Sunday 15 March 2009

How to play the Ruy with your eyes shut

The 2009 Melody Amber has started in Nice. There were a number of interesting games in the first blindfold round, including an interesting queen sacrifice by Aronian (as White) against Ivanchuk in a Gruenfeld.
Another striking game was Anand v Leko. The games was theory up until move 18, which is hardly surprising in such a heavily analysed opening as the Ruy Lopez. However these positions are difficulty to play with your eyes open, so the way Anand kept increasing his advantage without sight of the board was very impressive. Anand even ended the game with a nice combination that I would have been pleased to find with full sight of the board.

Anand (2791) - Leko (2751)
Amber 2009 Blind Nice (1), 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 15.b3 g6 16.Ba3 Qc7 17.Qc2 Bg7 18.Rad1 Rac8 19.Bb2 Nh5 20.Bf1 bxa4 21.bxa4 d5 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.c4 dxe4 25.c5 Bxb2 26.Qxb2 e3 27.fxe3 Rcd8 28.Nc4 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 Qe7 30.Nd6 Rd8 31.Qd4 Rf8 32.Bc4 Bc8 33.Rb1 Ng3 34.e4 Qg5 (D)
35.Bxf7+ Rxf7 36.Qh8+ 1-0

1 comment:

OzChess.com said...

Hi Shaun

It was also disappointing Leko resigned right away after this tactical shot. I would have loved to see the game played out to checkmate.

Anand -vs- Leko

Alex