By Zaldy Dandan
Variety Editor

WITH only two rounds left at Linares, Anand is in the lead, half-a-point ahead of Carlsen, whom he has beaten twice. The Norwegian prodigy, however, scalped Ivanchuk in the 12th round and still has a mathematical chance to catch up with the Indian super-GM. Former world champ Topalov, alas, can only score draws and is no longer in contention. After his controversial match against Kramnik, the Bulgarian GM has been accused of what he claimed his Russian rival was guilty of during their mano a mano — cheating — and this, I think, has affected Toppy’s play. Poor dude.
The standings after 12 rounds: Anand, 7.5; Carlsen, 7; Svidler, 6.5; Aronian, 6; Topalov, Ivanchuk, Morozevich, 5.5; and Leko, 4.5.
Game of the week. Here is Anand scoring a fine victory in the 10th round against the tournament’s youngest player. (Against the two oldest players, Carlsen has lost twice to one, Anand, and won twice against the other, Ivanchuk.) GM Mihail Marin annotates.
White: V. Anand (2779)
Black: M. Carlsen (2690)
Ruy Lopez, Closed
XXIV SuperGM Morelia/Linares 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7 12.d5. This move has become fashionable lately. In case of 12.Nbd2, both 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 (The old Keres line) and 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 (The Graf variation) offer Black good counterplay. 12...Nb6 13.Nbd2 g6. 14.b4!? This move was introduced by Leko a couple of months ago. 14...cxb4 15.cxb4 Nac4 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Bb3. A novelty. The original game continued 17.Bh6 Re8 18.Bb3 Bd7 19.Qe2 Nb6. Black has managed to stabilize the queenside, while on the kingside he is out of danger anyway. White’s advantage of space will gradually lose its relevance after the following exchanges, making a draw the most logical result. 20.Rac1 Rc8 21.Be3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qb8 23.Nd2 Rc8 24.Rxc8+ Nxc8 25.f4 Qc7 and the game soon ended in a draw, Leko-Mamedyarov, Moscow 2006. 17...Nb6. This willing knight retreat offers White a wider choice than in the aforementioned game. 17...Bd7 might be an improvement, since the exchange on c4 is rather double-edged. 18.Be3. For the time being, the bishop is better placed here than on h6. White’s plan in the next phase of the game is to spoil Black’s queenside coordination. Only later, he will switch his attention toward the opposite wing. 18...Bd7 19.Rc1 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Bxc8. A first consequence of the bishop’s presence on e3. The generally desirable capture with the queen, maintaining equal chances in the fight for the c-file, is impossible. 21.Qc2 Bd7 22.Rc1 Na8. Sad necessity. Black cannot allow the infiltration of the enemy pieces to c7. 23.Qd2 Qb8. Black is just one tempo away (...Rc8) from reaching a similar position as in Leko-Mamedyarov. The further course of the game supports Tartakower’s statement that a game of chess is a drama of one tempo. 24.Bg5! Strategically speaking, this exchange favors Black. However, given the passive position of the a8-knight it also serves White’s attacking purposes. 24...Bxg5?! This only helps White develop his initiative. Carlsen probably failed to foresee the glorious carrier of the enemy knight. 25.Nxg5 Rc8?! Still underestimating the danger. Under no circumstances should Black have left the kingside without defenders. 25...Kg7, preparing ...h6, should have been preferred. After 26.f4 h6 27.fxe5 (27.Nf3 f6 is more or less OK for Black.) 27...hxg5 28.e6 White has strong compensation for the piece, but the position is far from simple. 26.Rf1 h6. Now it is too late for 26...Kg7 27.f4 h6 because of 28.Nxf7! Kxf7 29.fxe5+ with a decisive attack. 27.Ne6! Kh7. The knight feels at home on e6. If 27...fxe6 then 28.Qxh6, winning. 28.f4 Qa7+ 29.Kh2 Be8 After 29...fxe6 30.dxe6 Be8 31.f5 Black will soon be crushed by the mighty tandem of white pawns. 30.f5 gxf5 31.exf5. Threatening f6, with a devastating attack. 31...f6 The tactical phase is over and Black is just hopeless. The e6-knight is just too strong. 32.Re1 Nc7 33.Rc1 Bd7 34.Rc3 e4 35.Rg3 Nxe6 36.dxe6 Be8 37.e7 Bh5 38.Qxd6 1-0.
Puzzler.
White — pawns on g3, h4; Nb4, Qb8, Nf6, Kf7, Bg1
Black — pawns c3, c4, d7, e5, g6; Na5, Rc5; Bd1, Kf5; Nf8White to play and mate in four moves.
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