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Viswanathan Anand vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
"Nepotism" (game of the day Jul-05-2012)
Chess Classic Mainz (rapid) (2009) (rapid), Mainz GER, rd 2, Jul-31
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. Poisoned Pawn Accepted (B97)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-31-09  percyblakeney: Nepo seems to raise his level against the top players. In Dortmund last year he drew Kramnik, Ivanchuk and Leko with black and was undefeated, and here he played a very good rapid game against Anand.
Jul-31-09  euripides: Yes, very impressive. 12...g5 is new at this level in this database. At the end Black will play b3 and if cxb3 push the d pawn; White's king cannot leave a2-b2 because of checks and skewers.
Jul-31-09  Gambitor: The line 12...g5 is extensively covered in the rybka book, in fact is the main line.. anand played Bf2 to avoid nepo's preparation.
Jul-31-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: Wow, how does anyone beat Anand at rapid chess? He is supposed to be one of the very best rapid players in the world, right now maybe only Aronian - beacuase he won the last (Melody) Amber tournament - can claim to be better.

Congrats to Mr. Nepo, he must be one of these young, rapidly improving players.

Jul-31-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: Anand was several minutes behind on the clock when I tuned in around move 26, and did not have instant reponses to 26...b5 or 27...Bb7, so he already knew something was wrong.
Jul-31-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: <tamar> thanks for the (extra) info
Jul-31-09  Davolni: When was the last time Anand lost to somebody from the 2600 club in RAPIDS????
Aug-01-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: The pawn-grab <21...Qxa2> loses to 22. Qd6+ Kd8 23. Nc5 Nf7 24. Bxf7 Qa1+ 25. Be1 Qe5 26. Ba5+ b6 27. Bxb6 mate
Aug-01-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: <LIFE Master AJ> Sure, thanks. Here is some better information from http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail...

<Nepomniachtchi opted for the sharp Poisoned Pawn variation of the Najdorf Sicilian and as Anand later admitted in the press conference, "I did not quite know what I was playing and could not clearly remember what to do in this line.“>

Aug-02-09  falso contacto: <Davolni>:
Nepo... is much better than "2600 club", i think.
Aug-02-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: <falso contacto>
You may be right!
Aug-04-09  champsylove: Nepo should be very happy and proud of this one.
Vishy, made his name as an awesome blitz player. He is also no slouch when it comes to Nadjorf poisoned pawn. He is very comfortable with both sides and has played both well. Well played Nepo. Love it when the Super GMs get a shake up.
Aug-04-09  yalie: g5 is a pretty good novelty (and yes it is Rybka's first move - so clearly if Anand was only expecting Nfd7, that was a gap in his preparation). kudos to Nepo for great opening prep followed by sustained good play. I dont think he ever gave up his advantage.
Aug-04-09  yalie: the more I think about it - this whole line with 10.e5 has a smell to it. why not play the logical f5?
Jan-27-11  bartonlaos: <32. Rh5> - Instead of exchanging rooks, Anand opts to threaten the pawn at g5. He must have missed the check, because he never again gets the chance to take it. By the end of the game, the same pawn confines the rook.
Jul-05-12  chess defense: Lesson-poison pawn should not be accepted...
Jul-05-12  LoveThatJoker: Cool game by GM Nepomniachtchi!

LTJ

Jul-05-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: <chess defense: Lesson-poison pawn should not be accepted...>

It seemed to work for Nepomniatchi here...

Jul-05-12  chess defense: @check it out: the black queen was practically out of play the moment it grabbed the pawn...a few inaccuracies from anand turned the game...away from him...
Jul-05-12  chess defense: I guess anand miscalculated the part where he sacrificed his knight for the initiative...
Jul-05-12  kevin86: An upset! Anand goes down "quickly"
Jun-22-17  ChessHigherCat: <Chessical: The pawn-grab <21...Qxa2> loses to 22. Qd6+ Kd8 23. Nc5 Nf7 24. Bxf7 Qa1+ 25. Be1 Qe5 26. Ba5+ b6 27. Bxb6 mate> I think that line's problematic because of 23...Qxc2: 22. Qd6+ Kd8 23. Nc5 Qxc2 24. Nxb7+ Bxb7 25. Rxb7 Qd3+ 26. Qxd3 Nxd3 and white is a piece and two pawns down with no compensation.

This is one effective way to punish the pawn grab: 21. Kxf1 Qxa2 22. Qb4+ Kd8 23. Qc3 Qa4 24. Nd6 Qc6 25. Qd4 Nf3 26. Nf7+ Ke7 27. Bd6+ Ke8 28. Ne5+ Kd8 29. Nxc6+ bxc6 30. Qxg7 Nd2+ 31. Ke1 Nxb3 32. Qe7#

Jun-24-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: <ChessHigherCat>

Let us see:

<21... Qxa2 22. Qd6+ Kd8 23. Nc5> and now <23...Qxc2>


click for larger view

which unfortunately allows an immediate:

<24.Nxe6> Mate.

Jun-24-17  ChessHigherCat: <Chessical> Eureka, I lost it!

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