Anand,Viswanathan (2787) - Topalov,Veselin (2805) [E54]
WCC 2010 Nimzo-Indian Gligoric Sofia BUL (9) 06.05.2010 Annotated Stan Yee



1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 cxd4
Normal here is 7...dxc4.

8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4
White now has an isolated Queens pawn, common in this type of setup.

9...b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3
In the spirit of the Nimzo, but why give up the Bishop when it may be needed for defence on e7? This also strengthens White's d4 pawn.

15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4
?! A bit timid, whereas 16.c4 may create threats against the Black Queen later.

16...Nh5 17.Ng5 g6 18.Nh3 e5 19.f3 Qd6 20.Bf2 exd4 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+ Nf8 23.cxd4 Nf6 24.Ree1 Ne6
The position is slightly in Whites favour, but all Blacks pieces are active.

25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bg3 Qb4 27.Be5 Nd7
!

28.a3
[28.Bxd5 Nxe5 29.Bxe6 Nd3 30.Rc8+ Kg7 31.Rd1 Nb2 32.Rf1 Qxd4+ 33.Nf2 fxe6 34.Rc7+ Kg8 is even.]

28...Qa4 29.Bxd5 Nxe5 30.Bxe6 Qxd4+ 31.Kh1 fxe6 32.Ng5 Qd6 33.Ne4 Qxa3 34.Rc3 Qb2 35.h4 b5 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Ng5 Ke8 39.Rxh7
?! 39.Nxe6 has more threats.

39...Qc3 40.Rh8+ Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Re4 b4 43.Nxe6 Kb6 44.Nf4 Qa1+ 45.Kh2 a5
If I was White I would be very worried about now.

46.h5 gxh5 47.Rxh5 Nc6 48.Nd5+ Kb7 49.Rh7+ Ka6 50.Re6 Kb5 51.Rh5 Nd4
? Apparently 51...Nd8 is best, according to Mr Fritz. The move played exposes the King to attack.

52.Nb6+
!

52...Ka6 53.Rd6
!

53...Kb7 54.Nc4
? 54.Nd5! maintains the pressure, and also stops the b-pawn from advancing.

54...Nxf3+
! Exposing the White King, and allowing ...b3 after the Queen protects that square with tempo.

55.gxf3 Qa2+ 56.Nd2 Kc7 57.Rhd5 b3
?! Too keen. Better was 57...a4 first.

58.Rd7+ Kc8 59.Rd8+ Kc7 60.R8d7+ Kc8 61.Rg7 a4 62.Rc5+ Kb8 63.Rd5 Kc8 64.Kg3 Qa1 65.Rg4 b2 66.Rc4+ Kb7 67.Kf2 b1Q 68.Nxb1 Qxb1 69.Rdd4 Qa2+ 70.Kg3 a3 71.Rc3 Qa1 72.Rb4+ Ka6 73.Ra4+ Kb5 74.Rcxa3 Qg1+ 75.Kf4 Qc1+ 76.Kf5 Qc5+ 77.Ke4 Qc2+ 78.Ke3 Qc1+ 79.Kf2 Qd2+ 80.Kg3 Qe1+ 81.Kf4 Qc1+ 82.Kg3 Qg1+ 83.Kf4 1/2-1/2