kg6 24.Rxa7 Ne6 25.b4 Rfd8 26.b5 Rxd3 27.Bc1 Rcd8 28.Raxf7 Rc3 29.Re7 Rd6 30.Nf2 Bf6 31.Re8 Rc2 32.Kh1 Rxc4 33.Re1 Nc7 34.Rg8+ Kh7 35.Rb8 Re6 36.Rf1 Nd5 37.Rc8 Bd4 38.Ng4 h5 39.Rd8 Nf4 40.Bxf4 gxf4 41.Nf2 Rc3 42.Rf8 Rc2 43.Rxf4 Ree2 44.b6 Bxf2 1/2-1/2

(6) Anand,Viswanathan (2786) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2700) [B90] Corus Wijk aan Zee (6), 21.01.2005 [Ftacnik] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 Qb6 7.Nb3 e6 8.Bf4!? Unusual introduction to the development of the queenside, but the move is certainly sound. [8.g4 ; 8.Qe2 ] 8...Nbd7 [8...Be7 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Rd8 11.g4 Nfd7 12.Bxd6 Ne5 13.Nd5 exd5 14.Bxe7 Re8 15.Bc5 Qf6 16.f4 Nxg4 17.h3 Qh6 18.e5 Qh4 19.Bb5 axb5 20.hxg4 Qd8 21.f5 1-0 Feuerstack,A-Magalashvili,D/Chalkidiki 2003/ (42)] 9.g4 Be7 10.Qe2 [10.Qd2 Ne5 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0-0 Qc7~~ ] 10...h6 11.h4 Qc7 12.0-0-0 b5 13.a3 Anand is willing to slow down advance of the black's b pawn since his knight has no good squares for the retreat. 13...Rb8 14.Qg2 Nc5 [14...b4 or 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.g5 Nh5 17.Bd2 Nc5= ; 14...Ne5 Nc4] 15.g5 Nh5 16.Be3 Na4?! Ponomariov clearly understands the necessity to create some counterplay, but it might have been more promissing to try the advance of the b pawn. [16...Nxb3+!? 17.cxb3 b4 18.axb4 Rxb4 19.Bc4 Qc6 (19...d5 20.exd5 Nf4 21.Qc2+/= ) 20.Qd2 a5 21.gxh6 gxh6 22.Kb1 Ba6~~ ] 17.Rd3! g6 18.Kb1 [18.gxh6 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.Qh2 Qxh2 21.Rxh2 Bf8 22.Rhd2 Bb7~~ ] 18...Bb7 19.Be2 e5 20.Qf2 Bc6?! This moves was heavily criticized in the post mortem, but Anand's suggestion 20...Nc5 is not much better. [20...Nc5 21.Nxc5 dxc5 22.Rhd1 b4 23.axb4 cxb4 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5+/- ] 21.gxh6! [21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Nb6 23.Rdd1 Nc4 24.Bc1+/= ] 21...Nb6 22.f4! Important strategical moment, the timely f3-f4 is gaining great popularity in many lines of the English attack. The opening of the position comes at undesirable moment for black. [22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Na4! 24.f4! Nxf4 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.Qxf4+/- ] 22...Nf6?! [22...exf4 23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Qxf4 Nc4 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 Ne5 White has prepared a small surprise for his opponent, he seriously contemplated sacrifice of the exchange. Black king would become unsafe anywhere on the board. (26...Bf8 27.h5 Bxh6 28.Qf6 ) 27.Nd4!! Nxd3 28.Bxd3+/- ] 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.Rf1 0-0 25.Nc5! Bb7 A modest retreat and an admission, that black pieces are poorly coordinated. [25...Qa7 26.Rd6!! Nc4 27.Bxc4 bxc4 28.Rxf6+- ] 26.Ne6! fxe6 27.Bxb6 Qc6 28.Qg1! Kh7 29.Rdf3 Ponomariov's position has fallen apart, his survival chances are negligable. 29...Qe8 [29...Rbc8 30.h5+- ] 30.Bc5 Bxc5 [30...Nd7 31.Rxf8 Nxf8 32.Qg3 Nd7 33.Bxe7 Qxe7 34.Qg5+- ] 31.Qxc5 Nd7 32.Qe3 Qe7 33.Qg5 Qxg5 34.Rf7+! Rxf7 [34...Kxh6 35.hxg5+ Kxg5 36.Rg1+ Kh6 37.Rxd7+- ] 35.Rxf7+ Kh8 36.hxg5 There is not a slightest doubt that endgame is lost for black. Anand shows his patient side a realizes his advantage mit maximum security-rather slowly. 36...Bc6 37.b4 Nf8 38.Rf6 Kg8 39.Bg4 Bd7 40.Kb2 Re8 41.Nd1 Re7 42.Nf2 Be8 43.Rf3 [43.Nd3!? Nh7 44.Nxe5 Nxf6 (44...Nxg5 45.Nxg6+- ) 45.gxf6 Rh7 46.Bxe6+ Kf8 47.f7 Rxh6 48.fxe8Q+ Kxe8 49.Bf7+ Ke7 50.Bxg6 Ke6 51.Nd3+- ] 43...Rf7 [43...Nh7 44.Nh3 Bc6 45.Re3+- ] 44.Rxf7 Kxf7 45.Kc3 Nh7 46.Nh3 Bc6 47.Kd3 Ke7 48.Ke3 Kd6 49.Be2 Ke7 50.Bd3 Kd6 51.Kf3 Ke7 52.Kg4 Nf8 53.Ng1 Nh7 54.Nf3 Kd6 55.Kg3 Be8 56.Kf2 Bc6 57.Ke3 Bd7 58.c4! At long last white's extra pawn is marching forward and breaking theresistance. 58...bxc4 59.Bxc4 Bc8 [59...Bb5 60.Bd3 Kc7 61.Nxe5 Nxg5 62.Nxg6+- ] 60.a4 Bb7 61.a5 Bc8 62.Bd3 1-0

(7) Anand,Viswanathan (2785) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2695) [C42] Sofia MTel Masters Sofia (3), 14.05.2005 [Huzman] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Ne5 Bd6!?N Very interesting novelty.Black start to attack Ne5. 12.a3 [12.f3 Nxc3 (12...Nf6 13.a3 (13.c5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nd7 15.f4 d4!<=> ) 13...Na6 (13...Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.c5 Be7 16.Bd3+/= ) 14.Bg5 (14.f4 c5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.f5 cxd4 17.fxe6 Bxe5 18.exf7+ Kh8 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Bxa6 bxa6 21.Qf3 Qd8 22.Bd2 Bf6= ) 14...dxc4 15.Nxc4 Be7 16.Na5!? (16.Ne5 c5 17.Bxa6 cxd4 18.Bxb7 dxc3 19.Bxa8 Qb6+ 20.Rf2 (20.Kh1 cxb2 21.Rb1 Rxa8=/+ ) 20...Bc5 21.Qe2 Bxf2+ 22.Qxf2 cxb2 23.Rb1 Rxa8= ) 16...c5 17.Nxb7 Qb6 18.d5 Bxd5 19.Nxd5 (19.Bxf6 Bb3! 20.Qd3 c4+ 21.Qd4 Bxf6 22.Qxb6 axb6=/+ ) 19...Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Nc7! (20...Bxg5 21.Qxg5 Qxb7 22.Bc4!+/- ) 21.Qe5 Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Qxb7 23.Qxc5 Qxb2 24.Bc4 Qb6= ; 12...c5!? 13.fxe4 cxd4 14.cxd5 Bxe5 15.dxe6 Qh4 16.exf7+ Kh8 (16...Rxf7 17.h3 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 (18.Bxf1 Rf8! 19.Bc4+ Kh8 20.Ne2 d3-/+ ) 18...dxc3 19.Qb3+ Kh8 20.Qxb4 cxb2 21.Bxb2 Qf6+ 22.Kg1 Bxb2 23.Qxb7 Re8© ) 17.h3 dxc3 18.bxc3 Bxc3 19.Bd2!+/- ) 13.bxc3 Bxe5! (13...Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.c5 Be7 16.Bd3+/- ; 13...Na6 14.f4|^ ) 14.dxe5 Nc6 15.cxd5 Qxd5= ; 12.Bf3!? f6 13.Nd3 (13.cxd5 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Nxd5 15.Nd3 c6 16.c4 Ne7 17.c5 Bc7 18.Re1 Bd5 19.Rb1 Qd7 20.Bg4 f5 21.Bg5 Ng6 22.Bh5 Rae8= ) 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 c6 (15...dxc4 16.Qe4 Bc8 17.Be2|^ ) 16.cxd5 Bxd5 (16...cxd5 17.Qb5 a6 18.Qxb7 ) 17.Bxd5+ (17.c4 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qd7= ) 17...cxd5 18.Qb5 Rf7= ] 12...Bxe5! 13.axb4 [13.dxe5 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Nc6 15.cxd5 Qxd5= ; 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.dxe5 Nd3 15.Bxd3 exd3 (15...Qxd3 16.Qxd3 exd3 17.b3 a5 18.a4= ) 16.b3 Qd4 (16...a5 17.a4= ) 17.Be3 Qxe5 18.Qxd3= ] 13...Bf6! 14.Nxe4 [14.cxd5 Bxd5 (14...Bf5 15.Bd3 Nxc3 (15...Nd6 16.Bf4 Re8 17.Bxd6 Bxd3 18.Bxc7 Qxc7 19.Qxd3+/- ) 16.bxc3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qxd5 18.Ra5+/= ) 15.Bd3 Re8 (15...Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qd7 17.Re1 Rfe8+/= ) 16.Qc2 Nxc3 17.bxc3 (17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.bxc3 g6 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Qxg6 Be4 21.Qh5+ Bh7-/+ ) 17...g6 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.f3 (19.c4 Qg4 20.Bg3 Be4= ) 19...a6= ] 14...dxe4 15.Be3 [15.d5 Bf5 16.Qb3 Be5<=> ] 15...c6= 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.b5 White try to take initiative on the queen's side by pawn sacrifice. [18.Qc2 Qxb4 (18...Bf5!? 19.Ra5 Qe6 20.d5 cxd5 21.Rdxd5 Rxd5 22.Rxd5+/= ) 19.Ra4 Qd6 20.Qxe4 b5!? (20...Re8 21.Qf3 Qd7= ) 21.Ra6 (21.cxb5 Bb3-/+ ) 21...bxc4 22.Rxc6 Qd7= /\23.Bxc4? Bf5 24.Qf3 Bg4-+ ] 18...cxb5 19.d5 Bd7 [19...Qc7 20.Qa5 (20.Qb4 Be7 21.Qe1 Bd7 22.c5! Bf6 23.Qb4 a6 24.Bd4© ) 20...Qxa5 21.Rxa5 Bd7 22.cxb5 Bxb2 23.Rxa7 Rxa7 24.Bxa7 Rc8= ] 20.c5 Qe7 21.Ra3 [21.Qc2 a6 22.Bf4 Bf5= ] 21...Bc6! Black force the move d6.They hope to blocade pawns of White. 22.d6 Qe5 23.b4 [23.Bd4!? Qxd4 24.Qxd4 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Kf8 26.f3 exf3 27.Bxf3 a5 (27...Bxf3 28.gxf3 Rac8 29.b4 b6 30.Rd5 Rd7 31.Ra6 ) 28.Kf2 a4= ] 23...Qb2 It will be easier to blocade pawns of White in the endgame. 24.Qxb2 Bxb2 25.Ra5 a6 26.Rb1 [26.Bd4 Bxd4 27.Rxd4 f5 28.f3 Kf7= ] 26...Be5 27.f4 exf3 28.Bxf3 Rac8= 29.Ra3 f6 30.Bg4 Bd7 31.Bf3 Bc6 32.Bg4 Bd7 33.Bf3 Bc6 1/2-1/2

(8) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2695) - Anand,Viswanathan (2785) [A30] Sofia MTel Masters Sofia (8), 20.05.2005 [Stohl] 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Re1 Ne4 Black simplifies the position, in this line White doesn't have attacking chances, as after themorecomplex [7...d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 11.Be3 0-0 12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.f4~~ |^>>] 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.d3 Bb7 10.e4 White naturally wants to make use of his 7-th move, the immediate [10.d4 cxd4 11.Qxd4 (11.Nxd4 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 Nc6= ) 11...0-0<=> makes it difficult for him to put Black under pressure.] 10...Nc6 Black want s to solve his problems by further exchanges. If he is not afraid of a typically cramped position, he can play more in the spirit of the Hedgehog: [10...0-0 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 d6 (12...a6!? 13.Qg4 Re8 14.b3 d6 15.Bb2 Bf8 16.a4 Qc7 17.Qe2 Nd7 18.Rec1 Rac8 19.Rc3 Qb8 20.Re3 g6 21.Qd1 Ba8 22.Re2 Nc5 23.b4 Nd7<=> Agrest,E-Ghaem Maghami,E/Calvia olm/2004/) 13.a4!? is an attempt to emulate the Beliavsky-Lutz game (see below): (13.b3 a6 14.Be3 Nd7 15.f4 Re8 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.Rc1 Bf6 18.Qd2 Rad8 19.g4 Nc5 (>=19...g6!?~~ ) 20.b4 g6 21.Nc2 Nd7 22.g5 Bg7 23.Ne3 Vallejo Pons,F-Adams,M/Linares/2002/ 23...f5!?~~ /+/=; 13.Be3 Nd7 14.Rc1 a6 15.f4 Re8 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.b4 Rac8 18.Qb3 Qb8 19.f5 e5 20.Nc2 b5 21.Ne3 Bg5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Rcd1 Nf6 24.Qd3 Red8<=> Psakhis,L-Adams,M/playchess.com/2004/) 13...Nc6 (13...Nd7!? ) 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.b3 Qc7 16.Ba3 Rfd8 17.Ra2 a6 18.Bb4+/= b5?! 19.cxb5 axb5 20.a5 d5 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.exd5 Qd6 23.a6 Bxd5 24.Bxd5 Qxd5 25.Qxd5 Rxd5 26.Rc1+/- Chuchelov,V-Medvegy,Z/Bundesliga 0405/2005/] 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 Consistent with Black's 10th move. [12...0-0 allows White to play either 13.Be3 , or even keep the knights with (13.Nb5!?+/= ) ] 13.Qxd4 0-0 14.b3 The text-move achieves precious little, so the question is - how to put Black under some pressure? [The best chance to achieve this seems to be 14.Rd1!? White wants to force d6 and leave Black defending the ><d6 with the passive Be7. 14...d6 (Still untested, but interesting is 14...Bc6!? 15.Bf4 Bc5+/= /\Qe7<=>) 15.a4! (15.Qe3 Qc7 16.b3 Qc5 17.Qe2 Bf6 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Bd4 Be7 20.Bb2 Rad8 21.Rd3 Bc6 22.Rad1 b5<=> Tukmakov,V-Gheorghiu,F/Crans Montana/2000/) 15...Qc7 16.Ra2 Bc6 (more critical is 16...f5 17.b3 Qc6<=> /+/=) 17.b3 Rfd8 18.Ba3 Rd7 19.Rad2 Rad8 20.Qe3 Qb7 21.f4 h6 22.h4 a6 23.Bb4 Bf8 24.Kh2+/= ()|^,Beliavsky,A-Lutz,C/Mitropa Cup Leipzig/2002/; Another try to play on the d-file is 14.Bf4 >=Bc5!? (14...d6 15.Qd3 (15.Qd2 Qc8 16.b3 Rd8 17.Be3 Bc6 18.a4 Qb7 19.Bd4 a6?! 20.b4! e5 21.Be3|^ Ehlvest,J-Lindberg,B/Stockholm/1998/) 15...Qc7 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.b3 Bc6 18.b4 e5 19.Bd2 Bd7 20.Rc1 Be6 21.Bf1 a6 22.Rb1 Rdb8 23.Rec1 Qd8 24.a4 a5 25.bxa5 bxa5 26.Rb5 Bd7 27.Qd5!?© |^,Rausis,I-Womacka,M/Gausdal/2002/ 27...Bxb5 28.cxb5 Bg5 ) 15.Qd3 Qe7 16.e5 (16.Be5 f5 17.exf5 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Rxf5 19.f4 Rd8 20.Rad1 Rf7 21.a3 a5 22.a4 g5 23.h4 gxf4 24.Bxf4 Qf6 25.b3~~ 1/2,Beckhuis,G-Roeder,M/Muenster/1997/; 16.Rad1 e5!? 17.Be3 d6= ) 16...Bxg2 17.Kxg2 f6 18.Rad1 fxe5 19.Rxe5 d6 20.Re2 Qb7+ 21.Qe4 Qxe4+ 22.Rxe4 Rf6 23.Be3 Bxe3 24.Rxe3 Rd8 25.Red3 e5 26.Rd5 Re6 27.c5 bxc5 28.Rxc5 Rb8 29.Rc2 Rb5= Gurevich,M-Roeder,M/BL2W 9596/1996/] 14...Bc5! Now Black doesn't hesitate to post his B actively. 15.Qc3 [15.Qd2 Qe7 16.a3 a5 17.Bb2 Bc6 18.Qd3 f6 19.Re2 Rab8 20.a4 Rbd8 21.Rd1 Qf7 22.Kh1 Qh5 23.f4 e5 24.f5 Qf7 25.h4 g5 26.g4 h6 27.Bf3 Kg7 28.Rh2 Rh8 29.Kg2 Qe7 30.Rh3 Rh7 31.Kf1 Rdh8 32.Rh2 Kf8 33.Ke2 Qg7 34.h5 Davies,N-Schandorff,L/DEN-chB/1988/] 15...Qe7 Anand can afford to be patient. [15...f5 16.exf5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rxf5 18.f4 Qf6 19.Bd2 d5 20.Rad1 (>=20.Qxf6 Rxf6 21.Bc3 d4 22.Bb2+/= ) 20...dxc4 21.Qxc4 Rd5 22.Bc3 Qf7= Schlosser,P-Yermolinsky,A/Groningen op/1996/] 16.Re2N [16.a3 a5 17.Bb2 f6 (17...f5!? 18.exf5 (18.e5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 f4 20.f3~~ /=/+) 18...Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rxf5<=> ) 18.Re2 Bc6 19.a4 Qf7 20.Ba3 Qh5 21.Rd2 Rf7 22.Bxc5 Qxc5 23.Rad1 Raf8 24.Qd4 Qxd4 25.Rxd4 Rb8 26.Rd6 Rb7 27.f4 Kf8 28.e5 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 fxe5 30.fxe5 Ke7 31.Rf1 Rxf1 32.Kxf1 Rb8 33.Ke2 Kd8 34.Rd4 Ke7 35.Ke3 Rc8= <=>,Vaganian,R-Yermolinsky,A/Tilburg/1993/] 16...a5 17.a4 [17.Bb2 f6= can transpose into the above game. Ponomariov puts his pawn on a4 - if his rook leaves a1, Black can play a4 himself, while on a3 the pawn would require extra protection (Vaganian went a4 on move 19 anyway). The drawback is Black's outpost on c5 is now fully secure. (17...f5!? ) ] 17...f5!? Anand chooses the active option. 18.e5 [18.exf5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rxf5 20.f4= ] 18...Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rad8 20.Qf3 [20.Bb2?! f4 ; 20.h4 h6= ; 20.Bf4 d5 (20...g5!?~~ ) 21.exd6 Bxd6= /\ 22.Be5 Qb7+ 23.Kg1 Bc5!? <->d] 20...d6 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Bg5 [22.Bf4 Qd3! /\23.Rxe6 Qxf3+ 24.Kxf3 Rd3+|^ ] 22...Rd7 23.Rae1 [23.Rd2 Bd4 (23...Qxd2!? 24.Bxd2 Rxd2 25.Rf1 Rfd8© ) 24.Be3 e5= ] 23...Qd3!= Again this active sortie guarantees Black sufficient <=>. 24.Qxd3 [24.Rxe6 Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Rd3+ 26.Kg2 Rxb3 leads to the same position.] 24...Rxd3 25.Rxe6 Rxb3 26.Be7 Re8?! [26...Rc8!? 27.Bxc5 Rxc5<=> ; Although the text-move draws in the long run, a safer way to achieve this result seems to be 26...Bxe7 27.Rxe7 Rf7! 28.Re8+ Rf8 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Re5 Rb4 (30...g6 31.c5 b5! 32.c6 bxa4 33.Rc5 Rb8= ) 31.c5 bxc5 32.Rxf5+ Ke7 33.Rxc5 Rxa4 34.Rc7+= ] 27.Bxc5 Rxe6 28.Rxe6 bxc5 29.Re8+! Kf7 30.Re5+/= White wins a P and Black must still be on his toes. 30...Rb4 31.Rxf5+ Kg6 [31...Ke6 32.Rxc5 Rxa4 33.Rc7+/= ] 32.Rxc5 Rxa4 33.Kf3 Ra2 34.h4 [34.Rc7 a4 35.Ra7 a3 36.Ke3 Rc2 37.Kd4 a2<=> (37...Rxf2 38.Rxa3 Rxh2 39.c5|^ ) ] 34...a4 35.Ra5 a3 36.Ke4 [36.Ke3 Rc2 37.Kd4 a2 38.f4 Kf6+/= is similar to the game.] 36...Re2+ 37.Kd4 [37.Kd3? Rxf2 /\38.Rxa3?? Rf3+-+ ] 37...a2 38.f4 Kf6 39.g4 [39.c5!? ] 39...g6 40.c5 Rd2+ 41.Ke4 [41.Kc3 Rf2<=> ] 41...Re2+ 42.Kd3 Rh2 ><>>P 43.Ra6+ [43.c6 Ke7 44.f5 gxf5 45.Ra7+ Kd6 46.c7 Kd7 47.gxf5 Rxh4 (47...Rh3+ 48.Kd4 Rxh4+ 49.Ke5 Rh2= ) 48.Rxa2 Kxc7= ] 43...Ke7 44.Ke4 [The last chance was 44.f5 , although even here Black should draw: 44...gxf5 (44...Rxh4 45.f6+ Kf7 46.g5!?|^ (46.Rxa2 Kxf6= ) ) 45.gxf5 Rxh4 (45...Rh3+ 46.Ke4 Rxh4+ 47.Ke5|^ ) 46.Rxa2 Rf4 47.Ra7+ Kd8 48.Rf7 h5 (48...Ke8 49.c6! ) 49.c6 (49.Ke3 Rc4= ) 49...h4 50.c7+ Kc8 51.Ke3 Rf1 52.Ke4 h3 53.Rh7 Rh1 (53...Re1+!? ) 54.Ke5 (54.Kf3 Rf1+ 55.Kg4 Rg1+! 56.Kf4 Rh1 57.Kg3 Rg1+ 58.Kh2 Rf1 59.Rf7 Rf3 60.f6 Kb7= ) 54...h2 55.Kf6 Kb7= ] 44...Rxh4 45.Rxa2 Rxg4 46.Ke5 Kd7= 47.Ra7+ Kc6 48.Rxh7 Kxc5 49.Rc7+ Kb4 50.Rc1 Kb5 Although Black 's K is cut off, White can't concentrate his forces for an effective attack of Black's last P. The following moves allows an immediate draw. 51.Ke4 g5 52.Rf1 Rxf4+ 53.Rxf4 gxf4 54.Kxf4 1/2-1/2