In Kurosawa’s samurai warrior classic Sanjuro, the hero, a wandering Ronin played by Toshiro Mifune, ends the film in a face-off with his mortal enemy Hanbei Muroto. For a long moment the two martial swordsmen face each other in total immobility. Then, in a flash, a movement known by Samurai as Debana-Waza, Mifune slices his opponent in two, creating a violent fountain of blood.
There is an analogy to be made with the world chess championship, currently in progress in Chennai. After two quiet draws, the players are in a Debana-Waza state of immobile preparation, while awaiting the sudden stroke that will break the deadlock and propel one of the two into the lead.
Carlsen-Anand: World Championship (Game 1); Chennai 2013; Neo-Grunfeld Defence
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 d4 c6 5 0-0 Nf6 6 b3 0-0 7 Bb2 Bf5 8 c4 Nbd7 9 Nc3 Much stronger is 9 Nbd2. The text allows Anand to try an unusual manoeuvre which cedes White a central pawn majority but leaves him with a weak square on c4 which Black is quick to exploit.
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