WCC 2008 game8
QGD Ragozin
Surprise! Anand chose to take. This is not solid opening one would expect Anand to play given the current score. He instead goes for the sharp Vienna Variation.
5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5
The most popular responses for White are 7.Bxc4 and 5.e5
7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5
White has a few choices: 9.Bd2, 9.Bxf6, 9.Bb5+, all are playable.
9.Bb5+ Bd7
White's best choice here is to take the Knight with Bxf6
10.Bxf6
Black can either play 10...Bxb5, 10...Bxc3+ or 10...gxf6. I think Bxb5 may surprise Kramnik the most :) It may not be the best move but the surprise element sometimes is very important as we have seen in the match so far.
10...Bxb5
Once again, Anand is first to surprise his opponent. The 2 most logical responses for White are 11.Nb3 Qb6 12 Bxg7 Rg8 13.Bd4 += and 11.Ndxb5 gxf6 12.O-O Nc6 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3 +=
11.Nxb5 gxf6 12.O-O Nc6
White has a few playable continuation such as 13.a3 and13.Qf3 although I prefer 13.a3 better.
13.a3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3
The key question for Anand now is will he castle Kingside or will he leave his King in the middle again. Both 14...0-0 and 14...Rg8 are playable. I think this is probably the most "comfortable" position Kramnik has so far in this match. This is the type of position which suits him best. Unfortunately, it should have come much earlier.
14...Rg8
True to his form in the match, Anand chose NOT to castle and instead try to create counter play on the g file and the Kingside. If I have to choose a side to play, I would pick White in this position although Black's position is fine. What White may want to do is to make sure Black does not castle on the Queenside. Therefore, it may make sense to make a move like Qf3 to attack the f6 pawn to gain a tempo to get the Rook to d1 to make sure that the Black King cannot escape to the other side.
15.f4
A somewhat surprising move. One guess is he does not want Black to be able to put his Knight on e5 to support a Kingside attack.
15...Rd8 16.Qe1
16...Qb6+ 17.Rf2
19...a6
20.Kh1
Obviously it is to get out of the pin. Based on the time on the clock, I think both players are having a hard time coming up with concrete plans.
20...Kf8
Black is doing the same in getting the King out of the e file to avoid the possibility of Nd5. I do not see anything convincing for either player in this position. I still think 20.Nd5 gives Kramnik better chances.
The plan is to go for f5. If Black takes, White would have the double Rooks in good position. If Black avoids the exchange with e5 then the d5 square would be vulnerable. Black can defend with 21...Rg6 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 (23. Rxf5 Rd2 -+) 23...Rg4 the position is unclear.
A cautious move. Another possible line is 22.Rd1 Rxd1+ 23.Nxd1. I think White has a very small advantage.
25.Nc3
An interesting idea is 25.Rf3 then Rd3.
25...Rg8 26.Kg2 Rd8
Now Black controls the d file. Very curious play by Kramnik in the past few moves. One would have expected him to go for the d file a few moves ago. One idea is he will get his Queen h5 but I fail to see a real attack.
28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh4 Kg7
If Black plays 32... fxe5 33. Qg5+ Kf8 34. f5 exf5 35. Qxf5 +=. Best for Black is 32...f5
35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re2
White has nothing here even though Kramnik is trying.
37...Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kh8
1/2-1/2
The score now is 5.5 - 2.5 in Anand's favor. He needs one more point in the final 4 games to retain his title.