After another draw in game 8 of the World Chess Championship Match in Bonn, Germany, Vladimir Kramnik has only 4 games remaining to get back the 3 points that he is trailing to Vishy Anand. Another win by Anand or even two more draws and it is over.
Here is GM Susan Polgar's live annotation:
World Championship Game 8 Bonn, Germany 2008.10.24
White-Kramnik, V. Black-Anand, V.
[ECO "D39"]
1.d4 Kramnik chose to open with d4 again.1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 Surprise! Anand chose to take. This is not solid opening one would expect Anand to play given the current score. He instead goes for the sharp Vienna Variation. 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 The most popular responses for White are 7.Bxc4 and 5.e57.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 White has a few choices: 9.Bd2, 9.Bxf6, 9.Bb5+, all are playable.9.Bb5+ Bd7 White's best choice here is to take the Knight with Bxf6 10.Bxf6 Black can either play 10...Bxb5, 10...Bxc3+ or 10...gxf6. I think Bxb5 may surprise Kramnik the most :) It may not be the best move but the surprise element sometimes is very important as we have seen in the match so far.10...Bxb5 One again, Anand is first to surprise his opponent. The 2 most logical responses for White are 11.Nb3 Qb6 12 Bxg7 Rg8 13.Bd4 += and 11.Ndxb5 gxf6 12.O-O Nc6 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3 +=11.Nxb5 gxf6 12.O-O Nc6 White has a few playable continuation such as 13.a3 and13.Qf3 although I prefer 13.a3 better.13.a3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3 The key question for Anand now is will he castle Kingside or will he leave his King in the middle again. Both 14...0-0 and 14...Rg8 are playable. I think this is probably the most "comfortable" position Kramnik has so far in this match. This is the type of position which suits him best. Unfortunately, it should have come much earlier.14...Rg8 True to his form in the match, Anand chose NOT to castle and instead try to create counter play on the g file and the Kingside. If I have to choose a side to play, I would pick White in this position although Black's position is fine. What White may want to do is to make sure Black does not castle on the Queenside. Therefore, it may make sense to make a move like Qf3 to attack the f6 pawn to gain a tempo to get the Rook to d1 to make sure that the Black King cannot escape to the other side.15.f4 A somewhat surprising move. One guess is he does not want Black to be able to put his Knight on e5 to support a Kingside attack. Black has a number of fine moves here 15...Rd8, 15...Qb6+, or 15...Qc5+.15...Rd8 16.Qe1 Black has a number of playable moves such as 16...Qb6+ 17.Rf2 Na5 or something else like 16...Rd4, 16...Rd3.16...Qb6+ 17.Rf2 This is the kind of position which is the hardest for the average player, sometimes even for more advanced players, to come up with the right plan.17...Rd3 One possible explanation for this move is to creatively get the Rook to the Kingside with Rh3. I am not convinced of this plan if it is indeed his plan.18.Qe2 Qd4 This move allows White to play Nb5 and if the Queen moves back to d8 the White can proceed with e5 to build a strong d6 post for the Knight. I am still unsure of Anand's plan here.19.Re1 This position reminds me of watching a heavyweight boxing bout where the two heavyweight boxers are feeling each other out in the early rounds. I am still curious about the Rd3 then Qd4 sequence for Black. It will be interesting to listen to what Anand has to say about this at the press conference. I hope someone will ask this question :) White is now threatening to play Nb5 next with excellent advantage. Perhaps Black should consider playing a6 to stop it.19...a6 An interesting possibility for White is 20.Nd5 exd5 21.exd5+ Kd7 22.dxc6+ Kxc6 and White has a small edge.20.Kh1 Obviously it is to get out of the pin. Based on the time on the clock, I think both players are having a hard time coming up with concrete plans.20...Kf8 Black is doing the same in getting the King out of the e file to avoid the possibility of Nd5. I do not see anything convincing for either player in this position. I still think 20.Nd5 gives Kramnik better chances. 21.Ref1 The plan is to go for f5. If Black takes, White would have the double Rooks in good position. If Black avoids the exchange with e5 then the d5 square would be vulnerable. Black can defend with 21...Rg6 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 (23. Rxf5 Rd2 -+) 23...Rg4 the position is unclear.21...Rg6 22.g3 A cautious move. Another possible line is 22.Rd1 Rxd1+ 23.Nxd1. I think White has a very small advantage.22...Kg7 23.Rd1 Rxd1 24.Nxd1 White is better because 1. Black's Rook is not in an ideal place 2. Black has double f pawns. But the advantage is very small. White's goal should be to trade Queens. Then his advantage will be enhance a great deal because his Rook can get to the d file faster. Black will do everything possible to avoid trading Queens here.24...Kh8 The idea of this move is make room for his Rook to go back to g8.25.Nc3 A very interesting and logical idea is 25.Rf3 then Rd3.25...Rg8 26.Kg2 Rd8 Now Black controls the d file. Very curious play by Kramnik in the past few moves. One would have expected him to go for the d file a few moves ago. One idea is he will get his Queen h5 but I fail to see a real attack.27.Qh5 Kg7 Here is a possible line 28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh4 Kg7 30.f5 exf5 31.Rxf5 Ne7 32.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh4 Kg7 Some of these moves are just to gain time on the clock.32.e5 If Black plays 32... fxe5 33. Qg5+ Kf8 34. f5 exf5 35. Qxf5 +=. Best for Black is 32...f5 32...f5 The biggest problem for White is he cannot get his Rook and Knight to involve in the Kingside attack, in spite of Black's weak King. 33.Qf6+ is obvious but then what?33.Qf6 + Kg8 34.Qg5+ Kh8 Perhaps draw will come after move 40 when Kramnik will have more time to figure if there is any possible for him to get his pieces coordinated. I see nothing for White right now.35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re2 I expect White will continue with the g5 - f6 check again to gain time.36...Qc4 37.Qg5+ White has nothing here even though Kramnik is trying. I am confident that this will be a draw. I think Kramnik missed a few possibilities in this game: 1. 20.Nd5 and 2. 25.Rf3. It would have given him much better chances.37...Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kh8 1/2-1/2 The score now is 5.5 - 2.5 in Anand's favor. He needs one more point in the final 4 games to retain his title.
Posts
And here is FM Dennis Monokroussos' live commentary, including a comment from me (#17 at the bottom).
ReplyDeleteI took time today to comment on the game on the ChessBase/Fritz PlayChess server. Anyone interested in my posting my save of the chat transcript?
Yes, sure, I would enjoy reading that.
ReplyDeleteI perfectly agree with your comment on the chess mind blog. ---
"Anand's comment that after 15.f4 'he knew he had done something wrong' is a really interesting window onto how the very top masters think."
OK. Here's what it's like to be involved in PlayChess chat during the games. I've edited out a lot, marked ..., but I've preserved some long stretches of conversation. My comments are marked "->KWRegan"; they actually show as "->Observers" on my screen. I have kibitzing privileges since I'm an IM. I've only just started following on ICC earlier in this match---the chat volume is *much* heavier.
ReplyDelete-----I logged in around move 10--------------
Viswanathan (Observers): guys, [in the match] kramnik is just lost..
Viswanathan (Observers): he does not have the heart/courage like topa to fight back properly
...
Viswanathan (Observers): does not this look like a simple draw ?
Lars Bernhofen (Observers): Genau :)
Kerstin (Observers): die sitzation ist geklärt. ich dachte, das die das noch ein bisschen ausreizen
Viswanathan (Observers): no pieces, no complexity, end game ?
...
Rhilll (Observers): 13. a3 and entering a sea of tranquility
Kerstin (Observers): daran auch
Wosch (Observers): very poetic
...
Oufti (Observers): without joking, has kramnik chances >> question for the best of us
...
Viswanathan (Observers): guys, give up on kramnik
...
->KWRegan: In response to those viewing the trades and giving up on Kramnik ("no pieces, no complexity, no game),
White's ultimate goal here is to get into a K+P ending, where he has real chances.
->KWRegan: The other long-term factor I see is control over d4---if Black can anchor the N there, then that
compensates for positional minuses elsewhere.
->KWRegan: The battle will be over the center---and whether White can make Black's King uncomfortable---but control
over d4 will be an indicator of how well the skirmish works for White.
->KWRegan: 14...Rg8 played, according to Susan Polgar.
Meisterdieb: again the g-line, wins 3 times for anand
->KWRegan: And 15.f4 too, which I do not understand
->KWRegan: I guess Susan's suggestion of 15.Qf3 would be met by ...Qg5. I have machines off, by the way.
->KWRegan: What I dislike about f2-f4 is that it gives Black several tempos to play in the center and on d4. Looking
longer, however, I see the flurry of activity ends and Black still has his problems.
->KWRegan: The move does cut off Black's Quuen from the K-side. Ultimately, f4-f5 will be an idea, to "fix" Black's doubled pawns.
->KWRegan: Chesspro.ru (Alexey Korotylev) says pretty much just what I said, envisioning f4-f5, and pondering 15...Rd8
16.Qe1 Qb6+ 17.Rf2.
Ninki: Ken, I presume after f4-f5, black must avoid e6-e5. But letting white swap on e6 leaves a lot of luft around black's king. And
if f6-f5 then exf5 Qxf5 doesn't look nice either. Am I missing anything here?
->Ninki: Hi---You may be right that f4-f5 is coming sooner than later. I imagine Black would try to keep his Queen on e5
in response, but it *could* be shaky.
[After 16.Qe1 Qb6+ 17.Rf2 were indeed played.]
->KWRegan: I wonder if this is to buy time to castle-by-hand (??): 17.Rf2 Kd7!? point being 18.f5 Kc8 and the pin on the Rook saves
the f-pawn.
->KWRegan: That makes White simply better, however.
->KWRegan: Well, f5 allows ...Ne5 too (generally speaking---I'm sans-machine)>
Slowmuse (Observers): ...Nd4 ?
Eye_witness (Observers): hasn't Anand won all the games where he has not castled?
Kampfgeist (Observers): no
Kampfgeist (Observers): he didnt castle in 5 games, won 3
Kampfgeist (Observers): in 6 if we count this on
Greko-12 (Observers): lol
Kampfgeist (Observers): one*
Greko-12 (Observers): i love king in the mindle and tis pawn stracture!
Eye_witness (Observers): wow! great memory Kampfgeist and thanks
Ninki: Anand seems to want to swap queens. I guess after Kh1, then Qe3 and his king will be safer after the swap.
Viswanathan (Observers): i am smelling a white win today :-)
...
Schwartmann (Observers): R3: 1. +/= (0.47): 19.Sb5 De3 20.Dxe3 Txe3 21.Sd6+ Ke7 22.Sxb7 Sd4 23.Sc5 Td8 24.g3 Tc8 25.b4 Sb3 26.Sxb3 Txb3
27.Taa2 a6 28.Tfb2 Te3 29.Te2
...
Viswanathan (Observers): now this is kramnik's game
Eye_witness (Observers): he hardly wins with black ever, so conservative is his black philosophy. You have to go back
two years to his 2006 WCh match with Topalov, game two, for a black Kramnik win in classical chess. Including that
match, that's 42 games (+1 =35 -5), an astounding stat for someone as strong as he is. (For context, over the same
period for Leko: +5 =41 -7; for Anand: +12 =30 -5.)
Eye_witness (Observers): thought that was interesting from Mig's blog
...
Eye_witness (Observers): If he fought out all of his black games he would surely have more wins than losses. But his philosophy has
always been that a draw with black is fine against anyone. It has served him pretty well, mind you, but it's going to make it even
harder to shift into Genghis Khan mode in Bonn.
Semi (Observers): Anand has not made a single mistake in the whole match so far
Eye_witness (Observers): did the stats surprise you any Zigomar2?
Eye_witness (Observers): I did not realize Kramnik was that passive with his blacks
...
->KWRegan: Weirdly, Chesspro.ru recommended the 17...Kd7!? idea, giving "!" and saying it led to equality. I did not get it from
there. Now the question is, can Black hold his ground in the center?
Semi (Observers): why not go to h8
Viswanathan (Observers): all iknow is black can draw, but still in trouble
...
->KWRegan: In that line with 20.Nd5, Korotylev says that the morning running of people [to catch a bus e.g.] is less
safe than the running of Black's King.
Team Arbiter (Observers): depends on which city
Viswanathan (Observers): Kramnik played a move !
...[this is now after White's 20.Kh1]
->KWRegan: Now on 20...Ke7 intending 21...Rgd8, is 21.Nd5+ a worry? Or if White plays another prep-move and then
22.Nd5+ ---? Machines? I'll think while walking my dog.
...
[During my dog walk, I decided 20...Ke7?! 21.Nd5+! would indeed be too strong for White---here Anand played 20...Kf8 instead.]
...
KryakvinDmitry (Observers): Na2+-?
Viswanathan (Observers): looking back Rd3 was indeed a good move !
Viswanathan (Observers): see, this is what, kramnik does, it is all regular positional solid moves, and it wont work for Winning
Viswanathan (Observers): Rf1 is one such move conservative, positional mve
Viswanathan (Observers): i think black is out of danger now
...
Rhilll (Observers): 19. Nb5 could have been exciting. now it's = acc. to Rybka
Viswanathan (Observers): I agree Rhill, 19 Nb5 should have been played, again Kramnik is not good at opening up pieces and keeping a
constant eye
->KWRegan: I concluded 20...Ke7 21.Nd5+! works well for White after a later Rf2-f3. After g2-g3 (played---f4-f5 was premature I
think), I think White has a good chance to drive Black back and claim an edge.
...
->KWRegan: After ...f5, do the engines say 23.exf5 or 23.e5? Both have merits.
...
Nogal (Observers): if f5 by black then exf5 20 ply -0,08
...[after White's 22.g3 move.]
Viswanathan (Observers): problem for kramnik he has opened up the diagnol to king as well
Boofnbuffnbiff (Observers): no bishops so:)
Viswanathan (Observers): but queen is 1/4 of bishop !
Viswanathan (Observers): sorry 1/4 of queen is bishop!
...
->KWRegan: Chesspro.ru has been saying that f4-f5 is White's dangerous possibility, even calling 21...Rg6 a
"suspicious" move.
...
->KWRegan: Their commentator has also wondered about the Nc3-a2-c1 idea for White, trying to trap the R on d3. For myself, I like the
Rd1 idea (played)---tiny chances for White in the ending with Black's Rook cut off from the Q-side.
Smejkolo (Observers): Kramnik will try to exploit dubious position of the black rook on g6
Semi (Observers): that's why we play f5
Semi (Observers): to join the rook
Odirovski (Observers): Kh8 more practical
Boofnbuffnbiff (Observers): Rf3-d3
Odirovski (Observers): don't force issues
Odirovski (Observers): this is static position, both sides want to maintain tension
->KWRegan: I predict 24...f5 too.
Semi (Observers): ...f5 is tyoical fo Poison PAwn in similar structure
Odirovski (Observers): f5 from both is very committal...
Semi (Observers): then Re6,Ne7
Odirovski (Observers): anyway, different strokes for different folks
Semi (Observers): equal
MarvinNagel (Observers): white has nothing
->KWRegan: The important point then is, can Black maintain a N on d4 guarding f5?
Semi (Observers): better on e7
Semi (Observers): contolling d5
Semi (Observers): and g6
Odirovski (Observers): I would play Kh8 as waiting move, then follow with Rg8
->KWRegan: But passive on e7, i.e. White could grind for hours.
Peppmon (Observers): Na5 with idea Nc4
Odirovski (Observers): but...
Semi (Observers): in fact, White will hardly take on f5
...[Anand actually played 24...Kh8]
Nogal (Observers): Odirovski, why you didn´t speak of Kh8? LOL
Odirovski (Observers): sorry?
Odirovski (Observers): I called Kh8
Nogal (Observers): it was the move you liked
Nogal (Observers): I made a joke
Odirovski (Observers): lol
Odirovski (Observers): see, I've played over 10,000 games aginst Fritz - 2 to 11 and you learn how to make non-committal moves
Odirovski (Observers): sometimes, that's what you need in chess
Nogal (Observers): but now engine evals favor White a little bit..
Odirovski (Observers): engine evals take too many factors into consideration
SteelFury (Observers): was that worth to play 10k games? Maybe a good chessbook stating 'Don't make commital moves' would have been
more efficient ;-)
Semi (Observers): Kramnik is just in bad form
Odirovski (Observers): I don't work for Chessbase, but I recommend Fritz 8 to anybody who wants to really develop their chess
SteelFury (Observers): He is slightly worse again, isn't he?
Boofnbuffnbiff (Observers): yes , something like this
Semi (Observers): why not taking over the d-file with Qc2
Odirovski (Observers): play against the program, unleashed (rating 3,000+)
SteelFury (Observers): Fritz8? Why not 11?
Odirovski (Observers): Fritz 8 is the most 'Human' of the series
Viswanathan (Observers): but i like the way Kramnik is applying pressure today,
Odirovski (Observers): in my opinion
Thomas Pähtz (Observers): wir verstehen den letzten weißen Zug nicht
Boofnbuffnbiff (Observers): maybe kramnik dont even think about to win ? maybe he sutisfyed with draws
Odirovski (Observers): the other versions are more 'Computer' in their play
...
[The German by Paehtz said, "We don't understand White's last move", which was 26.Kg2 here.
I and Shivamthur answered simultaneously.]
Shivmathur (Observers): Thomas ... maybe to release the queen from guarding the rook
->KWRegan: Black could have played ...Kg7-h8 without interposing ...Rg6-g8. The purpose of White's last move is to guard f2 and
activate the King for a possible endgame, now that Black has done the opposite :-).
Shivmathur (Observers): ... so the queen can roam around
...
[after Kramnik's 30.Qg4+ repeating.]
...
->KWRegan: White may just be gaining time to move 40.
Semi (Observers): they will keep playing
Skrjabin (Observers): At least Kramink has interrupted Anand's winning streak.
...
Filósofo (Observers): Kramnik, esta como esos equipos que no quieren perder por goleada y rezan para que el arbitro pite el final...
Nogal (Observers): aquella novela de quien era Filosofo? la del titulo "Triste solitario y final"
...
[The Spanish said, Kramnik is/you-are like one of those soccer teams that doesn't want to get hammered (any worse) and prays for the ref to blow the final whistle",
then "That novel, whose was it, Filosofo?---the one titled "Sad, Alone and Final."
When Kramnik stopped repeating and tried to win with 32.e5!?, I cut in a-la Dylan Thomas.]
...
->KWRegan: "Do not go gentle into that good night..."
Samidi (Observers): lol
Filósofo (Observers): no se nogal ["I don't know, Nogal.]
Viswanathan (Observers): what after 32...fxe5, forced perpetual ?
Semi (Observers): I think Kramnik only put a show
Skrjabin (Observers): i think he advanced the wrong pawn
Semi (Observers): in fact he will make a draw soon
->KWRegan: On ...fxe5, White's idea involves f4-f5, I think.
Viswanathan (Observers): e5 seems to be a cheating move for crowd :-)
SteelFury (Observers): @Skr: after f5 black would seal everything with e5 - won't he?
Nogal (Observers): f5 for black and check me all night long....
...
Nogal (Observers): f5, only check check draw now...what else?
Skrjabin (Observers): it allows Qf6
Sonnengott (Observers): are you thinking yourself or only looking at fritz?
SteelFury (Observers): black seeks for the easiest way to a draw
Odirovski (Observers): somebody who's just refused to complicate, played simple moves, why would he play fxe5?
Viswanathan (Observers): Odi tell me, why not fxe5 ?
Viswanathan (Observers): black simply moves h-pawn to h6 !
Odirovski (Observers): consider: f x e5 - Qg5, K moves, F5?
Sonnengott (Observers): Viswanathan: Because he is thinking himself
...[after 35.Qf6+ Kg8 I cut in.]
->KWRegan: Now either White makes a draw by perpetual, or White has to do something fast with ...Qe3 and ...Rd2 coming.
Viswanathan (Observers): sorry white simply moves h pawn to h6 !
Odirovski (Observers): and suddenly, there is a dangerous attack!
Sonnengott (Observers): ;-)
Odirovski (Observers): after f5!
Sonnengott (Observers): ok - and black is waiting for mate
Sisyphos X (Observers): g4
Skrjabin (Observers): yeah, white has chances
Sonnengott (Observers): nice idea viswantan
Lexa (Observers): pawn to h6 is bad idea
SteelFury (Observers): erm ... sorry to interrupt you .. i think we'll see a quick draw or a sudden apocalypse on the d-file with a
nightmarish boring endgame with a draw at the end
->KWRegan: The h5-h6 idea is very nice, but I think Black trades Rooks and get ...Qd8 in time.
Odirovski (Observers): if 32. - fe5, 33. Qg5 + K h8, 34. f5!?
Viswanathan (Observers): if white moves the h-pawn, I think the plan is to move king to f8, and move between d7 and f8 !
Lexa (Observers): because of De3 and Td2
Sonnengott (Observers): It looks like a easy draw for black
Viswanathan (Observers): and attack the g3 pawn ! by moving R to d3 square !!
Skrjabin (Observers): now, push the h pawn
Viswanathan (Observers): so, black do get counter play if white moves the h-pawn, and the funny thing is that white queen will be out
of play
Peppmon (Observers): after h6 white don't bring f or h pawn?
->KWRegan: Then White no longer has such a big egde, because positionally e5 f5 helped Black.
SteelFury (Observers): h4-h5-h6-Qg7 and it's already mate .... wow ... [EMO_GIGGLING]
Schwartmann (Observers): Rybka says draw, 22 plies
Skrjabin (Observers): Anad is playing very passively
Sonnengott (Observers): KWRegan - correct
Viswanathan (Observers): Steel, Kf8 - Kd7, and white king cannot take Qxh7 as black will create counter pressure on g3,
however white has Ne2 !, well, i think some thing may be up here
Nogal (Observers): h4-h5 plan not good
Boofnbuffnbiff (Observers): H4- H5-H6 -QG7 X
Skrjabin (Observers): Now either h4 or Kh3
Nogal (Observers): Qe3 and Rd2 is good
SteelFury (Observers): I was just kidding to be honest. I think black now moves Qe3-Rd2 or similar and can force draw by himself if he
wnats to
Skrjabin (Observers): This Kramnik guy has no imagination.
SteelFury (Observers): 'Kramnik guy' ... gg
Viswanathan (Observers): skr, i have been struggling with kramnik for many years now:-)join the club
Robot 3 (Observers): Kramnik with 13 mins left
Odirovski (Observers): K h3 is a try...
Robot 3 (Observers): Anand 18:41
Skrjabin (Observers): yes, Kh3, then open the g file and attack black King
Sonnengott (Observers): Than I take on f2
Skrjabin (Observers): that's an idea.
SteelFury (Observers): @Odi: The Rf2?
Odirovski (Observers): nope
Odirovski (Observers): not open file
Skrjabin (Observers): Please someone tell Kramnik the plan.
Odirovski (Observers): Kh3 intending Rf1 - d1
Sonnengott (Observers): not open file - gone rock
Odirovski (Observers): just a try
Skrjabin (Observers): Ok Odi, good plan too.
Viswanathan (Observers): Kramnik Kramnik, he knows two things -- draw and lose, winning requires Attack !
...[Kramnik played 36.Re2, one more try...]
Viswanathan (Observers): he is preventing Qe3, now move h -pawn !
Skrjabin (Observers): I don't understand, he's got nothing to lose, he must attack.
->KWRegan: Black can cover now by ...Qd7-e7, if ned be.
...
->KWRegan: That move also prepares ...Nd4 with activity on the long diagonal.
Viswanathan (Observers): simple Qc5 now
->KWRegan: White's idea may be Kh3=h4=g5-h6 a-la a famous Nigel Short win.
Skrjabin (Observers): I still like Kh3
Lexa (Observers): no Kh3, follows Dg1
Odirovski (Observers): note: the perpetual is kept in reserve
Odirovski (Observers): this is similar to Kd3 before the draw yesterday
Odirovski (Observers): hoping for a mistake :)
->KWRegan: My positional point is that if Queens come off [and Rooks and Knights too], White getting King to h5 is less impressive
now than it would be with pawns on e4 and f6. With this structure, after the natural Pawn trades, Black not White is left with the
outside passer.
[now Anand played 36...Qc4.]
Viswanathan (Observers): i did not like black's Qc4 ?
->KWRegan: Anand's ...Qc4 means "no worry", so I predict Kramnik will force the draw now.
->KWRegan: Oh wait, d8 is hanging after ...Nd4, so maybe not.
Odirovski (Observers): I suspect Anand is contemplating shocking Kramnik
Odirovski (Observers): by giving up the h7 pawn
SteelFury (Observers): anand simply plans to play Rd3+Qd4+Rd2 ... ? WM-chess can't be that simple
Viswanathan (Observers): some how, i dont like Qc4, Qc5 is best, so that queen can move to f8 or d7 if needed
Odirovski (Observers): and seeing if he has the liver to survive a panic attack :)
...
Viswanathan (Observers): Odi, help me understand : how will anand prevent h-pawn moving and mating or Q taking h7 !
Neitherernie (Observers): DRAW???
Nogal (Observers): of course, draw
Kampfgeist (Observers): draw made or is it "autiomatical" drsw given by the srver?
[...I was right the first time---Kramnik made a draw here.]
[I added one more remark, after copying the chat up to here, that Kramnik may have taken the draw before move 40 out of fear that *Anand* might have a way to play to win by sacking that h7-pawn.]
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