[Event "GMA, Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2003.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand,V"]
[Black "Ponomariov,R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[ECO "B32"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]

1. e4 c5 { Ponomariov is still new to the top-level tournaments, so I and the top GMs he faced at Wijk aan Zee are unfamiliar with him. Based on what I've seen of his style (which is Classical and generally cautious) I'd have expected 1. e4 e5. } 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 { This definately seems out of character for "Pono" "SuperMariov". } 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 ( 6. c4 { is also pretty good, though it's not necessary to have another pawn controlling d5 and it might just provide a target for Black } ) 6... a6 7. Na3 Nf6 8. Nc4 { foregoes the pin on Nf6 (created by Bc1-g5) in order to reposition the knight. It also avoids the Pelikin Variation (8. Bg5 d5) . And, as the game shows, it's also a pawn sacrifice offer. } ( 8. Bg5 b5 ( 8... Be7 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 9. Bxf6 ( 9. Nd5 { is almost an implicit draw offer } 9... Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qd8 11. Bg5 ) 9... gxf6 10. Nd5 $14 ) 8... b5 9. Ne3 b4 ( 9... Be7 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 10. Ncd5 Nxe4 { Despite the open look of this position it seems Ponomariov is playing in a Classical way, hoping to control the center, developing pieces and grabbing Pe4. Each is separate positional aspects. Anand, on the other hand, is forced, by the nature of this variation, to play more dynamically; for best piece positions in the center, gambiting Pe4 and then utilizing those advantages forcefully. } 11. a3 { When the opponent's position is open and full of weaknesses then it makes sense to open lines for your pieces to have greater general mobility, as long as it doesn't offer the opponent opportunities to just trade pieces. } 11... bxa3 ( 11... b3 $11 { Fritz7; though I don't know what Black has gained for his efforts if he just gives the pawn back } ) 12. Rxa3 { It's time to re-evaluate: Black has an extra pawn and apparently a safe king. White has a lead in development and can target Black's knights, Pa6 and perhaps square b6 is a good invasion point. It seems to me White's plan could be Ne3-c4, Bc1-e3-b6, Nd5-c7+ and combined with that dark-square play he might also be able to play Ra1-e3 or Qd1-f3 to have some activity on light squares. } 12... g6 { Fritz7 suggests several good alternative moves which are quicker to develop and prepare O-O. } ( 12... Be7 { Fritz7 } ) ( 12... Bb7 { Fritz7 } ) 13. c3 { Controlling d4 is good, but this blocks Ra3 from moving laterally. } ( 13. Nc4 ) 13... Bd7 $6 $14 { Why not ...Bg7 or ...f7-f5? } ( 13... Bg7 14. Nc4 O-O 15. Ncb6 Rb8 16. Nxc8 Qxc8 17. Rxa6 { makes a lot more sense for Black, though he has to meet the immediate threat of Rxc6 } ) 14. Nc4 $16 Rb8 { Black is already compelled to offer Pa6 to prevent annihilation. } 15. Be3 ( 15. Rxa6 { is of course good, but the plan to invade on dark squares should be followed up quickly, before Black finds a way to force piece trades } ) 15... f5 16. Bb6 { This much has gone smoothly and Black couldn't resist much. Can Black walk away from that pressure and survive (...Qd8-h4) ? } ( 16. Rxa6 Kf7 17. Ncb6 { might be slightly awkward for White; apparently it's better to use Be3-b6 and keep Nc4 to defend Pb2 } ) 16... Rxb6 { a drastic measure, but perhaps correct. Now White will have a slight material advantage, but Black will keep his king safer. Does White take the material and then find he has no dynamic plan? I think Pa6 is still weak and might be captured and the imposing pawns Black has advanced will require some active piece support to be of much use. There is still "all to play for". } ( 16... Qh4 17. g3 Qg5 ( 17... Nxg3 18. fxg3 Qe4+ 19. Kf2 Qxh1 20. Nf6+ Kf7 21. Nxd7 Qxh2+ 22. Bg2 $18 ) 18. f3 $18 { Mark & Fritz7 } ) 17. Ncxb6 $18 { according to Fritz7 } 17... Bh6 { threatening ...Bh6-d2+ to force White's king into a very awkward position, blocking Bf1 and terribly exposed to Black's pieces } 18. Bd3 ( 18. Nxd7 Kxd7 19. Bd3 $18 { Fritz7 } ) 18... O-O 19. Bxe4 { Evidently Anand thought Ne4 was as good as Bd3 would ever be and just made his king safer by eliminating the attacker, doubling Black's pawns in the process. } 19... fxe4 20. O-O ( 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. Rxa6 $18 { Fritz7 } ) 20... Be6 { He had to keep this piece on the board; it could be a crucial piece for an offensive aimed at g2. } 21. Rxa6 Qh4 22. Qe2 Nd8 23. Ra8 Kg7 24. g3 Bg4 ( 24... Qg5 25. Qxe4 { and White's pieces stay close to Black's, offering exchanges } ( 25. h4 Qf5 26. Nc7 { gets rid of Be6 } ) ) ( 24... Qh3 25. Qxe4 ) 25. gxh4 $18 Bxe2 26. Rfa1 { White has few worries now. Kg1 is pretty safe and it should be easier now to align pieces to force exchanges. } 26... g5 27. Nd7 $18 { Fritz7 now sees a massive advantage for White. } 27... Rf5 { Moving along the back rank would allow White to double rooks on the pinned Nd8, finally forcing trades. } 28. Rxd8 gxh4 29. Rg8+ { When it rains it pours for Black. Here he'd hoped to have the g-file for himself, but White uses a neat tactic to grab it first. } 29... Kf7 ( 29... Kxg8 30. Ne7+ Kf7 31. Nxf5 ) 30. Ra7 Rf3 { threatening Kxg8 } 31. N7f6+ { White has encircled the Black king and is just trying to find that particular pattern which results in checkmate. } 31... Ke6 32. Re7+ Kf5 33. Ng4 { threatening Nxh6# } ( 33. Ne8 Bg5 34. Nxd6+ Kg4 35. Rxe5 h6 36. Nxe4 Rd3 37. f3+ Rxf3 38. Nxg5 Rf1+ 39. Kg2 h3+ 40. Nxh3+ Kh4 41. Re4+ Kh5 42. Nhf4+ Rxf4 43. Nxf4+ Kh4 44. Nxe2+ Kh5 45. Ng3# { Fritz7 } ) 33... Bd2 34. Nge3+ { Black is forced to trade to stave off checkmate. If 34...Bxe3 35. Nxe3+ Kf4  (35...Kf6 36. Nd5+ Kf5 37. Rf8+)  36.Rg4# } 1-0