Anand vs. Gelfand - 17...Nc6

Sort:
ChessisGood

Anand vs. Gelfand - 17...Nc6

In the eighth round of the World Chess Championship, Anand struck back at Gelfand for his previous loss, and won a miniature game in 17 moves. Gelfand played a losing combination that finished with a Queen trap, giving Anand the win.

However, many people on chess.com have stated that Gelfand should have tried to continue with 17...Nc6 which would be followed up by 18. dxc6 and 18...Qxc6. What is your opinion of this move? Could it have saved the game, or was it just a futile attempt?

Please provide analysis of the position shown. Did Gelfand miss this, or did he see it as a hopeless position? White gains activity quickly, but if Black can fend him off, the static advantage of material should keep him happy, especially in an endgame.

ChessisGood

Actually, he does. Check out the following line:

Thus, since no other move can keep the Queen trapped and protect d4 or f3, Black will easily win in lines without 18. dxc6.

Saint-Paulia

By gosh I think you're right! Was this something that was figured out without a computer's help? or was it computer-aided? I mean who could  have seen this move with the Knight, way out there on Black's back rank whilst all the action is taking place on White's back rank?? Wow!

Even if it did not win the game for Black at least it would have been better than the ignominy of what Gelfand in fact did suffer, eh?

OldHastonian
pfren wrote:

14...Ng7 had to be played, although GM's that commentated the game (Leko, Balogh, Naiditsch) agree that white has a dangerous initiative.

What about 14...Nf6 as an alternative?

PhilipN

According to Alejandro Ramirez's commentary on chessbase.com,

"17. Qf2 Nc6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. Bg2 Qd7 20. Nd5 is beyond hopeless when you play someone of Anand's caliber.  Or even a little less."

OldHastonian
pfren wrote:
Grousey wrote:
pfren wrote:

14...Ng7 had to be played, although GM's that commentated the game (Leko, Balogh, Naiditsch) agree that white has a dangerous initiative.

What about 14...Nf6 as an alternative?

More or less, same taste as 14...Ng7: 15.h4 Nbd7 17.Kc2, and although machines give white as marginally better, in practice Black's position is very unpleasant to defend.

My Houdini gives after short thought 15.Kc2 Na6 16.a3 as a better try, but I guess this is the regular engine brainfart in such positions (not that this continuation is bad, but I just don't believe it's better than the direct 15.h4). White has a "bad" bishop which is not bad at all, and Black has no active counterplay. "White has some advantage" is a fairly reasonable estimation.

Thanks for that, most interesting.

I don't have Houdini, but  to my eye, 14...Nf6 just looked more aesthetically pleasing. Cool

ChessisGood

I agree with the majorities: 19. Bd3 is more than an easy win for White, but I think Gelfand might have been able to try one last thing with a Queenside pawnstorm. Then again, against Anand, it's probably hopeless and a waste of time.

All_ways_winner

IM pfren  

Gelfy simply can NOT play contact chess against Anand. He will be crushed.

Factly, I do not understabd why Anand played so quietly up to now. When tactics are in the menu, he is vastly superior to Gelfy. Probably his loss at the previous game persuaded him to go into full contact chess, where he is probably the strongest player currently.

 

=================================================

 

What is conact chess ?

OldHastonian
All_ways_winner wrote:

IM pfren  

 

What is conact chess ?

Pretending to resign?

All_ways_winner

Grousey  

All_ways_winner wrote:

IM pfren  

 

What is conact chess ?

Pretending to resign?

===============================

 

Asking or telling ? I guess what pfren meant is fast game but still want to know from someone know the term "CONTACT CHESS"

OldHastonian

Sorry, I made a poor attempt at a joke.

CerebralAssassin
All_ways_winner wrote:

IM pfren  


 

What is conact chess ?

throwing pieces at your opponent maybe?

All_ways_winner

Ok Thanks for clarifying doubt pfren. BTW who are the Super GMs best at contact chess. IMO Fischer will beat everyone in contact chess. Sorry I am diverting thread topic but anyway today is break in champion tourney.

LarryRegal

I think he means full contact chess is wild and tactical, something Anand can do better than Gelfand, who seems at his best in solid positional, and quiet type games that are slow grinding.

LarryRegal

Kasparov in his prime was exceptional at full contact chess...

LarryRegal

Tal is another that comes to mind.

LarryRegal

Old School Charousek though, he is my favorite of the bloody tacticians.

LarryRegal

If any of you aren't familiar with the games of Rudolf Rezso Charousek, should give him a look. He is from the late 1800's and died before getting a title shot. I think he has an amazing style. Definately blood and guts, full contact chess. Hehttp://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=21749re is a link to veiw some of his games.

LarryRegal

Sorry the link got distorted I think try this one     http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=21749     

All_ways_winner

How abt following game by Fischer. I think this is best till date as far as tactics are concerned.