The story behind the game
Anand’s 2013 Wijk aan Zee game against Aronian rewards careful attention to lines. A knight counterattack, a bishop on c5 and a central knight jump combine against White’s king. The bishop can be captured in one variation, so calculate that resource too: recognizing a pin is the beginning of the analysis, not the end.
Take these ideas to your next game
- An attacked rook does not always have to move immediately.
- A pinned pawn may be unable to capture a different attacker even when it can take the pinning piece.
- Centralization becomes tactical when it uses an existing pin.
- A quiet bishop move can restrict the king’s escape squares.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
Anand answers with 13…Ng4, creating threats around White’s king. The move also clears f6 for other lines. White has won a pawn and threatens material, but Black’s pieces can ask more urgent questions. Compare the saved alternatives and keep the defender’s best reply in view; the historical attack was not a sequence of compulsory captures.
The move 15…Bc5 creates pressure along the diagonal toward g1. If the bishop stays on c5, the d4-pawn cannot move away and uncover that line to its own king. Capturing the bishop with dxc5 is legal, so the pin is not a complete explanation: the saved line also calculates …Nxc5 and the resulting threats. Geometry must be followed by concrete replies.
Anand plays 16…Nde5, using the pin to establish an active central knight. The d4-pawn cannot capture the knight on e5 while the c5-bishop’s line to g1 remains intact. White’s recorded Bxg4 is answered by …Bxd4+ and later …Nxg4. Several pieces share the work: identify which line is opened after every capture.
The final 23…Be3 adds the bishop’s control of g1 to Black’s threats. The bishop move gives the queen and knight more useful support without giving check immediately. The saved analysis also considers other winning plans; the historical finish is one concrete route. Look for the king’s legal escape squares before concluding that only checks can strengthen an attack.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 13: Counterattack against the king cover
White’s knight has taken h7 and attacks the f8-rook. Which knight jump creates counterplay against f2 and h2? In the game: Ng4. Anand answers with 13…Ng4, creating threats around White’s king. The move also clears f6 for other lines. White has won a pawn and threatens material, but Black’s pieces can ask more urgent questions. Compare the saved alternatives and keep the defender’s best reply in view; the historical attack was not a sequence of compulsory captures.
Engine-supported alternatives
c4 Nxf6+ Nxf6 Be2 Bb8 f4 a5 Bf3 Qd7 Ne4 Bxe4 Bxe4 · -0.26 · depth 17
Ng4 h3 Bh2+ Kh1 Qh4 Be4 Bxe4 Qxe4 f5 Qxe6+ Kxh7 Qxd7 · -0.05 · depth 17
Re8 Nxf6+ · +0.39 · depth 17
Move 15: Create the diagonal pressure
White’s pawn is on d4 and the king is on g1. Which bishop move aligns with that diagonal? In the game: Bc5. The move 15…Bc5 creates pressure along the diagonal toward g1. If the bishop stays on c5, the d4-pawn cannot move away and uncover that line to its own king. Capturing the bishop with dxc5 is legal, so the pin is not a complete explanation: the saved line also calculates …Nxc5 and the resulting threats. Geometry must be followed by concrete replies.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bc5 dxc5 Nxc5 Qe2 Qd4+ Kh1 Nxd3 Qxg4 Kxh7 Qh3+ Kg8 Be3 · -0.88 · depth 16
Qb6 Nxf8 Qxd4+ Kh1 Kxf8 Qe2 Ndf6 h3 Nh5 Qxg4 Qxd3 Rd1 · +0.00 · depth 16
Ndf6 Qe2 · +0.04 · depth 16
Move 16: Use the pinned pawn
After White’s bishop move, can Black place the d7-knight on a square attacked by the d4-pawn? In the game: Nde5. Anand plays 16…Nde5, using the pin to establish an active central knight. The d4-pawn cannot capture the knight on e5 while the c5-bishop’s line to g1 remains intact. White’s recorded Bxg4 is answered by …Bxd4+ and later …Nxg4. Several pieces share the work: identify which line is opened after every capture.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nde5 Bxg4 Bxd4+ Kh1 Nxg4 Ng5 Nf6 Rd1 Qb6 Qe2 Rc4 a4 · -2.17 · depth 19
Bxd4+ Kh1 · -1.26 · depth 19
Qh4 Bxg4 Bxd4+ Kh1 Qxg4 Nxf8 Nf6 Qe2 Qh3 Rf3 Bxf3 Qxf3 · -1.02 · depth 18
Move 23: Cover the escape square
Black’s queen is on h5. Which bishop move adds control of g1 before continuing the king attack? In the game: Be3. The final 23…Be3 adds the bishop’s control of g1 to Black’s threats. The bishop move gives the queen and knight more useful support without giving check immediately. The saved analysis also considers other winning plans; the historical finish is one concrete route. Look for the king’s legal escape squares before concluding that only checks can strengthen an attack.
Engine-supported alternatives
Be3 Nd5 Bxd5 Qxd5 exd5 Bxe3 Nxe3 Rf3 d4 Rf2 Qh6 Re2 · -7.14 · depth 20
Qh4 Bd2 Be3 Nd5 Bxd5 Qxd5 exd5 Bxe3 Nxe3 Rf3 Qe7 Rf2 · -7.13 · depth 20
b4 Qg3 bxc3 a4 c2 a5 Rc4 a6 Be4 Ra4 Rxa4 Qb3 · -5.67 · depth 20
Every piece has a part to play.
Anand’s 2013 Wijk aan Zee game against Aronian rewards careful attention to lines. A knight counterattack, a bishop on c5 and a central knight jump combine against White’s king. The bishop can be captured in one variation, so calculate that resource too: recognizing a pin is the beginning of the analysis, not the end.
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 12–20. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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