Semi-final. First games (round 2.1)

Anand - Gelfand [B70]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4

An advance b7-b5 was prevented by White in the most simple way. This allows Black to transfer the game into the Dragon Variation which is convenient for him.

6... Nc6 7. Be2 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 Nxd4

Usually Black prefers 10... Bd7 or 10... Qc7 to this exchange.

11. Bxd4 Be6 12. a5 Rc8 13. Rfc1

The continuation 13. h3 which occurred previously is no better than the move in the game. Probably only 13. Rfd1 could have prevented the idea which was performed by Black in this game.

13... d5!

After this move the play is fully equalised.

14. exd5

If 14. e5, then after 14... Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qe3 (White had to reckon with the threat of 16... Bxe5, and in case of 16. Rd1 Black had 16... Qc7, and White’s pawn on e5 is endangered) 16... Bh6! 17. Qxh6 Qxd4 Black took the initiative.

14... Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Qb4 Rc7 18. c4 Qe5 19. Bf3 Rd8 20. Re1 Qd6 21. Qc3+ 1/2-1/2 Draw. The chances of the sides are absolutely equal.

Milos - Bareev [C11]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bc4 a6 9. Qe2

Also 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 b5 11. Bb3 Bb7 was seen, but very long ago.

9... b5

10. Bb3

10. Bd5 was tested too: after 10... Rb8 11. O-O-O O-O 12. Bc6 Rb6 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 c6 15. Bb3 c5 16. Bd5 Qc7 17. Rhe1 Bd8 18. Neg5 Bxg5+ 19. Nxg5 Nf6 20. Qe5 the chances were equalised in the game Svidler - M. Gurevich (Esbjerg, 2000), and the opponents agreed to a draw.

10... O-O 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. O-O c5 13. c3 1/2-1/2 Draw. The final decision is delayed in this pair too. It can be noted that 13. dxc5 gave nothing to White because of 13... Bxe4 14. Qxe4 Nxc5 as well as 13. Nxc5 to be followed with 13... Nxc5 14. dxc5 Qc7.