Sedate start to game 4 as Anand sits pretty

Game 4 of the world chess match began sedately, featuring cautious manoeuvres and piece exchanges. Anand holds a 2-1 lead after his win with the black pieces in Game three and he may not mind coasting closer to the finish. Kramnik probably wants a quick draw to recover his equanimity after a devastating loss. In any case, the Russian challenger doesn’t like taking risks with black.

Game 4 began with a Queens Gambit Declined, after Anand opened 1.d4 for the second time in succession. This time around the Queens Pawn wasn’t a surprise and Kramnik chose to defend with a classical system, one of the most solid methods of trying to neutralise the initiative of the first move.

There were no new ideas unveiled initially. After pawn exchanges in the centre, white retains an optical advantage with a better pawn structure and a potentially better long-range white-square bishop against a short-stepping knight.

However, the position has simplified with the exchange of three minor pieces and black is also quite active. The programs suggest that this is almost completely equal and it could lead to a quick and sterile draw.

What little edge there is, seems in white’s favour. Anand is probing on the queenside with his queen in the hopes of sharpening the tension. However, black is only a little worse and Kramnik should hold the position without too much trouble. There are no wild tactics evident and a draw would be the expected result.

This solid approach is a great contrast from Game Three, where Anand pressed home a sacrificial attack in mutual time trouble. Anand was two pawns down with a strong attack after move 24 and he kept harassing the exposed white king. Both players consumed huge amounts of time finding the right moves in a double-edged position.