Every great chess player needs a fantastic back-rank combination in their "gamography"! Viswanathan Anand added one to his collection of great games back in 2002 in the following rapid game against a young Teimour Radjabov, then barely 15.

Radjabov actually got a great start in the game when an error by Anand ceded both the bishop pair and the center, but as Radjabov pressed his advantage, his pieces drifted to the kingside, leaving his queenside and back-rank exposed. A critical error allowed Anand to strike with a fine combination. The pressing by White of his kingside attack met by the queenside counterattack reminds me of the great game Geller vs. Euwe, 1953.

Anand's back-rank assault didn't even make his best games collection, understandable as the game was far from perfect. However, the themes and patterns are too enjoyable and instructive not to share them here.

I've annotated this game below. As the game was a rapid game, I provide only a brief analysis of the core themes and try to avoid picking on too many of the small inaccuracies that Stockfish mercilessly highlights.

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Want more of Viswanathan Anand's games? Check out my previous videos!