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Viswanathan Anand vs Garry Kasparov
"Dragon Drop" (game of the day Nov-10-2008)
Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match (1995), New York, NY USA, rd 13, Oct-02
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation. Yugoslav Attack (B77)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-10-08  kevin86: White will be soon cut to ribbons by black's stellar play. Not a good day for the future champ.
Nov-10-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  playground player: I think Anand has gotten a little better since then.
Nov-10-08  nd792001: What if white declines the knight and moves its threatened queen, 26Qe1 for example? I am not seeing an imminent crisis if the knight isn't captured.
Nov-10-08  traction: When I first saw the position I was surprised Anand resigned, 26 Qd4+ QxQ 27 cxQ Ng3+ 28 Kf2 NxR 29 RxN...I mean sure vishy is exchange down...even against kasparov he could have tried to play for a draw. I am sure something is wrong with my line here...Can anyone comment?
Nov-10-08  traction: Oh dear god I just saw instead of Ng3+ black can simply play Nd2+ winning the LSB...oops pretty difficult to play agaisnt Kaspy a piece down
Nov-10-08  traction: <nd792001> I think if Anand plays Qe1 Ng3+ is a mate!
Nov-10-08  Eyal: <nd792001: What if white declines the knight and moves its threatened queen, 26.Qe1 for example? I am not seeing an imminent crisis if the knight isn't captured.>

Besides Qd4+, which loses a piece to Qxd4 followed by Nd2+, 26.Qe1 is the only queen move to defend against Ng3#. The imminent crisis, however, still comes after 26...Rd6! (threatening Nd2+) 27.Bd3 (27.Rd1 Ng3+ 28.Qxg3 Rxd1+ and mate) 27...Nf6! 28.Qd2/d1 Re3, or 28.Be2 Rde6.

Nov-10-08  nd792001: Eyal and traction, thanks for the analysis pointers. Eyal, I agree after your move 26 and 27 white cannot both retain the bishop and hold off mate.
Nov-12-08  Caissanist: Wrt Fischer and the Dragon--Fischer's opinions about the Dragon were laid out quite well in his annotations to game 2 of My 60 Memorable Games, Fischer vs Larsen, 1958; <tpstar> has posted Fischer's annotations there.
Nov-18-08  njchess: I agree with <whithergoes> and <mistreaver> comments with regard to move 19. dxe6.

This is the second time Anand faced Kasparov's Dragon in the match. He lost the first game when he played 30. Nb6??

12. Nxc6 is rarely used, but playable. Although I'm sure Kasparov prepped for it, the decision to make that move must have come as a surprise to Kasparov. When it has been played, it is most often played after Black's b5 pawn thrust. That way, White avoids opening up the b-file after bxc6. If White hasn't played h4 already, White usually castles king side. Otherwise, 0-0-0 is generally played.

14. Bc4 is probably the best move for White. 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 probably transposes, though it does give White the option of playing 15. Qd3 as an alternative to Bc4.

I like Black's 14. ... Qb6 over Rb8. Its subtle in that it plays on the fact that White has not castled. Black will gain a tempo if he can play c4 and White has castled king side and, if has played 0-0-0, c4 will directly attack White's queen side.

Since White hasn't castled, Black keeps up the pressure forcing White to deal with threats. Considering White's bishop is effectively pinned, he is forced to retake with 18. exd5.

18. ... e5 pressuring White again. Also playable was e6. All White needed to do was castle (I prefer 0-0) and the position is roughly equal, but instead plays 19. dxe6?

19. ... d5 20. e7 Rfe8 21. Bxd5 Rxe7+ 22. Kf1 Rd8 23. c4 Nxd5 24. cxd5 Red7 leaves White with a difficult and probably losing position.

19. ... d5 20. Be2 c4! 21. Rd1 Qxe6 22. Kf2 Qf5! is also difficult and probably losing for White as well.

Jun-21-09  WhiteRook48: um, maybe NOT open with 1 e4
Jun-27-09  Damianx: Both this Dragon & the other are games Garry has studied fron Fisher there is even a YouTube video of Garry showing the other game played by Fisher
Feb-02-10  DiscoJew: ouch. That would be hard to regain form after a game like this.
Mar-24-10  thegoodanarchist: <DiscoJew: ouch. That would be hard to regain form after a game like this.>

Even harder to regain form after the -6/+0/=0 beating Larsen got in 1971...

Aug-01-11  koleos: 26)cd,Rc3+ and the game is over.
Nov-19-11  indoknight: why not 21.bxc4?
Mar-19-12  Naniwazu: What's wrong with 12. Nxc6?
Mar-19-12  AlanPardew: Nothing really but by avoiding the main line in 12.0-0-0, it could be seen as a signal to Kasparov that Vishy wasn't confident of taking on his opponent's preparation. Losing the game inevitably turned 12.Nxc6 from being a decision born of prudence into one of cowardice.
May-29-12  QueentakesKing: Kasparov is a monster!
May-29-12  QueentakesKing: Wow, brilliant,fun,exciting,educational and what a puzzle! I LOVE CHESS!!!
Jul-07-12  rishinarayanan: What happens if the knight is taken
Jul-13-12  rishinarayanan: He will play Nd2 in instead of ng3 traction
Sep-13-12  QueentakesKing: <rishinarayan> if fxe4 then (26)--Rf6+( 27) Ke1-Rxe4+ (28)Kd1-Rd6 (29) Bd3-Re3 etc.
Oct-30-12  fishakguide: QueentakesKing: <rishinarayan> if fxe4 then (26)--Rf6+( 27) Ke1-Rxe4+ (28)Kd1-Rd6 (29) Bd3-Re3 etc. I disagree with ..Re3 because 30.Rb1 I think Qd8 ends it.
Mar-09-18  schnarre: ...Might have to give the Dragon another try after seeing this one.
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