Polgar vs Anand, Dos Hermanas 1999

Annotated Classic Game | Hot Off The Chess, www.hotoffthechess.com

Hi! And thanks for joining me for another classic game of chess. This week’s features two of the greatest chess players of all time. They are, namely, Judit Polgar of Hungary and Viswanathan Anand of India.

These players will need no introduction for anyone who is not new to chess. And for anyone who is, it is hard to even begin to sum them up. The former is the greatest female chess player in history, multiple Women’s World Champion and dominated women’s chess for almost three decades. The latter, became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988. He is a former World Chess Champion and World number one. He is still ranked in the top ten players in the world today, aged 49.

The two met over the board at the 1999 edition of the strong chess tournament in Dos Hermanas, Spain.

The game sees Anand adopt the Najdorf Sicilian to Polgar’s 1.e4. His opponent wastes no time in showing her aggressive playing style, with 7.g4. She then lets a piece go, in return for activity.

And this activity she receives, in no small quantity. Anand’s development is found wanting, and a horrid bishop on g7 gives him a very troubled game.

The result is a fine, steady, attack by Judit Polgar. We see her take a firm grasp of the position and not let go.

  [Event "Dos Hermanas"]  [Site "Dos Hermanas ESP"]  [Date "1999.04.06"]  [Round "1"]  [White "Judit Polgar"]  [Black "Viswanathan Anand"]  [Result "1-0"]  [BlackElo "2781"]  [ECO "B90"]  [EventDate "1999.04.06"]  [WhiteElo "2677"]   { Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. } 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 { The Najdorf Sicilian, then, not really a surprise, even though Anand has many strings to his bow. } 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 { This kind of thing was still fairly rare in top level chess, but again, when it is played by one of the most attacking players in the game, it is not a big shock. } 7...e5 8.Nf5 { This is the only move, really, unless the g4-thrust is intended as a gambit, the Nf6 and Bc8 both targeting it. However, this knight is rather exposed on f5. } 8...g6 9.g5 gxf5 { The only respectable move. } 10.exf5 d5 11.Qf3 d4 12.O-O-O Nbd7 13.Bd2 dxc3 { One would expect the players to still be feeling rather comfortable, here, as the game is following Chiburdanidze vs Cserna, Pristina 1983, (drawn in 41). } 14.Bxc3 Bg7 { This was new at the time. 14...Qc7 had been played in the Chiburdanidze-Cserna game, and, interestingly, in Solovjov vs Biriukov, just the day before this one. That was a win for White. I wonder if therefore Anand just decided to try something different. However, the move has not been repeated. } 15.Rg1 { This seems a questionable move, but Judit knows that if she rushes to capture on f6, she will have very little, Black will consolidate and be slightly better. She is playing for activity. } 15...O-O { ? This move is hard to judge, but perhaps Anand was a little too eager to hop into the corner, here. Obviously, he is worried about his King becoming stuck in the centre -- and who can blame him? However, after ...Ng8, (as ugly and counter-intuitive as it seems), it is unclear as to if White has enough in return for her piece. } 16.gxf6 Qxf6 17.Qe3 { This is a little out of context, White really had to keep up the threats -- or at least the threat of threats. Qg4, for example, would give Black considerations along the g-file. With mate then available on g7, Black would also have to be careful not to allow moves such as Rd6. } 17...Kh8 { Prudent. } 18.f4 Qb6 { A piece up, it is understandable why Anand wanted to try to get the Queens off. However, the problem with his position is that he is not active. Polgar, on the other hand, is. For this reason she wants to keep the queen on. } 19.Qg3 Qh6 { Another Queen move from Vishy. Meanwhile, his other pieces spectate. } 20.Rd6 { This was always on its way at some stage. } 20...f6 { Forced. The Bg7 is now a horrid piece for Black, with almost zero potential. By contrast, White's bishops now start to come alive. } 21.Bd2 e4 22.Bc4 b5 23.Be6 ( 23.Bd5 Ra7 { (...Rb8? Be3!) } 24.Qe3 Rc7 25.Ba5 { And Black would be becoming rather nervous. } ) 23...Ra7 { ? This is inaccurate from Anand and Polgar piles on the pressure. } ( 23...Nc5 24.Be3 Nb7 25.Rd2 { Leaves everything to be played for. } ) 24.Rc6 { This little hop to the left, stops the Ra7 going to c7 upon Be3. White also wants to occupy c7, firing along the 7th rank. } 24...a5 { This is not really very productive. Perhaps ...Rd8 would have been slightly better, but Black's situation is rather delicate now and it is hard to see how he can improve things. } 25.Be3 Rb7 { If ...Ra8, White will not wait very long before playing Rc7, when the 7th rank is very dicey for Black. } 26.Bd5 { A nice little threat of Rxc8. } 26...Rb8 { Taking the rook from the eyes of the Bd5. But now, White gets c7. } 27.Rc7 { The influence that Polgar has upon the position, here, is decisive. Anand is virtually in lock-down. } 27...b4 28.b3 { This was not really necessary, but White's position is that good that she can afford the time. } 28...Rb5 { Black decides to give his piece back to try and salvage something, but it is too late. } 29.Bc6 Rxf5 30.Rxc8 { Bxd7 was also perfectly good. } 30...Rxc8 31.Bxd7 Rcc5 32.Bxf5 Rxf5 { The last few moves have done nothing to ease Black's suffering and his position is quite resignable. Not only is the Bg7 a thorn in his side, but his vulnerability on the back rank is also a very serious matter. } 33.Rd1 { Polgar goes straight for the jugular. There is nothing that Anand can do, here. } 33...Kg8 34.Qg2 { With White having too many threats to answer, here, Viswanathan Anand resigned. } 1-0