Move 1 e4 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 1
Comment: Anand's fight with Karpov has gone back further than that of Polgar & Karpov. And, as he has gotten stronger while Karpov faded a bit, he is now expected to win their matchups pretty often. That doesn't mean Karpov is terribly weak or easy to beat.

Move 2 c6 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2p5/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 2
Comment: Karpov varies between this (Caro-Kann) and the Petrov's Defense these days. In his younger days he played the Black side of the Ruy Lopez (quite well) and even played some Sicilian Defense variations.

Move 3 e5 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 3
Comment: Curiously, it's the more closed positions with solidly blocked pawn structures which have given Karpov some trouble. That's been true in other openings as well.

Move 5 g4 (black to move)
FEN: rn1qkbnr/pp3ppp/2p1p3/3pPb2/3P2P1/2N5/PPP2P1P/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - 0 5
Comment: This aggressive variation aims to "punish" Black for exposing his bishop without having anything immediate for it to do. Black depends upon his "solid" pawn structure to protect his king and to slow White's onslaught.

Move 6 Nge2 (black to move)
FEN: rn1qkbnr/pp3ppp/2p1p1b1/3pP3/3P2P1/2N5/PPP1NP1P/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 2 6
Comment: White might follow-up with f2-f4-f5 or h2-h4-h5, but all lines require good piece activity and that's what gives Black a little time to develop and create some counter-play.

Move 7 Ne7 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp2nppp/2p1p1b1/3pP3/3P2P1/2N5/PPP1NP1P/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 3 7
Comment: This protects Bg6 and guards against f2-f4-f5, so White's offense will require a little more build-up and piece support.

Move 8 c5 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp2nppp/4p1b1/2ppP3/3P1PP1/2N5/PPP1N2P/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 8
Comment: There is a risk that dxc5 can be supported or that Nc3-b5-d6 would occur quickly. White now has a fight all across the board. To add more force at the center White might consider Bf1-g2 before f4-f5, but there are some instances when Nc3-b5 needs the support from Bf1.

Move 8 Ng3 (black to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp2nppp/4p1b1/2ppP3/3P1PP1/2N3N1/PPP4P/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 1 8
Comment: guarding e4 and preparing f4-f5 or dxc5 or Nc3-b5. This ought to create a small crisis for Black to solve.

Move 9 cxd4 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp2nppp/4p1b1/3pP3/3p1PP1/2N3N1/PPP4P/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 9
Comment: Something else to give Bg6 room to move might be necessary; perhaps ...f6.

Move 9 Nb5 (black to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp2nppp/4p1b1/1N1pP3/3p1PP1/6N1/PPP4P/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 1 9
Comment: There was a time when only Qxd4 would be considered. The idea of going around the central pawns with Nc3-b5 isn't new, but I think it's still fun to see. Nb5-d6+ would also support f4-f5 to win a piece.

Move 10 Nec6 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp3ppp/2n1p1b1/1N1pP3/3p1PP1/6N1/PPP4P/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 2 10
Comment: Black allows f4-f5 and gains several pawns in exchange. It's a practical decision which one makes when the clock is running, but it's also one he might not play again.

Move 11 Nd6+ (black to move)
FEN: rn1qk2r/pp3ppp/2nNp1b1/2bpPP2/3p2P1/6N1/PPP4P/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 2 11
Comment: White is going to lose Pe5 and Nb5 can't retreat, so this forces Black to give his bishop for a knight to get it.

Move 15 hxg6 (white to move)
FEN: rn2k2r/pp4p1/2nqppp1/3p4/3p2P1/6N1/PPP3BP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 15
Comment: Now is time to re-evaluate: White has an extra bishop, but Black has three pawns, all in the center of the board, clogging up lines. White's plan has to get rid of a few of those pawns to make way for the White pieces.

Move 16 Rf2 (black to move)
FEN: r3k2r/pp1n2p1/2nqppp1/3p4/3p2P1/6N1/PPP2RBP/R1BQ2K1 b kq - 3 16
Comment: preparing c2-c3 by avoiding a ...Qd6-c5+

Move 19 Nb6 (white to move)
FEN: 2kr3r/pp4p1/1nnqppp1/3p4/6P1/2P3N1/P4RBP/R1BQ2K1 w - - 1 19
Comment: c3-c4 won't be so easy to accomplish as Black prevents it directly and in the event it's played Black also has ...d5-d4. So, White probably has to go farther afield to force lines open. He might also consider doubling rooks on the b-file to put a little pressure on before playing a2-a4-a5 or c3-c4.

Move 20 Rd7 (white to move)
FEN: 2k4r/pp1r2p1/1nnqppp1/3p4/6P1/2P5/P4RBP/R1BQ1NK1 w - - 3 20
Comment: Fritz7; Karpov recognizes that Pb7 is a weakness and he defends it first thing.

Move 20 h3 (black to move)
FEN: 2k4r/pp1r2p1/1nnqppp1/3p4/6P1/2P4P/P4RB1/R1BQ1NK1 b - - 0 20
Comment: Evidently he wasn't so comfortable with his king's safety and decided to reorganize. At least this frees Nf1 to move about, though giving the opponent several free moves isn't usually a great thing.

Move 21 f5 (white to move)
FEN: 2k4r/pp1r2p1/1nnqp1p1/3p1p2/6P1/2P4P/P4RB1/R1BQ1NK1 w - - 0 21
Comment: This looks a little awkward, but it keeps a small threat in the vicinity of Kg1 and that will keep White tied-up a bit.

Move 22 Rf8 (white to move)
FEN: 2k2r2/pp1r2p1/1nnqp1p1/3p1p2/6P1/2P4P/P4RB1/1RBQ1NK1 w - - 2 22
Comment: I'm not certain whether this is to prepare ...fxg4 and to trade rooks or to prepare ...f5-f4 and a general pawn advance across the center.

Move 22 Qb3 (black to move)
FEN: 2k2r2/pp1r2p1/1nnqp1p1/3p1p2/6P1/1QP4P/P4RB1/1RB2NK1 b - - 3 22
Comment: threatening Bc1-a3 as well as perhaps a2-a4-a5

Move 23 Rff7 (white to move)
FEN: 2k5/pp1r1rp1/1nnqp1p1/3p1p2/6P1/1QP4P/P4RB1/1RB2NK1 w - - 4 23
Comment: The two Black rooks surrounded by pawns don't have much space.

Move 23 Qc2 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/pp1r1rp1/1nnqp1p1/3p1p2/6P1/2P4P/P1Q2RB1/1RB2NK1 b - - 5 23
Comment: keeping an eye on Pf5 and Pg6 to keep Black from becoming aggressive

Move 25 Na4 (white to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr2rp1/2nqp1p1/3p1p2/n5P1/2PQ3P/P4RB1/1RB2NK1 w - - 8 25
Comment: This is an aggressive move, aimed probably at ...Na4-c5-e4. Karpov is quite Classical and likes centralizing pieces.

Move 25 Bf4 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr2rp1/2nqp1p1/3p1p2/n4BP1/2PQ3P/P4RB1/1R3NK1 b - - 9 25
Comment: I can't tell whether he feels the bishop is needed to keep Kg1 safe or if he is just prodding Black into weakening his pawns by advancing them. In any event, this alignment of Bf4 with Qd6 and Rc7 can't be bad.

Move 26 Bh2 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr2rp1/2nq2p1/3ppp2/n5P1/2PQ3P/P4RBB/1R3NK1 b - - 1 26
Comment: White threatens Pf5 and Pd5 and he can apply more pressure with Rf2-d2 and/or Nf1-e3.

Move 29 c4 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr1r1p1/2n3p1/3Bp3/n1P2pP1/7P/P4R1B/1R3NK1 b - - 0 29
Comment: White has won a pawn and doesn't have as much difficulty gaining piece activity and doesn't have to fear an avalanche of pawns on both light and dark squares.

Move 30 Nd4 (white to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr1r1p1/6p1/3Bp3/n1Pn1pP1/7P/P4R1B/1R3NK1 w - - 1 30
Comment: according to Fritz7; I doubt Anand would have agreed.

Move 30 Nd2 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr1r1p1/6p1/3Bp3/n1Pn1pP1/7P/P2N1R1B/1R4K1 b - - 2 30
Comment: White has to hold back Pe5 to gain time for maneuvering to free Bh2 (Kg1-g2, Bh2-g1, Rf2-f1) .

Move 31 Re1 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/ppr1r1p1/6p1/3Bp3/2Pn1pP1/2n4P/P2N1R1B/4R1K1 b - - 4 31
Comment: It's not important to defend Pa2 as long as White is happy to trade Pa2 for Pa7 by Re1-a1xa7.

Move 32 Ne4 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/p1r1r1p1/6p1/1p1Bp3/2PnNpP1/2n4P/P4R1B/4R1K1 b - - 1 32
Comment: Now Rf2 defends Pa2 and Ne4 indirectly defends Pc4 by Ne4-d6+xc4.

Move 35 Nxb5 (white to move)
FEN: 2k5/p1r1r1p1/8/1n1Bp1p1/4RpP1/7P/P4R1B/6K1 w - - 0 35
Comment: I think it's time to re-evaluate again: Black's dark-square pawns are holding Bh2 at bay, but that won't last forever and White's light-square pieces can be challenged by ...Nb5-d6 or ...Nb5-c3. so, White has to continue acting fast to challenge Black's pawn mass at Pe5 or Pg5 (h3-h4 comes to mind) .

Move 36 Bb3 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/p1r1r1p1/8/4p1p1/5pP1/1Bn4P/P4R1B/4R1K1 b - - 3 36
Comment: Anand seems patient, but it could be he's avoiding more complicated lines, knowing full well that Black's pawns can't last long or that White will simply maneuver Bh2 out of the corner. In the event of ...e5-e4 he also has the simpler simplifying Bh2xf4, getting two pawns for the bishop and maintaining a slight endgame advantage.

Move 38 Bc2 (black to move)
FEN: 2k5/2r1r1p1/8/4p1p1/p4pP1/2n4P/P1B2R1B/4RK2 b - - 1 38
Comment: He keeps Pa4 under attack and Pa2 is defended by Rf2 when Bc2-f5+ is played.

Move 40 Rc2 (black to move)
FEN: 8/1kr1r1p1/8/4pBp1/5pP1/p1n4P/P1R4B/4RK2 b - - 1 40
Comment: There, now Bh2-g1 is possible (Fritz7 finally sees that piece!) and there is a favorable alignment on the c-file, so that White might force a simplifying rook trade to reach a very easy piece-plus ending.

Move 43 e4 (white to move)
FEN: 8/1k2r1p1/8/5Bp1/2r1ppP1/p1n4P/P1R2B2/4RK2 w - - 0 43
Comment: This is easy to criticize as the game continuation isn't hard to find, but there are few other moves for Black.

Move 44 Be1 (black to move)
FEN: 8/1kr3p1/8/5Bp1/2r1ppP1/p1n4P/P1R5/2R1BK2 b - - 3 44
Comment: After 44...Nd5 45. Rxc4 Ne3+ 46. Kf2 Nxc4 47. Bxd5+ and Black's house of cards collapses.