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Viswanathan Anand vs Ruslan Ponomariov
"Knights are overrated." (game of the day Jan-13-2024)
Chess Classic Mainz Rapid Match (2002) (rapid), Mainz GER, rd 8, Aug-18
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense. Rubinstein Variation (D27)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
1-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Given 34 times; par: 65 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Aug-11-05  bramdas: If you met Anand, as I recently did at simul in Chennai in July '05, you'd wonder where the aggression comes from. A knife on the board, a gem outside!
Sep-19-05  chessworm: Well... Is there a game where Anand sacrifice does not pay off... I guess this question is already asked by someone.. I am curious
Nov-20-05  DeepBlade: Never saw a game with so many pins!
Jan-28-06  Bacon Short: <chessworm>, Yes, most of the time, if not always Anand sacrifices work out to win the game.

Opposite to Kramnik, who sacrifices and blunders.

Jan-29-06  4daluvofchess: Looking at this game (and drinking a good deal of jagermeister) I notice that anand probably does not see anything special in such a game... This is noticable in his annotations as well- he often gives moves many people would list as "!" or even "!!" without comment...

Aug-06-06  patzer2: It would seem Anand's double Knight sacrfice, starting with 25. Nxf7!, is sound as it offers White winning chances with no worse than equality if Black can find his way through the maze of complications.

Best play may be in accepting the second sacrfice offer with 26... Kxg7 27. Qg4+ Kh7 28. Qxe6 Qd8 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30. Bxf6+ Bxf6 31. Qxb7 = (+0.19 @ 15 depth, Fritz 8). Although the computer rates it equal here, Black has the more difficult task of finding a draw as his extra piece is fless flexible than White's three additional pawns.

Aug-06-06  patzer2: If 34...Qxb3, then White wins with a series of clever "only" moves after 35. Qc7+! Kf8 36. Bc4! Qc3 37. Qc5+ Kg7 38. Qe7+ Kh8 39. Bxe6 Qe5+ 40. g3 Ng8 41. Qe8! Qg7 42. Bxg8 Qxg8 43. Qe5+! Kh7 44. Qe7+ Kg6 45. Qxb4 .
Oct-04-06  orio24: Unbelievable game. Bravo Anand!
Mar-29-07  chessticle: Nice game indeed.
Feb-07-08  LivBlockade: What does White do against 29...bxc4 with the idea of 30. Nxc8 c3?
Feb-28-08  chessgangsta: Excellent game by Anand.
Apr-24-08  positionalgenius: Probably my favorite anand game ever. A brilliant win.
Jul-06-08  Udit Narayan: Anand played this game less than a week before my birthday. Thanks for wonderful gift, Vishy!
Sep-19-08  chesstoy: Surprised this has never been a 'Game of the day' on this website.
Apr-04-09  WhiteRook48: my kingdom for a horse!
May-02-09  ScorpionInstinct: The right line is: 26..Kxg7 27.Qg4+ Kh8(the only saving move witch forces White to make 3-times rep.)
Aug-11-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: I guess Black gets mated if he captures the Knight on g7?!?!?
Apr-15-10  apexin: <I guess Black gets mated if he captures the Knight on g7?!?!?> its not quite so simple
26...Kxg7 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qh5 is a ndraw
Jun-26-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: Rare double knight sac on f7 and g7. Usually you see this with the bishops.
Jul-12-17  ColeTrane: Dos y Dos
Jan-13-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: I don't understand The pun.
Jan-13-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: Maybe related to the "is Fortnite overrated" meme?
Jan-13-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: Puns are overrated.
Jan-13-24  Arlekhino: <Feb-07-08 - LivBlockade: What does White do against 29...bxc4 with the idea of 30. Nxc8 c3?> Good question, left unanswered here for sixteen years... I believe that after 29... bxc4 30. Nxc8 c3 White can play the very interesting 31. Nd6+, with the idea that after 31... Qxd6 32. Bxc3 maintains the pressure, threatening 33. e5, and if Black doesn't take the Knight, then White can follow up with 32. Nc5, attacking Black's Queen. But the position is very complex and maybe somebody else could be more helpful tackling LivBlockade's question.
Jan-13-24  Arlekhino: Moreover, I found that maybe after 29... bxc4 White can carry on with 30. e5 (instead of 30. Nxc8), and the chaos of pieces threatened may favor him, but I couldn't work this situation out. Help would be much appreciated.
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