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Vishwanthan Anand won the 3rd game of the World Chess Championship match against Vladimir Kramnik. Kramnik made a huge blunder in time trouble. Anand played aggressively and blitzed his moves in an obviously well prepared line in a Semi-slav Meran System game. As it always happens, aggressive players such as Anand like their games unbalanced and Kramnik played into his hands. For a while Kramnik enjoyed a good advantage, but made a few mistakes including blunders in time trouble. Anand now enjoys a 2-1 lead in the match and will go confidently into the 4th game where he has the white pieces. If the form he demonstrated in the 2nd game is any indication, he is a firm favorite in the 4th game too. Match Score Kramnik 0.5, 0.5, 0 -- Total 1 Anand 0.5, 0.5, 1 --- Total 2 Enjoy the game! Vladimir Kramnik - Vishwanathan Anand 0-1 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 It's a Slav game again, but the Moscow variation is avoided since it has been researched a lot recently. 5... Nbd7 6.Bd...

Alright! It's Anand's staple, the Slav with black, the Exchange variation. Key Moments (See Diagram) Nothing spectacular right now, especially since Anand seems to have equalized easily. One small note though, Kramnik's 14 move, Qb4 is interesting and not really drawing mood type move. Anand's 17 ... a5 seems to be provacative and loses a bit of momentum. Anand again chose 22 ... Rd8 instead of the more solid Rc2, which occupies the crucial 2nd rank. But that line is a drawing variation. Here's an interesting continuation, but even this should be a draw with precise play. (Possibility - 23 Rad1 Rc2 24 a4 Rd7 25 d5 e5 26 Bd2 Bh5 27 Bxa5 Bxd1 28 Rxd1. It's still drawish, but an interesting tussle between the Rook and Bishop) 24. e5 almost looks like a mini-mistake. The Engines actually indicate a negligible plus for Anand, but it requires more analyzing for sure. But with just Rooks and Bishop on the board, its almost endgame time. 24 ... fxe5 again, looks like a ...

Enjoy the Anand vs Kramnik Games. We have several in store this weekend. Remember, we will be covering the most important chess event of the year live. You can have as much of Anand vs Kramnik as you want. Kramnik is almost unbeatable at Dortmund. But please excuse him for his 2008 Dortmund performance and give some allowance for "match preparation". To be fair to him, even Anand performed poorly at Bilbao. Key Moments 24 ... f5 (probably bringing the Knight on the 'h' rank back into play with Nf6 and defending was more prudent. But Vishy is known to fight for counterplay chances. 25 ... Rc8. Loses a pawn in the next few moves. Ng5 was much better. 31 ... e4!! Anand is right back into the game. Notice how it affects Kramnik. He is clearly shaken and lets Anand rule the next stage and by move 34, Anand is slightly better and wins the pawn back in due course. 38. Qg4 Kramnik lays a trap as they approach the first time control. 38 ... Nf5? Blunder :-( Misses the bishop f...