CHESS #561

Anand’s superb preparation and form has made a mockery of predictions. A lead of 3-0 is almost but not quite insurmountable. Korchnoi pulled back a three-game deficit against Karpov in 1978. In 1984, Kasparov was down 5-0 to Karpov and reduced the deficit to 5-3 before the match was aborted after 48 games when Fide decided that both players were too exhausted. In 1986, Karpov returned the compliment to Kasparov in the London-Leningrad title match, coming back from 4-1down.

But those were all long matches. In fact, 1978 and 1984 were unlimited (First to win six) and the others, 24-gamers. In each case, the trailing players could make draws until they played themselves back to form. Kramnik has a maximum of six games and he must win one from the next four to keep a theoretical chance. If the match is tied, it goes into rapid-play. At short controls, the head-to-head score is 10-2 in favour of Anand.

In retrospect, Anand outlined his strategy clearly in a Der Spiegel interview on October 4. He said “I have been working up to 10 hours a day since April to understand Kramnik. I will try to neutralise positions where he is strong while remembering that he is doing the same and thinking about what I am thinking about him.”

Again with the benefit of hindsight, Anand must have noticed Kramnik had 1) suffered several losses in tactical maelstroms 2) focussed on drawing with black to the extent where he had not won one out of 42 games with the black pieces in the last two years 3) Anand himself plays 1.e4 94 per cent of the time.

This meant that Anand’s best chances lay in moving away from 1.e4 and heading into complex tactics while playing to win with both colours. Even in equal positions, Kramnik is uncomfortable if there’s a high level of risk involved. It is one thing to realise this and another to make it happen. To Anand’s credit, he’s done that with a vengeance.

One key is Anand’s new idea in the Meran, now dubbed the Bonn Variation. Kramnik has not been able to cope with the complexities, blundering twice in time-trouble after getting difficult positions.

In the diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Kramnik Vs Anand, Game 5, Bonn WCM 2008), white must cope with Bxf3 and stall the strong d-passer. Kramnik cut the Gordian Knot by capturing 29. Nxd4? Qxd4 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Rxd4 Nxg4 32. Rd7+ Kf6 33. Rxb7 Rc1+ 34. Bf1. So far, white seems to have neutralised the attack and he has a big material edge. But there’s a sting in the tail 34. - Ne3! 35. fxe3 fxe3 (0-1). The pawn will queen and checkmate is around the corner.