Bb5x new? FIRST!!

Nimzo Leningrad variation.
Extremely sharp stuff.

White has a minimal structural advantage. But I am afraid, even positional virtuoso Kramnik cannot turn that in an edge with real prospects.

I am not sure Anand can safely run his K to the Q-side (ajays comment) -- after b4 and b5 whites pawns will come in very fast -- I think Anand has to leave his king in the middle

To Juliette,

Check out Shirov's comments on the outcome of the Kasparov-Kramnik's 2000 WC match...I think you will get the answer you are looking for..

what about Qb6. Rf2 and then Na5, for example b4, Nc4. Kh1, Qe3. Must be good for black.....

Qh5?

to Debashish

Can you provide a link for Shirov?Ǭ¥s comment?

Yes, black is weak on black squares. I expect Qh5 as well.

Novelty: Anand has less time then Kramnik ! A first ?

Yay, Kramnik played 15) ... - f4! I like this move, seams brave to me, pressing in the center... Is it actually good or is it again risky, just a bluff? What do the engines say? Susan Polgar mentioned Qf3 as to win a tempo and then Rd1.

1:35 Anand
1:14 Kramnik
right after the move was made, check out http://87.230.38.140/apache2-default/toma/tfd_neu.htm for live moves PLUS clock times

I do not understand why Kasparov (in 2000) did not manage to create sharp positions like Anand is doing in this match ????

black has to find an answer vs f5

What happends after 15)...Qb6+ . Does the materialistic 16)Rf2 allow Anand to gain some tempi???

to Karthik.
The live covering with the Clocks is available here
http://87.230.38.144/apache2-default/toma/tfd_neu.htm

To Mihajovics

Thanks a lot

I like f4 as well. Hopefully is finally able to give Anad a good spank, i.e. as to tell that he cannot just play any variation against him.

Kramnik might again find himself in time trouble

this time, as there is no more bishops
black cannot penetrate to white king.
it a matter of knight ending favor to white
as black has a doubled pawns.

Ok, Rg8, but this time no white bishop on b7 pointing at g2.
And of course I am very curious (as a Kramnik fan) how my favorite is going to handle things this time.

To Rene
Thanks for the theory...already I have mentioned that in my last post....

once again no castling...I think Ke7 will be fine at a later stage..

Kramnik is better off than the earlier games -- small strategic advantage -- I predict a draw because both players must have analyzed this to death

Anand is on a very sharp line indeed. He is obviously playing for a win. May be Kramnik may find an answer at last. I wish Kramnik all the luck and pluck to find a winning line.

I predict Rd8 right now, followed by Kd7!

To DoctorSpock
Know this as the Vienna variation of the quees's gambit.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4 (Ragozin variation) 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4, etc.

Yes, this is what i expected . the rook taking control of semi open file. with the bishops off the board i doubt if Anand would castle.

To Rene:
Thank you for your clarification.

Again the g file is semi-open ... this is Kramnik's nightmare.
What do you prefer for Anand: long castle ideal or playing with the king in the center i.e. like prebious games ????

My computer says 13.Qf3 Ke7 14.Rad1 a6 and I see a very small advantage for Kramnik

supersharp Vienna variation....anand is not going castle...it will be a real good fight today...I think Anand surprised Kramnik with his approach...

It?Ǭ¥s clear: Vishy likes to have the g-file opened as black. Vlady is going to dream with black rooks staring at him for many days to come...

18. ..., Qd4. Bluff?
19. R d1 !

No engine here either, so please, if somebody could post a few lines / evaluations after every couple of moves, I would very much apreciate it, thank you!

I guess that Anand will advance his h pawn in the future expoliting the pin.
Do you think that ideas like e4-45 followed by Ne4 would be considered in the long term ????

this is live but how can we know the time for each olaye consumed?
there is no display of plater's time.

I guess queen exchange coming up

Interesting that Anand has only castled 3 times in 8 games.

Now Rd3 or Na5 and black is more than oke

Kd7 is an interessant idea actually.
But Qh4 is aa annoying threat.

17. ..., Rd3, shamless attacking move. Must be nutrilized immediately.
18. Rd1 or 18. Qe2 ?

I do not have a computer, so I like to hear 'your' variations...

To sjef,

this is an example of what could happen after 15)..Qb6+:

15. ... Qb6+ 16.Rf2 Na5 17.Qh5 Nc4 18.f5 Qc5 (18. ... exf5?? 19.Nd5! 1-0) 19.Na4 Qa5 20.Qxh7 O-O-O unclear

As Anand plays the most modern chess, maybe in future castling will actually be regarded as an inferior move!

Very logical from Anand -- he has solved his problems with the bad king position -- Kramnik will fight on and it will be a long slow draw

Any idea whats the clocks like

To ajay
by either Qe3 or Qd7.

Tnx Juliette! But actually I meant this possibllity of Na5 after Qe1, white must be very careful because of his lack of development, but it's right now it's still unclear!

Well 19 ... a6 has put paid to Nb5

The gameplan ..for the moment has got to be Ke7 followed by Rd8

maybe a6 first to stop nb5

Peter, could you please ask Anand what the plan behind 17... Rd3 was? Much appreciated if you could. Thanks!