The Teeth of the Tiger

Viswanathan Anand – Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler
Candidates Tournament; Moscow, March 17, 2016
Spanish C88

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. c3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4

16. axb5! A clear improvement on 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4? (consideration deserved 17. Ng5!? or even 17. e6!? Rxe6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. axb5 with an edge to White) 17. ... Nb3! (if 17. ... Bxe4? then 18. Bxe4 Rb8 19. Bxh7+! Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Qh5 Bd6 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qxg7 mate) 18. Bg5 Be7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Rb1 (on 20. Bxb3 Bxe4 21. d5 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 Qxe5 wins) 20. ... Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Rad8! 23. Bxh7+ Kf8 24. Qf3 Rxd4 25. Re1 Qg5 26. h4 Qd2 27. Rf1 Rxh4 0 : 1 Shirov – Onischuk, 36th Chess Olympiad, Calviá 2004. 16. ... axb5 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Rxe4. Anand sacrifices the Exchange! 18. ... Nb3? Given the consequences of this choice, it is easy to suggest 18. ... g6 19. Bg5 Qd7 as a better try. 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Ng5! A terrific blow which brilliantly forces the win in all variations. 20. ... Nxc1 21. Qh5 h6 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Rg4 Qa5. Or 23. ... hxg5 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Bh7+ Kh8 26. Bg6+ and mate next move. 24. h4! 1 : 0. For after 24. ... Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Ne2 26. Nh3! it is all over. A fantastic attacking game by Anand!

Viswanathan Anand vs. Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler
Photo: Worldchess.com