[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]

1. e4 { Going into this game Anand stands in last place by himself. This is uncharacteristic. Also, Kasparov has the lead by himself and this is characteristic. It's a slender lead of only one-half point over the next five (5!) tied players. A win by either player puts him into contention and severely hurts the other player's chances. } 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 { It's curious Shirov would play this only a round after Ponomariov did the same versus Anand (result, a draw) . } 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 { But, Anand varies; not repeating 6. c4 from the earlier game. White threatens Nc3-d5, Nb5-c7+. } 6... a6 7. Na3 b5 { As in a Sveshnikov Black threatens ...b5-b4 and uses Pb5 to prevent Na3-c4-e3. } 8. Nd5 { After this White might intend Bc1-e3-b6 followed by Nd5-c7+. But, Black won't leave Nd5 unchallenged. } 8... Nf6 ( 8... Nge7 { is probably more in keeping with the idea of the Kalashnikov } ) 9. c4 { This is different from the c2-c4 he played against Ponomariov. In this situation the pawn is almost assured of being exchanged for Pb5. In any case it makes sense to support Nd5 and doing it with this threat to Pb5 is useful. Of course, he had to calculate the effects of 9...Nxe4 10. cxb5 Qa5+. } ( 9. Bg5 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 ) 9... b4 ( 9... Nxe4 $4 10. cxb5 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 $18 { because of the threat to Nc6 and Nd5-c7+ to win Ra8 } ) 10. Nxf6+ { ending the threat to Pe4 and gaining time to move Na3 } 10... Qxf6 { Though this leaves d5 weak Black can use it as an opportunity to do some damage on the king-side; usually Black doesn't get the queen out in front until much later in the middle-game. } 11. Nc2 Qg6 $5 { This creates an opportunity for White to show d5 isn't sufficiently guarded, or to be more precise that d5 and all of Black's queen-side is weak. } ( 11... Be6 ) 12. Qd5 Bb7 13. Nxb4 Rc8 ( 13... Nxb4 $4 14. Qxb7 Nc2+ 15. Kd1 Rd8 16. Kxc2 $18 ) 14. Be3 Be7 15. h4 { avoiding ...Be7-g5xe3 } 15... O-O { After this Rc8 is defended, so that ... Nc6xb4 is a real threat. Any move such as ...Nc6-d8 also uncovers a strong threat to Pe4. } 16. h5 { attempting to kick Qg6 off Pe4 } 16... Qg4 17. f3 Qg3+ 18. Kd1 { I suppose he had his choice of chasing Qg3 onto the c1-h6 diagonal, but Be3 seems better than Bf2. Also, by having Kd1 he avoids ...Nc6xb4-c2+. } 18... Bg5 19. Nxc6 Bxe3 ( 19... Bxc6 20. Qd2 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 { and Black's initiative is dissipated } ) 20. Ne7+ Kh8 21. Qd3 { But, now Black's really in a pickle: Be3 and Rc8 are both attacked. } 21... Bg5 ( 21... Rce8 22. Nf5 ) 22. Nxc8 Rxc8 { This way Black is behind an exchange, but White's king is in the middle of the board and his rooks are nearly impossible to activate. Black has to do more than this though. He has to win to avoid the eventual loss which would occur when the rooks do become active. } 23. h6 gxh6 ( 23... Bxh6 24. Qxd6 Bg5 25. Kc2 ) 24. Kc2 d5 $4 { Is this the only way to hope to activate Bb7 and force line openings to get at Kc2? } ( 24... Qf2+ 25. Be2 ( 25. Qe2 Rxc4+ 26. Kb3 Qb6+ 27. Kxc4 d5+ { would worry even the bravest soul } ) ( 25. Kb3 Rc6 26. Rb1 Rb6+ 27. Ka3 Qc5+ ( 27... Bc1 $19 ) 28. b4 Bc1+ $19 ) 25... d5 26. exd5 Bxd5 ) 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Qxd5 Rd8 27. Qc5 { preventing ...Qg3-f2+, so that Black's queen can't join in the attack so quickly } 27... Rd2+ 28. Kb3 { with the minor threat Qc5-f8# } 28... Kg7 29. a3 { Anand isn't bashful about spending tempi to set up a safe place for his king. } 29... e4 30. Rh3 Qf4 31. fxe4 { I suppose this might be an indicator that Shirov's 11...Qg6 was more dubious than good. These things are always easier to evaluate in hindsight. It also shows how dangerous either of these players can be, despite their inconsistency in this tournament. } 1-0