[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]

1. e4 { Although Kasparov is one point ahead he might lose his last round game to Shirov, so it's important for Ponomariov to try to win this one. He's the only player who could catch Kasparov. } 1... e5 { After seeing the Sicilian Defense so many times it's quite a curious thing to see this recent trend (at least amongst the top-level GMs) toward 1. e4 e5 with both the Petrov's Defense and 2. Nf3 Nc6 being played. The so-called hypermodern defenses have been relegated to the back-burner. I haven't seen a Modern/Pirc or Alekhine's Defense game for a long time. And, although the Caro-Kann and French Defenses are still played they're clearly in the minority. } 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O { Now this is interesting. I don't recall seeing Anand threaten or play the Marshall Gambit. Why on earth has this variation experienced a resurgence in recent years? Of course, it goes through ups and downs as people play it, discover problems, study it and then play it again. Perhaps it's just that other defenses seem to have a few more adherents than this one, so that the ups and downs of some Sicilian Defense or Queen's Gambit variation is hardly noticed. One must remember also, there are many variations of a Spanish and this is but one. } 8. c3 { Ponomariov takes on the bigger challenge. } ( 8. a4 ) ( 8. d3 ) 8... d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 { It seems odd to move the rook so many times, but White must use whatever pieces are available to get the job done. It was once thought White should develop Bc1-e3, Qd1-d3, Nb1-d2, Qd3-f1. But, Re1-e4 forces either a retreat or other concession from Black and enables Qd1-f1. } 15... g5 { Because of this Black's king shouldn't be quite as safe and that gives White some counter-attacking possibilities. } 16. Qe2 f5 { In Ponomariov-Adams from round 9 Ponomariov established Re4 as a perimeter and offered for Black to capture it with a minor piece. He also played f2-f3 to support that perimeter. As a result his king was weakened a bit, but Black didn't quite break through and was pushed back. In this game Anand is using a pawn to challenge Re4, so this game ought to have a different appearance and the clash might occur more on Black's terms. } ( 16... Nf6 { Ponomariov-Adams, round 9, 1-0 in 45 moves } ) 17. Bxd5+ { I'm not quite certain why he chose this moment to get rid of Nd5. } 17... cxd5 18. Re6 { It's amazing that White isn't developed and he continues to offer this exchange sac AND Black refuses to take it because the pawn pushes have exposed his king -- he needs to keep pieces on the board to keep his king safe, at least from a perpetual check. How can Black get free to continue his offensive if White mucks it up by threatening Bd6 or checks to Kg8? } 18... f4 { Whether this is correct is hard to say, but it's certainly courageous? threat: ...Bxe6 } ( 18... Bb8 19. Bxg5 f4 20. Re8 ) 19. Rxd6 Bg4 ( 19... f3 $5 20. Qf1 Re8 21. Be3 { and Black can't break through on the dark squares } 21... Qf5 22. Nd2 $13 { White's rook will probably be exchanged for Black's bishop (though there is a slight chance it might remain on the board) and White's queen might find it difficult to become active, so White has to resort to a2-a4 (as is quite usual) to open a line for piece activation. Pf3 is a bone in White's throat and continues to give Black chances to win. } ) 20. Qf1 Qxf1+ ( 20... Qh5 21. Rxd5 { and Rd5-e5 could again block the e-file } ) 21. Kxf1 Rae8 { Black has at least gotten past White's rook, though it now threatens to win Black's pawns. So, the task of defending Kf1 falls upon White's other pieces. threat: 22...Bg4-h3+ 23. Kg1 Re1# } 22. Bd2 Bh3+ 23. Kg1 fxg3 24. hxg3 Re2 ( 24... g4 { would have locked-in Bh3 when it's not at all clear Black's rooks can force their way through to checkmate } 25. Rxd5 { aiming for Rd5-e5 to block out Re8 } ( 25. Be3 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Rf1+ 27. Kh2 Rf2+ $11 ) 25... Re2 26. Re5 Rexf2 27. Bf4 ( 27. Re1 Rf1+ 28. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 29. Kh2 Rf2+ $11 ) 27... Rf1+ 28. Kh2 Rf2+ ) 25. Be3 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Rf1+ 27. Kh2 g4 28. Rxd5 { So Ponomariov hangs on to the draw and second place -- not a bad debut to the most prestigious tournament (some say world championship of tournaments) in the world. } 1/2-1/2