Viswanathan Anand vs Viktor Bologan (2004)

Viswanathan Anand vs Viktor Bologan
Wijk an Zee Corus Chess (2004) · Russian Game: Classical Attack. Chigorin Variation (C42) · 1/2-1/2

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explore this opening	find similar games	7 more Bologan/Anand games
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Jan-15-04		AdrianP: 15. fxe4 was another Anand novelty. Apparently Anand had a clearly winning position if he had played 18. b4!. Later on, I think Anand must have missed Bologan's clever zwischenzug 25. ...dxc3, when he was calculating the series of exchanges initiated by 20... Bxe5, and thought he was going to be up a clear pawn. A good save by Bologan, but quite an indication of the ease with which Anand gets winning positions with the W pieces.

Jan-15-04		AdrianP: This is from the frontpage of www.coruschess.com <Anand overlooked a nasty pun [sic] that would have delivered a quick knockout to Viorel Bologan.> If only he'd had the assistance of the kibitzers at chessgames.com...! ;-)

Jan-15-04		Reisswolf: Yeah, I read that nasty pun comment too. Maybe I'm stupid, but what is the pun? I can't seem to find it? Maybe it has to do it playing "b4" and analysing the position "before"? I don't know; I'm stretching here! Help!

Jul-13-05		patzer2: <AdrianP> Let's see. After the deflection 18. b4! Nc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Nxc6 White wins a pawn and a piece with a Knight Fork. Good catch!

Apr-08-06		InspiredByMorphy: 18.b4 may win a pawn, and give white a winning advantage, but it does not win a piece. 18.b4 dxc3 (threatening Qd4+ which wins the knight. 19.bxa5 leaves double pawns on the a file) 19.Be3 Qc7 (threatening the knight the knight on e5) 20.Bd4 Rad8 (threatening the defending bishop) 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.Bxc3 and now ...Nc6 after which 23.Nxc6 bxc6 24.Bxc6 wins a pawn. The moves again ... 18.b4! dxc3 19.Be3 Qc7 20.Bd4 Rad8 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.Bxc3 Nc6 23.Nxc6 bxc6 24.Bxc6

Apr-08-06		InspiredByMorphy: Also If 18.b4 dxc3 19.bxa5 Qd4+ 20.Kh1 Qxe5 21.Bh7+ (which appears to win the black queen at first glance) ...Kh8 22.Ba3 Qxe1 23.Rxe1 Bxa3 24.Qxc3 Rae8 and black positionally and materially achieves equality. Therefore I dont think that in regards to this line, 19.bxa5 can be recommended.

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18. b4! deflects to set up a winning Knight Fork
from Knight Forks by patzer2