Anand vs Topalov Game 9

[Robert Flesher]

[d]4Rnk1/pb3p1p/1p1q1np1/8/3P4/3B1P1N/P4BPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 24



I liked ....23. Qa3!, but its Topalov after all. He know what is going on.

[AdminX]

[d]6k1/pb3p1p/1p1qnnp1/8/2BP4/5P1N/P4BPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 25

[michiguel]

Stockfish 1.7.1-JA analysis to depth 23 on a Core2Duo:
[D]4Rnk1/pb3p1p/1p1q2p1/7n/3p4/2PB1P1N/P4BPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 23[/D]

Code: Select all

 23	0.00	182.5M	3:27.94	cxd4 Nf6 Ree1 Ne6 a4 Nxd4 Bc4 Nf5 Ng5 Bd5 Rcd1 Qc6 Bb5 Qc2 Rc1 Qd2 Ne4 Bxe4 fxe4 Ng4 Rc8+ Kg7 Re2 Qd1+ Re1 Qd2

Sven

From a Computer Chess prespective, if open positions generally favor the rooks. Then shouldn't we see something like (0.20)

Black has no weaknesses and the d4 pawn will be perfectly blockaded, which will make very difficult for white to make progress. Q is very good when there are opponent pawns scattered, which is this case. That perfectly compensates the pair of bishops. Rooks are very clumsy defending their own pawns. RR are good if there is a weakness they can aim at. There is none. Black is is good shape. Probably slightly better, but difficult to convert it into a big advantage, IMHO.

Miguel

[Sven]

Stockfish 1.7.1-JA analysis to depth 23 on a Core2Duo:
[D]4Rnk1/pb3p1p/1p1q2p1/7n/3p4/2PB1P1N/P4BPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 23[/D]

Code: Select all

 23	0.00	182.5M	3:27.94	cxd4 Nf6 Ree1 Ne6 a4 Nxd4 Bc4 Nf5 Ng5 Bd5 Rcd1 Qc6 Bb5 Qc2 Rc1 Qd2 Ne4 Bxe4 fxe4 Ng4 Rc8+ Kg7 Re2 Qd1+ Re1 Qd2

Sven

From a Computer Chess prespective, if open positions generally favor the rooks. Then shouldn't we see something like (0.20)

1) From a static viewpoint, you are correct. And don't forget the bishop pair, so it might be even more than 0.20. But:

2) The given evaluation is not the static evaluation but belongs to the end of the PV shown above, which is the following position:
[D]2R5/p4pkp/1p4p1/1B3n2/P3P1n1/8/3q1BPP/4R1K1 w - - 7 34[/D]
where Stockfish evaluates this as 0.00 due to repeating moves (Re2 Qd1+).

Sven

[AdminX]

6k1/p4p1p/1p2nnp1/3b4/1qBP4/5PBN/P5PP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 27

[AdminX]

6k1/p2n1p1p/1p2n1p1/3bB3/1qBP4/5P1N/P5PP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 28

[michiguel]

6k1/p2n1p1p/1p2n1p1/3bB3/1qBP4/5P1N/P5PP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 28

If Topalov allows white to straighten out the pawns, that is convenient for white... even if the bishop pair is lost. The RR becomes better rather than a liability.

Was this Qb4 needed?

Miguel

[Sven]

Analysis of Stockfish 1.7.1-JA:

[D]6k1/p2n1p1p/1p2n1p1/3bB3/1qBP4/5P1N/P5PP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 28[/D]

Code: Select all

 26	+0.72	301.4M	4:49.88	Bxd5 Nxe5 Bxe6 Nd3 Rc8+ Kg7 Rd1 fxe6 Rc2 Kf6 Nf2 Nxf2 Kxf2 g5 g3 Qd6 Rcd2 Qa3 Kg2 Qe3 Kf1 Qc3 Re2 b5 Kg2 Qc4 Rde1 Ke7 Rxe6+ Qxe6 Rxe6+ Kxe6 Kf2

Sven

[AdminX]

[d]6k1/p2n1p1p/1p2n1p1/3bB3/q1BP4/P4P1N/6PP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 29

28. a3 !? Qa4

[AdminX]

Anand,V - Topalov,V, World Chess Championship 2010
[d]6k1/p6p/1p2p1p1/4n3/3q4/P4P1N/6PP/2R1R2K w - - 0 1

Analysis by Stockfish 1.7.1-16 JA 64bit:

32.Rc8+ Kg7 33.Ng5 Qd2 34.Nxe6+ Kf6
= (-0.16 --) Depth: 6 00:00:00 17kN

32.Red1 Qa4 33.Ng5 Qxa3 34.Rc7 Nd3 35.Nxe6 Nf2+
= (0.16) Depth: 6 00:00:00 18kN
= (-0.04 --) Depth: 7 00:00:00 20kN

32.Ng5 Nc4 33.Red1 Qh4 34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.Rd7+ Kg8 36.Nxe6
+/= (0.37 ++) Depth: 7 00:00:00 20kN
+- (1.53 ++) Depth: 28 00:02:32 577mN