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Главная страница Шахматисты Шахматисты России Владимир Крамник

Владимир Крамник не активен

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Kramnik, Vladimir
ФИО: Крамник Владимир Борисович
Звание ФИДЕ: GM (Гроссмейстер)
Федерация: Россия
Дата рождения: 25.06.1975
Рейтинг стандарт: 2753
Рейтинг рапид: 2700
Рейтинг блиц: 2670
ФИДЕ ID
Чемпион мира 2000—2006 по версии ПША, 14-й Чемпион мира 2006—2007

События

16.06.2021 - 23.06.2021 Второй этап Гранд Чесс Тура 2021 в Париже
12.05.2020 - 14.05.2020 Благотворительный турнир "Сборная - России" прошел онлайн
11.01.2019 - 27.01.2019 Вейк-ан-Зее Tata Steel Chess 2019
14.07.2018 - 22.07.2018 Дортмунд 2018
10.03.2018 - 27.03.2018 Турнир претендентов 2018
12.01.2018 - 28.01.2018 Вейк-ан-Зее Tata Steel Chess 2018
02.09.2017 - 27.09.2017 Кубок мира 2017, Тбилиси
11.09.2015 - 05.10.2015 Кубок мира 2015, Баку
13.03.2014 - 31.03.2014 Турнир претендентов 2014
05.10.2013 - 14.10.2013 Суперфинал чемпионата России 2013

Обладатель Кубка мира (2013). В составе сборной России трёхкратный победитель Всемирных шахматных Олимпиад (1992, 1994, 1996), победитель командного чемпионата Европы (1992) и мира (2013). Заслуженный мастер спорта России.

Крамник является обладателем Шахматного Оскара за 2000 и 2006 годы. Данный приз вручается лучшему шахматисту по итогам года. Победителя определяют голосованием журналисты, пишущие на шахматную тематику, и гроссмейстеры.

[Event "Odessa U20"]
[Site "Odessa"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4
f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Bf4 Bxf4 13. Nxf4 Ne4 14. Qc1 Ng5
15. Nxg5 Qxg5 16. Ne2 Qf6 17. Qe3 Bd7 18. Bb5 Rac8 19. g3 a6 20. Bxc6 Rxc6 21.
Rac1 Re8 22. Nf4 e5 23. dxe5 Qxe5 24. Qb3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Bc6 26. Rd1 Kh8 27. h4
d4 28. Qd3 Rd8 29. Kh2 Rd6 30. Kg1 g5 31. hxg5 Qxg5 32. Re1 Qh6 33. f3 Qg5 34.
Kf2 Qh6 35. Kg2 Qf6 36. Rh1 Rd7 37. Rh5 Kg8 38. Rf5 Qe7 39. Qc4+ Kh8 40. Ne6 d3
41. Rf8+ Qxf8 42. Nxf8 d2 43. Nxd7 d1=Q 44. Qc3+ Kg8 45. Ne5 Qe2+ 46. Kh3 Bd7+
47. g4 Be6 48. Kg3 Bxa2 49. b3 Qd1 50. Qc4+ Kh8 51. Qc8+ Kg7 52. Qxb7+ Kh8 53.
Nf7+ Kg7 54. Ng5+ Kg6 55. Qxh7+ 1-0

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Filipenko, Alexander V"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2380"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. f3 e6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. c4 c5 6. d5 Bd6 7. Nc3 Be5 8. Bd3
exd5 9. cxd5 O-O 10. Nge2 Re8 11. Qd2 a6 12. a4 d6 13. O-O Nbd7 14. Nd1 Rc8 15.
Rc1 Nf8 16. f4 Bd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Nf2 N8d7 19. b4 a5 20. Nxd4 Rxc1 21. Rxc1
axb4 22. Qxb4 Nc5 23. Bb1 Nfxe4 24. Nxe4 Nxe4 25. Nc6 Bxc6 26. Bxe4 Bd7 27. Bf3
Qf6 28. Rd1 g6 29. Qxb6 Bxa4 30. Rf1 Rc8 31. Qe3 Bd7 32. h3 Rc4 33. Be4 Qd4 34.
Re1 Qxe3+ 35. Rxe3 Rd4 36. Kf2 Bb5 37. Kg3 Bc4 38. f5 Kg7 39. fxg6 hxg6 40. Bf3
Bxd5 0-1

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Podlesnik, Bogdan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2400"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. a4 a6 8. Na3
d5 9. exd5 Nd4 10. Be3 Bc5 11. Nc4 Qe7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O Bg4 14. f3 Bh5 15.
Kh1 Rad8 16. Bg5 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nd2 b4 19. Nce4 Rxd5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. Ne4 Qe7 23. Ra7 Qxa7 24. Nxf6+ Kg7 25. Nxd5 Qc5 26. Ne3 Bg6 27.
Qe1 f5 28. Qf2 Ne6 29. Qe1 Qd4 30. b3 Nf4 31. Bc4 Re8 32. Qf2 Rd8 33. h3 Qd2
34. Qh4 Re8 35. Rd1 Nxg2 36. Nxf5+ Bxf5 37. Qg3+ 1-0

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Isupov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E84"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2315"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2
Rb8 9. h4 e5 10. d5 Na5 (10... Ne7 11. c5) 11. Ng3 c5 12. Rb1 $5 $16 (12. h5)
12... b6 (12... b5 13. cxb5 axb5 14. Nxb5 {/\ Nd6}) 13. h5 Bd7 14. b4 $1 cxb4
15. Rxb4 Qc7 16. h6 Bh8 17. Qb2 b5 18. cxb5 Rfc8 19. bxa6 $1 $18 Rxb4 20. Qxb4
Qxc3+ 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 22. a7 Rc8 23. Ba6 Ra8 24. O-O Be8 25. Rc1 1-0

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meister, Jakob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Nd7 8. Be3
Nc5 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. Bd5 Bd6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nbd2 Ba6 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Rad1
Re6 15. Rfe1 Rg6 16. Nf1 Bc8 17. Ng3 Bg4 18. Re3 h5 19. h3 Bxh3 20. gxh3 h4 21.
Kh2 hxg3+ 22. fxg3 Rh6 23. Rf1 Rb8 24. Kg2 Qd7 25. h4 Qe6 26. b3 Be7 27. Qe2
Rd8 28. Nh2 Rg6 29. Qh5 Rh6 30. Qe2 Rg6 31. h5 Rf6 32. Rh1 Rh6 33. Qg4 Qxg4 34.
Nxg4 Re6 35. Rf3 Bg5 36. Rd1 f6 37. Nf2 Kf7 38. Nh3 Bh6 39. Kf1 Red6 40. Ke2
Ke6 41. g4 Kd7 42. Rf5 Re8 43. g5 Bxg5 44. Nxg5 fxg5 45. Rg1 Re7 46. Rgxg5 Rde6
47. Rf8 Rh6 48. Rg8 Kd6 49. Kf3 Rf7+ 50. Kg4 Rf4+ 51. Kg3 Rf7 52. Rg6+ Rxg6+
53. hxg6 Rf1 54. Rxg7 Rd1 55. Kg4 Rg1+ 56. Kf3 a5 57. Rg8 Ke6 58. Kf2 Rc1 59.
Rf8 1-0

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shabanov, Yuri"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Nc3 Nge7 5. O-O Nd4 6. Re1 Ng6 7. Bf1 Nxf3+ 8.
Qxf3 b6 9. Qe3 f6 10. d4 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qd2 O-O 13. Nb5 Qe7 14. a3 a6
15. Nd4 Bb7 16. b4 Bd6 17. Bb2 Bf4 18. Qd3 Rac8 19. Rad1 Bb8 20. Nf3 d5 21.
exd5 Bxd5 22. Nd4 b5 23. Bc1 f5 24. Qh3 Qf6 25. Qh5 Nf4 26. Bxf4 Bxf4 27. Qe2
Rfe8 28. Nb3 Bd6 29. Na5 Re7 30. Qd2 Rc3 31. Re3 Rec7 32. Rxc3 Rxc3 33. Nb7 Be7
34. Nc5 Bxc5 35. bxc5 Rxc5 36. Qa5 Rc6 37. a4 bxa4 38. c4 Bxc4 39. Qxa4 Bd5 40.
Bxa6 Qg6 41. Bf1 Rc8 42. Qd7 Rf8 43. Rc1 h6 44. Rc8 Qf6 45. Rxf8+ Kxf8 46. Qa7
Kg8 47. Qa4 Qc3 48. h4 Kh7 49. Qe8 Qf6 50. Qa4 e5 51. g3 Qb6 52. Bd3 e4 53. Bc2
Qc5 54. Qd7 Bc6 55. Qd2 Qc4 56. Qd1 Qc3 57. Qe2 Bd5 58. Qd1 Bc4 59. Bb1 Bb3 60.
Qe2 Qc1+ 61. Qf1 Qb2 62. Kg2 h5 63. Qe1 Kg6 64. Kg1 Kf6 65. Qf1 g6 66. Qe1 Kf7
67. Kg2 e3 68. Bd3 Bd5+ 69. Kg1 Qd4 70. Bc2 Qc4 71. Bd1 Qe4 72. f3 Qd4 73. Be2
Qe5 74. Kg2 f4 75. gxf4 Qf5 76. Qa5 Bxf3+ 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Novik, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c4 e4
15. Be2 Bg7 16. Qd2 bxc4 17. Nxc4 O-O 18. Rad1 Rb8 19. Qf4 Rb5 20. Ne3 Rxb2 21.
Bc4 Be5 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Bb3 Rg8 24. Qh5 Ng6 25. Kh1 Nf4 26. Qxf5 Qh4 27. Qxe4
Qh5 28. Qf3 Qxf3 29. gxf3 Nh3 30. f4 Bxf4 31. Nc2 Be5 32. f4 Nxf4 33. Rg1 Rxg1+
34. Kxg1 Ne2+ 35. Kf1 Nc3 36. Rd2 Nxa2 37. Ba4 Nc3 38. Be8 Kg7 39. Rf2 f5 40.
Bc6 Kf6 41. h3 Nd1 42. Rd2 Ne3+ 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petelin, Andrey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2330"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 e5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d3 Nd7 7. Ne2 b6 8.
Ng3 g6 9. h4 h5 10. Be3 Bg7 11. Qd2 Nf8 12. O-O-O Bg4 13. Rdf1 Bxf3 14. gxf3
Ne6 15. Ne2 Qf6 16. Rh3 O-O-O 17. c3 Rd7 18. f4 exf4 19. Nxf4 Nxf4 20. Bxf4 Qe6
21. Re3 Qxa2 22. Kd1 Rhd8 23. Ke2 Qe6 24. Rg1 Be5 25. Bg5 f6 26. Bh6 g5 27. Qc2
Bf4 28. Rf3 Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Qxe4+ 30. Kf1 Rxd3 31. hxg5 Qf3 0-1

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frolov, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 a5 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Bg5
15. b3 Bb7 16. Qd3 Nb8 17. Rfd1 Nd7 18. Ne1 Nc5 19. Qc2 g6 20. Bg4 Bh6 21. a3
Bxd5 22. Rxd5 a4 23. axb4 axb3 24. Qb1 Rxa1 25. Qxa1 Nxe4 26. Bf3 Nd2 27. Qc3
Qa8 28. Ra5 Qc8 29. Bd5 e4 30. c5 dxc5 31. bxc5 Qf5 32. Bxb3 e3 33. Nd3 Bg7 34.
Qc2 Bd4 35. f3 e2+ 36. Kh1 Qxd3 0-1

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
Nh3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. e4 e5 11. d5 a5 12. b3 h6 13. Be3 c5 14. Nf2 Nh5 15. g3
Bc8 16. Be2 Ra7 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. a4 Re8 19. O-O-O Nf8 20. Kb1 Ng6 21. Rhf1 Qe7
22. Bd3 Qf6 23. Rde1 Nf8 24. f4 exf4 25. gxf4 Ng6 26. f5 Ne5 27. Be2 Qh4 28.
Bxh6 Ng3 29. hxg3 Qxh6 30. Qf4 g5 31. fxg6 Qxg6 32. Rh1 Kg7 33. Rh5 f6 34. Reh1
Nf7 35. R5h4 Re5 36. Nd3 Rg5 37. Bh5 Rxh5 38. Rxh5 Re7 39. Rh7+ Kf8 40. Qh4 1-0

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Nb8 12. b3 Nbd7 13. Bb2 a6 14. a4 Qc7 15. Nd2
Rfe8 16. Nc4 Nc5 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bd7 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. d6 Bxd6 21. Qxd6
Qxd6 22. Nxd6 Re7 23. a5 Bc6 24. b4 Nd7 25. Rad1 Kf8 26. c4 Nf6 27. g4 Rd7 28.
Nf5 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 g6 30. Nxh6 Nh7 31. h4 f6 32. Bg2 Kg7 33. g5 e4 34. Ng4 fxg5
35. Ne5 gxh4 36. Nxc6 bxc6 37. Bxe4 Rb8 38. Rb1 Rc8 39. b5 cxb5 40. cxb5 Ng5
41. Bb7 Rc5 42. b6 Rxa5 43. Bg2 1-0

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd3 e5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be3 exd4 8. Bxd4
Qb4 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. O-O Qxb2 11. Qe1 Qb6+ 12. Kh1 Bxf3 13. Rxf3 Nd7 14. Rb1
Qc7 15. Qh4 h5 16. Bc4 Rh6 17. Rg3 Nc5 18. Be2 O-O-O 19. Bxh5 f5 20. exf5 Be7
21. f6 Rxf6 22. Re1 Kb8 23. Rge3 Ne6 24. Qg3 Rh6 25. Qg4 Bf6 26. Ne4 Bd4 27.
Rh3 Qa5 28. c3 f5 29. Qd1 fxe4 30. cxd4 Nxf4 31. Rh4 Nxh5 32. g4 e3 33. Rxe3
Qg5 34. Reh3 Nf6 35. Rxh6 Nxg4 0-1

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Koch, Jean Rene"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. c5 Qd8 12. cxd6 exd6 13. Rac1 Nc7 14. Nd2 Re8 15.
Rc2 d5 16. Rcc1 Ne4 17. e3 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Nb5 19. Qb2 Qa5 20. Nb1 f4 21. gxf4
Bf5 22. Rc5 Bxb1 23. Rxb5 Qxb5 24. Qxb1 Rbd8 25. h4 Qe2 26. Qd1 Qxa2 27. Bb4
Bf8 28. Bxf8 Rxf8 29. h5 Qa3 30. hxg6 hxg6 31. Qg4 Qd6 32. Bf3 Kg7 33. Kg2 Rh8
34. Be2 Qd7 35. Qg3 Qf5 36. Bg4 Qf6 37. f5 Qd6 38. f4 gxf5 39. Bh5+ Kf8 40. Kf2
Rxh5 41. Rg1 Qf6 42. e4 Qh4 0-1

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Barcenilla, Rogelio"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. c3 Bg4 5. d3 Qd7 6. b4 g6 7. Nbd2 Bg7 8. O-O
Nf6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 O-O 11. Bb3 a6 12. Re1 h6 13. a3 d5 14. Bb2 Rfe8 15.
Qc2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Qd6 17. g3 Rd7 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. c4 Nde7 20. c5 Qf6 21. Nxe5
Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxe5 Bxe5 24. d4 Bxd4 25. Qe4 Kf8 26. Rxd4 Nf5 27. Qxf5
1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Martens, Martin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2325"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1
d5 9. d3 d4 10. cxd4 cxd4 11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. a3 Be7 13. g3 O-O 14. b4 a5 15. bxa5
Rxa5 16. Bb2 Ra6 17. a4 bxa4 18. Bxa4 Nge5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Nb3 Bb4 21. Rf1
Bc3 22. Bxc3 dxc3 23. Nc5 Rb6 24. Bc2 Qd6 25. Na4 Rc6 26. f4 Qd4+ 27. Kg2 Nd7
28. Qe1 f5 29. Qf2 Qd6 30. Kg1 Rc7 31. Qe3 Nf6 32. Rfe1 Ng4 33. Qe2 Qd4+ 34.
Kg2 h5 35. h3 fxe4 36. dxe4 Ba6 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A90"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8. Bb2 b6
9. Ne5 Bb7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Ndf3 Nbd7 12. Qc2 Rac8 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Qd3 Ne4 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Ne5 Qe7 17. f3 Nf6 18. Rac1 Nd7 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21.
e4 dxe4 22. fxe4 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. Qxe4 Be7 25. Re1 Bf6 26. Re2 Qd5 27.
Qxd5 exd5 28. Kf2 Kf7 29. Ke3 h5 30. h3 b5 31. Kd3 b4 32. Re1 Rc6 33. a3 bxa3
34. Bxa3 Ra6 35. Bb2 Kg6 36. Bc3 Ra3 37. Ra1 Rxa1 38. Bxa1 Kf5 39. Ke3 g5 40.
Kf3 g4+ 41. hxg4+ hxg4+ 42. Ke3 Be7 43. Bc3 Bd6 44. Be1 Ke6 45. Kd3 Kd7 46. Ke2
Kc6 47. Kd3 Kb5 48. Kc2 a5 49. Kd3 a4 50. bxa4+ Kxa4 51. Bf2 Kb3 52. Be1 Kb2
53. Bf2 Kc1 54. Be3+ Kd1 55. Bf2 Ba3 56. Ke3 Bc1+ 57. Kd3 Bd2 58. Be3 Be1 59.
Bf4 Bf2 60. Be5 Ke1 61. Kc3 Ke2 62. Kb4 Kf3 63. Kc5 Ke4 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Stefansson, Hannes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. O-O-O Nd7 11. Bd3 h5 12. Nf3 h4 13. Kc2 f5 14. g3
hxg3 15. hxg3 Rxh1 16. Rxh1 Ke7 17. Ne2 Bg7 18. Nf4 Rh8 19. Rg1 Bf6 20. Kd2 Nf8
21. Ng2 Ne6 22. Ngh4 Bxh4 23. Nxh4 Kf6 24. Nf3 Ng5 25. Nxg5 Kxg5 26. Be2 Rh2
27. Ke1 Kf6 28. Bf3 Bh5 29. Bxh5 Rxh5 30. Ke2 Ke6 31. Rc1 Kd6 32. b4 a6 33. Kf3
Rh2 34. a4 Rh8 35. Kf4 Ke6 36. Ra1 Rh2 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Rc1 Rh8 39. Kg2 Kc7 40.
Rb1 {Time} 1-0

[Event "Moscow4"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naumkin, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Bd2 O-O 6. e3 Re8 7. Be2 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Bf8 10. a3 a5 11. Rc1 h6 12. Na4 Be6 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. Rxc5 Qd6 15.
Qc2 a4 16. Rc1 Nb6 17. Qc3 Bb3 18. e4 Re6 19. Rb5 Rb8 20. Be3 Nd7 21. Nd2 Ba2
22. Ra1 Nd4 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. Qb4 c5 25. Qxa4 Bd5 26. Bg4 Bc6 27. Bxe6 Qxe6 28.
Qc4 Bxb5 29. Qxb5 b6 30. a4 Ne5 31. a5 Ra8 32. a6 Ra7 33. f4 Qc6 34. Qxc6 Nxc6
35. Nc4 b5 36. Nd6 Nb4 37. Nxb5 Rxa6 38. Rxa6 Nxa6 39. Kf2 Kf8 40. Nd6 h5 41.
e5 Nc7 42. Ke2 Ke7 43. Nb7 Na6 44. Kf3 f5 45. exf6+ Kxf6 46. Ke4 Ke6 47. f5+
Kf6 48. g3 g6 49. fxg6 Kxg6 50. Kd5 Nb4+ 51. Kc4 1-0

[Event "Moscow4"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yanvarjov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 b6 8. Nf3
Bb7 9. O-O c5 10. Ne5 Nc6 11. Rc1 a6 12. Qf3 Bd6 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14. Nxc6 Bxc6
15. Ne2 Ba4 16. b3 Bb5 17. Nxd4 Bxd3 18. Rxd3 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Rc8 20. Rdc3 Rxc3
21. Rxc3 Qe7 22. Nf5 Qe4 23. Qxe4 dxe4 24. Rc6 Rd8 25. g3 Nd5 26. Nd6 b5 27.
Rxa6 Nc3 28. a3 g6 29. Rc6 Kg7 30. Kg2 Nb1 31. Nxb5 Rd3 32. Rc7 Rxb3 33. Nd6
Rb6 34. Rxf7+ Kg8 35. Rb7 Rxd6 36. Rxb1 h5 37. a4 Ra6 1-0

[Event "RSFSR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Rybinsk"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sorokin, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5 8. axb5
Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2 Nf6 13. Bd3 Nbd7 14. Qc2 O-O
15. e4 e5 16. O-O Re8 17. Rfe1 Qc7 18. c5 exd4 19. Bxd4 h6 20. e5 Nd5 21. e6
Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Re1 Nf4 24. Be4 Rc8 25. Ne5 Bd5 26. Bh7+ Kf8 27. c6 Nxe5
28. Bxe5 Qxc6 29. Qxc6 Rxc6 30. Bxf4 a4 31. Rc1 Rb6 32. Rc7 a3 33. Be3 Rb5 34.
Bd3 Ra5 35. Bd4 b3 36. Bxg7+ Kg8 37. Bf6 b2 38. Bg6 Ra8 39. Rh7 b1=Q+ 40. Bxb1
a2 41. Rg7+ Kf8 42. Bxa2 Rxa2 43. h3 Be4 44. Re7 Ra6 45. Kh2 Bf5 46. g4 Bg6 47.
Rg7 Be4 48. Rc7 Kg8 49. Bd4 Bf3 50. Rg7+ Kf8 51. Rg6 Ke7 52. Rxh6 Be4 53. Kg3
Ra4 54. Be3 Bd3 55. Bg5+ Kd6 56. Rh8 Be2 57. Rd8+ Ke5 58. Be7 Rc4 59. Kh4 Rc3
60. Rf8 Kd5 61. Bg5 Rb3 62. Be3 Rb1 63. Kg5 e5 64. Kf5 Bd3+ 65. Kf6 Rh1 66. Rh8
Ra1 67. Rd8+ Ke4 68. h4 Be2 69. Rg8 Ra6+ 70. Kg5 Ra1 71. Rb8 Ra4 72. h5 Kf3 73.
Rf8+ Kg2 74. f4 Kg3 75. h6 Bd3 76. fxe5 Rxg4+ 77. Kf6 Kf3 78. e6 Rg6+ 79. Kf7
1-0

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Toth, Christian Endre"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2305"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Bf5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
e3 Nf6 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Qc2 Rfe8 13. Rab1 Rac8 14.
Rfd1 Ne4 15. b4 Ndf6 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Qd3 a6 18. a4 Nd6 19. Nd2 Qg5 20. Rdc1
Rcd8 21. Nf3 Qh5 22. Ne5 f6 23. Nf3 Re4 24. Qd1 Qh6 25. Qd3 Rde8 26. b5 axb5
27. axb5 Nxb5 28. Rxb5 cxb5 29. Qxb5 Rxe3 30. Qxd5+ Kh8 31. Rb1 Qg6 0-1

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Toth, Christian Endre"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2305"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8.
Qe3+ Qe7 9. Nb5 Qxe3 10. Bxe3 Kd8 11. Bxa7 b6 12. Bg2 d5 13. cxd5 Bd7 14. d6
Bxb5 15. Bxa8 c6 16. a4 Kd7 17. axb5 Rxa8 18. bxc6+ Kxc6 19. Rc1+ 1-0

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Cunha, Eduardo Arruda da G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 Nf6 6. d4 d5 7. exd5 exd5 8. Ba2
c4 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 O-O 11. Bf4 Bf5 12. Ne2 Qb6 13. Qc1 Ne4 14. c3 Na5 15. Ng3
Nxg3 16. Bxg3 Rfe8 17. Re1 Bf8 18. Qf4 Bg6 19. Qc7 Qxc7 20. Bxc7 Nb3 21. Bxb3
cxb3 22. Nd2 Bc2 23. a5 Rac8 24. Bf4 f6 25. Nf1 g5 26. Bh2 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Bd3
28. Ne3 Re8 29. Rd1 Bc4 30. g4 Be2 31. Rd2 Bf3 32. Bc7 Rc8 33. Bg3 Kf7 34. Kf1
Ke6 35. Nf5 Bb4 36. Ke1 Rxc3 0-1

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Teixeira, Ricardo da Silva"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Be2 Nf6 8. Qc2 a6
9. O-O Bb7 10. Rd1 h6 11. d5 cxd5 12. axb5 O-O 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15.
Be3 Qc8 16. bxa6 Rxa6 17. Rxa6 Qxa6 18. Ne5 Qb7 19. Bf1 Rc8 20. Nxc4 Nd7 21. b3
Bc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Qc3 Qb8 24. Rb1 Nf6 25. h3 Ne4 26. Qe3 Qb4 27. Rd1 Nf6
28. Rd4 Qb8 29. Nd2 Rc1 30. b4 Qb5 31. Qa3 Rd1 32. Qd3 Qb7 0-1

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Teixeira, Ricardo da Silva"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nc6
8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Qd1 Bc5 10. e3 Qe7 11. Be2 O-O-O 12. Bd2 g5 13. Rc1 Kb8 14. O-O
g4 15. Nd4 Qe5 16. Ncb5 Ne4 17. b4 Bb6 18. a4 Qg5 19. Be1 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 g3 21.
hxg3 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 Bb5 23. Qb2 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 h5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Qf4+ Ka8 27. f3
Ng5 28. Bc3 Ne6 29. Qf6 Qd3 30. Qxh8 Qxe3+ 31. Kh2 Rxh8 32. Bxh8 b5 33. axb5 h4
34. gxh4 Qh6 35. Be5 Qxh4+ 36. Kg1 Kb7 37. Rfd1 Qg5 38. f4 Qg3 39. Rc6 Nd8 40.
Rc7+ Kb6 41. Rc3 1-0

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Resende, Antonio Carlos"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2315"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 e5 3. d3 f5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. c4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Rb1 a5
9. a3 Nc6 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 h6 12. b5 Ne7 13. Bb2 Be6 14. Qc2 g5 15. Nd2 Rb8
16. Nb3 Qe8 17. Na5 Qh5 18. e3 f4 19. exf4 gxf4 20. f3 fxg3 21. hxg3 Qg6 22.
Kh2 b6 23. Nc6 Nxc6 24. bxc6 Bxc4 25. Ne4 Be6 26. Nxf6+ Rxf6 27. Qe2 Qh5+ 28.
Kg1 Rbf8 29. Rf2 Qg6 30. Kh2 Qh5+ 31. Kg1 Qg5 32. Kh2 Rg6 33. g4 h5 34. gxh5
Qxh5+ 35. Kg1 Rf4 36. Kf1 Bf6 37. Bc1 Rh4 38. Ke1 Rh2 39. Bf4 Rhxg2 40. Rxg2
Qh1+ 41. Kd2 Qxg2 0-1

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. dxc5 Ng6 8. Be3
Ncxe5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. f4 Nc6 11. O-O g6 12. Nd2 Bg7 13. Nf3 O-O 14. h4 b6 15.
cxb6 axb6 16. h5 Ne7 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Bd3 Nf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Bd4 f6 21. Qe1
Kf7 22. Qe3 b5 23. Kf2 Rh8 24. a3 Qc7 25. Rh1 Rae8 26. Rxh8 Rxh8 27. Re1 Re8
28. g3 Kg8 29. Bb6 Qb7 30. Ba5 Qa8 31. Qb6 Rb8 32. Qc7 Rb7 33. Qd8+ Qxd8 34.
Bxd8 Kf7 35. Ba5 Ra7 36. Bb4 Ra8 37. Re2 Re8 38. Bd6 Bc8 39. Ke1 Bd7 40. Kd2
Ra8 41. Kc2 Ra6 42. Bb4 Bh6 43. Nd4 Kg6 44. Kd3 Bg7 45. Nf3 Kf7 46. Kd4 Rc6 47.
b3 Ra6 48. Re1 Bc6 49. Re3 Bh6 50. Re2 Bg7 51. Re1 Bh6 52. Rh1 Bg7 53. Rh2 Bd7
54. Ne1 Rc6 55. Nd3 Rc8 56. Re2 Re8 57. Kc5 Rb8 58. Ra2 Bf8+ 59. Kd4 Bg7 60.
Bd6 Rb6 61. Bb4 Rb8 62. Re2 Re8 63. Re1 Rc8 64. Ra1 e5+ 65. fxe5 fxe5+ 66.
Nxe5+ Ke6 67. Re1 Bf6 68. Ba5 Kd6 69. Bb4+ Ke6 70. Ba5 Be8 71. Bb6 Kd6 72. Ba7
Bh5 73. c4 dxc4 74. b4 c3 0-1

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kovacevic, Aleksandar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2355"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. Nce3
Ne7 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O 17. Bg2 a5 18. O-O Rb8 19. a3 f5 20. Qd2 Kh8 21.
Rfd1 e4 22. f3 Bxd5 23. Qxd5 Be5 24. Rd2 exf3 25. Bxf3 Qg5 26. Re1 Qf6 27. Ree2
Rg8 28. Kf1 Rg5 29. Qc6 Rf8 30. Qb6 h5 31. Rf2 Qg6 32. Be4 h4 33. gxh4 Rg1+ 34.
Ke2 Qg4+ 35. Bf3 Qc4+ 36. Rd3 Bxc3 37. bxc3 Re8+ 0-1

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Brenjo, Slavisa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 c5 10. Rb1 a5 11. a3 Ne8 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 b6 14. bxc5 bxc5 15.
Nb3 f5 16. f3 Bd7 17. Bd2 Nf6 18. Ra1 Qc7 19. Qc2 Rfb8 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21. cxb5
Rxa1 22. Rxa1 fxe4 23. fxe4 c4 24. Qxc4 Qxc4 25. Bxc4 Nxe4 26. Ba5 Rb7 27. Bd8
Bh6 28. Re1 Nc3 29. Nc5 dxc5 30. Bxe7 Kg7 31. d6 Bd2 32. Rf1 g5 33. Be6 e4 34.
d7 Ne2+ 35. Kh1 Ba5 36. d8=Q Bxd8 37. Bxd8 Rxb5 38. Bc4 1-0

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Popov, Sinisa S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A44"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2305"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. e4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. c4 Ne7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. h4 Bg4
9. Be3 Nd7 10. Qc2 Nf6 11. Nh2 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Nh5 13. g3 a6 14. a4 b6 15. Nf3
Qd7 16. Rg1 Rae8 17. O-O-O h6 18. g4 Nf4 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. h5 g5 21. Qc2 Kg8 22.
Nd2 b5 23. cxb5 axb5 24. axb5 Rb8 25. Nc4 Nc8 26. Kd2 Na7 27. b6 Nc8 28. Qb3
Qb7 29. Na4 Rd8 30. Ra1 Nxd5 31. exd5 Qxd5+ 32. Kc1 e4 33. Rd1 Qe6 34. Nxc5
Qxg4 35. b7 d5 36. Na6 Nd6 37. Nxd6 Rxb7 38. Nxb7 Rc8+ 39. Nac5 Qf3 1-0

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Savicevic, Vlatko"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2305"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d3 e6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 a6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Qd4
Nf6 9. Bg2 Bg7 10. O-O d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. Qc5 Bb7 13. Qb4 Qe7 14. Bd2 Ne4 15.
Qxe7+ Kxe7 16. Bb4+ Kd7 17. Ba3 Nd6 18. c3 Rhc8 19. Bxd6 Kxd6 20. Nd2 a5 21. a4
Ba6 22. Rfd1 Rab8 23. Ra2 Rc7 24. Bf1 Bxf1 25. Nxf1 e5 26. Ne3 d4 27. Nc2 Ke6
28. Na3 Rb3 29. Nb5 Rc4 30. Kf1 Kd5 31. Ke2 e4 32. cxd4 Rc2+ 33. Rd2 Rxd2+ 34.
Kxd2 Bxd4 35. Nxd4 Kxd4 36. Ke2 f5 37. Kd2 g5 38. Ke2 f4 39. Kd2 h5 40. Ke2 f3+
41. Kd2 e3+ 42. fxe3+ Rxe3 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Minasian, Artashes"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Bc4 c6 8.
Nf3 Nd7 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Bb3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. c4 O-O-O 13. a4 f5 14. Ng3 Bd6
15. a5 h5 16. axb6 axb6 17. c5 bxc5 18. Rfc1 h4 19. Nf1 Rhg8 20. Bc4 cxd4 21.
Ba6 Nb8 22. Bxb7+ Qxb7 23. Nxh4 d3 24. Qe3 Rg4 25. Nf3 Bf4 26. Qc5 Bxc1 27.
Qxc1 Rb4 28. Ra2 Qb5 29. N3d2 Ra4 30. Rxa4 Qxa4 31. b3 Qb4 32. Ne3 Kb7 33. Nec4
Nd7 34. h4 f6 35. Qa1 Ne5 36. Nxe5 fxe5 37. Qb2 Qxh4 38. Qxe5 Qe7 39. Qc3 Rd5
40. Nc4 Kc7 41. Ne3 Qc5 42. Nxd5+ Qxd5 43. Qg7+ Qd7 44. Qa1 d2 45. Qd1 Qd3 46.
f3 e5 47. g4 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Brodsky, Michail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2310"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. Qh5 Rg8 13. O-O-O Rxg2 14. f4
Nd4 15. Ne3 Rf2 16. exf5 Bxa2 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Nxb5 Bh6 19. Rhe1 axb5 20.
Bxb5+ Ke7 21. Qh4+ f6 22. Qxf2 Bf7 23. Bd3 Qb6 24. Be4 Ra2 25. c4 Bxc4 26. Kb1
Qa5 27. Nd5+ Bxd5 28. Qxd4 Ra1+ 29. Kc2 Rxd1 30. Qxd1 Qa4+ 31. Kc3 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sorokin, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. d3 Nc6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nb5 Be7 10. Bf4 Ne8 11. Qb3 Kh8 12. Rac1 Bf6 13. h4 a6 14. Nc3 Ne7 15.
e4 fxe4 16. dxe4 dxe4 17. Rcd1 Bd7 18. Nxe4 Ng6 19. Nc5 Nd6 20. Bxd6 cxd6 21.
Rxd6 Qc7 22. Rxd7 Qxc5 23. Rxb7 Rad8 24. Qb6 Qc4 25. Re1 Qxa2 26. h5 Ne7 27.
Rbxe7 Bxe7 28. Rxe7 Rb8 29. Qe3 Qxb2 30. h6 gxh6 31. Ne5 Qb6 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33.
Nxh6+ Kh8 34. Qe5+ Rf6 35. Ng4 1-0

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ibragimov, Ildar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. c4 f5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Bf5 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qd2 Nc7
15. Rae1 Qd7 16. h4 b5 17. Re3 bxc4 18. bxc4 Bh3 19. Rfe1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qf5 21.
Re4 Rbe8 22. Rf4 Qc8 23. Qa5 d5 24. cxd5 Nxd5 25. Rfe4 Qf5 26. Qd2 Bg7 27. Nh2
Rf7 28. Bc5 Qd7 29. a4 Nf6 30. Re5 Nd5 31. R5e4 Nf6 32. Re5 Kh8 33. Kg1 Nd5 34.
R5e2 a6 35. Qd3 Qh3 36. Nf3 Nf4 37. gxf4 Rxf4 38. Ne5 Rg4+ 39. Nxg4 Qxd3 40.
Re4 Qf3 41. Nh2 Qf5 42. Bxe7 Kg8 43. f3 Qh3 44. R1e2 Qg3+ 45. Rg2 Bxd4+ 46. Kh1
Qh3 47. Rgg4 c5 48. h5 Rb8 49. Re1 Be5 50. Rh4 Qf5 51. hxg6 hxg6 52. Re2 Rb1+
53. Kg2 Bd4 54. Ng4 Rg1+ 55. Kh2 Qf4+ 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Galdunts, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. h3 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 Be6 11. Ng3 Na5 12. Bc2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc4 14. Qd1 Qxd1+
15. Bxd1 Bd3 16. Nxe5 Bxe4 17. O-O Rfe8 18. Nf3 Nc4 19. Be2 Bd5 20. Rd1 b5 21.
Kf1 Rad8 22. Nd4 c5 23. Ndf5 Bb8 24. b3 Nd6 25. Be3 Nfe4 26. Rac1 Nxf5 27. Nxf5
b4 28. cxb4 cxb4 29. Bb6 Rd7 30. Bg4 Rb7 31. Bd4 Be5 32. Ne3 Bxd4 33. Rxd4 1-0

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Webster, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2330"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Qd2
c6 9. O-O-O a6 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nc1 Bb7 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nb3 Qc7 14. Qd6 Rfc8
15. Qxc7 Rxc7 16. a3 Bf8 17. Be2 Nh5 18. g3 Ng7 19. Rd2 Re8 20. cxb5 cxb5 21.
Na5 Ba8 22. Bxb5 axb5 23. Nxb5 Rc5 24. Bxc5 Nxc5 25. Nc7 Nxe4 26. Rc2 Ng5 27.
Nxe8 Nxe8 28. Nc6 Nxf3 29. Nxe5 Nd2+ 30. Rxd2 Bxh1 31. Rd8 Nf6 32. a4 Kg7 33.
a5 1-0

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zoler, Dan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2325"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8.
O-O Re8 9. Nc2 Rb8 10. Nd5 h6 11. Nce3 d6 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Be3 a6
15. Qd2 Kh7 16. Rac1 Ne7 17. h4 Nf5 18. Bf4 c6 19. Nc3 Be6 20. Ne4 Qb6 21. Nxd6
Nxd6 22. Bxd6 Rbd8 23. c5 Qb5 24. b3 Rd7 25. e4 a5 26. f4 Bg4 27. Rfe1 Ra8 28.
e5 Qa6 29. Bf1 Qa7 30. Bd3 b6 31. cxb6 Qxb6+ 32. Qf2 Qb7 33. Be4 Rc8 34. Qc5
Qa6 35. Rc4 Rb7 36. Qf2 Rb5 37. f5 Bh5 38. Bc2 Qb7 39. g4 Re8 40. gxh5 Qd7 41.
fxg6+ fxg6 42. Bxg6+ Kh8 43. Bxe8 1-0

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polgar, Sofia"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. O-O Bxd5 14. exd5 Ne7
15. Qh5 e4 16. Bc2 Qa5 17. Rae1 Ra7 18. Kh1 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qxa3 20. Bb3 Qb2 21.
f3 Rg8 22. g3 f4 23. fxe4 fxg3 24. Rxf7 Kd8 25. Qh6 Qxc3 26. Rf8+ Rxf8 27.
Qxf8+ Kd7 28. Rf1 Qe3 29. Qf4 Qxf4 30. Rxf4 gxh2 31. Bd1 Kc7 32. Rf7 Kb6 33.
Rxh7 Rc7 34. Kxh2 Nxd5 35. Rxc7 Nxc7 36. Kg3 Kc5 37. Kf4 Kd4 38. Kf5 b4 39. Ba4
a5 40. Bc6 Kc5 41. Bd7 Nb5 42. e5 dxe5 43. Kxe5 Nc3 44. Be6 Nxa2 45. Bxa2 a4
0-1

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodriguez Vila, Andres"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2350"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Ne7 9. c3 Nf5 10. a4 Be7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O Nh4 13. f4 a6 14. Na3 exf4
15. Bxf4 Ng6 16. Bg3 Bh4 17. Bxh4 Nxh4 18. Nc4 a5 19. Qd2 b6 20. Rf4 Ng6 21.
Bxg6 hxg6 22. Qe3 g5 23. Rd4 Ba6 24. Qg3 Bxc4 25. Rxc4 Re8 26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27.
Qxe1 b5 28. Rc6 bxa4 29. h3 Rb8 30. Qe2 Qf6 31. Qe4 g6 32. Ra6 a3 33. bxa3 Qxc3
34. Kh2 Rb3 35. Ra7 Qg3+ 36. Kg1 Re3 37. Ra8+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "WchT U26 08th"]
[Site "Maringa"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lindstedt, Johan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2345"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1991.09.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Finland"]
[BlackTeam "Soviet Union"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FIN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "URS"]

{53/94} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8.
Bb2 (8. a4) 8... O-O 9. Qc2 Bd7 (9... Nbd7 10. Ne5 $14) (9... b6 10. Nc3 Bb7
11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nb5 Rc8 13. Qe2 $14) 10. Ne5 Be8 11. f3 $14 c5 12. Nc3 $1 Na6
(12... Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Rae1 $14) 13. a3 Nc7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Qd2 (15.
cxd5 Ncxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. e4 Nf4 18. exf5 Nxd3 19. Nxd3 Rxf5 20. dxc5 Bxc5+
21. Nxc5 Rfxc5 $11) 15... Rd8 16. Qc2 $6 (16. Qf2 Ne4) (16. Qe2 $14) 16... Kh8
17. a4 { []b} Na6 $5 (17... a6 18. a5 $14) 18. Qf2 Nb4 (18... Ne4 $2 19. Qe2
Nxc3 20. Bxc3 $14) 19. Bf1 Nc6 $1 20. cxd5 $2 (20. Nxc6 $6 bxc6 21. Ba3 e5 $1)
(20. Nb5 Bb8 21. Ba3 $1 b6 $5 (21... Bxe5 22. Bxc5 (22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxa7 dxc4
24. bxc4 $13) 22... Bd6 23. Nxd6 Rxd6 24. Qg3 (24. cxd5 Nxd5 25. Qg3 f4 $1)
24... e5 25. dxe5 Nxe5 $13)) 20... Nxe5 $1 (20... exd5 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Ba3
$132) 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. dxe6 Ng4 $3 (22... Qxe6 23. Bc4 Qe7 24. Rad1 $11) 23.
fxg4 fxg4 24. Qxf8+ $8 (24. Qe2 Bxh2+ $1 25. Kxh2 Qh4+ 26. Kg1 g3 $19) 24...
Qxf8 $15 25. Bc4 g6 $5 (25... g3 26. Rf1 Qe7 27. Rf5 $1 gxh2+ 28. Kh1 Bf6 29.
Raf1 $13) (25... Rd2 26. Rf1 Qe7 27. Rf5 $1) 26. Rad1 Rxd1 27. Nxd1 (27. Rxd1
$2 Qh6) 27... Qg7 28. Rf1 $5 Bxb2 29. Nxb2 Qe5 $1 30. Rf8+ Kg7 31. Rxe8 Qxe3+
32. Kf1 Qc1+ 33. Kf2 Qxb2+ $17 {1/4 5/} 34. Kf1 Qf6+ 35. Kg1 h5 { h4, g} 36.
g3 $8 (36. Rg8+ $6 Kh6) 36... a6 $1 { b} 37. a5 $6 (37. e7 Kh6) (37. Rb8 Qd4+
38. Kf1 Qe4 $17) 37... Qa1+ 38. Kf2 Qxa5 $1 39. Rg8+ $2 (39. e7 Kf6 $19) (39.
Re7+ $5 Kh6 40. Rxb7 Qd2+ 41. Be2 $8 Qd4+ 42. Ke1 Qa1+ 43. Kd2 $8) 39... Kh7
40. e7 Qd2+ 41. Be2 (41. Kf1 Qd1+ 42. Kf2 Qf3+ 43. Kg1 Qe3+ $19) 41... Qd4+ 42.
Ke1 Qc3+ $1 (42... Qc3+ 43. Kd1 (43. Kf1 Qf6+) 43... Qxb3+) 0-1

[Event "WchT U26 08th"]
[Site "Maringa"]
[Date "1991.09.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gurevich, Ilya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1991.09.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Soviet Union"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "URS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. Qe2 g6 8. g3
Bg7 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Rd1 Qb8 12. b3 a6 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rac1 Qa7 15.
Bb2 Rac8 16. Nc2 b5 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. e5 dxe5 20. Bxb7 Nxb7 21.
Qxb5 Nd6 22. Qe2 h5 23. a4 Qb7 24. Nb5 Nfe4 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Nd5 Rc5 27. Qd3
e6 28. Nxd6 Nxd6 29. Ne3 Nf5 30. Nxf5 gxf5 31. Qe2 Bf6 32. Qxh5 Rd5 33. Rc1 Rd3
34. b4 Kg7 35. b5 Rd2 36. Bxe5 Qd5 37. Qg5+ Kf8 38. Bxf6 1-0

[Event "WchT U26 08th"]
[Site "Maringa"]
[Date "1991.09.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Costa, Jean Luc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1991.09.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Soviet Union"]
[BlackTeam "Switzerland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "URS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SUI"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Qb6 7. Qc2 Ne4 8. Bf4
Bf5 9. Bd3 Na6 10. a3 Qa5 11. Qa4 Qxa4 12. Nxa4 Nb8 13. Ke2 Nd7 14. Rc1 Nb6 15.
Nc5 Nxc5 16. Bxf5 Nb3 17. Rc3 Na5 18. Nf3 Nac4 19. Rb1 a5 20. Bd3 Be7 21. Nd2
Nxd2 22. Kxd2 g6 23. f3 Kd7 24. e4 Rae8 25. b4 axb4 26. axb4 Rc8 27. Be3 dxe4
28. fxe4 f5 29. d5 fxe4 30. dxc6+ bxc6 31. Bxb6 exd3 32. Rxd3+ Ke8 33. Re1 Rf8
34. Ra3 Rf7 35. Ra7 Rb8 36. Bc5 Rd8+ 37. Kc3 Rd7 38. Ra8+ Rd8 39. Ra6 Rd7 40.
Rxc6 Kd8 41. Bb6+ 1-0

[Event "WchT U26 08th"]
[Site "Maringa"]
[Date "1991.09.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Russek Libni, Guil"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1991.09.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Mexico"]
[BlackTeam "Soviet Union"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MEX"]
[BlackTeamCountry "URS"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
O-O Nge7 9. Nbd2 Bg4 10. Nb3 Bd6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Re8 14. Nfd4
Bxe2 15. Nxe2 Qb6 16. Bxe7 Rxe7 17. Ned4 Rd8 18. Nf5 Re6 19. Qc2 Be5 20. Rad1
a5 21. g3 Bf6 22. Rfe1 a4 23. Nbd4 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Re4 25. Nf5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Qb5
27. Rd1 Qc4 28. b3 axb3 29. axb3 Qc5 30. c4 b5 31. Ne3 dxc4 32. Rxd8+ Bxd8 33.
bxc4 Bg5 34. Nd1 Bf6 35. Ne3 Bd4 36. Nf5 bxc4 37. Qe4 Bf6 38. Ne3 c3 39. Qe8+
Kh7 40. Kg2 Bd4 41. Qe4+ g6 42. Nc2 Bf6 43. h4 Kg7 44. Kg1 h5 45. Kg2 Be5 46.
Kf1 Qb5+ 47. Kg2 f5 48. Qf3 Qc4 49. Qb7+ Qc7 50. Qf3 Bf6 51. Qd5 f4 52. Qf3
fxg3 53. fxg3 Qd7 54. Qe4 Qg4 55. Qe3 Kh7 56. Qa7+ Bg7 57. Qe7 Qf5 58. Qe2 Qd5+
59. Qf3 Qd2+ 60. Qf2 Bh6 61. Kg1 Kg8 62. Kf1 Qd3+ 63. Kg2 Bg7 64. Kh3 Be5 65.
Ne1 Qe4 0-1

[Event "WchT U26 08th"]
[Site "Maringa"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2355"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1991.09.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Soviet Union"]
[BlackTeam "Uruguay"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "URS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "URU"]

{53/206} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. Qe1 e5 (10... e6 {- 53/(206)}) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12.
exd5 Nxd5 13. Bc4 Be6 14. Ne4 Qc7 {N} (14... h6 {- 47/262}) 15. Bc5 Rfd8 (15...
Rfb8 16. Bd6 Qb6 17. Bxb8 Rxb8 18. b3 h6 (18... Bf8 19. Bxd5 { []f6+-}) 19. g4
Kh8 20. g5 $1 $16 {(+)f6}) 16. Qh4 (16. g4) 16... h6 17. g4 $14 Rab8 18. g5 h5
19. Qf2 Qb7 (19... a5 20. a4 Qb7 21. b3 $16) 20. b3 (20. Bb3 $2 a5) 20... Qc7
$5 21. a4 Qa5 22. Bxa7 $1 (22. Qe1 $14) 22... Bf8 $1 (22... Rb4 $2 23. Qc5 $18)
23. Bxb8 (23. Bc5 Nc3 $1 $13) 23... Ba3+ 24. Kb1 Rxb8 (24... Nc3+ 25. Nxc3 Qxc3
26. Rxd8+ Kh7 27. Bxe5 Qxe5 28. Qd4 $18) 25. Bxd5 cxd5 26. Nf6+ Kf8 (26... Kg7
$6 27. Qe1) 27. Qe1 $1 Qxa4 (27... Qc7 28. Nxd5 Qc4 29. Qxe5 Rxb3+ 30. cxb3
Qxb3+ 31. Ka1 $18) 28. Qxe5 Rxb3+ 29. cxb3 Qxb3+ 30. Ka1 d4 (30... Qa4 31. Qb8+
Ke7 32. Nxd5+ Bxd5 33. Rhe1+ $18) 31. Nd7+ $1 Bxd7 (31... Kg8 32. Qb8+ $18) (
31... Ke7 32. Qf6+ Ke8 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Qf8+ Kxd7 35. Rxd4+ Kc6 36. Qa8+ Kc5
37. Qa7+ Kc6 38. Qa4+ $18) 32. Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qxd4 Kf8 (33... Bb2+ 34. Qxb2 Qa4+
35. Kb1 Bf5+ 36. Kc1 Qc4+ 37. Kd2 $18) 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Rhe1+ 1-0

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Neverov, Valeriy"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5 8. axb5
Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2 Nf6 13. Bd3 Nbd7 14. Qc2 O-O
15. O-O Qc7 16. e4 e5 17. Rfe1 (17. c5 Ba6 (17... h6 18. dxe5 Nh5 19. Rfc1 Rfc8
20. Qd2 Nxc5 21. Bd4 Qe7 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23. g4 $13 {Itkis,B-Matlak,M/
Miedzybrodzie/1991/}) (17... exd4 18. Bxd4 Ng4 19. Bb5 Nde5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21.
Qb2 f6 22. Bxe5 fxe5 23. c6 Bc8 24. Rfc1 Qb6 25. Qxe5 a4 $13 {Zueger,B-Klinger,
J/Bern/1991/}) 18. Rfc1 exd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Qc6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Rc4
Rfd8 23. Qc2 Rab8 $132 {Levitt,J-Flear,G/London WFW/1990/}) 17... Rfe8 18. c5
exd4 19. Bxd4 h6 20. h3 (20. e5 Nd5 21. e6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Re1 Nf4 24.
Be4 Rc8 25. Ne5 Bd5 26. Bh7+ Kf8 27. c6 $40 {Kramnik,V-Sorokin,M/RSFSR-ch/1991/
}) 20... Bc6 21. e5 Nd5 22. e6 Rxe6 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Bxg7+ $6 (
25. Re1 $13) 25... Kxg7 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Qxh6 Nf8 28. Bf5+ Nh7 (28... Kg8 29.
Bxe6+ Nxe6 30. Qxe6+ Kg7 31. Ne5 $40) 29. Bxh7 Qxh7 30. Qxe6 Ne7 $1 31. Ne5 Qg7
32. g4 (32. Nxc6 Qxa1+ $19) 32... Bd5 33. Qxe7 (33. Qd6 b3 $19) 33... Qxe7 34.
Ng6+ Kh7 35. Nxe7 Be4 36. Re1 a4 $1 37. c6 (37. Rxe4 a3 38. Re1 a2 39. Ra1 b3
$19) 37... a3 38. c7 b3 39. c8=Q Rxc8 40. Nxc8 b2 {Ftacnik,L} 0-1

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rashkovsky, Nukhim N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E33"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bd2 O-O 7. a3 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 a6 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Nd4 12. Qd3 c5 13. Bxd4 cxd4 14. O-O-O
b5 15. Qxd4 Qc7 16. c5 Bb7 17. Bd3 Rad8 18. Qc3 Bxe4 19. f4 Nd5 20. Qd4 Bxg2
21. Rhg1 f6 22. Rxg2 fxe5 23. Qe4 Qxc5+ 24. Kb1 Nf6 25. Qf5 Qc6 26. Rdg1 e4 27.
Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Qg5 Rd7 29. Qh6 Qc5 30. Bxe4 Rff7 31. Qxh7+ 1-0

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Brustman, Agnieszka"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2325"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. Qh5 Rg8 13. g3 Rg4 14. f3 Rg6
15. Qh4 Qxh4 16. gxh4 Bxd5 17. exd5 Ne7 18. O-O-O Rc8 19. c4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 Rh6
21. Kb1 Ra8 22. Bb3 Rxh4 23. Nc4 Ng6 24. Ba4+ Ke7 25. Rc1 Rb8 26. Na5 Kf6 27.
Bd7 Rh3 28. Rc6 Rxf3 29. Rxa6 Rf2 30. b3 e4 31. Re1 Ne5 32. Nc6 Nxd7 33. Ra7
Rb5 34. Rxd7 Rxd5 35. Nd8 Be7 36. Nc6 Rdd2 37. Rxe7 Rb2+ 38. Ka1 Rxa2+ 39. Kb1
Rfb2+ 40. Kc1 Rc2+ 41. Kb1 Rxc6 42. R7xe4 fxe4 43. Kxa2 Ke5 44. b4 f5 45. Kb3
f4 46. b5 Rb6 47. Kb4 f3 48. Ka5 Rb8 49. Rf1 Kf4 0-1

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vehi Bach, Victor Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d6 7. f3 Nbd7 8.
e4 e5 9. Be3 exd4 10. Bxd4 a6 11. Nh3 Qe7 12. Be2 Re8 13. Nf4 c5 14. Bf2 b5 15.
cxb5 d5 16. O-O-O axb5 17. Bxb5 d4 18. Qc2 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rhe1 Ne5 21.
Nd5 Qb7 22. Bg3 h6 23. Bxe5 Rxe5 24. Nxf6+ Rxf6 25. Kb1 Rfe6 26. Qc4 Kh8 27. g4
Rb6 28. Re2 Rb3 29. Rd3 Rb6 30. Rc2 Kg8 31. Ka2 Qe7 32. Rb3 Rd6 33. Rb8+ Kh7
34. Rd2 Rd7 35. Rd3 Qh4 36. h3 Qe7 37. Rc8 Rb7 38. Rd2 Qd6 39. h4 h5 40. g5 Qe7
41. Qa6 Rc7 42. Rb8 Qe6+ 43. Qxe6 Rxe6 44. Rd8 f6 45. Rg2 fxg5 46. Rxg5 g6 47.
Rgd5 Ree7 48. e5 Kg7 49. f4 Rf7 50. e6 Rfe7 51. f5 gxf5 52. Rxf5 Rxe6 53. Rxh5
Re2 54. Rdh8 Kf6 55. R8h6+ Ke7 56. Rh7+ Kd8 57. Rd5+ Kc8 58. Rxc7+ Kxc7 59.
Rxc5+ Kd6 60. Rc8 Kd5 61. a4 Re7 62. a5 Ke4 63. b4 d3 64. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Voekler, Bernd"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Be2 Bc6 6. Bf3 Be7 7. Ne2 Nf6 8.
N2g3 Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Bd5 10. O-O Nd7 11. Qd3 Nf6 12. c4 Bxe4 13. Bxe4 c6 14. Bf4
O-O 15. Be5 g6 16. Rad1 Nd7 17. f4 Qb6 18. Kh1 Rad8 19. b3 Qa5 20. a4 Nc5 21.
dxc5 Rxd3 22. Rxd3 Qxc5 23. Rfd1 f6 24. Bd4 Qa5 25. Bc3 Qc7 26. g3 Rd8 27.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bg2 Kf7 29. Bh3 Be7 30. a5 b5 31. Re1 f5 32. Bf1 Bf6 33. Bxf6
Kxf6 34. Re5 a6 35. Bg2 Qxa5 36. Bxc6 Qa1+ 37. Kg2 Qb2+ 38. Kg1 bxc4 0-1

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zagema, Wieb"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bg5 d4 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Rc1 Re8 14. Ne1 Be7
15. Nd3 Rb8 16. Nec5 Bd6 17. Nxb7 Bxb7 18. Bxc6 Re6 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Rc4 Rd7
21. Qc2 Rc7 22. Rxc7 Bxc7 23. Rc1 Re7 24. Nb4 Rd7 25. Nc6 Qg5 26. Nxd4 Bb6 27.
Nf3 Qe7 28. Kg2 g6 29. Rd1 Rc7 30. Qd3 Qb4 31. Rd2 Rc8 32. Rc2 Rd8 33. Qc4 Qa5
34. b4 Qf5 35. a4 Rd7 36. Qc8+ Kg7 37. a5 Bd8 38. Rc5 Qe6 39. Ne5 Rd6 40. Qxe6
Rxe6 41. Nc6 Bf6 42. e3 a6 43. b5 axb5 44. a6 1-0

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A52"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e3 Nxe5 5. Nc3 a5 6. Nh3 Ng6 7. g3 Nc6 8. Bg2
Bb4 9. Bd2 Nce5 10. Qe2 d6 11. f4 Nd7 12. O-O O-O 13. Nf2 Re8 14. Nd3 Nc5 15.
Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Kh1 Nf8 17. Rad1 Nd7 18. g4 Bb4 19. Nd5 Bxd2 20. Rxd2 Nf6 21. Bf3
Ne4 22. Rd4 Nc5 23. Rdd1 Be6 24. Nc3 f6 25. b3 Bf7 26. Qf2 c6 27. e4 Qc7 28. g5
fxg5 29. e5 Ne6 30. exd6 Qd7 31. Bg4 gxf4 32. Na4 c5 33. Qg2 Qd8 34. d7 Rf8 35.
Bxe6 Bxe6 36. Nxc5 Qe7 37. Nxe6 Qxe6 38. Qxb7 Rad8 39. Qd5 Qxd5+ 40. Rxd5 Rf7
41. Rfd1 Kf8 42. c5 1-0

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kosten, Anthony C"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. e3 O-O 7. Be2 b6 8.
O-O Bb7 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Ne1 Qe7 11. Nd3 a5 12. a3 bxa3 13. bxa3 Nbd7 14. Bf3
Rab8 15. Bxb7 Rxb7 16. Rb1 Rc8 17. e4 e5 18. d5 Rcb8 19. Qe2 Qd8 20. g3 Nc5 21.
Nc1 Re7 22. Na2 Qd7 23. Nc3 g6 24. Kg2 Kg7 25. h3 h5 26. Qe3 Qd8 27. f4 exf4
28. gxf4 Nfd7 29. Nb5 Nf6 30. e5 dxe5 31. fxe5 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Qxd5+ 33. Nf3 Nd3
34. Rbd1 Qxb5 35. Rxd3 Rc8 36. Rd2 Qc5 37. Qg5 Re6 38. Qf4 Qc6 39. Kh2 f6 40.
Nd4 1-0

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Westerinen, Heikki MJ"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Nb8 9. c4 a6 10. Qa4 Nd7 11. c5 Rb8 12. Nxd6+ Bxd6 13. cxd6 O-O 14. Be3
Nf6 15. Ba7 Ra8 16. Bc5 b6 17. Ba3 Bb7 18. Rd1 b5 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. Be2 Bxd5 21.
Qe3 Qb7 22. Bc5 Nd7 23. b4 f5 24. f3 Bxa2 25. O-O Be6 26. f4 e4 27. Bd4 Rac8
28. Qg3 Nf6 29. Rd2 Rc6 30. Be5 Qf7 31. Rfd1 Rd8 32. Ra1 Rdc8 33. h3 Nd7 34.
Bb2 Bc4 35. Bh5 Qf8 36. Re1 Nf6 37. d7 Rd8 38. Be8 Qxb4 39. Red1 Qe7 40. Be5
Bd3 41. Qg5 Re6 42. Qxf5 Nxe8 43. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 44. Rc1 Qf7 45. Qg4 a5 46. Bb2
Rg6 47. Qh4 Qd5 48. Rc7 h6 49. g4 e3 50. Rg2 e2 51. Bc3 Qd6 52. Be5 Qxc7 53.
Rxe2 Qc5+ 54. Rf2 Rge6 55. Qg3 Qc1+ 56. Kh2 Be4 0-1

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Remlinger, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2340"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O a6 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nc1 Bb7 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6
bxc4 15. Be2 Rfb8 16. f4 Nd3 17. Nxd3 cxd3 18. Bf3 c5 19. e5 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nh5
21. Rxd3 f6 22. Rd5 c4 23. Rhd1 Re8 24. Ne4 fxe5 25. f5 gxf5 26. Nd6 Nf6 27.
R5d2 Red8 28. Nxf5 Rxd2 29. Bxd2 Bf8 30. Bc3 Kf7 31. Ne3 e4 32. Nxc4 exf3 33.
Ne5+ Ke6 34. Nxf3 Ne4 35. Nd4+ Kf7 36. Ba5 Bd6 37. Nf3 Ke6 38. Rd4 Nf6 39. Bc3
Rg8 40. Rxd6+ Kxd6 41. Bxf6 Rf8 42. Nd2 1-0

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lerner, Konstantin Z"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. e3 Nc6 6. d3 O-O 7. Nf3 h6 8. c4 Be6
9. O-O Qd7 10. d4 exd4 11. exd4 Bf5 12. a3 Rae8 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nc3 Bd8 15. Nd4
Bh3 16. Qd3 Re5 17. Nce2 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rfe8 19. Nf4 Re4 20. Rad1 Na6 21. b4 Nb8
22. Nb3 g5 23. Nd2 gxf4 24. Bxf6 Re2 25. Bc3 Qg4 26. Qd4 Kh7 27. Rde1 c5 28.
Qd3+ f5 29. Rxe2 Rxe2 30. bxc5 dxc5 31. Nf3 Re4 32. d6 Nd7 33. Qd5 Qg6 34. Qxb7
Qxd6 35. Be5 Qd3 36. Bxf4 Bf6 37. Qc6 Re7 38. Rc1 Qe4 39. Qd6 Qb7 40. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Renet, Olivier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. Kb1 Nb6 11. Nc1 d5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nb5 Qe7 14. dxe5
Nfd7 15. f4 dxe4 16. Qd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Kh8 18. a4 Rb8 19. Nxa7 1-0

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hall, Jesper"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. h3
O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qd3 14. N2c4
Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 Ba6 16. Kc2 Nd7 17. Rd1 Nb6 18. Nxb6 axb6 19. Bg5 Ra7 20. Kb3
Rd7 21. Nc4 Bd4 22. d6 f6 23. Be3 b5 24. Na5 Bxe3 25. fxe3 Re8 26. Rac1 Rxe3+
27. Rc3 Rxc3+ 28. Kxc3 Kf7 29. Nb3 b4+ 30. Kc2 Rd8 31. Nxc5 Bc4 32. Nb7 Rd7 33.
Nc5 Rd8 34. h4 f5 35. g3 Kf6 36. d7 Be2 37. Rd6+ Kf7 38. Nb7 Ke7 39. Rd2 1-0

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bus, Mariusz"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bxc6 Nxc6 7. c3 d5 8.
exd5 Qxd5 9. d4 Be7 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Nc3 Qa5 13. a3 Rd8 14. b4 Qf5
15. Qb3 b5 16. Rad1 Bb7 17. d5 exd5 18. Bb6 Re8 19. Nxd5 Bf8 20. Ne3 Qg6 21.
Qd3 Re4 22. Qd7 Re7 23. Qd3 Re4 24. Qd7 Re7 25. Qd3 Qxd3 26. Rxd3 Re6 27. Bc7
Rc8 28. Bg3 a5 29. Rd7 Ba6 30. Nd5 axb4 31. axb4 Nxb4 32. Nc7 Rxe1+ 33. Nxe1
Bb7 34. Nxb5 Bc6 35. Rc7 Re8 0-1

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Moutousis, Konstantinos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2405"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 (
7... Nd7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. Bg5 h6 (10... a6 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 Bb7 13.
Rab1 Rc8 14. Rfe1 Re8 15. h4 $14 {Hoffman,F-Fette,M/Groningen op/1991/}) 11.
Bf4 Nf6 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Be5 Qa5 15. h3 Bd7 16. Qb3 b5 17. Rac1
$14 {Lazarev,V-Fogarasi,T/Gyor HUN-ch op/1990/}) 8. Ba4 O-O (8... b5 9. Bc2 $6
(9. Bb3 $5 b4 10. Ne2 bxc3 11. Be3 Ba6 (11... O-O 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. e5 c5 14. e6
fxe6 15. O-O Ba6 16. Bxe6+ Kh8 17. d5 Ne5 18. Rxc3 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nf3+ 20. gxf3
Bxc3 21. Bxc5 Qc7 22. Qe3 Bf6 23. Rc1 $36 {Kiselev,S-Krasenkov,M/MOscow ZSKS/
1992/}) 12. Rc1 Nd7 (12... O-O 13. Rxc3 Qa5 14. Qd2 Rd8 15. Rc2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2
$1 Nd7 17. Rxc6 Bb7 18. Rc7 Bxe4 19. f3 Bf5 {Dautov,R-Ftacnik,L/Muenchen op/
1990/} 20. Nf4 $1 $16) (12... Qa5 13. Nxc3 Nd7 14. Qd2 O-O 15. Ne2 Qxd2+ 16.
Kxd2 $14 {Schlosser,P-Zakic,S/Budapest Cansys/1991/}) 13. e5 Nb6 14. Nxc3 O-O
15. Ne4 Nd5 16. Nc5 Nxe3 17. fxe3 $14 {Gleizerov-Jasnikowski/Pardubice op/1992/
}) 9... b4 10. Bb2 bxc3 11. Bxc3 c5 $1 (11... O-O 12. Ne2 Ba6 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14.
Qxd3 e5 15. Rd1 exd4 16. Bxd4 Qa5+ 17. Qc3 Qxc3+ 18. Nxc3 $14 {Bukhman,
E-Luecke,N/Budapest/1989/}) 12. Ne2 cxd4 13. Ba4+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Nxd7 15. Bxd4
Qa5+ 16. Qd2 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 O-O $10 {Ftacnik,L-Krasenkov,M/Wien/1990/}) 9. Ne2
c5 (9... e5 10. O-O Nd7 (10... Qh4 11. f3 $1 (11. f4 exd4 12. cxd4 Bg4 13. Be3
Qh5 14. Rf2 c5 15. e5 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Rd8 17. h3 Bxe2 18. Rxe2 Rxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxe2
20. Qd8+ Bf8 21. Bb3 Qe3+ 22. Kh1 Qxf4 23. Qc8 a5 24. Qxb7 Ra6 25. Qxb8 Rc6 {
0,5/Savchenko,S-Odeev,H/URS/1991/}) (11. Ng3 exd4 12. cxd4 c5 13. e5 Rd8 14. f4
Rxd4 15. Qc2 Be6 16. Be3 Rc4 17. Qd1 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Rxa4 19. Nh5 Nc6 $13 {
Glek,I-Isoev,A/URS chT Azov/1991/}) 11... Rd8 12. Be3 h6 $6 (12... Be6 13. Bb3
$14) 13. Qc1 Kh7 14. Bb3 exd4 15. cxd4 Qe7 16. Rb1 $1 $16 {Rajskij-Odeev/
Romania/1991/}) 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Bb3 Nb6 13. f4 exd4 14. f5 gxf5 15. Ng3 Qh4 (
15... dxc3 $6 16. Qh5 Nc4 17. Rad1 Qb6+ 18. Kh1 Qb5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Rxf5 Ne5
21. Bxf7+ Nxf7 22. Qxf7+ {1-0/Shirov,A-Smejkal,J/BL/1991-92/}) 16. cxd4 f4 17.
Nh5 Bg4 18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Nxg7 Bxd1 20. Nxe8 Bh5 21. Nd6 Bxf7 22. Nxf7+ Kg8 23.
Nd6 Qf6 24. Rad1 $44 {0,5/Pribyl,J-Smejkal,J/Pardubice op/1992/}) 10. O-O Nc6 (
10... Bd7 11. Rb1 cxd4 12. cxd4 b6 13. Be3 Nc6 14. Bb5 Na5 15. Ba6 Bc8 16. Bd3
Bb7 17. d5 Rc8 18. Qa4 e6 19. Rfd1 exd5 20. Bb5 $14 {Boissonet,C-Amura,C/
Buenos Aires/1991/}) 11. Be3 Qc7 (11... Na5 12. Rb1 cxd4 13. cxd4 b6 14. d5 e6
15. Bd2 $1 Ba6 (15... exd5 16. Bxa5 bxa5 17. Bc6 Ba6 18. Bxa8 Qxa8 19. exd5 Rd8
20. Re1 Rxd5 21. Qb3 $16) 16. Bb4 exd5 17. exd5 Bc4 18. Bxf8 Bxf8 19. Rb2 Qxd5
20. Qxd5 Bxd5 21. Rd1 Bc4 22. Nc1 $1 $16 {Dautov,R-Labunsky/URS/1989/}) 12. Rc1
e6 (12... Rd8 13. Qc2 a6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. dxc5 Be6 16. Qa4 Rdb8 17. Rb1 Rb5
18. Nd4 Bxd4 19. cxd4 Rab8 $14 {Bern,I-Swidler,P/Gausdal Arnold Cup/1991/}) 13.
Bf4 Qe7 14. Qd2 (14. dxc5 e5 15. Be3 Rd8 16. Qc2 Be6 $44) 14... Bd7 15. dxc5 $1
e5 16. Bg5 f6 17. Be3 Be6 18. Bb3 Rad8 (18... Bxb3 19. axb3 Rad8 20. Qa2 $16)
19. Bd5 $1 Kh8 (19... f5 20. Bg5 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. c4 fxe4 23. Nc3 $16) 20.
c4 f5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. f4 $1 Rg8 (22... e4 23. Nc3 $16) 23. fxe5 Nxe5 24. Nf4
Bf7 (24... Bxd5 25. cxd5 $18) 25. h3 Qf6 (25... Nxc4 26. Rxc4 Bxd5 27. Nxd5 Qf7
28. Rd4 $1 Bxd4 29. Bxd4+ $18) 26. Kh1 Rd7 27. Qe2 Re8 28. Nh5 Bxh5 29. Qxh5
Ng6 (29... Rf8 30. Bd4 $18) 30. Bg5 Qe5 31. c6 {Ftacnik,L} 1-0

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 c5 4. Nf3 (4. d5) 4... cxd4 5. Bxc4 {I don't really
believe this sacrifice} (5. Qxd4 Qxd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. Bxc4 Nc6 $10) 5... Nc6 6.
O-O e6 (6... e5 $6 7. Ng5 $36) 7. a3 Bd6 $1 (7... Nf6 8. e5 Nd7 9. Bf4 $44) 8.
b4 Nf6 (8... a6 $1) 9. b5 Na5 (9... Ne5 10. Nxe5 Bxe5 11. f4 Bc7 $13) 10. e5
Nxc4 11. exf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 Ne5 (12... Be5 13. Qxc4 (13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $15) 13...
Bxa1 14. Bh6 $44) 13. Qe4 Bd7 14. Nc3 $2 (14. a4 $1) 14... Rc8 $17 15. Bb2 Nc4
16. Rad1 (16. Bc1 Qa5 $36) 16... Nxb2 17. Rxd6 Rxc3 $19 18. Qxb7 Qc7 19. Qa8+
Bc8 20. Ra6 Rc1 21. Nd2 O-O $1 22. Rxa7 Qc3 23. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 24. Nf1 e5 25. Qf3
Be6 26. Qg3+ Kh8 27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. Nxe3 Rb8 29. a4 f5 30. f4 exf4 31. Nf1 Bb3
32. Nd2 Bxa4 33. Rxf7 Rxb5 {'I just slept' - Shirov in the bulletin.} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tamm, Ulrich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 Bd6 7. O-O Nge7 8.
Nbd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Nf3 Qb6 12. Re1 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Ne5
Bxe2 15. Rxe2 Rfe8 16. Qd3 Rad8 17. Be3 Bb8 18. Rae1 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Bg5
Rxe2 21. Qxe2 Rc8 22. g3 h6 23. Be3 Re8 24. Qg4 Re4 25. Qf5 g6 26. Qf3 Qe6 27.
Kg2 Kg7 28. Rc1 h5 29. h4 a6 30. Rc5 b5 31. b3 Kg8 32. Rc2 b4 33. Rc1 Ba7 34.
Rd1 Kg7 35. Rd2 Bb6 36. Rd1 Bd8 37. Rc1 Bf6 38. Rd1 Qb6 39. Rc1 Bxd4 40. Bxd4+
Qxd4 41. Rc7 Qf6 42. Rb7 Qe6 43. Qd3 Qc6 44. Ra7 Re6 45. Qd4+ Rf6 46. Re7 Qb6
47. Qxb6 Rxb6 48. Rd7 Rb5 49. Kf3 Ra5 50. Rb7 Rxa2 51. Rxb4 Kf6 52. Rb7 Ke6 53.
Ke3 f6 54. f3 a5 55. Rb5 Ke5 56. f4+ Ke6 57. Kd4 Rg2 58. Rxa5 Rxg3 59. b4 Rf3
60. Ra6+ Kf5 61. Kxd5 Rxf4 62. b5 Rxh4 63. b6 Rb4 64. Kc6 h4 65. Ra5+ Ke6 66.
b7 Rxb7 67. Kxb7 g5 68. Kc6 h3 69. Ra8 g4 70. Rh8 f5 71. Rh4 Ke5 72. Kc5 Kf4
73. Kd4 Kg3 74. Rh5 h2 75. Ke3 f4+ 76. Ke2 Kg2 0-1

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Levin, Felix"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 {Horn,Pe} d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 (2... Bg4 $5 3. c4 c6) 3. e3 g6 4. c4 dxc4 5.
Bxc4 Bg7 6. Nf3 c5 7. a3 O-O (7... Nc6 8. Ne5 (8. b4 {Horn,Pe} cxb4 9. axb4
Nxb4 $2 10. Qb3) 8... Nxe5 9. Bxe5 O-O) 8. b4 $14 Nbd7 9. O-O b6 10. bxc5 bxc5
$6 (10... Nxc5 $1 11. a4 (11. d4 {Horn,Pe} Nce4)) 11. Be2 $1 Qb6 12. Bc3 Ba6
13. a4 $1 {/\ Na3-c4,a5 ><b6} Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Qe6 (14... Nd5 {Horn,Pe} 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. Qd3 N7f6 17. Na3 $14) 15. Na3 Nb6 16. Qa6 Qd7 17. Qb5 (17. a5 {Horn,Pe
} Nbd5) 17... Nbd5 18. Be5 Qe6 19. Rfc1 (19. Qxc5 Nd7 $19) 19... Nd7 20. Bxg7
Kxg7 21. Qc4 Rfc8 22. Rab1 N7b6 23. Qh4 f6 24. a5 Nd7 25. Qc4 Rab8 26. h3 Nc7 (
26... Kf7 $16) 27. Qa4 Na6 (27... Rxb1 {Horn,Pe} 28. Rxb1 Rb8 $14) 28. Nb5 Qc6
(28... Ra8 {Horn,Pe}) 29. Qc4 Ra8 (29... Qa8 {Horn,Pe} 30. Qe6 $18) 30. Nfd4 $1
$18 Ne5 (30... Qe4 $4 {Horn,Pe} 31. Ne6+ $18) 31. Nxc6 Nxc4 32. Nbxa7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Grivas, Efstratios"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Anand} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O
8. O-O Re8 9. b3 (9. Bd2 b6 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Bb7 13. Bc3 Qc7
14. Rad1 e5 $1 (14... Rad8 15. Rfe1 c5 16. Qh4 Be7 17. Qg3 Qxg3 18. hxg3 Bf6
$10 {Horvath,J-Kaidanov,G/Budapest Perenyi/1989/}) 15. Qh4 h6 16. Bd3 exd4 17.
Nxd4 Be5 $10 {Hjartarson,J-Tal,M/Reykjavik/1988/}) 9... Qe7 10. Bb2 (10. e4
dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 e5 $1 $10) (10. Rd1 {Anand} b6 (10... dxc4 11. bxc4
e5 12. a4) 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bb7 14. Bg5 $5) 10... b6 11. e4 (
11. Rfd1 {Anand} Bb7 {/\c5}) 11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bb7 14. Bd3 $6 (
14. Rad1 $10) (14. Ne5 $1 {Anand}) 14... f5 $1 15. Qe2 (15. Qh4 Qxh4 16. Nxh4
c5 $15) 15... c5 16. Rad1 $6 (16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Kh1 (17. Ne5 Qg5 18. Nf3 Qh5
$17) 17... Nf6 18. Ne5 $13) (16. Ne5 {Anand} cxd4 17. Bxd4 Nc5 $13) 16... cxd4
17. Nxd4 (17. Bxd4 $2 e5 $19) 17... Qh4 $1 18. g3 (18. f4 Bxf4 19. g3 Bxg3 $19)
(18. h3 {Anand} Nc5) 18... Qh3 19. f3 (19. Nf3 Be5 20. Ba3 Bf6 $17) 19... Bc5
20. Kh1 Nf6 21. Nc2 $6 (21. Qg2 $5 Qxg2+ 22. Kxg2 Rad8 23. Nc2 $17) 21... e5
22. Qg2 (22. Bxe5 Ng4 $19 (22... Ng4 {Anand} 23. Bxf5 Rxe5 $19)) 22... Qxg2+
23. Kxg2 e4 24. fxe4 (24. Be2 exf3+ 25. Bxf3 Re2+ $19) 24... Nxe4 25. Kh3 Rad8
$1 {Ftacnik,L} (25... Nf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bxf2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Knaak, Rainer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Knaak} Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e4 e5 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O
8. Be3 c6 9. d5 c5 10. Ne1 Ne8 11. g4 $1 f5 (11... Qh4 12. Kh1 Kh8 13. Rg1 Qe7
14. a3 {Gelfand-Ivanchuk}) 12. exf5 gxf5 13. gxf5 Nb6 14. Nf3 (14. Kh1 Bxf5 15.
Rg1 Nf6 (15... e4 {Knaak} 16. Ng2 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Kh8 $13) 16. Nf3 Ng4 17. Ng5
Nxe3 18. fxe3 $16 {Gelfand-Romero Wijk aan Zee1992}) 14... Bxf5 15. Ng5 {
The same plan as the earlier games of Gelfand- the g-file and the e4 square
are used for attack} Qe7 16. Kh1 Nf6 17. Rg1 Kh8 (17... e4 $5 {Knaak}) 18. Qd2
(18. Rg3 $5 {Knaak /\ Qg1-Qg2-Rg1}) 18... Bg6 19. Raf1 Nh5 20. Ne6 Rf7 21. b3
$1 Nd7 (21... Nf4 $8 {Knaak}) 22. Bd3 $18 {Black is completely helpless} Nf8
23. Ng5 Bxd3 (23... Rf6 {Knaak} 24. Nce4 Rf5 $16) 24. Qxd3 Rf6 25. Qe2 Nf4 26.
Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Qh5 h6 28. Qh3 Re8 29. Rg3 Kg8 30. Nge4 Kh7 31. Rfg1 Bf6 32. Ne2
(32. Ne2 Rxe4 33. Qf5+ Kh8 34. Rg8#) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Kortschnoj Ernst Anand Dautov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4
Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ Bd7 (7... c6 {Anand} 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bb3 b4) 8. Be2 c5 9.
Nf3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ (10... Bc6 $1 {Dautov} 11. Qd3 f5 (11... Nd7 $5 {Ernst}
12. Rb1 f5 13. Qb3 $1 Qb6 $8 14. exf5 Qxb3 15. Rxb3 gxf5 16. Ng5 $1 $14 {
F.Levin - T.Ernst, Groningen 1991.}) 12. exf5 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qxf5 14. Qxf5 gxf5
15. Rc1 Bd5 16. Rc5 (16. Bc4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nc6 18. d5 Nd4 19. Be3 Rc8 20. O-O
Kd7 21. f4 b5 22. Bd3 Kd6 $10 {Aseev,K-Mikhalchishin,A Brno-2 1991}) 16... e6
17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Rxc4 Nc6 19. O-O O-O 20. Rb1 Rf7 21. Re1 Rd7 22. Rxe6 Nxd4 23.
Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Bf4 Kf7 $10 {Dautov,R-Luecke,N Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1991}) 11.
Bd2 Qa4 12. O-O (12. Qxa4 $5 {Dautov} Bxa4 13. O-O Nc6 14. Be3 O-O 15. Rfc1
Rfd8 16. e5 Rd7 17. Rab1 Nd8 18. Ne1 Bc6 19. Nd3 Be4 20. Rb3 Ne6 21. Nc5 Nxd4
$2 (21... Nxc5 22. Rxc5 $14) 22. Rb2 Nxe2+ 23. Rxe2 Bc6 24. Nxd7 Bxd7 25. Rc7
Bc6 26. Rxe7 $18 {Alburt,L-Stone,R New York op 1988}) 12... O-O 13. Qxa4 Bxa4
14. Rab1 $1 (14. Rfc1 e6 15. Rab1 {0,5/Kramnik,V-Groszpeter,A/Dortmund op-A/
1992/} (15. Rab1 {Dautov} b6 {1/4:1/4 Kramnik,W-Groszpeter Dortmund op-A 1992}
(15... Bc6 $10 {Anand}))) 14... e6 (14... b6 15. Rfc1 $22 (15. d5 {Dautov} Nd7
16. Rb4 (16. Rfc1 Rfc8 $10) (16. Bb4 Rfc8 $1 $132 (16... Rfe8 17. Rfc1 a5 18.
Bc3 $16) (16... Bc2 17. Rbc1 Bxe4 18. Bxe7 Rfe8 19. d6 Bf6 20. Rfd1 Bxe7 21.
dxe7 Rxe7 22. Rc7 Rd8 (22... Bf5 23. Bb5 $16) 23. Rxa7 $16) 17. Bxe7 Rc2 18.
Ba6 Rxa2 $13) 16... Nc5 17. e5 (17. Rc1 a5 18. Rxb6 Nxe4 $10) (17. Be3 a5 18.
Rxb6 (18. Bxc5 $2 axb4 19. Bxe7 Rfe8 20. d6 Bf8 21. Bxf8 Kxf8 $17) 18... Nxe4
$10) 17... Rfd8 (17... Bc2 18. Ne1 Be4 19. Bf3 Bxf3 20. Nxf3 $14) 18. Bc4 Rab8
{/\a5,b5} (18... Bc2 19. Nd4 $16) 19. Be3 $1 $14) (15. Rb4 Bc6 16. d5 Bb7 17.
Rc1 Na6 $10) 15... Nc6 16. Rc4 $18 (16. d5 {Ernst} Ne5 17. Rc7 $14)) 15. Rxb7
$1 Bc6 16. Rc7 Bxe4 17. Ng5 Bd5 18. Bb4 Rd8 (18... Re8 19. Bb5 Rd8 20. Be7 $18)
(18... Nc6 {Dautov} 19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Bf3 $18) 19. Bb5 $1 (19. Be7 Re8 20. Bb5
Bc6 $1) (19. Nxf7 $6 Rd7 20. Rxd7 Nxd7 21. Ng5 (21. Ne5 {Anand} Nxe5 22. dxe5
Bxa2) 21... Bxd4 $10) 19... a6 20. Ba4 (20. Be7 $2 axb5 21. Bxd8 Nc6 22. Be7
Nxe7 23. Rxe7 Bf6 $19) 20... a5 (20... Bf8 21. Nxf7 Bxb4 22. Nxd8 $18) 21. Be7
Na6 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Ra7 Bc4 (23... Nb4 24. Nxf7 Rf8 25. Ne5 $18) 24. Nxf7
Bxd4 (24... Rf8 25. Rc1 Bxd4 26. Rd7 $18) (24... Rxd4 {Dautov} 25. Rd1 Rxd1+
26. Bxd1 Bd4 27. Nh6+ $18) 25. Nxd8 Bxa7 26. Rc1 Bxa2 27. Rc8 Bb6 (27... Kg7
28. Ra8 Bb6 29. Nxe6+ Bxe6 30. Rxa6 $18) 28. Nb7+ {Ftacnik,L} (28. Nb7+ Kg7 29.
Rc6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ftacnik, Lubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. a4 {Not an impressiv idea.} b4 11. Ne4 c5 $10 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6
13. Qe2 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd6 15. Nf3 Ne4 $1 (15... Qc7 16. e4 Ng4 17. h3 Ne5 18.
Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Be3 $14) 16. Nd2 Nc5 $1 (16... Nxd2 $10 17. Bxd2 Qh4 18. g3 Qh3
19. e4) 17. Bc2 Qc7 18. f4 Be7 (18... g5 $5 19. Nc4 gxf4 20. Nxd6+ Qxd6 21.
exf4 Rg8 22. Rf2 $13) 19. e4 (19. Nc4 Ne4) 19... O-O 20. Nb3 (20. e5 $2 Rfd8
$15 {/^a8-h1}) 20... Rac8 $1 $17 21. Be3 (21. Kh1 Nxa4) (21. Nd2 b3 22. Bb1
Rfd8 $17) 21... Bxe4 (21... Nxe4 22. Rac1) 22. Bxe4 (22. Nxc5 Bxc2 23. Qxc2
Bxc5 24. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 25. Qxc5 Rxc5 26. Rac1 Rfc8 27. Rxc5 Rxc5 28. Rd1 g6 $17)
22... Nxe4 23. Qxa6 Qc2 24. Nd4 Qxb2 25. Qb7 Nf6 26. Nc6 (26. Qxe7 Nd5 $19)
26... Bd6 27. Bd4 Qb3 28. Ne7+ (28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Rad1 Bc5+ 30. Kh1 Qxa4 31.
Ne7+ Bxe7 32. Qxe7 Kg7 33. Rd3 Rc3) 28... Bxe7 29. Qxe7 Nd5 30. Qd6 Nc3 31. Qe5
f6 32. Qe3 Qc4 33. Rfe1 Rc6 34. a5 Ra8 35. h3 Nd5 36. Qd2 Qb5 $19 37. Kh2 Rxa5
38. Rxa5 Qxa5 39. Ra1 Qd8 40. Ra7 Qb8 41. g3 b3 42. Kg1 Rc2 43. Qa5 Ra2 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.08"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alaan, Vince"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Philippines II"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PHI"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 Nb6 8. e5
dxe5 9. dxe5 Nfd5 10. O-O-O h6 11. Bh4 Bg7 12. Bxb5 cxb5 13. Nxd5 Be6 14. Nxb6
Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 axb6 16. a3 O-O-O+ 17. Kc1 g5 18. Bg3 Bd5 19. Rhe1 g4 20. Nd4
Bxg2 21. Nxb5 Kb7 22. Nd4 h5 23. Nf5 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 h4 25. Nxg7 hxg3 26. hxg3
Kc7 27. e6 fxe6 28. Nxe6+ Kc6 29. Nd4+ Kc7 30. Re1 Rh7 31. Kd2 Rf7 32. Ne6+ Kd7
33. Nf4 Bc6 34. c4 Rf5 35. Nd3 Kd6 36. b4 e5 37. Kc3 Rf3 38. Re3 e4 39. Rxf3
gxf3 40. Ne1 e3 41. Nd3 e2 42. Kd4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.09"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Costa, Jean Luc"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Switzerland"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a4 b6 13. e4 Qc7 14. h3 Bb7 15.
Rfe1 Ncd7 16. Bf1 Rac8 17. Rad1 Qb8 18. Qb1 h6 19. Bc1 Bb4 20. Nd2 Ne5 21. Na2
Bc5 22. b4 Neg4 23. hxg4 Nxg4 24. Nf3 Bxf2+ 25. Kh1 Bxe1 26. Rxe1 Qg3 27. Be3
f5 28. Bg1 fxe4 29. Rxe4 Rf5 30. Rxg4 Qxg4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.10"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Netherlands"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. a4 $5 (7. e5 h6
8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 (9. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 (10... Nd7 $2 11. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 12.
Qh5+ Kxf6 13. Qxh4+ $18) 11. a4 $13 Bb7 (11... c5 $5) 12. Be2) 9... hxg5 10.
Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 $13) 7... Bb7 (7... Qb6 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. Be2 a6 10. O-O Bb7 11.
d5 cxd5 $5 (11... Bc5 $5 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. b3 Qd8 14. Qc1 Nd7 15. axb5 cxb5 16.
bxc4 b4 17. Na4 $13 {Ragozin-Szily/Moscow-Budapest/1949/}) 12. exd5 b4 (12...
Nd7 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8+ Bxa8 15. Nd4 Bc5 16. Ndxb5 $13 {Gorelov-Kishnev/
Barnaul/1984/1/2-1/2/}) 13. a5 Qc7 14. dxe6 bxc3 15. Nd4 Rg8 16. Qa4+ Kd8 17.
g3 Bd5 18. Rfd1 Kc8 {Tal,M-Keller,D/Zьrich/1959/1-0/}) (7... b4 8. Nb1 Be7 9.
e5 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Bxc4 a5 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. O-O Ba6 14. Rc1 Rc8 $14 {
Tukmakov,V-Pinter,J/Szirak/1985/}) (7... Nbd7 8. axb5 cxb5 9. Nxb5 Qb6 10. Nc3
Qxb2 11. Bd2 Qb7 12. Rb1 Qc6 $44) (7... Bb4 8. e5 h6 9. exf6 (9. Bh4 g5 10.
exf6 (10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Qa5 12. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qxc3+ 14. Ke2 Rg8 15.
Rc1 Qa5 16. g3 b4 $13) 10... gxh4 11. Ne5 c5 12. Qh5 Qxf6 13. O-O-O a6 14. Be2
Nd7 15. Bf3 cxd4 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Bxa8 Bxc3 18. bxc3 d3 {Ubilava,E-Shirov,A/
URS-sf Daugavpils/1989/0-1/27/}) 9... hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. h4 g4 12. Ne5 Rxg7
13. h5 f5 14. Be2 Qg5 15. axb5 cxb5 16. d5 {Lautier,J-Thorsteinsson,A/
Reykjavik op/1988/1-0/38/}) 8. e5 $5 (8. axb5 $1 cxb5 9. Nxb5 Bxe4 10. Bxc4 (
10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Bxc4) 10... Bb4+ (10... Be7) 11. Nc3 Nbd7 (11... O-O 12. O-O
Bb7 13. Re1 Nbd7 14. Qb3 a5 15. Ne5 Nb6 16. Nxf7 $1 {Lutz,C-Polgar,Zso/
Rimavska Sobota/1991/1-0/68/}) 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. Bd3 $14 {Ribli,
Z-Inkiov/Dubai olm/1986/1/2-1/2/1-0/ -> Inf.42/542}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. exf6
gxh4 11. Ne5 (11. Be2 c5 12. dxc5 Nd7 {Dokhoian,Y-Kuijf,M/Wijk-B/1989/0-1/32/})
11... Nd7 $1 {Ribli,Z} (11... Qxf6 {Fьhrt zu 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.exf6 gxh4 10.
Ne5 Qxf6 (10...Nd7?? 11.Nxf7!)}) 12. Qh5 (12. Be2 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qc7 14. Qd4 h3
15. O-O-O hxg2 16. Rhg1 bxa4 {Kohlweyer,B-Ribli,Z/Dortmund/1986/0-1/28/}) 12...
Qxf6 13. Nxd7 Kxd7 14. axb5 cxb5 15. Qxb5+ Bc6 16. Qxc4 Bd6 $15 17. Ra6 $6 (17.
Nb5 $1 Qf4 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 $15) 17... Rhc8 18. Rxc6 Rxc6 19. Qa4 Qg5 $1 20. Bb5
Qxg2 21. d5 $1 (21. Rf1 a6 22. d5 axb5 23. Qxa8 exd5 $19) 21... Qxh1+ 22. Ke2
Kd8 $1 (22... Ke7 23. Qxh4+ f6 24. Qg4 Kf8 25. Qg6 Rxc3 26. Qxf6+ $10) 23. Bxc6
Rb8 24. Nb5 exd5 $1 25. Qa5+ (25. Nxd6 Rxb2+ $19) (25. Qxa7 Qe4+ 26. Kf1 Qd3+
$1 27. Kg1 Qd1+ 28. Kg2 h3+ $1 29. Kxh3 Qf3+ 30. Kh4 Be7+ $19) 25... Ke7 26.
Qxa7+ Kf8 27. Qe3 Kg8 $1 28. h3 Bf8 $19 29. Qf4 Qe4+ 30. Qxe4 dxe4 31. Ke3 Rb6
32. Bd7 Rf6 33. b3 Bc5+ 34. Kxe4 Rxf2 35. Kd5 Bb4 36. Nd4 Kg7 37. Kc4 Rf4 38.
Kd5 Kf6 39. Bc8 Rf1 40. Bg4 Bc3 41. Nf3 Kg6 42. Nxh4+ Kg5 43. Nf3+ Kf4 44. Nh4
Rf2 45. Bc8 Kg5 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.12"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lanka, Zigurds"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Latvia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LAT"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 c5 8. d5
Ne5 9. Bg5 Nfd7 10. Bh6 Bxh6 11. Qxh6 a6 12. h4 f6 13. Qd2 Qa5 14. f4 Nf7 15.
Nf3 Rb8 16. a4 Nb6 17. Bd3 Bg4 18. Nh2 Bd7 19. b3 Kh8 20. O-O Na8 21. Qb2 Rg8
22. Nf3 Bg4 23. e5 Bxf3 24. exf6 Bg4 25. fxe7 Rg7 26. Ne4 Nc7 27. Nf6 Bh5 28.
Rae1 Ne8 29. Nd7 Ra8 30. f5 g5 31. hxg5 Nxg5 32. f6 Rf7 33. Bf5 Nc7 34. Nf8 h6
35. Re3 b5 36. g4 bxc4 37. gxh5 c3 38. Rxc3 Nxd5 39. Rd3 c4 40. bxc4 Qc5+ 41.
Qd4 Qxd4+ 42. Rxd4 Ne3 43. Bg6 Kg8 44. Rxd6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.15"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
a6 $1 (8... b4 9. Na4 Bb7 10. O-O Be7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Rd1 c5 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14.
dxc5 Qa5 15. a3 Qxc5 (15... bxa3 16. b4 $1) 16. Qxc5 Bxc5 17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Bd2
a5 19. Ne5 $16 {Polugaevsky,L-Speelman,J/Roquebrune/1-0/42/ EXP 29}) 9. e4 b4
10. e5 bxc3 11. exf6 Nxf6 $1 $146 12. bxc3 Bd6 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 $6 (14. Bg5
$5 c5) 14... c5 $1 15. Ba3 Qa5 $1 (15... cxd4 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Qxd4 {><c5})
16. Bxc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Rd8 18. Qb3 Qxc5 $15 19. Rab1 Bd7 20. Qe3 $2 (20. Qb6 $1
) 20... Qxe3 21. fxe3 Ne4 22. Rfc1 Nc5 23. Nd4 Ba4 $1 24. Bd1 (24. Nb3 Bxb3 25.
axb3 a5 26. b4 axb4 27. Rxb4 g6 $17) 24... Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Rac8 26. Nb3 Rxd1+ 27.
Rxd1 Kf8 28. Rd6 (28. Nxc5 Rxc5 $19) 28... Ne4 29. Rxa6 Rxc4 30. Kf1 Rc2 31.
Ra8+ $6 (31. Ra4 $1) 31... Ke7 32. Ra7+ $6 Kf6 33. Ra4 Nd6 34. Nd4 Rc3 35. Kf2
Nc4 36. e4 $6 g5 $1 37. h3 h5 38. Rb4 Ne5 39. Rb1 (39. Rb3 Rc4 40. Ke3 Ra4 41.
Nf3 Nc4+ 42. Kd3 g4 $19) 39... Ra3 40. Ra1 Nd3+ 41. Ke2 Nc5 42. Nb5 Ra4 43. Nd6
Nxe4 $6 44. Nxe4+ Rxe4+ 45. Kd3 Ra4 46. Kc3 Ke5 47. Kb3 Ra7 (47... Ra8 $1) 48.
a4 Kf4 49. Kc4 f5 50. Ra3 e5 51. a5 h4 $1 (51... e4 52. g3+ $1) 52. a6 e4 53.
Kd4 (53. Ra2 $1 g4 54. hxg4 fxg4 55. Kb5 $1 Kg3 56. Kb6 Ra8 57. Kb7 Rh8 58. a7
e3 59. a8=Q Rxa8 60. Kxa8 Kh2 61. Kb7 g3 62. Kc6 h3 63. gxh3+ g2 64. Kd5 Kg3
65. Ra1 Kf2 $19) 53... e3 54. Kd3 (54. Ra2 e2 55. Rxe2 Rxa6 56. Rf2+ Kg3 57.
Rxf5 Rg6 $19) 54... Kg3 55. Kxe3 (55. Ra2 f4 $1) 55... Kxg2 56. Ra2+ (56. Ra5
g4 $1) 56... Kxh3 57. Kf3 g4+ 58. Kf2 g3+ 59. Kf3 f4 60. Ra1 g2 61. Kf2 Kh2 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.17"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Giorgadze, Giorgi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. b3 b6 11. e4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Bb7 14. Ne5 Nf6 15.
Qe3 c5 16. Bb2 Rad8 17. Bf3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qc7 20. Nc6 Rd7 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. g3 Rc8 23. Nd4 a6 24. Rd3 Be5 25. Rad1 Rcd8 26. Nc2 Rxd3 27. Rxd3
Rxd3 28. Qxd3 f5 29. Kf1 Kf8 30. Ke2 Ke7 31. Qe3 b5 32. Nb4 bxc4 33. f4 cxb3
34. axb3 a5 35. Nd3 Qc2+ 36. Kf1 Bc7 37. Ne1 Qxh2 38. Qc5+ Bd6 39. Qa7+ Kf8 40.
Qxa5 Be7 41. Qc3 Kg8 42. Ng2 h5 43. Qf3 Qh1+ 44. Ke2 Qb1 45. Qc3 Qg1 46. Qf3
Qc1 47. Qd3 Bc5 48. Ne1 Kh7 49. Qf3 Kg7 50. Ng2 Qc2+ 51. Kf1 Qb1+ 52. Ke2 Qe4+
53. Qxe4 fxe4 54. Ke1 Kf6 55. Ke2 e5 56. b4 Bd6 57. fxe5+ Kxe5 58. b5 Bc5 59.
Ne1 Kf5 60. Kf1 Kg4 61. Kg2 f5 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.21"]
[Round "12.4"]
[White "Dizdarevic, Emir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. Ne5 Bh5 5. d4 Nd7 6. Nd3 Ngf6 7. O-O e6 8. Nd2
Bd6 9. c4 O-O 10. b3 a5 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. Re1 b5 13. Qc2 Bg6 14. e4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4
Bxe4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4 a4 18. c5 Bb8 19. Nb4 Rc8 20. Rae1 Nf6 21. Rh4 h6
22. Bc3 Ra7 23. Qc1 axb3 24. axb3 Rd7 25. Bd2 Qf8 26. Rxh6 Rxd4 27. Rh3 Ne4 28.
Bc3 Nxc3 29. Qxc3 Qd8 30. Na6 Qf6 31. Kg2 Rcd8 32. Re3 Be5 33. Qa5 Rd3 34. g4
R3d4 35. Ref3 Qg6 36. Qb6 Qxg4+ 37. Rhg3 Bxg3 38. hxg3 Qe4 39. Nb4 Rd2 40. Qxc6
Rxf2+ 41. Kxf2 Rd2+ 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.24"]
[Round "14.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nunn, John DM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Chandler,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 $5 {Nunn's choice
of defence involves Black giving up a pawn for unclear counterplay after the
queens come off.} 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Ba3 (10. Nd5 Nd7
11. Ba3 (11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Nxe7+ Kf8 13. Nd5 (13. Nxc8 $6 Bxb2 $1) 13... Bxb2
14. Rb1 Bg7 15. Ne2 $5 (15. h4 Nc5 16. h5 g5 $44 {Vogt,L}) 15... Nc5 16. Nc1 (
16. Nec3 Be6 17. Be2 Bxc3+ 18. Nxc3 Nd3+ $10) 16... Be6 17. Nd3 Rac8 $1 $44 {
Gheorghiu,F-Gelfand,B/Palma GMA-op/1989/0-1/36/}) (11. Nxe7+ Nxe7 12. Bxe7 Bxb2
$10 {Gunawan,Ro-Khalifman,A/Minsk/1986/}) 11... e6 12. Nc7 Rb8 13. O-O-O a6 14.
f4 Bf8 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Nf3 Nc5 17. Rxd8+ Nxd8 $13) (10. Nge2) (10. Rd1) 10...
a5 (10... b6 11. Be2 (11. Nge2) (11. Rd1) 11... Nd7 12. O-O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6
14. c5 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 bxc5 16. Nf4 Nce5 $10) 11. Rd1 (11. Nd5 $6 Nxd5 12. cxd5
Nb4 13. O-O-O e6 $1 14. Bc4 exd5 15. Bxb4 (15. exd5 $2 Bh6+ $1 16. Kb1 Bf5+ $19
) 15... axb4 16. Rxd5 (16. Bxd5 Rxd5 17. Rxd5 (17. exd5 Rxa2 $17) 17... Be6 18.
Rd6 Bh6+ 19. Kc2 Rc8+ 20. Kd3 Bc4+ 21. Kd4 Bf1 $17) 16... Be6 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8
18. Bd5 (18. Bxe6 $2 Bh6+ 19. Kc2 Rd2+ $17) 18... Bh6+ 19. f4 Bxf4+ 20. Kb1
Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxd5 22. Nf3 g5 23. h3 h5 24. Re1 Kg7 $17 {Beliavsky,A-Nunn,J/
Amsterdam/1990/}) (11. Bc5 Nd7 12. Be3 a4 13. O-O-O a3 14. Nge2 axb2+ 15. Kxb2
b6 16. Kb1 Ba6 17. Nd4 Na5 $13) 11... Be6 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. cxd5 Nb4 14. Bb5 (
14. Bd3 Nxd3+ 15. Rxd3 e6 16. Ne2 exd5 17. e5 Ne8 18. f4 b5 $1 19. Bc5 f6 20.
Be7 Rd7 21. exf6 Nxf6 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 $15) 14... Nc2+ 15. Kf2 $5 (15. Ke2 Nxa3
16. bxa3 Rac8 17. Nh3 Rc2+ 18. Rd2 Rxd2+ 19. Kxd2 e6 20. Ke2 exd5 21. Rd1 Bf8
22. a4 Bd6 $10 {Andrianov-Glek,I/URS/1987/}) 15... Nxa3 16. bxa3 e6 (16... Rac8
{! Knaak (CBM23-VC)} 17. Ne2 Rc2 18. Rc1 Rxa2 19. Rc7 Bf8 20. a4 $13) 17. d6 $1
(17. Ne2 $5) 17... e5 18. Ne2 Bf8 19. d7 Bxa3 20. g4 $1 $146 {!? Knaak 
(CBM23_VC)} (20. Rd3 Bc5+ {+/=/= Van der Sterren,J-Shirov,A/Kerteminde/1991/1/
2-1/2/40/ -> CBM23 [Knaak]}) 20... h6 21. h4 a4 22. Rd3 Bb2 $1 23. g5 hxg5 24.
hxg5 Nh7 25. f4 $1 Ra5 $2 (25... exf4 {Necessary} 26. Rd5 $1 Nf8 27. Nxf4 Kg7 {
The passed pawn on d7 is still a throat in Black's throat, but White must
still improve the position of his pieces to exploit it.}) 26. Rd5 f6 27. Rxh7
$1 {Obtaining three very big connected passed pawns. Kramnik played all of his
games with this decisivness and energy in Manila.} Kxh7 28. gxf6 exf4 29. e5
Kh6 30. Nxf4 Bxe5 31. Rxe5 Rxd7 32. Bxd7 Rxe5 33. f7 1-0

[Event "Moscow rapid"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Murey, Jacob"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B24"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1992.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nge2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Rb8 8. h3
b5 9. a3 a5 10. Be3 b4 11. axb4 cxb4 12. Na4 d5 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 dxe4 15.
dxe4 Ba6 16. Re1 Qc7 17. e5 Nd7 18. c4 Rfd8 19. Qg4 Qxc4 20. Bf1 Qc6 21. Bg2
Qc2 22. Be4 Qb3 23. Re3 Qc4 24. b3 Qc7 25. Ree1 Rbc8 26. Nb2 Nc5 27. Bc2 Bb7
28. Bxc5 Bxc5 29. Nc4 Rd4 30. Be4 Ba6 31. Qf3 Bxc4 32. bxc4 Rd2 33. Re2 Rxe2
34. Qxe2 g6 35. Kg2 b3 36. Bd3 a4 0-1

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 $6 Nc6 $1 6. Bg5 $6 $146 (6. e4
Bg4 7. d5 Ne5 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 10. Qd4 Nfd7 $1 11. Be3 Bc5 12. Qd2 exd5
13. f4 Nd3+ 14. Bxd3 cxd3 15. Nxd5 c6 16. Nc3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Qe7 18. Qxd3 Nc5
19. Qe3 O-O-O $1 $17 {Ho-Adianto/Manila ol/1992/}) 6... h6 7. Bxf6 (7. Bh4 g5
8. Bg3 g4 9. Ne5 Qxd4 10. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 bxc6 12. Bxc7 Be6 $17) 7... exf6
8. e3 Na5 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 c6 12. Rad1 Qc7 (12... b5 13. d5 $1) (
12... Be6 $5 13. e4 Bg4) 13. d5 Rb8 $1 (13... c5 14. Nd2 $1 $10) 14. dxc6 (14.
Nd4 c5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. Qxf5 Bd6 17. g3 b5 $17) 14... bxc6 15. Rb1 Rd8 16. Na2
c5 $1 17. Nd2 (17. Bxc4 $2 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Be6 $19) 17... Qe5 $1 (17... Bf5 18.
Qxf5 Rxd2 19. Bf3 Rdxb2 20. Rxb2 Rxb2 21. Nc3 $17) 18. e4 (18. Nxc4 Bf5 $1 $19)
18... f5 19. Nxc4 (19. Nc3 fxe4 $17) 19... Nxc4 20. Bxc4 fxe4 21. Nc3 Bf5 22.
Rbe1 Rd4 23. b3 (23. Bxa6 $17) 23... Rbd8 24. Re2 Bg5 25. f4 Bxf4 26. g3 Bg5
27. Bxf7+ Kh8 (27... Kxf7 28. g4 $132) 28. Nb1 Bh3 29. Rfe1 Rf8 30. Bh5 (30.
Bc4 Qf5 31. Rf2 Be3 $1 32. Rxe3 Rd1+ $19) 30... e3 31. Na3 Qf6 0-1

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Bb3 Qc7 12. Re1 Bd7 13. Bg5 O-O-O 14. c3
(14. Qf3 Bd6 15. h3 Qc5 16. Qe3 (16. Be3 Qe5 17. g3 Qe4 18. Rad1 Bc6 19. Qxe4
Bxe4 20. Bg5 Bg6 $10 {Tiviakov,S-Kramnik,V/URS-ch58/1991/}) (16. Bxf6 gxf6 17.
Qxf6 Rhg8 $44) 16... Qc7 17. Qf3 Qc5 18. Qe3 {0,5-0,5/Kotronias,V-Kramnik,V/
Gausdal TM/1992/}) (14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qh5 Qc5 $10) 14... Bd6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16.
Qh5 Rdf8 17. g3 Qc5 18. Bd1 Rhg8 19. Qxh7 f5 20. Bf3 (20. Qh3 f4 21. Qg2 fxg3
22. hxg3 Qc7 {/\ Bxg3} (22... Bc6 23. Bf3 $13 (23. Nxc6 $2 Rxg3 $19))) 20...
Rh8 21. Qg7 f4 22. Nb3 $2 (22. Rad1 $5) 22... Qc7 23. Re2 fxg3 24. fxg3 Rfg8
25. Qf6 (25. Qxf7 Rf8 26. Qg7 Rhg8 27. Qh7 Bxg3 28. hxg3 Qxg3+ 29. Rg2 (29. Bg2
Rh8 $19) 29... Qxf3 30. Qxg8 $1 (30. Rxg8 Qf2+ 31. Kh1 Bc6+) 30... Qe3+ 31. Kh2
Rxg8 32. Rxg8+ Kc7 $17) 25... Bxg3 $1 26. hxg3 Qxg3+ 27. Rg2 (27. Bg2 Rh2 28.
Qf2 Qh3 29. Qc5+ Bc6 $19) 27... Qh2+ 28. Kf2 (28. Kf1 Rxg2 29. Bxg2 Rg8 30. Qf2
Bb5+ $19) 28... Rxg2+ 29. Bxg2 Rg8 30. Rg1 Rg4 31. Qe7 Rf4+ 32. Ke2 (32. Ke3
Qg3+ 33. Kd2 Qf2+ 34. Kc1 Qxg1+ $19) 32... Qxg1 (32... Bb5+ $6 33. c4 $1 Bxc4+
34. Kd2) 33. Bxb7+ Kc7 34. Bf3 Qb6 35. Nc5 Qd6 36. Qxd6+ Kxd6 37. b4 (37. Nxa6
Bb5+ 38. Ke3 Rxf3+ 39. Kxf3 Bxa6 $19) 37... Bb5+ 38. Ke3 Rc4 39. Nb7+ Kc7 40.
Kd2 Rf4 {Ftacnik,L} 0-1

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg2 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 Ne4 9. Rc1 d6 10. d5 Nd8 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. Bb4 $1 $146 (12. O-O Nxc3 13.
Rxc3 Bd7 14. Nd2 Bc6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Ra3 Rfb8 17. Nb3 Qf6 18. Qd2 a5 19. Ra4
c5 20. Rb1 Nd4 {0,5/Akopian,V-Ulibin,M/Chalkidiki/1992/}) 12... Bd7 (12... Qf6
13. Qc2 N6c5 14. O-O Bf5 $6 15. Nh4 $1 Nxg3 $2 16. fxg3 Qd4+ 17. e3 $1 Qxe3+
18. Qf2) (12... a5 13. Ba3 N4c5 14. O-O Bd7 15. Nd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Bc6 17. Bxc6
bxc6 18. Bxc5 dxc5 $13) 13. Ne5 $5 (13. O-O) 13... N6c5 $6 (13... Qf6 14. Bxe4
(14. Nd3 $5 Bc6 15. O-O) 14... Qxe5 15. Bxb7 Qxb2 (15... Rab8 16. Bc3) 16. Rb1
Qxa2 17. Bxa8 Rxa8 18. Qb3 Qa6 19. O-O $14) 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. O-O a5 16. Ba3
Rfe8 (16... b6 17. Qc2 f5 $14) 17. b3 b6 18. Bb2 Rad8 19. Qd4 (19. f3 Nec5 20.
e4 f5 $1 21. exf5 (21. Qd5+ Qf7 22. Qxf7+ Kxf7 23. exf5 Re2) 21... Qe3+ 22. Kh1
Nd3 $132) 19... Qf6 (19... Nef6 20. Rce1 $1 Nc5 21. e4) 20. Qxf6 Ndxf6 21. Rfd1
h6 $6 22. e3 Nd7 23. Kf1 Re7 24. Ke2 Rde8 25. g4 $1 Re6 26. h4 R6e7 27. Bf3
Ndc5 28. Rd5 Na6 (28... f6 29. Bg2 $1) 29. a3 $1 (29. Rh5 Nb4 30. a3 Ng3+ $1)
29... Nac5 (29... Nec5 30. g5 $1 Nxb3 31. Rg1 $40) 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 Na6 32.
b5 $1 (32. Ba3 $16) 32... Nac5 33. Ra1 Nf6 34. Rdd1 (34. Bxf6 gxf6 $14) 34...
Nfe4 35. Ra7 Kf8 36. g5 $1 hxg5 37. hxg5 Nxg5 38. Bc6 Rc8 39. Rh1 Kg8 40. Raa1
$1 Nce6 (40... f6 41. Bd5+ Nf7 42. Rag1 Kf8 43. Rh7 $18) 41. Rh4 f6 (41... Nh7
42. Rah1 Nef8 43. Be4 g6 44. Bd5 Rd8 45. f4 $18) 42. Rg1 Kf7 43. Bd5 (43. f4
Nh3 $1) 43... Ke8 44. Rh8+ Nf8 45. f4 Nge6 (45... Ngh7 46. Bg8 $18) 46. Kf3 (
46. Bxe6 Rxe6 47. Rxg7 $18) 46... f5 47. Rg6 $1 Nc5 48. Bxg7 Rf7 49. Bxf8 1-0

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8.
Ng3 Be7 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 a5 11. c4 a4 12. Ne5 axb3 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxb3 c5
15. d5 exd5 16. cxd5 Bd6 17. Bb5 Rb8 18. a4 Nb6 19. Rad1 Nbxd5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21.
Qxd5 Ng5 22. Rfe1 Ne6 23. g3 Nd4 24. Bxd4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Qf6 26. Rd3 Rbd8 27.
Qb3 Bc5 28. Rf3 Qb6 29. Re5 g6 30. a5 Qd6 31. Re1 Bb4 32. Ra1 Qe5 33. Qa4 Rd5
34. Re3 Qf6 35. a6 Rxb5 36. a7 Ra5 37. Qxa5 Bxa5 38. Rxa5 Ra8 39. Rb3 Qd8 40.
Ra1 Rxa7 0-1

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Graf, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. b3 Bd6 8. Bb2
O-O 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. N2f3 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Re8 14. Nb5 Bb8
15. Rac1 Bg4 16. Nbd4 a6 17. Rfd1 Ne4 18. Kf1 Qf6 19. h3 Bh5 20. Qe2 Bg3 21.
Nb5 Qh6 22. Nc3 Nxf2 23. Rxd5 Bg6 24. Nd1 Be4 25. Rd4 Nxd1 26. Rcxd1 Bc6 27.
Qd2 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Be5 29. Rg4 Qxh3+ 30. Kf2 Qh2+ 31. Rg2 Bg3+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timoscenko, Gennadij A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8
Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Ba3 e6 11. Rd1 Rxd1+ 12. Kxd1 b6 13. Nge2 Bb7 14. Kc2 Rd8
15. Nc1 Nh5 16. Nb3 f5 17. c5 Ne5 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Nd2 Nf4 20. g3 Nfd3 21.
Bxd3 Nxd3 22. Nc4 Ba6 23. Nxb6 Nf2 24. Re1 Bd3+ 25. Kb3 fxe4 26. Bc5 Bd4 27.
Bxd4 Rxd4 28. Nxe4 Bxe4 29. fxe4 Nxe4 30. a4 Nc5+ 31. Kc3 Rd6 32. b4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sturua, Zurab"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Horn,Pe"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Nbd2 e5 7. e4 Bd6 8. h3
Bh5 (8... Bxf3 9. Nxf3 $14) 9. b3 (9. Qe1 $5 O-O 10. Nh4 Re8 (10... dxe4 11.
dxe4 Re8 12. Nc4 Bc7 13. a4 Nc5 14. b4 Ne6 15. c3 a5 16. bxa5 Qd3 $132 {
Barcza-Saborido, Oberhausen 1961}) 11. Nf5 (11. f4 exf4 12. gxf4 dxe4 13. dxe4
Nd5 14. Nc4 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 N7b6 16. Ne5 Nb4 17. Nf5 $13 {Georgiev-Torre, Saint
John op 88}) (11. Nb3 Bf8 12. a4 dxe4 13. dxe4 a5 14. Bd2 b6 15. Bc3 $10 {
Damljanovic-Kir.Georgiev, Reggio 88}) 11... Bf8 (11... Bc7 $13) 12. Nf3 Nc5 13.
N3h4 a5 $13 {Botterill-Hodgson, Bath zt 1987}) (9. Qe2 O-O 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4
Re8 12. Nf5 Nc5 13. Re1 Ne6 14. Nf3 Bc7 15. Bd2 h5 16. N3h4 hxg4 17. hxg4 Nf4
18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Qf3 Bxf5 20. Nxf5 g6 21. Nh4 Nh7 $17 {Braga-Dolmatov, Mexico
80}) (9. Re1 O-O 10. c3 (10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4 Re8 12. Nf5 Bf8 13. Nf1 Nc5 14.
N1g3 dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 h5 17. f3 Rad8 18. Bg5 hxg4 19. fxg4 Na4 $15 {
Stratil-Lputian, Uzhgorod 88}) 10... Re8 11. Qc2 Qc7 12. Nf1 Rad8 13. g4 Bg6
14. Ng3 Bf8 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Bh7 17. Nf5 g6 18. Nxh6+ Bxh6 19. g5 $13 {
Nazarov-Nasybullin, Azov 91}) 9... O-O 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Re1 a5 12. a3 b5 (12...
Qc7 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nh4 dxe4 15. dxe4 Nc5 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Nc4 Bf8 18. Bc3 b6
19. Qf3 Ncd7 20. g5 $2 Nh5 21. Rad1 b5 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Nb6 Qa7 24. Nxa8 Bxa3
$1 $17 {Dirr-Dautov, Berlin op 91}) 13. Nf1 $6 (13. g4 Bg6 14. Nh4 d4 (14...
dxe4 15. dxe4 Nc5) 15. Nf5 Bf8 16. f4 c5 17. Nf3 $6 exf4 18. Bc1 Bxf5 19. gxf5
Qc7 $17 {Nikolac-Hodgson, Almada 1988}) 13... dxe4 14. dxe4 Nc5 15. N1d2 Qc7
16. Qc1 Nfd7 {/\ f6,Bf7} 17. Nh4 Ne6 18. Ndf3 f6 19. Nf5 Bf8 $15 20. Re3 $6 Bf7
21. Qe1 (21. Re1 $5) 21... g6 22. N5h4 c5 $5 23. Bf1 $2 (23. c3) 23... Nd4 $17
24. Qd1 Rad8 25. Nxd4 cxd4 26. Re1 Qc6 27. Nf3 Nc5 28. Bd3 Nxd3 29. Qxd3 (29.
cxd3 Qe6 30. Nd2 Bh6 $17) 29... a4 30. Nd2 Bh6 31. Kh2 Rc8 32. Rac1 Bc4 $1 33.
bxc4 bxc4 34. Nxc4 Bxc1 35. Nxe5 Qxc2 36. Qf3 Bxb2 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Hausner, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2410"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Delmenhorst"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O Be7 8. a4
O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5 12. Qd2 Bb4 13. e6 fxe6 14. Bd6 Bxd6 15.
Qxd6 Nde5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd4 Rd8 18. Qe3 Nd3 19. e5 Qxe5 20. Be4 Qf6 21.
Rad1 e5 22. Bxd3 cxd3 23. Ne4 Qe7 24. Rxd3 Rxd3 25. Qxd3 Bf5 26. Re1 Qb4 27.
Qc3 Qxc3 28. Nxc3 Re8 29. f4 Kf7 30. fxe5 Rd8 31. Re2 Ke6 32. Kf2 a5 33. Ke1
Rd4 34. Kf2 h5 35. Ke1 Rd3 36. Rd2 Kxe5 37. Rxd3 Bxd3 38. Kd2 Kd4 39. b3 b5 40.
axb5 cxb5 41. Nd1 Bf5 42. Nc3 b4 43. Ne2+ Ke4 44. Nf4 g6 45. Nd3 Kf3 46. Ne5+
Kg2 47. Ke3 Bc2 48. Kd2 Bxb3 49. Nxg6 Kxh2 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Haba, Petr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Kirchheim"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O 16. Qe5 Rfd8 17. Be2 f6 18. Qxd5 cxd5 19. Na5 Rdc8+ 20.
Kb1 Nb4 21. Nxb7 Rab8 22. Na5 Rc2 23. Re1 Rd2 24. Ra3 Nc2 25. Kc1 Rxe2 26. Rxe2
Nxa3 27. bxa3 Rb6 28. Rc2 Ra6 29. Rc5 Kf7 30. Kb2 Ke7 31. Kc3 Kd7 32. Rb5 g5
33. Kb4 h5 34. Rb7+ Kc8 35. Rf7 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Porz"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Nxd5
exd5 9. b4 Bg7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O c6 12. a4 a6 13. Bb2 Nd7 14. Qb3 b5 15. a5
Re8 16. Rac1 Re6 17. Rc2 Qe7 18. Ne1 Re8 19. Nd3 Kh8 20. Rfc1 f5 21. Bf3 Qd6
22. g3 g5 23. Qc3 R6e7 24. Qd2 Rf8 25. Bg2 g4 26. h3 Bf6 27. hxg4 fxg4 28. Qd1
Rg7 29. e4 dxe4 30. Bxe4 Nb8 31. Nf4 Rd8 32. Nh5 Bxd4 33. Rd2 Bxf2+ 34. Rxf2
Qxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 36. Kg2 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Costa, Jean Luc"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Switzerland"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bb3
b4 9. Na4 Ba6 10. Bd2 c5 11. Nxc5 Nxc5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rc1 Qb6 14. Bc4 Bb7
15. Qa4+ Bc6 16. Qc2 Bd6 17. Bd3 Bb7 18. Qa4+ Ke7 19. Nd4 Rhc8 20. Ke2 Ne4 21.
Bxe4 Bxe4 22. f3 Bd5 23. Kf2 a5 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. g3 Be5 26. Nb3 Rc2 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kveinys, Aloyzas"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Lithuania"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "LTU"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10. Bg3 Rc8 11. f3 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 e5 13. Qe3 Be7 14. Kb1 O-O
15. h4 Qc7 16. Bd3 Be6 17. Bh2 Qa5 18. Qe1 Rxc3 19. Qxc3 Qxa2+ 20. Kc1 d5 21.
Bxe5 dxe4 22. Bxe4 Nxe4 23. fxe4 Rc8 24. Qg3 f6 25. Bd4 Bb3 26. Bc3 Qa1+ 27.
Kd2 Rd8+ 28. Qd3 Rxd3+ 29. Kxd3 Bxc2+ 30. Kxc2 Qa4+ 31. Kd3 b5 32. Ke3 Bc5+ 33.
Kf4 Qc4 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. Rhd1 Qe2 36. Kf5 b4 37. Be1 Qxg2 38. e5 Qg6+ 39. Ke6
Qg4+ 40. Kf7 Qh5+ 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. h3
a6 9. Rd1 h6 10. a3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nd5 12. O-O Nxf4 13. exf4 Qc7 14. Ne5 Nf6 15.
Ba2 Bd7 16. Bb1 Be8 17. d5 Rd8 18. Rfe1 Kh8 19. dxe6 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 fxe6 21. Ne4
g6 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. Qxc5 Rg8 24. Ba2 Kg7 25. Bxe6 Rf8 26. Nd7 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5 7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bc5 9. Nb3 Nc6 10. Bf4 Be7 11. Be2 d6 12. Rd1 Qb8 13. c5 e5 14. cxd6 exf4 15.
dxe7 Nxe7 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17. O-O a6 18. Be2 g6 19. Bf3 Qe5 20. Nc1 Kg7 21. Nd3
Qc7 22. Qd2 Rad8 23. Qxf4 Qxf4 24. Nxf4 g5 25. Nh5+ Nxh5 26. Bxh5 Bc6 27. Be2
a5 28. f3 h5 29. Kf2 h4 30. Bc4 f5 31. exf5 Nxf5 32. Rfe1 Rhe8 33. Rxe8 Rxe8
34. Bd5 Rc8 35. Be4 Bxe4 36. fxe4 Nh6 37. Rd7+ Nf7 38. Ke3 Rc6 39. Nd5 h3 40.
gxh3 Kf8 41. Rc7 Rh6 42. Kd4 Rxh3 43. Rc2 Rh6 44. Re2 Ke8 45. Rf2 Rc6 46. e5 b5
47. Ne3 Rc1 48. e6 Nd8 49. Kd5 Re1 50. Rf3 g4 51. Nxg4 Ke7 52. Ne5 Rd1+ 53. Rd3
Rxd3+ 54. Nxd3 Nxe6 55. Nc5 Nf4+ 56. Kc6 b4 57. a4 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adorjan, Andras"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Bulletin"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Hungary"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8.
Ba4 b5 9. Bb3 b4 (9... O-O) 10. Qf3 $1 O-O (10... e6) 11. Ne2 e5 $6 (11... Ba6
$5 12. e5 (12. cxb4 $2 Bxd4 $1 (12... Bxe2 $2 13. Kxe2 $1 Qxd4 14. Rb1 $16) 13.
Rb1 (13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Rb1 Nd7 $1 $17) 13... Bg7 $1 {/\} 14. O-O $2 Qd3 $19)) (
11... Na6 $5 12. e5 $1 Rb8 13. Bf4 {Ruban}) 12. O-O $1 exd4 (12... Nd7 13. Rd1
$16) (12... bxc3 13. d5 Ba6 14. Rd1 $16) 13. cxd4 Ba6 14. Rd1 $16 Nd7 15. a3 $5
(15. Be3 {/\ e5} Qf6 16. Nf4 $16) 15... c5 $8 (15... Rb8 $145 16. Nf4 $1 {
Adorjan}) 16. axb4 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 cxd4 18. Bd5 (18. Bb2 Qb6 19. Bd5 (19. Ra6 $2
Qxb4 {/\} 20. Bd5 $2 d3 21. Rxd3 Qxb2 22. Qxb2 Bxb2 23. Bxa8 Nc5 $19) 19...
Rac8 20. Ra6 Qb8 21. Bxd4 Qxb4 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rxa7 Nf6 $14) 18... d3 19.
Rxd3 Bxa1 20. Bxa8 Qe7 $6 (20... Qc7 21. Qd1 {/\} Ne5 22. Bf4) (20... Qxa8 21.
Rxd7 Bg7 $16) 21. Bd5 Nf6 22. Bc6 Qc7 23. b5 a6 24. Rd1 (24. Ba3 Rc8 {/\} 25.
Bd6 $2 Qb6) 24... axb5 25. Bxb5 Bd4 (25... Be5 $142) 26. Bh6 Rd8 27. e5 $1 Ne4
$8 (27... Nh5 28. e6 $18) (27... Bxf2+ 28. Kxf2 Qc5+ (28... Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Qc5+
30. Be3 Ne4+ 31. Kf3 $18) 29. Be3 Ne4+ 30. Kf3 $18) 28. Qxe4 Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2
Rxd1 30. Bc4 (30. e6 $5) 30... Qe7 31. e6 $2 (31. h4 $18) 31... Qf6+ 32. Kg3
fxe6 (32... Qc3+ 33. Be3 $18) 33. Bxe6+ Kh8 34. Bf4 $2 (34. h4 $16) 34... h5 $1
(34... Qc3+ 35. Kg4 h5+ 36. Kg5 $18) 35. Bc4 Kh7 (35... Qc3+ 36. Kf2 Qb2+ 37.
Be2) 36. Kh3 Rd8 37. g3 Qg7 $14 38. Bb5 Qf7 39. Bc4 Qd7+ 40. Kg2 Re8 41. Qf3
Rc8 42. Bd3 Rc5 43. Be3 Ra5 44. Bf2 Re5 $4 (44... Qd5 45. Be4 Qe6 $14) 45. Qf6
$1 (45. Qf6 Re6 (45... Qd5+ 46. Kg1 Rg5 47. Bd4 $18) 46. Bxg6+ Kg8 (46... Kh6
47. Be3+ $18) 47. Qg5 $1 Qg7 (47... Qc6+ 48. Be4+) 48. Qd8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Damljanovic, Branko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. h3 O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bd3 Na6
9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 exd5 11. cxd5 Re8 12. O-O c4 13. Bc2 Bd7 14. Qd2 Kh7 15. Bd4
Nb4 16. Bb1 Nh5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qd4+ Qf6 19. Qxc4 a5 20. Qd4 Rac8 21. Qxf6+
Nxf6 22. Nd4 a4 23. a3 Na6 24. f3 Nc5 25. Bc2 Nh5 26. Kf2 Nf4 27. Rad1 g5 28.
Ndb5 Bxb5 29. Nxb5 Red8 30. Nc3 Ra8 31. Rd4 Ra6 32. Rfd1 Rb6 33. Rb4 Rxb4 34.
axb4 Na6 35. Bxa4 Nxb4 36. Bb5 Ra8 37. Bf1 Kf6 38. g3 Ng6 39. Nb5 Ke5 40. Na3
Kf6 41. Rc1 Na6 42. Nc4 Rd8 43. Ke3 h5 44. Na5 Rb8 45. Rc3 h4 46. gxh4 Nxh4 47.
Rb3 Nc5 48. Rb6 Na4 49. Rb5 Rc8 50. Nc4 Rc7 51. Ra5 Ng2+ 52. Kd4 b5 53. Rxb5
Ne1 54. Ke3 Nc2+ 55. Kf2 Nd4 56. Rb4 Nc5 57. Nxd6 Ke5 58. Nc4+ Kf4 59. Nd2 Ke5
60. Rc4 f5 61. b4 Na6 62. Ke3 Nc2+ 63. Kf2 Ncxb4 64. Kg3 Rc5 65. Be2 Rxc4 66.
Nxc4+ Kd4 67. exf5 Nxd5 68. Kg4 Nc5 69. Kxg5 Nd7 70. h4 Ne7 71. h5 Kd5 72. h6
Nf8 73. Kf6 1-0

[Event "AUT-chT"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Horvath, Jozsef"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8.
Ba4 b5 9. Bb3 b4 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Ne2 bxc3 12. Qxc3 Bb7 13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Qb4 Ba6
15. Bxe7 c5 16. Bxd8 cxb4 17. Bg5 Nc5 18. Bd5 Rac8 19. Be3 Ne6 20. Rd1 Rc2 21.
Rd2 Rfc8 22. e5 Rxd2 23. Kxd2 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Rd8 25. Be4 Bxe5 26. Bd3 1-0

[Event "AUT-chT"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mokry, Karel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. e3 O-O 7. Be2 d6 8.
O-O a5 9. a3 Na6 10. Nbd2 b6 11. Ne1 e5 12. Nd3 Bf5 13. dxe5 Bxd3 14. exf6 Bxe2
15. Qxe2 Qxf6 16. Nf3 Rfd8 17. Rad1 bxa3 18. bxa3 Nc5 19. Qc2 Nd7 20. Rd5 Ne5
21. Nd2 Rac8 22. Qb3 Qe6 23. Qb5 h6 24. h3 Nd7 25. Rd1 Nf6 26. Rd4 d5 27. Nb3
Qe8 28. Qxe8+ Rxe8 29. cxd5 Rc3 30. Rb1 a4 31. Rxa4 Nxd5 32. Nd4 Rec8 33. Kh2
Rc1 34. Rxc1 Rxc1 35. Ra8+ Kh7 36. Ra7 Kg6 37. Rb7 Rc7 38. Rb8 Ra7 39. e4 Nf6
40. Rxb6 Kh7 41. Nb5 Ra5 42. Nd6 Rxa3 43. Rb7 Rd3 44. e5 Kg6 45. f4 1-0

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Romanishin, Oleg M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Bxc3 (7...
d5 $6 8. Na4 $1 $14 {Illescas Cordoba,M-Danoso,R/Lisboa zt/1993/CBM35/}) (7...
O-O $5) 8. Qxc3 Qa5 9. b4 $5 (9. Qc2 $5) 9... cxb4 10. axb4 Qxb4 11. Qxb4 Nxb4
12. Nd4 d5 (12... e5 13. Ba3 exd4 14. Bxb4 $16) 13. Ba3 Nc6 14. Nb5 $44 Kd7 15.
Nd6 Rf8 16. Rc1 b6 17. g4 $1 Ne7 (17... Nxg4 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Bxd5 Nge5 20. f4
$18) 18. g5 Nfg8 (18... Ne8 19. cxd5 Nxd6 20. dxe6+ $18) 19. cxd5 Nxd5 20. Nb5
Ba6 (20... Rd8 21. Nc7 $1 Nxc7 $2 22. Bc6#) 21. Nc7 $1 Bb7 (21... Nxc7 22. Bc6+
$18) 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Rg1 Ne7 26. Rg3 Nc6 27. Rgc3
Rc8 28. Rh3 Rh8 29. Rhc3 Rc8 30. d4 a5 31. f3 Ne7 (31... b5 32. Rc5 $18) 32.
Kd2 Rxc3 33. Kxc3 b5 34. Kb2 Nf5 35. Rc5 $1 Ke6 (35... Kd6 36. e4 $1 Nxd4 37.
Rxd5+ $18) 36. Kc3 Nd6 37. Kd3 a4 38. Kc3 a3 39. Rc6 Kd7 40. Ra6 Nc4 41. Kb4
1-0

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hodgson, Julian M"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Glatman,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 (11. e5 dxe5 12. Qxe5 Qxe5 13. fxe5
Nd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Bd3 b6 16. Be4 Rb8 17. Rhe1 Bb7 18. Rd7 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Nc6
$10 {Cseshkovsky,V-Yudasin,L/Minsk/1982/}) 11... Bd7 12. Rd3 (12. Bb3 Bc6 13.
Rhf1 h6 14. Bh4 Qh5 15. Bg3 d5 16. exd5 Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 {
Jansa,V-Barlov,D/JUG/1983/} 19. Qe5 $1 $10) (12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2
Nd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 Rfd8 (17... Nb6 18. Bb3 Rfd8 19. Qg4
Qc5 20. c3 $1 Bb5 21. Be3 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Qc4 23. Qxc4 Nxc4 24. Bd4 $16 {
Sznapik,A-Wessman,R/Novi Sad (ol)/1990/ 1:0 (71) Inf 50/223/}) (17... Rfc8 18.
Kb1 Qc5 19. Qxc5 Nxc5 20. Bf1 a5 21. Be3 $14 {Ivanchuk,V-Garcia Ilundain,D/
Terrassa/1991/ 1:0 (51) Inf 52/198/}) (17... Qc5 $5 18. Qf4 Bb5 19. Bb3 Qc7 20.
Qg3 Nc5 21. Bg5 f5 22. exf6 Qxg3 23. f7+ Rxf7 24. hxg3 Nxb3+ 25. axb3 Bc6 $10 {
Psakhis,L-Gulko,B/Aruba/1992/ Inf 54/197/}) 18. Qg4 Nf8 $1 19. Bd3 (19. h4 $5
Qc5 20. Bc3 {Sherzer,A-Rachels,S/USA(ch)/1992/ 1:0 (38)/} Bd5 $5 21. Bd3 Bxa2
22. h5 $44) (19. Bf1 Qc5 20. Bc3 Ng6 21. Qg5 Rd5 22. Rxd5 Bxd5 23. a3 Rc8 24.
Qe3 Qc6 25. g3 a6 26. Be2 Ne7 27. Qg5 Qc7 $132 {Kamsky,G-Anand,V/Linares/1993/
0:1 (68) Inf 57/200/}) 19... Rxd3 20. cxd3 Ng6 21. Kb1 Qd8 22. Bc3 a5 23. g3
Ne7 24. Bd4 Qd5 25. Bg1 $14 {Anand,V-Lobron,E/Manila(ol)/1992/ 0,5 (52) Inf 55/
224/}) 12... Rad8 13. Rg3 Kh8 14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Bc6 16. Qe3 Ng8 17. Bd3 Qb6
$5 $146 (17... h6 18. h4 b5 19. Kb1 b4 20. Ne2 Rd5 21. Qe4 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxe5
23. Bxe7 Nxe7 24. Qd4 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Be4 26. Re1 Bg6 27. Rge3 Rc8 28. R3e2 Nd5 {
Kotronias,V-Kramnik,V/Beograd/1993/ 0,5 (28)/}) 18. Qxb6 $6 (18. Qe2 $5) 18...
axb6 19. Re1 Bxg5+ 20. Rxg5 Rd4 $1 21. Be4 Ne7 22. Rg3 Rfd8 $15 23. b3 Ng6 24.
Bxc6 (24. Bxg6 fxg6 $1 25. Rf1 Kg8 $17) 24... bxc6 25. Rf3 Kg8 26. g3 h5 27.
Na4 $6 (27. a4 $5) (27. Rfe3 $5) 27... b5 28. Nb2 (28. Nc5 R8d5 29. Nd3 c5 $17)
28... Ra8 (28... R8d5 29. Rfe3 Rd2 30. h4) 29. Kb1 (29. a4 bxa4 30. Nxa4 Ra5
31. Rfe3 Rdd5 $19) 29... Rd2 30. h4 Ne7 31. Ref1 Nd5 (31... Nf5 $5 $17) 32.
Rxf7 $6 (32. Nd3 $5 b4 33. Kb2) 32... Nc3+ 33. Kc1 Re2 34. a4 (34. R7f3 Rxa2 $1
) 34... bxa4 35. Nxa4 Nxa4 36. bxa4 Rxa4 37. R1f2 Rxe5 $19 38. Rc7 Re3 39. Rxc6
Rxg3 40. Rxe6 Rxh4 41. Re5 Rh1+ 42. Kd2 h4 43. Re3 Kh7 44. Ke2 (44. Rxg3 hxg3
45. Re2 Rh2 46. Ke1 g2) 44... Rc1 45. Rxg3 hxg3 46. Rf1 Rxc2+ 47. Ke3 Kg6 48.
Ra1 (48. Rg1 Kh5 $19) 48... Kh5 (48... Kh5 49. Kf3 Kh4 50. Rh1+ Rh2 $19) 49.
Kf3 0-1

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. g3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O Be7
9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. e4 dxc4 12. Qg4 c5 13. d5 O-O 14. dxe6 Ne5 15.
exf7+ Rxf7 16. Qe6 Qd6 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. f4 Nd3 19. e5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Bc7 21. e6
Rf5 22. g4 Rxf4 23. Bxf4 Nxf4+ 24. Rxf4 Bxf4 25. Nd5 Bg5 26. Nxb6 Rd8 27. Nd7
Bf6 28. Rf1 Rc8 29. Nxf6+ gxf6 30. Rxf6 Rb8 31. Rf2 Rb7 32. Kg3 Re7 33. Rf6 Rb7
34. Rf2 Re7 35. Re2 Kf8 36. Kf4 Rb7 37. Ke5 Rb3 38. Kd6 c3 39. bxc3 Rxc3 40.
Rb2 1-0

[Event "FRA"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "David, Alberto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2380"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 f6 6. O-O Nh6 7. e5 Nf7 8. Bb2
Be7 9. d3 O-O 10. Nbd2 fxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 d6 13. Bb2 e5 14. Qe2 Rf4
15. Nc4 Bg4 16. f3 Bh5 17. Rae1 Rf7 18. Qd2 Bg5 19. Qa5 Qxa5 20. Nxa5 Bd2 21.
Nxc6 Bxe1 22. Rxe1 a5 23. Bc3 a4 24. Na5 axb3 25. axb3 Rd7 26. Nc4 Ra2 27. Re2
g5 28. h3 Bf7 29. Kf2 Be6 30. Ke1 Rd8 31. Ba5 Ra8 32. Bc7 Bxc4 33. dxc4 Ra1+
34. Kf2 R1a6 35. Rd2 Rc6 0-1

[Event "FRA"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hamdouchi, Hicham"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8.
O-O Be7 9. a4 O-O 10. a5 Qc7 11. Bd3 Nb4 12. f4 Bd7 13. Kh1 e5 14. Bd2 Rfd8 15.
Nb5 Bxb5 16. Bxb4 Bc6 17. Qe2 Re8 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Bc3 g6 20. Qe3 Nh5 21. Bc4
Rf8 22. Nd2 Kg7 23. g4 Nf6 24. h3 Rad8 25. Kh2 h5 26. gxh5 Nxh5 27. Nf3 Bf6 28.
Rg1 Nf4 29. Rg3 Bd7 30. Nxe5 Nh5 31. Nxd7 Rxd7 32. Bxf6+ Kxf6 33. e5+ Kg7 34.
Rg4 Re8 35. Qc3 Nf6 36. Rg3 Ne4 0-1

[Event "FRA"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Daillet, Emmanuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2315"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ Nd7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. a4 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nc5 12. e5 Ne4 13. Qe1 a6 14. Bc4 Qc7
15. Bxf7+ Rxf7 16. Qxe4 Bf5 17. Qh4 h5 18. Qg3 Qc4 19. Ba3 e6 20. Bc5 Bh6 21.
Ng5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5 b5 23. axb5 Qxb5 24. h3 Qe2 25. Rfe1 Qb2 26. d5 Qb3 27. dxe6
Qxe6 28. Rad1 Kh7 29. Rd6 Qc4 30. Be3 Rg7 31. e6 Re8 32. Rd7 Qc3 33. Qh6+ Kg8
34. Bd4 1-0

[Event "Cannes m"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli Kortschnoj} e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. Nf3 (4. e3 $5 {Kortschnoj}
Nf6 5. d4 Nxd5 6. cxd5 exd4 7. exd4 {Kortschnoj,V-Sokolov,I/Wijk op (04)/1993/
1-0/22/}) 4... e4 $6 (4... c6 $142 5. Nc3 $14 (5. Nc3 {Ribli} d6 6. Ne4 Bb6 7.
c5 dxc5 8. Nxe5 Nf6 (8... Qe7 9. Nc4 $1) 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Nf3 O-O 11. e3 $14 {
Bricard,E-Taimanov,M Wildbad 1990 EXP/20})) 5. Ng5 $1 (5. d4 {Kortschnoj} exf3
6. dxc5 fxg2 7. Bxg2) 5... e3 $1 (5... f5 6. d4) (5... c6 6. Nxe4 cxd5 7. Nxc5
dxc4 8. Qa4 $14) 6. d4 (6. dxe3 $2 c6 7. Ne4 cxd5 8. Nxc5 Qa5+ $19) (6. fxe3 c6
7. Ne4 Qh4+ $19) 6... exf2+ 7. Kxf2 Be7 8. Nxe7 Qxe7 9. e4 d6 (9... Nc6 $5) (
9... h6 $2 {Ribli} 10. Nf3 Qxe4 11. Bd3 Qc6 12. Re1+ $18) 10. Bd3 Nc6 (10... c5
$2 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. e5 $1 Nc6 13. Re1 $36) 11. Bc2 Nf6 (11... Qf6+ 12. Nf3 Bg4
13. Be3 $16) 12. Re1 $6 (12. h3 $1 {/\ Re1, Nf3+/-}) (12. h3 $14 {Kortschnoj
Kramnik}) 12... Bg4 $1 (12... O-O {Ribli} 13. h3 $1 $14) 13. Qd3 (13. Nf3 Bxf3
14. gxf3 Nh5 $132 (14... Nh5 {Kortschnoj} 15. Be3 Qh4+ $13)) (13. Qd2 $1 $14) (
13. Nf3 $5 {Ribli}) 13... Nd7 $1 (13... Nb4 14. Ba4+ Bd7 15. Qb3 $16) 14. Ba4 (
14. Bd2 $2 Qf6+ 15. Kg3 $2 Qxd4 $17) (14. Be3 $5 {Kortschnoj}) 14... h6 (14...
Qf6+ 15. Kg3 Bh5 $14) 15. e5 $5 (15. Nf3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qh4+ $132) (15. Qg3 Qf6+
$1) (15. Bxc6 {Ribli} bxc6 16. Nf3 O-O $13) 15... dxe5 16. d5 Nd4 $5 (16... Nc5
17. Qg3 hxg5 18. dxc6 O-O 19. cxb7 Rad8 20. Bc2 $36) (16... Nb4 $5) (16... Nb4
$1 $17 {Ribli}) 17. Qe4 (17. Qg3 Qf6+ $1 18. Nf3 (18. Kg1 $2 Ne2+) 18... Bxf3
19. Qxe5+ Qxe5 20. Rxe5+ Kd8 21. Bxd7 Kxd7 22. gxf3 $15) 17... Be2 $1 18. Nh3 (
18. Nf3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 (19. Qxe5) 19... c6 $1 20. dxc6 bxc6 21. Be3 Nc5 $1 22.
Bxc6+ Kf8 23. Qd5 Rd8 $19) (18. Be3 f5 $1 19. Qh4 (19. Qb1 $5) 19... O-O-O $1
$36) 18... b5 $1 (18... O-O 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Rxe2 Nxe2 21. Qxe2 c6 22. dxc6
bxc6 $14) 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. Qxe2 (20. d6 Qf6+ 21. Kxe2 (21. Kg1 O-O) 21... Nd4+
22. Kd1 O-O $40) 20... Nd4 21. Qd1 Qh4+ $1 22. Kf1 (22. Kg1 $2 Nc2 $1 23. g3
Qxc4 $17) 22... O-O 23. Be3 (23. b3 $5 {Ribli}) 23... Nf5 24. Qc2 (24. b3 $142)
24... Nxe3+ 25. Rxe3 f5 $15 26. Kg1 Rae8 27. Nf2 e4 28. Qc3 Nf6 29. g3 $6 (29.
Rh3 $142 Qf4 30. Re1) 29... Qh5 30. Rf1 Nd7 $1 31. Kg2 Ne5 32. h3 (32. Rh1 $5)
32... f4 $1 33. gxf4 $2 (33. Rxe4 fxg3 34. Qxg3 Rf3 35. Qh4 $13) 33... Rxf4 34.
Rxe4 $2 Qg6+ 35. Qg3 Rxf2+ 36. Rxf2 Qxe4+ 37. Kh2 Nxc4 38. Qxc7 Qxd5 39. Qxa7
Qd6+ 40. Kg2 Ne3+ 41. Kh1 Qd5+ 42. Kh2 Nd1 43. Rg2 Qd6+ 44. Kh1 Re1+ 45. Rg1
Qd5+ 0-1

[Event "Cannes m"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 h6 (
7... c5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. Bd2 $1 Qxc5 10. e3 Ne4 11. Rc1 $14) (7... O-O 8. a3
Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 $14) 8. Bh4 c5 9. e3 $1 c4 $5 (9... Qa5 10. Bd3 c4 11. Bf5 O-O
12. O-O) 10. Be2 Qa5 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 Ne4 13. Rfc1 Nb6 14. a4 $1 (14. Nd2
Bf5 $10) (14. Ne5 Bf5 15. f3 Nd6 $5 16. Qb2 f6 $13) 14... Bf5 (14... Bd7 $6 15.
Ne5 Bxa4 16. Nxc4 $1) 15. Qb2 O-O 16. Bd1 Rfe8 17. Ra2 $5 {/\ Qa3, Rb2-b5} f6
$6 (17... Nd7 $1 18. Qa3 Qc7 $14) 18. Nd2 (18. Qa3 Bd7) 18... Bd7 (18... Nxd2
19. Qxd2 Bd7 20. Bc2 $1 {/\ Bb1, Qc2->}) 19. Nf1 $1 Nxa4 $2 (19... Bc6 20. f3
Nd6 21. Bg3 Nf5 22. Bf2 $16) 20. Qxb7 Red8 (20... Nexc3 21. Rxc3 Qxc3 22. Qxd7
$18) 21. Bxa4 Bxa4 22. f3 $1 (22. Qb2 Qb6 $1 $10) 22... Rdb8 (22... Nxc3 23.
Be1 Nxa2 24. Bxa5 Nxc1 25. Bxd8 $18) (22... Rab8 23. Qe7 Re8 (23... Nxc3 24.
Be1) 24. Qd7 $1 (24. Qa3 $2 Rb3 $1 25. Qxa4 Qxa4 26. Rxa4 Nxc3 $132) 24... Nxc3
25. Rxc3 Qxc3 26. Rxa4 Red8 27. Qg4 {/\ Ra7, Bf6}) (22... Nd6 23. Qb1 Qb5 24.
Qa1 Bb3 25. Rxa7 $16) 23. Rxa4 $1 Qxa4 24. Qxd5+ Kh8 25. Qxe4 (25. fxe4 $5 {
/\ e5}) 25... Qa3 26. Rb1 Qxc3 27. Bg3 $1 Re8 (27... Rxb1 28. Qxa8+ Kh7 29.
Qe4+ $18) 28. Qg6 a5 (28... Qd3 29. Qxd3 cxd3 30. Rb3 $18) 29. Rb7 Rg8 30. Bf4
Qd3 31. e4 $1 Qxd4+ 32. Be3 Qd8 33. Bxh6 Qf8 34. Be3 Qe8 35. Qg4 Kh7 36. Qh3+ (
36. Qh3+ Kg6 37. Qf5#) 1-0

[Event "Cannes m"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 a5 7. Nc3 c6 (7... d4
8. Nb5 Nc6 (8... c5 9. e3 Nc6 10. exd4 cxd4 11. d3 e5 12. Re1 Nd7 13. a3 Kh8
14. Rb1 f6 15. Nd2 Nc5 16. Ne4 Bf5 $13 {Csom,I-Huss,A SWZ-GP Suhr 1992 EXP/27})
9. d3 e5 10. e3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. exd4 exd4 14. Bf4 Ne8 $13 {
Kortschnoj,V-Gelfand,B Tilburg5.02 (15') 1992 CBM/32}) 8. d4 b6 9. Bb2 Ba6 10.
Nd2 Ra7 $5 (10... Nbd7 11. e4 dxc4 12. e5 Nd5 13. bxc4 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Rb8 15.
Re1 $14 {-> E 07 Keres-Bццk Kemeri 1937}) 11. Qc2 Rd7 12. e3 (12. Rfd1 $5 dxc4
13. Nxc4 Bxc4 14. bxc4 Rxd4 15. Rxd4 Qxd4 16. Ne4 (16. Nd5 $5 Qc5 17. Nxe7+
Qxe7 18. Rb1 $44) 16... Qd8 17. Rd1 $44) 12... c5 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14. exd4 Nc6
15. Nb5 Nb4 16. Qb1 Bb7 17. a3 Na6 18. Qd3 Qa8 $1 $13 {/\ dxc4} 19. Qe2 Nc7 20.
a4 Rc8 21. Rac1 Nxb5 22. axb5 Rdc7 23. Rc2 Ne8 24. Rdc1 h6 25. f4 dxc4 26. Bxb7
Qxb7 27. bxc4 Nd6 28. Qd3 a4 $1 29. Kf2 $6 (29. Ba3 $5) 29... Bf6 30. Nf3 Rd8 {
>< c4,d4} 31. Kg1 Nf5 32. c5 bxc5 33. Rxc5 Rcd7 $1 $17 34. R1c4 Be7 35. Re5 Bd6
36. Rxa4 Bxe5 37. Nxe5 Rd5 38. Rb4 Ne7 39. Qb3 Rb8 40. Ba3 Rbd8 41. b6 (41. Bb2
$5) 41... Nf5 42. Qa4 Rxd4 43. Rxd4 Nxd4 44. Qa7 Qxa7 45. bxa7 f6 46. Ng6 Ra8
0-1

[Event "Cannes m"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Hertneck,G"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O-O 16. Qe5 f6 17. Qe3 Kb8 18. Be2 Qxg2 19. Rhg1 Qxh2 20.
Rxg7 Nb4+ 21. Kb3 Nd5 22. Qf3 {This position is regarded as the critical
position of the slav piece sac by the leading experts of this line.} h5 $5 $146
{A logical move, because the pawn is less weak on h5 than on h7} (22... Qf4 23.
Rf1 Qd4 24. Qf2 Qxf2 (24... Qe4 $4 25. Rg4 {1-0 Khuzman,A-Vladimirov,E, SU 1989
}) 25. Rxf2 Kc8 $1 $13 {/\ Rd7} 26. Bg4 f5 27. Bh5 Rd7 {Shirov,A-Bareev,E,
Biel 1991, 52/377}) (22... Qh4 $5 23. a5 $6 Qd4 $36 {Hertneck,G-Finegold,B,
Bundesliga 1990, 49/(446)}) 23. Rf1 (23. Rh1 $6 Qf4 24. Rxh5 Rxh5 25. Qxh5 b5
$1 $40) 23... Rc8 (23... h4 $4 24. Rg2 $18) (23... Rhg8 24. Rxg8 Rxg8 25. Qxh5
Rg3+ 26. Ka2 Qxh5 27. Bxh5 {Wegner,H}) 24. Ka2 Rc7 25. Rfg1 Qf4 26. Qxf4 Nxf4
27. Rxc7 Kxc7 28. Rg7+ Kb8 29. Bf3 $14 Nd5 30. Nd6 (30. Na5 Nc7) 30... b6 31.
Nf7 Re8 32. Bxh5 Re7 33. Rg8+ Kc7 34. Ra8 Kb7 35. Rf8 Kc7 36. Be2 f5 $6 {><e5}
(36... Nf4 $142 {Wegner,H}) 37. Kb3 a5 (37... e5 $142 $1) 38. Ba6 Nb4 39. Be2
Nd5 40. Bc4 Nb4 41. Kc3 e5 42. Ng5 f4 43. b3 Kd6 44. Rf6+ Kd7 45. Rf5 Nd5+ 46.
Kd3 Ne3 47. Rf6 Rg7 48. Nf3 Ng4 49. Rf8 Kd6 50. Ke4 Re7 51. Ne1 Nf2+ 52. Kf3
Nd1 53. Rf6+ Kc5 54. Nd3+ Kd4 55. Rd6+ Kc3 56. Rxc6 Ne3 57. Ke4 Nxc4 58. bxc4
f3 59. Nxe5 Kd2 60. Rxb6 f2 61. Rb2+ Ke1 62. c5 f1=Q 63. Rb1+ Kf2 64. Rxf1+
Kxf1 65. c6 Ke2 66. Kd5 Kd2 67. Kd6 Re8 68. c7 Kc3 69. Nd7 Kb3 70. Nb6 Rh8 71.
Kc6 Rg8 72. Kb5 1-0

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2
e5 9. Nb3 Qc7 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. O-O Bd6 (12... exd4 13. Nxd4 Bd6
14. f4 $5 (14. Kh1 $6 Be5 $5 15. Rad1 Nb6 16. Be2 Ng4 $5 $36 {Cramling,
P-Smagin,S/Copenhagen/1991/})) 13. h3 Re8 (13... exd4 14. Nxd4 Be5 15. Rad1 Nb6
16. Be2 {xg4}) 14. Rad1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Be5 16. f4 $1 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 $1 (17. exd4
h6 (17... Nb6 18. Bd3 Nbd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxh7+ Kh8 21. Bd3 f6 22. Bh4 Ne3
23. Qe2) 18. Bh4 Nb6 19. Bd3 Nbd5 {xe3}) 17... Rxe3 18. Rfd1 Nf8 (18... Re8 19.
Nb5 $1 cxb5 $140 $2 20. Bxf7+ $18) 19. f5 Qe7 (19... Re8 $5) (19... Re7 20. Rd8
$40) 20. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Qf2 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Bxf5 23. Rd8 $1 Rxd8 24. Rxd8 b5 25.
Be2 a5 (25... b4 26. Na4 Nd5 27. Nc5 $16) 26. Bf3 Bd7 27. Ra8 g5 (27... a4 28.
Ra6 c5 29. Bc6 $16) 28. Ra6 Ne6 29. Bxc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 b4 31. Ne2 a4 (31...
Ne4+ 32. Ke3 N4c5 33. Nd4 $18) 32. Rc4 Nd5 33. g3 Kf8 34. Nd4 Nec7 35. Nc6 b3
36. axb3 axb3 37. Nb4 Ke7 38. Nxd5+ Nxd5 39. Rd4 Ke6 40. Rd3 h5 41. Rxb3 f5 42.
Rb8 f4 43. Rh8 fxg3+ 44. Kxg3 Nf6 45. b4 Kd5 46. Rh6 Ne4+ 47. Kg2 h4 48. Kf3
Nd2+ 49. Kg4 Ne4 50. b5 Nf2+ 51. Kf5 $1 (51. Kf5 $1 Nxh3 52. b6 Nf4 53. b7 $18)
1-0

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Boensch Dorfman} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4
Qb6 7. Nb3 (7. Ndb5 {Dorfman}) 7... e6 8. Bf4 $5 (8. O-O {Dorfman}) (8. Bg5 {
Dorfman}) 8... Ne5 9. Be2 a6 $8 (9... Be7 10. Be3 $1 Qc7 11. Nb5 Qb8 12. f4 $16
) 10. Bg3 (10. Qd2 Qc7) (10. O-O {Boensch} Qc7 11. a4 Bd7 12. Nd2 Be7 13. a5
Rc8 14. Be3 Bc6 15. f4 Ned7 16. Bf3 O-O 17. g4 $6 (17. Qe1 $5) 17... d5 18. e5
Ne8 19. Nb3 g6 20. Bd4 f6 $15 {Sion Castro,M-Gulko,B Leon(4) 1992 0-1 44 -CBM
31}) (10. Be3 {Boensch} Qc7 11. f4 Nc4 12. Bxc4 Qxc4 13. Qf3 d5 14. e5 Ne4 15.
Nxe4 Qxe4 16. Qxe4 dxe4 17. O-O-O $14 {Zaitsev,I-Serper,G Moskow7 op 1991 1-0
41}) 10... h5 $3 (10... Qc7 11. f4 Nc4 12. e5 $1 (12. Bxc4 {Dorfman} Qxc4 13.
Qf3 Bd7 14. O-O-O Rc8 15. f5 $1 $16) 12... dxe5 13. fxe5 Nxe5 (13... Nxb2 $2
14. Qd4) 14. Qd4 Nfd7 15. O-O-O $36) 11. h3 (11. f4 $2 Neg4) (11. f3 Qc7 12.
Qd4 $6 h4 13. Bf2 b5 $1 14. a4 Nc6 15. Qd2 b4 16. Na2 d5 $1 $132) (11. f3 $5 {
Boensch}) 11... Qc7 (11... g5 $5 {Dorfman}) 12. f4 (12. a4 Bd7 $1 13. Qd4 Rc8
$10) 12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 (13. Qd4 b5 14. e5 (14. a4 e5 $1) 14... dxe5 15. fxe5
Bb7 16. O-O Rd8 17. Qf2 Ne4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 $13) 13... Qxc4 14. Qf3 h4 $1 (14...
Bd7 {Dorfman} 15. O-O-O Rc8 16. Bh4) 15. Bh2 (15. Bf2 b5 $1 16. e5 (16. O-O-O
Qc7 $15) 16... Nd5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. O-O-O dxe5 20. fxe5 Bf5 $1
$10) (15. Bf2 $5 {Dorfman}) 15... Bd7 (15... b5 $2 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18.
Qxd5 exd5 19. exd6 Bxd6 20. O-O-O $16) 16. O-O-O Rc8 17. Rhe1 (17. Rd2) (17. e5
{Dorfman} Bc6 18. Qf2 Ne4 $17) (17. Rd2 $5 {Boensch}) 17... b5 $1 18. Qf2 $2 (
18. a3) (18. Rd2 $10) (18. Rd2 $5 {Boensch}) 18... Qc7 $1 19. e5 (19. a3 a5 $40
) 19... b4 20. Rd3 $5 (20. exf6 bxc3 21. f5 cxb2+ (21... e5 $17 {Boensch}) 22.
Kb1 e5 $1 23. fxg7 Bxg7 $17) (20. Nb1 {Dorfman} dxe5 (20... Nh5) 21. fxe5 Nh5 (
21... g6 22. Bf4)) 20... dxe5 21. fxe5 bxc3 (21... Nh5 {Dorfman} 22. Ne4) 22.
Rxc3 (22. exf6 Qxh2 (22... cxb2+ {Boensch} 23. Kb1 Qxh2 24. Qd4 Qc7 $19) 23.
Rxd7 $1 Qg3 $1 24. Qxg3 hxg3 25. Ra7 cxb2+ 26. Kxb2 gxf6 27. Rxa6 f5 $17) 22...
Qxc3 $5 (22... Qb8) (22... Qb8 {Dorfman} 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Rf1 Rh7 $1 (24...
Rg8 $2 25. g4 $1 $16)) 23. bxc3 Ba3+ 24. Kd2 $2 (24. Kb1 $1 Nd5 25. Bf4 $1 {
/\ Bc1}) (24. Kb1 $5 {Boensch}) 24... Nd5 25. Re4 Rxc3 26. Rg4 (26. Rd4 {
Dorfman} Bb2) (26. Qa7 {Dorfman} Bc8) (26. Rxh4 {Dorfman} O-O 27. Qe2 Rfc8 28.
Qh5 Rxc2+ 29. Ke1 Bb4+ 30. Kf1 Bb5+ 31. Kg1 Rc1+ 32. Nxc1 Rxc1+ 33. Kf2 Rf1+
34. Kg3 Be1+ 35. Kg4 Ne3+ $19) 26... O-O $1 27. Qxh4 Rfc8 28. Nd4 Bb4 29. Ke2 (
29. Kc1 {Dorfman} Ne3) 29... Bb5+ $1 30. Nxb5 (30. Kf2 Rxc2+ $1 31. Nxc2 Rxc2+
32. Kf3 (32. Kg3 Be1+) (32. Kg1 Rc1+ 33. Kf2 Be1+) 32... Be2+ 33. Ke4 (33. Kg3
Be1#) 33... Rc4#) 30... Rxc2+ 31. Kf3 (31. Kd3 axb5 32. Rxb4 R8c3+ 33. Ke4 Rc4+
$19) 31... axb5 32. Rxb4 Nxb4 33. Qxb4 R8c3+ (33... R8c3+ {Boensch} 34. Ke4
Rc4+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Rg8 12. h4 Rxg5 13. hxg5 Nd5 14. g6 fxg6 15.
Qg4 Qe7 16. Bg2 Qf7 17. Be4 Ne7 18. O-O-O Ba6 19. Ne2 Bg7 20. Nf4 Nf8 21. Nh3
O-O-O 22. Ng5 Qe8 23. Qf3 Nf5 24. Qa3 Bb7 25. Qxa7 Qe7 26. Nf3 c5 27. Bxb7+
Qxb7 28. Qxb7+ Kxb7 29. dxc5 Rc8 30. b4 cxb3 31. axb3 Rxc5+ 32. Kb2 Ne7 33. Rc1
Rd5 34. Rhd1 Rxd1 35. Rxd1 Nc6 36. Kc2 Kb6 37. Nd4 Bxe5 38. Nxc6 Kxc6 39. Rd8
Bd6 40. Ra8 g5 41. Ra6+ Kd5 42. Ra5 Kc5 43. Ra7 e5 44. Kd3 Ne6 45. Ke4 Nd4 46.
Rg7 Nxb3 47. Rxg5 Kc4 48. Rg6 Nc5+ 49. Kf5 Kd5 50. Rh6 b4 51. Rh1 Nd3 52. f3 b3
53. g4 b2 54. Rb1 Kd4 55. g5 Kc3 56. Ke6 Bb8 57. Kd7 Nf4 58. Rh1 Kc2 59. Rh2+
Kb3 0-1

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. Qd2
Qa5 (8... a6 9. d5 (9. O-O-O cxd4 (9... Qa5 10. Kb1 e6 11. Bh6 (11. d5 Ne5 (
11... exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. cxd5 Qxd2 14. Bxd2 Ne5 15. Ng3 h5 16. h4 Bd7 17.
Be2 Bb5 18. Bc3 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 b5 20. Rhe1 Rfe8 21. Nc1 Ra7 22. Nd3 Rae7 23.
Bxe5 Bxe5 24. f4 Bd4 25. e5 dxe5 26. d6 {Haik,A-Renet,O/French tch/1992/0.5 
(32)}) 12. Nc1 b5 13. cxb5 axb5 14. Nxb5 Qb6 15. dxe6 Bxe6 16. Qc2 Qa5 17. a3
Rfb8 18. Bd2 Qa6 19. a4 d5 20. Bf4 Nh5 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Nd3 Rxb5 23. Nxe5 c4
24. exd5 Bf5 25. Qxf5 gxf5 26. axb5 {Zsinka,L-Hazai,L/HUN-chT 9192/1991/0-1 
(30)}) 11... b5 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. dxc5 b4 14. Nd5 exd5 15. cxd5 dxc5 16. dxc6
Be6 $1 17. b3 $1 Rfd8 18. Qc2 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 Rd8 20. Qc1 $1 Rd3 $1 21. Qc2 c4
$1 22. Nf4 cxb3 $1 23. Nxe6+ fxe6 24. axb3 Rc3 25. Qb2 Rxc6 26. Bc4 {Gheorghiu,
F-Piket,M/Lugano op (3)/1989/1-0 (33)}) 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 {0,5/
Gheorghiu-Hazai/Warzaw zt/1987/}) (9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Bxc5 Nd7 12.
Be3 Nde5 (12... b5 13. O-O-O bxc4 14. Nf4 $16 {Alterman,V-Shirov,A/USSR/1988/})
13. Nf4 Nb4 14. Rc1 Be6 15. Bc5 a5 16. Bxe7 Rd7 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Ncd5 Rxa2 19.
Rb1 b3 20. Be2 Nc6 21. Nd3 Na5 22. Bd1 b5 23. cxb5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Rxd5 25. Be2
Rxb5 26. O-O {Novikov,I-Wojtkiewicz,A/Debrecen (11)/1990/0.5 (35)}) (9. Rd1 Qa5
(9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 12. Be2 Qa5 13. O-O Rfc8 14. Nd5 Qxd2 15.
Rxd2 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bxd4+ 17. Rxd4 Bd7 18. Re1 b5 {0,5/Benjamin,J-Polgar,Zu/San
Francisco (1)/1991/}) 10. d5 Ne5 11. Nc1 b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Bxb5 Ba6 14. Bxa6
Rxa6 15. Qe2 Rb6 16. O-O Rfb8 17. Rd2 Qb4 18. Rc2 R6b7 19. Rd1 Qa5 20. h3 Ned7
21. Kh2 Ne8 22. Nd3 Nc7 23. f4 Na6 24. a3 Rb3 25. Nc1 R3b7 26. Nd3 {
Kupreichik-Smirin/Sverdlovsk (2)/1987/1-0 (39)}) 9... Ne5 10. Ng3 Qa5 11. f4
Ned7 12. h3 Ne8 13. a4 b5 14. cxb5 Nc7 15. Kf2 Nb6 16. Be2 axb5 17. axb5 Qxa1
18. Rxa1 Rxa1 19. b4 cxb4 20. Nd1 Nca8 21. Qxb4 Bd7 22. Nc3 Rc8 23. e5 dxe5 24.
fxe5 Bxe5 25. Nge4 Bf5 26. Qxe7 {Kortschnoj,V-Zueger,B/Bern Training (6)/1992/
1-0 (29)}) (8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Be2 (11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5
Qc7 13. Be2 a5 14. h4 Rfe8 15. O-O-O b5 16. Kb1 bxc4 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Bxc4 a4
19. h5 Nxh5 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. g4 Nf6 22. Qh6+ Kh8 23. g5 Rab8 24. Rc2 Nh5 25.
Bd3 f5 26. Bxf5 {Hoi,C-Mortensen,E/DEN-ch (07)/1992/1-0 (53)}) 11... Qa5 12.
Rc1 (12. b3 Rfc8 13. Rb1 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. O-O $14 {Knaak-Kindermann
Hamburg 1991} (15. O-O Nf6 16. Kh1 a6 17. a4 Qb4 18. Qb2 Kg8 19. Na2 Qc5 20.
Qd2 a5 21. Nc3 Bd7 22. f4 Bc6 23. Bf3 e5 24. Rbd1 exf4 25. Qxf4 Qe5 26. Qd2 {
Knaak,R-Kindermann,S/Hamburg SKA/1991/1-0 (51)})) (12. O-O Rfc8 13. b3 b5 14.
b4 Qxb4 15. Rab1 Qa5 16. Rxb5 Qd8 17. Nd5 Nd7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. f4 Bxd5 20.
cxd5 Rab8 21. Qd4+ Kg8 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. Bg4 Nc5 24. e5 Qa5 25. exd6 exd6 26.
f5 {Novikov-Glek /Tashkent 1L/1984/0-1 (37)}) (12. Rd1 Rfc8 13. b3 a6 14. a4
Nd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. O-O f6 17. Nd5 Qxd2 18. Rxd2 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Nc5 20. Rb1 a5
21. Bd1 Ra6 22. Bc2 Kf7 23. Kf2 Rb6 24. h4 e6 25. Rd2 e5 26. Rd5 {Lauvas,
D-Hansen,Su/Gausdal Int (9)/1990/0-1 (72)}) 12... a6 13. b3 Rfb8 14. O-O b5 15.
c5 Qb4 16. Rfd1 dxc5 17. Be3 Ra7 18. Nd5 Qxd2 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxd2 Bd4 21.
Bxd4 cxd4 22. Rxd4 a5 23. Rc5 a4 {Timman,J-Ivanchuk,V/Reykjavik WCup (02)/1991/
0.5 (24)}) (8... b6 9. d5 (9. Rd1 e6 10. g3 (10. d5 Ne5 11. b3 (11. Ng3 exd5
12. cxd5 h5 (12... a6 13. a4 Bd7 14. Be2 Qb8 15. O-O b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Kh1
h5 18. f4 Neg4 19. e5 Nxe3 20. exf6 Nxf1 21. Rxf1 Bxf6 22. f5 Qd8 23. Nce4 h4
24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Ne4 Qg7 26. f6 {Dao,T-Shaked,T/Duisburg WchJM-U14 (05)/1992/
1-0 (102)}) 13. Be2 h4 14. Nf1 Nh7 15. f4 Ng4 16. h3 Nxe3 17. Nxe3 f5 18. exf5
gxf5 19. O-O a6 20. Kh2 b5 21. Bd3 Qf6 22. a4 c4 23. Bb1 Rb8 24. axb5 axb5 25.
Qf2 Bd7 26. Rfe1 {Christiansen,L-Benjamin,J/Jacksonville ch-US m (1)/1990/1-0 
(45)}) 11... Ne8 12. Nf4 Qf6 13. Nb1 Qe7 14. Be2 f5 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. fxe4 Bxe6
17. O-O Rd8 18. Nc3 Nf6 19. Ncd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bc8 21. Rde1 Rde8 22. Bd1 Qh4
23. g3 Qe7 24. Ng2 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Rf8 26. Rxf8+ {Schwanek,C-Glavina,P/Buenos
Aires (11)/1990/0.5 (63)}) (10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxh6 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qxh6
14. Qxh6 Bxh6 15. Nxd6 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Ba6 18. Rd1 Bg7 19. b3 Rfd8
20. Bg2 f5 21. f4 Rab8 22. a4 Bf8 23. Nb5 Bxb5 24. axb5 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Rd8+ 26.
Ke2 {Beliavsky,A-Ivanchuk,V/Reykjavik WCup (08)/1991/0.5 (39)}) 10... Ba6 (
10... Re8 11. Bg2 e5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nd4 15. O-O Nxe2+ 16.
Qxe2 f5 17. Qd2 Qd6 18. Rfe1 Bd7 19. b3 Rf8 20. a3 a5 21. f4 e4 {Mishra,
N-Umanskaya,I/Calcutta (07)/1992/0.5 (22)}) 11. b3 Re8 12. Kf2 d5 13. e5 cxd4
14. Bxd4 Nd7 15. cxd5 Ncxe5 16. Nf4 Bb7 17. Be2 exd5 18. Nfxd5 Nf6 19. Nf4 Qe7
20. Rhe1 Rad8 21. Qc1 g5 22. Bb5 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Nfg4+ 24. Kf1 Nxh2+ 25. Kg2
Nhxf3 26. Nfd5 {Gheorghiu,F-Shirov,A/Moscow GMA-op (5)/1989/0-1 (28)}) 9... Ne5
10. b3 $6 (10. Ng3 h5 $1 11. Be2 h4 12. Nf1 a6 {Timoschenko,G 2455-Lanka,Z
2420, SSSR 1988} 13. Bh6 $13) 10... e6 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Rd1 $6 Nh5 $1 $17 13.
Bg5 Qe8 14. Qxd6 Nf7 15. Qd2 Nxg5 16. Qxg5 Nf4 $2 17. Nb5 $1 $13 h6 18. Qg4 e5
19. Qg3 Qe7 $1 $8 20. Nbc3 Be6 21. Qf2 Rad8 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. cxd5 c4 24. Nc1 $1
$8 Qb4+ 25. Qd2 c3 26. Qc2 {Ljubojevic,Lj-Timman,J/Delft (m/2)/1989/0-1 (44)})
(8... e6 9. O-O-O (9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Bxc5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Rd8+ 12. Kc2 b6 13. Be3
Ba6 14. Ng3 Nb4+ 15. Kb3 Nd3 16. Be2 Rac8 17. Rad1 Bxc4+ 18. Kc2 Ne5 19. Rxd8+
Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Nxd1 Nfd7 22. b3 Bxe2 23. Nxe2 Nc6 24. Ndc3 Kf8 {Miles,
A-Rogers,I/Mendrisio open (5)/1989/0.5 (25)}) (9. h4 b6 10. Rd1 Ba6 11. b3 Re8
12. Bg5 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 h6 15. Bd2 d5 16. Qf2 Qc8 17. Rc1 dxe4 18.
Nxe4 Nxe4 19. fxe4 Bb7 20. Bd3 f5 21. Qe2 Qc6 22. Be3 fxe4 23. Bb1 Rf8 24. Qg4
Kh7 25. h5 g5 26. Rd1 {Bekker Jensen,D-Krakops,M/Duisburg WchJM-U14 (03)/1992/
0-1 (45)}) 9... Nd7 (9... Qe7 10. Kb1 e5 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Bg5 Nd4 13. Nd5 Qd6
14. Nxd4 cxd4 15. c5 Qd8 16. Bc4 Be6 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. Bb3 b6 19. cxb6 Bxd5 20.
Bxd5 Qxb6 21. Bb3 Nd7 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rc1 Nc5 24. Qc2 Bf6 25. Bd2 Kg7 26. Bd5
{Novikov,I-Romero Holmes,A/Pamplona/1990/0-1 (40)}) (9... b6 10. h4 h5 11. Kb1
Bb7 12. Bh6 Qe7 13. Bg5 Rfd8 14. d5 Ne5 15. Nf4 Rd7 16. Be2 Qe8 17. g4 hxg4 18.
Bxf6 Bxf6 19. fxg4 Bg7 20. h5 Rb8 21. hxg6 Nxg6 22. Nh5 exd5 23. exd5 Qe5 24.
Bd3 Ba6 25. Rde1 Qd4 26. Re4 {Hoi,C-Mortensen,E/Gausdal Int (2)/1990/1-0 (29)})
10. Bh6 Bxd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Nb5 e5 13. Nxd6 Nc5 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8
16. Kb1 a5 17. h4 Ra8 18. h5 a4 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. Qh6 Qe7 21. Qh4 Qc7 22. a3
Rf8 23. Be2 Rf7 24. g3 Qb6 25. Qg5 Qb3 26. Rc1 {Hoi,C-Shirov,A/Daugavpils/1990/
0.5 (47)}) 9. d5 Ne5 10. Nc1 a6 (10... Re8 11. Be2 e6 12. O-O exd5 13. cxd5 h5
14. a3 Bd7 15. N1a2 c4 16. h3 Qd8 17. Rae1 Bc8 18. Qc2 a6 19. f4 Ned7 20. Bxc4
b5 21. Bd3 Bb7 22. Qf2 Rc8 23. Bd4 Nc5 24. Bc2 a5 25. b4 axb4 26. axb4 {
Jacobsen,O-Sziva/Naestved op (7)/1988/1-0 (49)}) 11. Be2 (11. a4 e6 12. Ra3
exd5 13. cxd5 Nh5 14. Be2 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 $13 {Spassky,B-Polgar,J/Budapest m/
1993/}) 11... Bd7 {b7-b5} (11... b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 $14 (13. Bxb5 Ba6
$44)) 12. a4 Qb4 13. b3 (13. N1a2 Nxc4 14. Qd3 (14. Qc1 Qb3 $17) 14... Nxe3 15.
Nxb4 Nxg2+ 16. Kf2 Nf4 $15) 13... e6 14. N1a2 Qa5 (14... Qxb3 15. Rb1 Qa3 16.
Qc2 $16) 15. dxe6 (15. O-O exd5 16. cxd5 b5 $132) 15... Bxe6 16. Qxd6 Nfd7 {
/\ Nc4/Nf3+} 17. Kf2 (17. Qd2 Rad8 $44) 17... Nc6 18. Rac1 Nd4 (18... Rad8 19.
Nd5 Be5 20. Ne7+ Nxe7 21. Qxe7) 19. b4 Qb6 20. Qxb6 Nxb6 21. bxc5 Nxe2 22. Nxe2
Nxc4 23. Bd4 Rac8 (23... Nb2 $5 {/\ Nd3+/Na4} 24. Bxb2 (24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Rc2
Nxa4 26. Nb4 Rac8 $10) (24. Nb4 Nxa4) 24... Bxb2 25. Rc2 Ba3 $44 (25... Bg7 $14
)) 24. Nb4 Rfd8 $6 (24... Bxd4+ 25. Nxd4 Rxc5 26. Nd3 (26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Rc3 $2
Nd2 $1 $17) 26... Rc7 27. Nxe6 (27. Nf4 Re8) 27... fxe6 28. Rc3 $14) 25. Bxg7
Kxg7 26. c6 $1 $14 bxc6 27. Nf4 (27. Nxa6 $6 c5) 27... Rd2+ 28. Kg3 Nb2 29.
Nxe6+ fxe6 30. Rxc6 Rxc6 31. Nxc6 Nxa4 32. Ra1 $16 {(+)a6,(+)e6} Nc5 33. Ra5
Rc2 34. Nb4 Rc3 {/\ Ne4+} 35. Kf4 Kf6 36. e5+ (36. Nxa6 Nxa6 (36... g5+ 37. Kg4
h5+ $2 (37... Nd3 $2 38. Rxg5 Ne5+ 39. Kh5 $18) 38. Kxh5 Nxa6 39. Rxa6 Rc2 40.
g3 Rxh2+ 41. Kg4 $16) 37. Rxa6 Rc2 $10) 36... Kg7 37. Nxa6 Nb3 (37... Nxa6 38.
Rxa6 Rc2 39. Kg3 Kf7 40. Ra7+ Kg8 41. Re7 Rc6 42. Kg4 $16) (37... Nd3+ 38. Ke4
$16) (37... Rc4+ 38. Ke3 $16 (38. Kg3 Nd3 39. Rb5 h5 $14) 38... Nxa6 39. Rxa6
Rc2 40. g4 Rxh2 41. Rxe6 $16) 38. Rb5 Nd4 39. Rb7+ Kh6 40. Rc7 $1 Ra3 41. Nc5
Rc3 42. g4 g5+ (42... Nxf3 43. Nxe6 Rxc7 44. Nxc7 Nxh2 45. e6 $18) 43. Ke4 Nxf3
44. Nxe6 Rxc7 45. Nxc7 Nxh2 46. Kf5 {e5-e6-e7-e8} Nxg4 $2 (46... Kg7 $8 47.
Ne6+ (47. e6 Kf8) 47... Kg8 48. Nxg5 $16) 47. Kxg4 Kg6 48. Kf3 h5 49. Ke4 h4
50. Nd5 h3 51. Ne7+ Kf7 52. Nf5 $18 Ke6 53. Ng3 1-0

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 $1 h6
$6 (7... c5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. Bd2 $1 $14) 8. Bh4 c5 9. e3 Qa5 $6 (9... c4 10. Be2
Qa5 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 Ne4 $14 {Kramnik,V-Lautier,J (2)/Cannes m/1993/}) 10.
Bd3 O-O 11. O-O c4 (11... b6 12. Nxd5 $5 Nxd5 13. a3 $16) 12. Bf5 Re8 (12... g6
13. Bxd7 (13. Bxg6 $5) 13... Nxd7 14. e4 Bxc3 (14... dxe4 15. Nxe4 $16) 15.
bxc3 dxe4 16. Nd2 $5 $36) 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Rae1 Nb6 (14... Nf8 15. Bxc8 (15. f4
$5 g6 $140 16. Bxc8 Raxc8 17. f5 (17. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 18. Nf3) 17... g5 18. Bg3
$16) 15... Raxc8 16. Qf5 g6 $8 (16... Red8 17. e4 g6 18. Qe5 $1 $18) 17. Qf3
N8d7 $14) 15. a3 $5 (15. f3 Bxf5 16. Qxf5 Qb4 17. Qc2 Qd6 18. Kh1 $16) 15...
Be6 $2 (15... Ne4 $1 $8 16. Bxe4 Bxh4 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Bf5 Bf6 $16) 16. Bxe6
fxe6 17. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 18. f4 $1 $18 Nd7 (18... Nc8 19. g4 $1 Nd6 20. Qg6 Qd8 (
20... Nf7 21. g5) 21. Nf3 Nf7 22. Re2 {/\ Rg2+-}) 19. Nf3 Qc7 (19... Nf8 20. e4
$1 g6 (20... Rad8 21. e5 Be7 22. g4) 21. e5 $5 Bg7 22. Nh4 $5 Kf7 23. g4 Qb6
24. Qf2 Kg8 25. f5 $18) 20. g4 $1 Nf8 21. g5 $1 (21. h4 g6 22. g5 Bg7) 21...
hxg5 22. fxg5 Be7 23. e4 dxe4 24. Qxe4 Rad8 25. Re2 (25. Qg4) 25... a6 26. Qg4
Qa5 (26... b5 27. Ne4 {/\ Nf6+-}) 27. Ne5 $1 (27. Ne5 $1 Rxd4 28. Qh5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam VSB"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Stohl} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 (5. Qa4+) (5. h4 $5
$13 {Stohl}) 5... Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Qa4 $5 Nb6 (8... Nc6 9. Qc4 $1 (
9. Qb5 {Stohl} Qb6 $1 10. Qxb6 Nxb6 11. d3 c4 12. dxc4 Nxc4 13. Nd2 Be6 14.
Nxc4 Bxc4 15. Be3 Rfd8 16. Rfc1 Rac8 17. Rab1 Bxc3 18. bxc3 b6 $10 {Ljubojevic,
L-Ivanchuk,V/Monaco blind/1993/}) 9... Nxc3 10. dxc3 $14) 9. Qh4 e6 (9... Nc6
$6 10. d3 {/\ Bh6}) 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. d3 h6 $2 (11... Nc6 12. Ne4 Na4 (12... c4
{Stohl} 13. Bg5 $36) 13. Bg5 f5 $1 $13) (11... Nd5 $1 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bd2 Nc6 $1
{/\ b6,Bb7} (13... b6 $2 14. d4 $16)) (11... Nd5 $142 $5 $14 {Stohl /\b6}) 12.
Be3 Na6 13. Rac1 $1 (13. Rfc1 Nd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 $10 15. d4 $140 $2 Bg4) 13...
Bd7 $6 (13... Nd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 (15... Bxb2 16. Rb1 Bf6 17. Bd4
$16) 16. Rxc5 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Bg7 18. Nd2 $16) (13... c4 $1 14. d4 $5 {/\ Ne5|^} (
14. Bxb6 axb6 15. dxc4 Nc5 $132)) 14. Nd2 Rab8 15. Nb3 (15. Nde4 $6 c4 $1 16.
Bxb6 (16. dxc4 Nxc4 17. Bxa7 Ra8 18. b3 Rxa7 19. bxc4 Nb4 $10) 16... axb6 17.
dxc4 Bc6 $14) 15... Rdc8 16. Na5 Bc6 (16... Rc7 17. Bf4 e5 18. Be3 $16 f5 19.
b3 {/\ a4, Nb5+/-}) 17. Nxc6 (17. Bxc6 $142 $5 {Stohl} bxc6 18. b3 Nd5 19. Ne4
$16) 17... bxc6 18. b3 $2 (18. Bf4 $1 e5 19. Be3 f5 (19... c4 20. Bxb6 Rxb6 21.
Na4 Rb4 22. Rxc4 $18) 20. b3 $16) 18... Nd5 19. Bd2 Nab4 20. Na4 (20. Ne4 Nxa2
21. Rc2 Nab4 22. Rxc5 f5 $1 23. Nd6 Bf8 $1 24. Nxc8 Bxc5) 20... Nxa2 21. Rc2 $1
Ndb4 $1 (21... Nab4 22. Rxc5 Nb6 23. Ra5 $16) 22. Rxc5 Rb5 23. Rc4 Nd5 24. Rb1
a5 (24... Nab4 $2 {Stohl} 25. e4 $18) 25. d4 (25. Bf3 {/\ Kg2}) 25... Rcb8 26.
e4 (26. Nc5) 26... Ne7 27. Ra1 Nb4 28. Nc3 Nc2 $2 (28... R5b7 $1 29. Rxa5 Nd3
$1 $10 (29... Nc2 $2 30. Ne2 $18) 30. Na4 $5 Rxb3 31. Ra7 $36) 29. Ra2 Nxd4 (
29... Nb4 {Stohl} 30. Ra4 R5b7 {-28...R5b7} 31. Bf1 $5 Rd7 $132) 30. Nxb5 cxb5
31. Rc7 Nec6 32. f4 $1 (32. Bxa5 $2 {Stohl} Ra8 $15) 32... e5 (32... a4 {Stohl}
33. bxa4 b4 34. e5 b3 35. Rb2 $18) 33. Be3 Rd8 (33... a4 {Stohl} 34. bxa4 b4
35. f5 $1 b3 36. Rb2 gxf5 37. exf5 Nxf5 (37... e4 38. Bxe4 Re8 39. Bxc6 Rxe3
40. Bd5 $1 Nf3+ 41. Kf2 $18) 38. Bxc6 Nxe3 39. Bb7 $18) 34. Bf1 $18 Rd6 35.
Bxd4 Nxd4 36. Rxa5 exf4 37. Ra8+ Kh7 38. Rxf7 fxg3 39. hxg3 (39. Raa7 $142 $5 {
Stohl}) 39... Rf6 40. Rxf6 Bxf6 41. b4 h5 (41... Nc2 {Stohl} 42. Ra7+ Kg8 43.
Rb7 $18) 42. Rb8 Be5 43. Rb7+ Kh6 44. Kg2 $1 Kg5 45. Bxb5 h4 46. gxh4+ Kxh4 47.
Be8 Kg5 48. Rb6 Bc7 49. Rxg6+ Kf4 50. b5 Kxe4 51. b6 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam VSB"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. d3 h6 8. Rb1
e5 9. b4 a6 10. Nd2 Be6 11. Nd5 Kh7 (11... Qd7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Ne4 Bg7 14.
Bxh6 $1) 12. a4 Qd7 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 Nd8 15. b6 c6 16. Nc7 Rb8 17. Nxe6
Nxe6 18. e3 Rfe8 19. f4 $6 (19. Bb2 {/\ d4}) 19... exf4 20. gxf4 Nc5 21. Nf3
Ra8 22. e4 $2 (22. Qc2) 22... Ra2 $1 23. Kh1 $2 (23. f5 $5 $17) (23. Rb2 Ra1)
23... Qg4 $6 (23... Ng4 24. Bh3 (24. h3 Nf2+ 25. Rxf2 Rxf2 26. Be3 Ra2 $17)
24... f5) 24. Rb2 Rxb2 $2 (24... Ra1) 25. Bxb2 Qxf4 26. Ng1 Qg4 $4 (26... Qh4
27. Nh3 (27. Qa1 Nh5 28. Bxg7 $2 Ng3#) 27... Nh5 (27... Kg8 $2 28. Bxf6 Bxf6
29. Rf4) 28. Rxf7 Kg8 29. Rf2 Bxb2 30. Rxb2 Nf4 $13) 27. Qa1 Re5 (27... Nh5 28.
Bxg7 Nxg7 29. Rxf7 Rg8 30. Qd4 Qd1 (30... Qe6 31. Rf6 Qe8 32. Qxd6 $18) 31. e5
$1 $18) 28. Bxe5 dxe5 29. Qa3 Bf8 30. Rxf6 Kg7 31. Rf1 Ne6 32. Qb2 Qh5 33. Bf3
Qg5 34. Nh3 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. b3 b6 11. e4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Bb7 14. Bb2 (14.
Ne5 Rac8 (14... f5 15. Qe3 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bc5 17. Qg3 Rad8 18. Bg5 Rxd1+ 19.
Rxd1 Qc7 20. h4 Kh8 21. h5 h6 22. Bh4 Bc8 23. Bf3 Rf8 24. Qf4 $14 {Kuzmin,
A-Sveshnikov,E/Moscow/1989/0.5 (33)}) 15. Bb2 Red8 16. f4 Nf6 17. Qe3 c5 18.
Bf3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Bc5 21. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22. Kf1 Qc7 23. Ke2 h5 24.
g3 $14 {Bykhovsky,Av-Svirin,O/Podolsk/1990/1-0 (59)}) (14. Bf4 Nf6 $6 (14...
Bxf4 15. Qxf4 e5 $5 (15... c5 16. Qc7 Rab8 17. Rac1 (17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Qxe7 Nf3+
$1 19. Bxf3 Rxe7 20. Bxb7 Rexb7 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Rd6 Rc7 $8 23. Rad1 Kf8 24.
Ra6 $10 {Stohl,I-Skembris,S/Burgas/1992/}) 17... Rec8 18. Qg3 Re8 19. Qc7 Nf8
20. Qg3 {0,5/Hergott,D-Alvarez,R/Capablanca Mem II (11)/1993/}) (15... Nf8 16.
Rd2 c5 17. dxc5 Qxc5 18. Rad1 Re7 19. Ng5 $1 { []e4-d6,  >>f3} Qc7 20. Qe3
Ree8 21. Bf3 $1 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 e5 23. Ne4 Re6 24. Nd6 $16 {Miles,A-Novikov,I/
Debrecen/1992/1-0 (40)}) 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qxe5 Qxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. Bf3 Rae8
$1 20. h3 $5 Kf8 $1 21. b4 R5e7 $2 22. c5 Re5 23. Rac1 bxc5 24. bxc5 $10 {
Grivas,E-Koskinen,H/Gausdal/1993/}) 15. Qe3 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 c5 17. Ne5 Rad8 18.
dxc5 bxc5 $14 {Grivas,E-Hector,J/Iraklion/1992/}) 14... Nf6 (14... Red8 15. Bd3
Nf6 16. Qh4 h6 17. Rab1 Ba3 18. Ba1 Bb4 19. Ne1 Nd7 20. Qh3 Bd6 21. Nc2 c5 22.
d5 exd5 23. cxd5 Ne5 24. Bf5 $36 {Smagin,S-Shcherbakov,R/Podolsk/1990/1-0 (60)}
) 15. Qe3 c5 16. Ne5 Qc7 (16... Rad8 17. Bf3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qc7 $2
20. Nc6 Rd7 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Nxa7 (22. g3 $6 Rc8 23. Nd4 a6 24. Rd3 $15 {
Georgadze,G-Kramnik,V/Manila ol/1992/0-1 (61)}) 22... Red8 23. Nb5 Bxh2+ 24.
Kh1 $14 {Karpov,An-Morovic Fernandez,I/Leon (2)/1993/0.5 (87)}) 17. h3 $6 (17.
f4 Rad8 $132) 17... Ne4 $1 18. Bd3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 (19. Qxd4 Bc5 20. Qd7 Qxd7 21.
Nxd7 Nxf2 $17) 19... Nc5 $1 (19... Bxe5 20. Bxe4 $10) 20. Bc2 f6 21. Bxc5 (21.
Nf3 Bf4 22. Qe2 e5 23. Bb2 e4 24. Nd4 e3 $36) 21... bxc5 (21... Bxc5 $5 22. Qd3
Qxe5 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Bg6 (24. Rd7 $2 Qxa1+ 25. Bb1 Re7 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Qh5+
g6 28. Qxg6+ Kf8 $19) 24... f5 25. Qh8+ (25. Rd7 Qxa1+ 26. Kh2 Bd6+ $1 27. Rxd6
Qe5+ 28. g3 Qxd6 $19) 25... Ke7 26. Qh4+ Qf6 27. Qxf6+ Kxf6 $17) 22. Nf3 f5 23.
Re1 Bf4 24. Qe2 (24. Qc3 Qc6 {/\ e5} (24... e5 25. g3 (25. Bxf5 e4 $17) 25...
e4 26. gxf4 exf3 27. Re5 $1)) 24... Qc6 25. Rad1 g6 26. Qd3 (26. Qf1 e5 $17)
26... e5 27. Qd5+ Qxd5 28. cxd5 e4 29. g3 (29. Nh2 Rad8 $17) 29... Bh6 30. Nh4
Rad8 31. d6 Bf8 32. g4 (32. d7 Re7 33. g4 Rexd7 34. gxf5 Be7 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36.
Ng2 gxf5 37. Ne3 Rd2 $17) 32... Bc8 (32... Bxd6 33. gxf5 Be7 34. Rxd8 Bxd8 35.
Ng2 gxf5 36. Rd1 $17) 33. gxf5 gxf5 34. Rd5 Rxd6 35. Red1 (35. Rxc5 Rh6 36.
Nxf5 Rg6+ $19) 35... Rxd5 36. Rxd5 Be6 37. Rd1 (37. Re5 Bd6 $19) 37... Kf7 38.
Kf1 Kf6 39. Ng2 Ke5 40. Ne3 Be7 41. Ke2 Rg8 42. Nc4+ Kf4 43. Ne3 Rd8 44. Re1
Bg5 45. h4 Bh6 (45... Bxh4 46. Ng2+ Kg4 47. Nxh4 Kxh4 48. Rh1+ Kg5 49. Rxh7
$132) 46. Rc1 Bf7 47. Bd1 Bf8 48. Ke1 Ke5 49. Nc4+ Kf6 50. f3 Bh6 51. Rc3 Rd4
52. Bc2 (52. fxe4 Rxe4+ $19) 52... exf3 53. Rxf3 Be6 54. Rh3 Rg4 55. Kf2 Bd5
56. Rc3 Rxh4 57. Nd6 Rh2+ 58. Kf1 Be6 59. Rxc5 Bf8 (59... Bf8 60. Ne8+ Kf7 61.
Rc6 Bd5 62. Nd6+ Ke6 63. Bxf5+ Ke5 64. Rc2 Rh1+ 65. Ke2 Bxd6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ribli} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. a3 Be7 (6... Bxc3
7. dxc3 $14) (6... Bxc3 $5 {Ribli Gurevich,M-Makarov,M/Helsinki-op/1992/CBM32/}
) 7. d4 dxc4 (7... Nbd7 $5 {Ribli Adorjan,A-Schmittdiel,E/Polanica Zdroj/1991/
CBM26/}) 8. Ne5 (8. Qa4 {Ribli Zoltek,T-Nikolenko,O/Moscow-B/1991/EXP24/}) 8...
Nc6 $5 (8... c5 {Ribli Granda Zuniga,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/Barcelona/1990/CBM21/
}) 9. Bxc6 (9. Nxc6 $6 {Ribli} bxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 11. O-O Bb7 $13 {Andersson,
U-Benjamin,Joel/Szirak-izt/1987/CBM03/44,(15)/}) 9... bxc6 10. Nxc6 Qe8 11.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Qa4 a5 $6 (12... c5 13. Qxc4 cxd4 14. Qxd4 e5 15. Qb4 $14) (
12... c5 $5 {Ribli}) (12... e5 $5 {Ribli}) 13. Bg5 Ba6 (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6
15. Qxc4 $14) (13... Rb8 14. Qxc4 Rxb2 15. Na4 Rb8 16. O-O $14) 14. O-O c5 $2 (
14... Rfb8 15. Rab1 Qd7 $1 16. Bxf6 Qxa4 17. Nxa4 gxf6 18. Rfd1 $14) (14... h6
{Ribli} 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Rfd1 $14) 15. Bxf6 gxf6 (15... Qxf6 16. dxc5 $16) 16.
Rad1 $1 (16. d5 $6 exd5 17. Nxd5 Qxe2 18. Nxf6+ Kg7) 16... cxd4 (16... Rfb8 17.
d5 $1 exd5 18. Nxd5 Qxe2 19. Qc6 $16) (16... Rfd8 {Ribli} 17. d5 $16) 17. Rxd4
Qc5 (17... Rfd8 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Qc6 $16) 18. Rfd1 f5 19. Qc2 Qe5 20. Qd2
Rab8 21. Rd6 $1 (21. e4 Bb7 22. exf5 Qxf5 $132) 21... Bb7 22. Rb6 $1 Be4 (22...
Ba8 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 (23... Qxb8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26. h4) 24. Qg5+ Qg7
25. Rd8+ Rxd8 26. Qxd8+ Qf8 27. Qxa5 $18) 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 (23... Qxb8 24. Qg5+
Kh8 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26. h4) 24. Qg5+ Kh8 (24... Qg7 25. Nxe4 (25. Rd8+ {Ribli}
Rxd8 26. Qxd8+ Qf8 27. Qxa5 $18) 25... fxe4 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Qxd8+ Qf8 28.
Qxa5 $18) 25. Qe7 Kg7 (25... Rxb2 $2 {Ribli} 26. Rd8+ Kg7 27. Qg5# $18) 26.
Qg5+ Kh8 27. Rd7 Rf8 (27... Qxc3 $2 28. Rd8+ $1 $18 (28. bxc3 $4 Rb1+)) (27...
Bc6 28. Rxf7 Qxc3 $2 29. Rf8+ $1 Rxf8 30. bxc3 $18) (27... Qg7 {Ribli} 28. Rd8+
Rxd8 29. Qxd8+ Qg8 30. Qxa5 $18) 28. Qe3 $1 Qb8 29. Qc5 (29. Nxe4 {Ribli} fxe4
30. Qxe4 Qxb2 31. Qxc4 Qxa3 $14) 29... Kg8 30. Nxe4 fxe4 31. Rd2 $1 Qa8 32.
Qg5+ (32. Qxc4 $2 Rc8 33. Qb5 Rc1+ 34. Kg2 e3+) 32... Kh8 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34. h4
$1 c3 35. bxc3 Qb7 36. h5 Qb1+ 37. Kg2 e3 38. Rd4 (38. Qg5+ Kh8 39. Qxe3 $18)
38... Qf5 39. Qxf5 exf5 40. Rd5 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rivas Pastor, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Horn,Pe"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O c6 5. d4 e6 6. b3 (6. Nbd2 $5 f5 7. c4
Bd6 8. Qb3 Rb8 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Qd3 $36 {Norwood-King/London/1988}) 6... Bd6 (
6... f5 7. Ng5 Qf6 8. f3 Bh5 9. g4 $1 $36 {Garcia Palermo-Meduna/Forli/1988})
7. c4 (7. Bb2 Ne7 (7... f5 $5) 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. c4 f5 10. e3 Qe8 11. Qc1 $5 $14 {
Csom-Urzica/Pula/1975}) 7... f5 8. Ba3 (8. Bb2 Qf6 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Qc2 g5 $13 {
Soffer-Psakhis/Tel Aviv/1991}) (8. Ng5 $5) 8... Bxa3 9. Nxa3 Qe7 10. Qc1 Ngf6 {
A Stonewall formation with a Bg4: that cannot be too bad.} 11. b4 (11. Nc2 $1)
11... a6 (11... Qxb4 $6 12. Rb1 $16) 12. Rb1 (12. c5 $6 O-O 13. Nc2 e5 14. dxe5
Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. e3) 12... O-O 13. Qe3 $2 (13. Ne5 $2 Bxe2 14. Re1 Bh5) (
13. Re1) (13. e3) (13. Rb3 $5) 13... f4 $1 (13... a5 14. b5) 14. Qxf4 $6 (14.
gxf4 $6 dxc4 (14... Nh5 $6 15. Ne5 Rxf4 16. Nxg4 Rxg4 $13) 15. Nxc4 (15. Ne5
Nxe5 16. fxe5 Nd5) 15... Nd5 16. Qd2 Nxf4 $40) (14. Qc1 $13) 14... a5 {פa3}
15. cxd5 (15. Nc2 Bf5 $1 (15... axb4 16. Nxb4 dxc4) (15... dxc4 16. b5)) 15...
exd5 16. Ne5 (16. Rb2 axb4 17. Nb1 $17) 16... Bxe2 17. Rfe1 Ne4 $1 18. Qe3 Nxe5
19. dxe5 (19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Rxe2 Nf3+ 21. Kg2 axb4 $17) (19. Rxe2 Ng4 $19)
19... Bh5 20. b5 (20. f4 axb4 $17) (20. f3 axb4 21. Nc2 (21. fxe4 Rxa3 22. Qd4
c5 (22... Rxa2 23. exd5 Rxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Bf3+ 25. Kg1 Bxd5) 23. Qxd5+ Bf7 24. Qd6
Re8 $17) 21... Nc3 $17) 20... Nxf2 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Rbc1 d4 23. Qb3+ Kh8 24.
Nc4 (24. Rxc6 Rab8 25. Qa4 Be8 $19) (24. Bxc6 Rab8 25. Qa4 Nd3 $19) 24... Rab8
25. Qc2 (25. Qa4 Nd3 $19) 25... Bg6 26. Qd2 Nd3 27. Nxa5 Rb2 28. Nxc6 Qe8 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ribli} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. O-O e5 7. d3 c6
8. Rb1 (8. c5 $6 {Ribli Seret,JL-Lautier,J/Lyon zt/1990/CBM18/}) 8... Re8 9. e4
d5 (9... Bg4 $5 {Ribli} 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nbd7 12. b4 Nf8 13. Be3 Ne6 14.
Bg2 Nd7 15. Ne2 a6 $13 {Roth-Tringov/Haag1966/}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Bg5 dxe4 12.
dxe4 Nc6 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 (13... Nxd8 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Re6 16. Nc7 $18) 14.
Nd5 Rd6 15. Nd2 Nxd5 (15... b5 16. Rfc1 Bb7 17. Nc7 Rad8 18. Nb3 a6 19. Nc5 $16
) 16. exd5 Nd4 17. Nc4 Ra6 18. d6 $1 Rxa2 19. Ra1 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Be6 (20... a6
21. Nb6 Rb8 22. Nxc8 Rxc8 23. d7 $18) 21. Na5 Rc8 22. Nxb7 Rc2 23. Rxa7 h6 24.
Be3 Rxb2 25. h3 $16 Rb6 26. Kh2 g5 27. Ra8+ Kh7 28. Re8 Kg6 29. Be4+ (29. Rxe6+
fxe6 (29... Nxe6 $4 30. Bxb6 $18) 30. d7 Bf6 31. d8=Q Bxd8 32. Nxd8 $16) 29...
Kf6 30. g4 Ra6 31. Bd3 (31. Bxd4 $1 {Ribli} exd4 32. Bf5 Bxf5 33. gxf5 Kxf5 34.
d7 Bf6 35. d8=Q Bxd8 36. Rxd8 $16) 31... Rc6 32. Be4 Rc8 (32... Ra6 33. Bxd4
exd4 34. Bf5 $1 (34. Rxe6+ Kxe6 35. Nc5+ Ke5 36. Nxa6 Kxe4 37. d7 Bf6 $13)
34... Bxf5 35. gxf5 Kxf5 36. d7 Bf6 37. d8=Q Bxd8 38. Rxd8 $18) 33. Rxc8 Bxc8
34. Nc5 Be6 35. Bd2 Nb3 (35... Bf8 36. d7 Ke7 (36... Be7 37. Ba5) 37. Bb4 $1
Bxd7 38. Nxd7+ Kxd7 39. Bxf8 $18) 36. Nxb3 Bxb3 37. d7 Ke7 38. Bc6 Bf6 (38...
Be6 39. Bb4+ Kd8 40. Ba5+ $18) 39. Ba5 Kd6 40. Bb5 Bc2 (40... Kc5 41. Be2) 41.
d8=Q+ Bxd8 42. Bxd8 f5 43. gxf5 Bxf5 44. Bf6 Ke6 45. Bg7 h5 46. Bc4+ (46. Bc4+
Kd6 47. Bf7 h4 48. Bf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Abramovic, Bosko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 Nh5 (7...
Qa5 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bg3 N7b6 11. Bb3 c5 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. cxb6 Ne4+
14. Kf1 Nc5 15. Ne5 axb6 16. Kg1 O-O 17. h3 h5 18. Kh2 Bf6 19. Nc4 Qb5 20. Rhd1
Bd7 21. h4 Bc6 22. f3 Nxb3 23. axb3 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 $10 {List-Soultanbeieff/
Zaanstreek (08)/1946/}) (7... O-O 8. h3 Re8 9. O-O-O (9. Bd3 Nf8 10. g4 Bd6 11.
Ne5 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd5 13. O-O-O Nxf4 14. exf4 b5 15. Bd3 f6 16. Be4 Bb7 17. Nd3
Qb6 18. Kb1 a5 19. Nc5 Rad8 20. Ne2 Bc8 21. Rc1 e5 22. dxe5 fxe5 23. f5 Re7 24.
Rhd1 $16 {Sezedenko,V-Mainapalert,T/Manila olm/1992/}) 9... Qa5 10. cxd5 exd5
11. Kb1 Bb4 12. Rc1 Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5 Nb6 15. f3 h6 16. Nxe4 Be6 17. a3
Qd5 18. Nc3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Bf5 20. e4 Rxe4 21. fxe4 Bxe4 22. Bd3 Bxd3 23. Qxd3
Qb3+ {0,5/Ostenstad,B-Lein,A/Gausdal Int (6)/1990/}) 8. Bg3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 g6 $6
(9... h6 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O-O $14) 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O-O dxc4 (11... b6 12.
cxd5 exd5 13. Rh6 Bb7 14. Rdh1 Nf6 15. Ne5 $16) 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Qa5 (13...
Bb7 14. Rh6 Nf6 15. Rdh1 $16) 14. Kb1 Ba6 (14... b4 15. Ne4 c5 16. Nfd2 cxd4
17. exd4 Qb6 18. Nb3 Bb7 19. Qc1 {/\ Qh6}) 15. Ne4 Rfc8 16. Neg5 $1 Nf8 (16...
h5 $2 17. Bxg6 $18) 17. Nxh7 $1 c5 (17... Nxh7 18. Bxg6 Nf8 (18... Nf6 19. Ne5
Rf8 20. Rh6 $18) 19. Bh7+ Kg7 20. Qe4 Bf6 21. Qg4+ Ng6 22. Qh5 Kf8 23. Bxg6
fxg6 24. Qxg6 $18) 18. Nxf8 cxd4 (18... Bxf8 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qxg6+ Bg7 21.
Ng5 Rc7 22. Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 23. Qh7#) 19. Qb3 Bxf8 (19... Kxf8 20. Nxd4 Qb6 21.
Bxg6 $1 $18) 20. Bxg6 $1 b4 (20... fxg6 21. Qxe6+ Kg7 22. Rh7+ Kxh7 23. Qf7+
$18) (20... dxe3 21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Ng5+ Kg7 23. Rh7+ $18) 21. Bh7+ Kg7 22.
Rxd4 Bc5 (22... Kf6 23. Rf4+ Ke7 24. Bg8 $18) 23. Rd7 Be7 24. Bd3 (24. Rxe7 Bc4
25. Ne5 Qxe5 (25... Bxb3 26. Rxf7+ Kh8 27. Ng6#) 26. Qxb4 Rab8 $16) 24... Rd8 (
24... Bxd3+ 25. Qxd3 Rh8 26. Qd4+ Bf6 27. Qg4+ Kf8 28. Rxh8+ Bxh8 29. Ng5 Qe5
30. Rxf7+ Ke8 31. Qxb4 $18) 25. Rd4 Bxd3+ (25... Rxd4 26. Nxd4 $18) 26. Qxd3
Bf6 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Rf4 Ke7 (28... Bg7 29. Nh4 f6 30. Rg4 Qc7 31. Ng6+ Kf7 32.
Nf4 $18) 29. Rxf6 (29. Rxf6 Kxf6 30. Qh4+ Kg6 31. Qh6+ Kf5 32. Qf4+ Kg6 33.
Rh6+ Kg7 34. Qf6+) 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gurevich, Ilya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4 Bc6 7. Qd4 f6 8.
e3 Bg7 (8... e5 $2 9. Nxe5 $1 $16 {Vaganian,R-Kouatly,B/Marseille/1987/}) 9.
Be2 e5 (9... Qd6 $6 10. Ne4 $14 {Morovic,F-Kortschnoj,V/Vina del Mar/1988/
INF46,(16)/}) 10. Qc4 Qd6 (10... Nb6 $6 11. Qb3 $14 {Cifuentes-Leko/Wijk op/
1993/CBM34/INF56,(20)/}) 11. O-O Nd7 12. d4 f5 13. Qb3 $1 e4 (13... O-O-O 14.
a4 $1 $16 {Chekhov-Lputian/Harkov/1985/}) (13... O-O-O $2) (13... exd4 $1 14.
Nxd4 Bxd4 15. exd4 O-O-O $13) 14. Nd2 a5 (14... h5 15. Nc4 Qe6 16. Na5 $14) (
14... O-O 15. Nc4 Qe6 16. Na5 $16) (14... N7b6 15. Nc4 (15. a4 $5) 15... Nxc4
16. Bxc4 O-O-O 17. Bd2 $36) 15. a4 h5 (15... O-O 16. Nb5 Qe6 17. Bc4 Rfc8 18.
f3 $1 $16 {/\} N7b6 19. Nxc7 $1 Rxc7 20. Qxb6) (15... N7b6 16. Nc4 Nxc4 (16...
Qb4 17. Qa2 $16) 17. Bxc4 Rd8 18. Bd2 $16) 16. Nb5 Qe7 (16... Qe6 $2 17. Qxd5
$1 $16) 17. Nc4 (17. Qxd5 $6 Bxd5 18. Nxc7+ Kf8 19. Nxd5 $44) 17... Nf8 (17...
O-O 18. Bd2 b6 19. Rfc1 Bb7 20. Nxa5 bxa5 21. Rxc7 $18) (17... h4 18. Bd2 h3
19. g3) 18. Bd2 Ne6 19. Nxa5 Rxa5 (19... f4 20. Bc4 $1 $16 (20. Nxc6 bxc6 21.
Nc3 f3 22. gxf3 $18) 20... Rxa5 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 $18) 20. Bxa5 f4 21. Bc4
$1 f3 (21... Qg5 22. exf4 Ndxf4 23. Qg3 $18) 22. Bxd5 Qg5 23. Bxc6+ Ke7 24. g3
bxc6 (24... Qg4 25. Bb4+ Kf6 26. Bd7 Re8 $5 27. Bxe6 Rxe6 28. Nxc7) 25. Nxc7
Nd8 (25... Nxc7 26. Bxc7 Qg4 27. Kh1) 26. Qb4+ Kd7 (26... Kf7 27. Qc4+) 27. d5
$1 Qg4 28. dxc6+ Nxc6 29. Rfd1+ Kc8 30. Qb6 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Arencibia Rodriguez, Walter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. g3 d5 4. Nd2 Nf6 5. Bg2 e5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. Ngf3
g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. Nc4 O-O 10. Re1 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 (11... h6 {Wedberg} 12. Qf3
Nf6 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. dxe4 Nd4 15. Qd1 {+/= /\ c3, Ne3-d5}) 12. c3 (12. Nf3 $142
Re8 (12... Bg4 $2 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 $14) (12... f6 $5 13. Ne3 Be6 {=/=/+ ()}
) 13. Ng5 Rf8 $10 (13... f5 $5)) 12... h6 13. Ne4 b6 14. a4 Be6 15. h4 (15. a5
f5 16. Qa4 fxe4 $1 (16... Qd7 17. Ned6 $13) 17. Qxc6 Qf6 $40 18. Rxe4 $140 $2
Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 Bh3 $3 20. Qxd5+ Kh7 21. Bxh3 Qf3+ {/\Qd1#}) 15... Qe7 16. a5 f5
17. Qa4 $2 (17. Ned2 $142 b5 18. Ne3 Rad8 $15) 17... fxe4 18. Qxc6 Rac8 $1 19.
Qd6 Qf6 20. Rxe4 (20. axb6 axb6 21. f4 exf3 22. Bxf3 Qxf3 23. Qxe6+ Kh8 24. Be3
Qxg3+ $19) 20... Rcd8 (20... Rfd8 $2 {Wedberg} 21. Qxe5) 21. Qc6 Ne7 $1 22. Qa4
Qxf2+ 23. Kh1 (23. Kh2 Nf5 24. Ne3 Rxd3 $1 $19) 23... Qxg3 $19 24. Be3 Nf5 25.
Rg1 Nxh4 26. Nxe5 $2 (26. Nd2 Bd5 27. Rxh4 Qxe3 28. Bxd5+ Rxd5 $19) 26... b5 (
26... b5 27. Qxb5 Bxe5 $19) (26... Bxe5 27. Rxh4 Rd4 $1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Wedberg Kramnik} d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 e5 (3... d5 $5 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c4 dxc4
6. Bxc4 e6 $13) 4. dxe5 (4. d5 c6 5. c4 Be7 6. Be3 O-O 7. Qd2 (7. Nc3 cxd5 8.
cxd5 Nh5 9. Qd2 a6 10. g3 b5 11. Bh3 Nd7 12. b3 g6 13. Nge2 b4 $6 14. Na4 Nc5
15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. O-O f5 18. Qd3 $16 {Ionescu,Co-Bogdan,D/
Bucharest Tim/1993/}) 7... b5 $6 8. Nc3 bxc4 9. Bxc4 Bb7 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. dxc6
Bxc6 12. O-O Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6+ 14. Kh1 Rac8 15. b3 Bd7 16. Ng3 g6 17. Rac1 $14
{Alterman,B-Lukin,A/Rostov op/1993/}) 4... dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 Ke8 (6...
Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Nh3 Bc5 (8... Bd6 $142) 9. Nf2 Bxf2+ 10. Kxf2 Nc6 11. Be3
Ke7 12. Na3 a6 13. c3 Rhd8 14. Ke2 h6 15. Nc2 Rd7 16. Rhd1 Rad8 17. Rxd7+ Rxd7
18. Ne1 Ne8 19. Nd3 $14 {_|_|^<<,Yusupov,A-Christiansen,L/Las Palmas/1993/}) 7.
Be3 (7. h4 $6 Nbd7 8. Be3 Bc5 9. Kf2 a5 10. a4 Ke7 11. Nd2 Bxe3+ 12. Kxe3 Nb6
13. Bb3 Nfd7 14. Nc4 Nxc4+ 15. Bxc4 Nb6 16. Bb5 Rd8 17. Ne2 c6 18. Bd3 Be6 19.
Rhd1 Rd6 $15 {Priehoda,V-Mokry,K/Hlohovec op/1993/}) (7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. Nd2 Be7 9.
Ne2 Nb6 10. Bb3 Nfd7 11. Be3 Bc5 12. Nf1 a5 13. a3 c6 14. O-O-O Bxe3+ 15. Nxe3
Nc5 16. Ba2 g6 17. h4 Ke7 18. h5 Be6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. g3 Rhd8 $10 {Kortchnoi,
V-Speelman,J/Antwerpen/1993/}) (7. Nc3 c6 8. Nge2 Nbd7 9. a4 a5 10. Be3 Bc5 11.
Kf2 Ke7 12. Nc1 Bxe3+ 13. Kxe3 Nc5 14. Nd3 Nxd3 15. Kxd3 Nd7 16. Ke3 Nc5 17.
Rhd1 f6 18. Rd2 Rd8 19. Rad1 Rxd2 20. Rxd2 Bd7 $10 {Levitt,J-Adams,M/London LB/
1990/}) 7... Nbd7 8. Nd2 $5 {N} (8. Nc3 Bc5 (8... c6 $10 {Kramnik}) 9. Bxc5
Nxc5 10. Nb5 Na6 11. O-O-O Ke7 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Bxe6 Kxe6 14. g4 Rhd8 15. h4 c6
16. Nbc3 Ke7 17. h5 Rxd1+ 18. Nxd1 Nc5 19. Ne3 g6 $10 {Cebalo,M-Hartoch,R/Bad
Woerishofen/1991/}) 8... Bc5 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 (10... g5 $6 11. Bf2 $14 {׻
}) 11. Bf2 (11. O-O-O $2 {Kramnik} Nxe4) 11... Bc5 (11... Nh5 $1 {Kramnik} 12.
Ne2 Nf4 13. Nxf4 exf4 $10) 12. Nh3 Bxf2+ (12... c6 $5 13. a4 a5 $10) (12... Bb6
$1 $10 {Kramnik /\ Nc5}) 13. Nxf2 Ke7 14. O-O-O $14 Nc5 (14... Nb6 15. Nd3 Nfd7
16. Bb3 $36) (14... c6 $5 $14) (14... Ne8 {Kramnik} 15. Nd3 $14) 15. b4 Na4 16.
Bb3 (16. Nb3 {Kramnik} a5 $5) 16... Nc3 (16... Nb6 17. Nd3 Nfd7 18. c4 $16 {()}
) 17. Rde1 Be6 (17... a5 {Kramnik} 18. bxa5 Nd7 (18... Rxa5 19. Nc4 Rb5 20. Kd2
$18) 19. Nd3 f6 20. Kb2 Nb5 21. f4 $1 $16) 18. Kb2 Nb5 (18... Bxb3 19. Kxb3 Nb5
20. c3 $14) 19. Nd3 Nd7 20. Bxe6 Kxe6 21. a4 Nd6 22. c4 b6 (22... Rhd8 23. c5
Ne8 24. Nc4 $36) (22... f6 {Kramnik} 23. c5 Nf7 24. Nc4 $16) 23. c5 $1 bxc5 24.
bxc5 Nb7 $5 (24... Nc8 25. Nc4 f6 26. f4 $5 $16) 25. Nb3 $1 (25. c6 $2 Nbc5 26.
Nxc5+ Nxc5 $15) 25... Nb8 (25... c6 $142 26. Kc3 $14) (25... Nd8 {Kramnik} 26.
Na5 $1 Nb8 27. Nb4 $16) 26. Nb4 a5 (26... c6 27. Rd1 $16 (27. a5 {Kramnik} a6
$16)) 27. c6 $5 (27. Nd5 Rc8 {/\Nc6-b4<=>}) (27. Nd5 $16 {Kramnik}) 27... Nd8
$8 (27... axb4 28. cxb7 Ra7 29. Rc1 c6 30. Rc4 $18) (27... Nd6 {Kramnik} 28.
Nd5 Nxc6 $2 29. Nc5#) 28. Nd5 Ra7 29. Nc3 $1 Ra8 (29... Nbxc6 30. Nb5 $18 {
/\Nc7,Nc5} (30. Nb5 {Wedberg} Rb7 31. Nc5+)) 30. Nb5 Na6 $8 31. Nxa5 (31. Rc1
$1 {Kramnik} Kf6 32. Rhd1 Ne6 33. Rd7 Rhb8 34. Rc4) (31. Rc1 $16 {Wedberg})
31... Kf6 $1 {/\Nc5} 32. Ka3 (32. Nb3 Nxc6 33. Rc1 Nab4 $13) (32. Rc1 $1 {
Kramnik} Nb4 $6 33. Ka3 Nd3 34. Rc3 Nf2 35. Rf1 $18) 32... Nc5 33. Rc1 (33. Nb3
$2 {Wedberg} Rxa4+ 34. Kb2 Rb4 $19) (33. Nb7 $2 {Wedberg} Ndxb7 34. cxb7 Rxa4+
35. Kb2 Rb4+ $19) 33... Nde6 34. Rxc5 $1 $8 Nxc5 35. Nxc7 Rxa5 36. Kb4 Rxa4+ (
36... Nb7 $1 {Kramnik} 37. Nb5 $5 Ra6 38. cxb7 Rb8 39. Rc1 Rxb7 40. a5 $10) (
36... Na6+ {Kramnik} 37. Kxa5 Nxc7 38. Kb6 $36 (38. Kb6 {Wedberg} Ne8 (38...
Ne6 39. c7 Ra8 40. Ra1 $18) 39. Rd1 $18)) 37. Kxc5 $44 Ra2 38. Nd5+ Ke6 39.
Nc7+ Kf6 40. Nd5+ Ke6 41. Rc1 $1 Rc8 (41... Rb8 $6 {Kramnik} 42. c7 Ra5+ 43.
Kc4 Rc8 (43... Ra4+ 44. Kd3 $18) 44. Kb4 Rxd5 $1 $8 45. exd5+ Kd7 46. g4 $1 g6
(46... Rxc7 47. Rxc7+ Kxc7 48. Kc5 $18) 47. h4 $1 f5 (47... Rxc7 48. Rxc7+ Kxc7
49. Kc5 Kd7 50. d6 f5 51. h5 $1 gxh5 (51... fxg4 52. hxg6 gxf3 53. g7 f2 54.
g8=Q f1=Q 55. Qg7+ $18) 52. gxf5 h4 53. f6 Ke6 54. Kc6 h3 55. d7 h2 56. d8=Q
h1=Q 57. Qe7+ Kf5 58. f7 Qxf3+ 59. Kd7 $18) 48. Rc6 $1 $16) (41... Rxg2 $2 {
Kramnik} 42. f4 $3 (42. c7 {Wedberg} Rxh2 43. Nb6 Rf2 44. Rc3 f5 $10) 42... f6
$8 (42... g6 43. f5+ $1) 43. f5+ Kf7 44. c7 $18) (41... g6 $1 $14 {Kramnik /\
f5, Rg2}) 42. c7 Rxg2 (42... Kd7 43. Nb6+ Kxc7 44. Kb5+ Kb7 45. Nxc8 $18) 43.
Kc6 $18 Rxh2 44. Kb7 Rxc7+ (44... Rh8 45. Rc6+ Kd7 46. Nb6+ Ke7 47. c8=Q Rxc8
48. Nxc8+ $18) 45. Rxc7 (45. Kxc7 $6 {Kramnik} f6 $1 {/\ Kf7-g6-g5<=>}) 45...
f5 (45... Rf2 46. Re7+ $18) 46. Rc6+ Kf7 47. exf5 Rf2 48. Rc7+ Kg8 (48... Kf8 {
Kramnik} 49. Kc6 Rxf3 50. Kd6 Rxf5 51. Ke6 $18) 49. Kc6 Rxf3 50. Kd6 e4 51. f6
$1 e3 (51... gxf6 52. Ke6 e3 (52... h5 {Kramnik} 53. Nxf6+ Rxf6+ 54. Kxf6 e3
55. Re7 $18) 53. Nxf6+ {/\Rf7,Rh7#} (53. Nxf6+ {Wedberg} Kf8 54. Rf7#)) 52.
Rxg7+ Kf8 53. Re7 h5 54. Rxe3 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 e6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. b3 Nf6 $6 8.
bxc4 bxc4 9. Bxc4 Be7 $6 (9... Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nbxd2 O-O 12. O-O $16)
10. Ne5 O-O (10... Bb7 11. Bb5+ Nbd7 12. Qa4 $18) 11. Qf3 Nd5 12. Nc3 Bb4 (
12... Bb7 13. Rb1) 13. Bd2 Bb7 (13... Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Bb7 (14... f6 15. Nd3 {
/\ Nf4, /\ Nc5, /\ Bd2, e4+-}) 15. Bb4 Nxb4 16. Qxb7 Nc2+ 17. Ke2 Nxa1 18. Rxa1
$18) 14. Nxd5 Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Bxd5 (15... exd5 16. Rhb1 $18) 16. Bxd5 exd5 17.
Rhb1 (17. Rhc1 $5 a5 (17... Nd7 18. Nc6 Qf6 19. Qxf6 Nxf6 20. Nxa7) (17... f6
18. Nd3) 18. Rc5 Qb6 19. Nd3) 17... Nd7 18. Qxd5 $6 (18. Nc6 $5 Qe8 (18... Qf6
19. Qxf6 Nxf6 20. Rb7 $18) 19. Qxd5 (19. Rb7 Nf6 20. Ne7+ Kh8 $13 {/\} 21. Nxd5
Ne4+ {/\ Qc6}) 19... Nf6 20. Qc4 (20. Qf3 Ne4+ 21. Kd3 Nxf2+) (20. Qb5 Ne4+ 21.
Ke1 Nc3) 20... Ng4 (20... Qe4 21. f3 Qh4 22. h3) 21. Ke2 Qe4 22. h3 Rac8 23.
Rc1 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Qxg2+ 25. Kd3 Qg6+ 26. Kd2 $18) 18... Nxe5 19. Qxe5 a5 20.
Ke2 (20. Ra4 $5) 20... Re8 21. Qf4 (21. Qc5 Rc8 22. Qxa5 (22. Qb6 Rc2+ {/\ Qh4}
) 22... Qxd4 $10) 21... a4 22. Kf1 (22. Ra3 $2 Qe7 23. Rba1 Qb4 $10) 22... a3
23. Rb7 Re7 (23... Qd5 24. Qf3 Qc4+ 25. Qe2 Qc3 26. Qa2 $18) 24. Rb3 (24. Rxe7
$2 Qxe7 $10) 24... Rea7 (24... a2 25. Rxa2 Rxa2 26. Rb8 $18) 25. Ra2 g6 (25...
Qc8 26. Qe4 Qc4+ 27. Qd3 Qc1+ 28. Ke2 $16) 26. Qe4 h5 27. g3 Qd6 28. h4 Ra4 29.
Qd3 R8a5 30. Kg1 Ra7 31. Qb5 Kg7 32. Qe8 Ra8 33. Qe4 R8a7 34. Rc3 Qb4 $2 (34...
Rc7) 35. Rc8 Re7 36. Qc2 Rb7 (36... Rea7 37. Qc5 $18) 37. Kg2 (37. Qc5 Qxc5 (
37... Qb1+ 38. Kg2 Qxa2 39. Qf8+ Kf6 40. Qh8+ Ke6 (40... Ke7 41. Qe8+ Kd6 42.
Qc6+ Ke7 43. Re8#) 41. Qe5+ Kd7 42. Qe8+ $18) 38. Rxc5 Rb2 39. Ra1 $8 a2 $10) (
37. Kh2 $5) 37... Ra6 38. Qc3 Qe7 39. d5+ $6 (39. Qc5 Qxc5 40. Rxc5 Rb2 41.
Rxb2 axb2 42. Rb5 Ra2 43. Kf3 $18) 39... f6 40. Qc4 Rba7 41. Kh2 Qe5 (41... Qd6
$5) 42. e4 (42. f4 Qd6 (42... Qxe3 $2 43. d6 $18)) 42... g5 $5 (42... Ra4 $2
43. Qc5 Re7 (43... g5 44. Qf8+ Kg6 45. Re8 $18) 44. Rxa3 Rxa3 45. Qxa3 Qxe4 46.
Qa8 $18) (42... Qd6 43. Qb5 {/\ Qe8+/-} (43. Re8 Qd7 (43... Rc7 44. Qb3) 44.
Qc8 Qxc8 45. Rxc8 Re7 46. Rc4 f5 47. exf5 (47. f3 fxe4 48. fxe4 Kf6 $10) 47...
gxf5 48. Kg2 Rd7 $132)) 43. d6 $6 (43. hxg5 fxg5 44. Qb4 $16 (44. Qc3 Qxc3 45.
Rxc3 g4 (45... Kf6 46. f4 h4 47. fxg5+ Kxg5 48. gxh4+ Kxh4 49. e5) 46. e5 (46.
Kg2 Kf6 47. f4 gxf3+ 48. Kxf3 Ke5 $10) (46. f4 gxf3 47. Rxf3 Re7 $10) 46... Ra5
47. Rd3 Rd7 48. d6 (48. Raxa3 Rxa3 49. Rxa3 Rxd5 $10) 48... Rxe5 49. Raxa3 Kf6
$10)) 43... Qxd6 44. Qg8+ Kh6 45. Rd8 Qb4 $2 (45... Qe7 $2 46. hxg5+ fxg5 47.
Qh8+ Qh7 48. Rxa3 Qxh8 49. Rxh8+ Kg6 50. Rg8+ Kh6 (50... Kf6 51. Rf3+) 51.
Rxa6+ Rxa6 52. f4 $18) (45... Qe6 $6 46. hxg5+ fxg5 47. Qh8+ Rh7 48. Qf8+ Rg7 (
48... Kg6 $2 49. Rxa3 Rxa3 50. Rd6 Ra6 51. Qf5+ $18) 49. Rxa3 Rxa3 50. Rd6 (50.
Qxa3 Qxe4 $10) 50... Ra6 51. Rxe6+ Rxe6 52. f4 gxf4 53. gxf4 $16 {/\} Rxe4 $2
54. Qf6+ Rg6 55. Qh8#) (45... Qc5 {><f2} 46. hxg5+ (46. Rad2 gxh4 $13 {/\} (
46... a2 $2 47. Rxa2 Rxa2 48. Qh8+ Kg6 49. Rg8+ Kf7 50. Qg7+ Ke6 51. Re8+ Re7 (
51... Qe7 52. Rxe7+ Rxe7 53. Qg8+ Rf7 54. Qe8+ Re7 55. Qc6+ $18) 52. Qg8+ Kd6 (
52... Ke5 53. Rxe7+ Qxe7 54. Qd5#) 53. Rd8+ Kc6 (53... Rd7 54. Qf8+ Kc6 55.
Rc8+ $18) 54. Qxa2 $18) 47. R8d5 hxg3+ 48. fxg3 Qc7) 46... fxg5 47. Rad2 Rg6 (
47... Rg7 $2 48. Qh8+ Rh7 (48... Kg6 49. f4 $18) 49. R2d6+ Rxd6 50. Qf8+ $18)
48. Qh8+ (48. R2d6 Qxd6 49. Rxd6 Rxd6 50. Qf8+ Kh7 51. Qxd6 a2) 48... Rh7 49.
Qa1 $14) 46. hxg5+ fxg5 47. Rad2 $18 Rg6 (47... a2 48. R2d7) (47... Rg7 48.
Qh8+ Rh7 (48... Kg6 49. R2d7) 49. R2d6+ Rxd6 50. Qf8+ Rg7 51. Rxd6+) (47...
Qxd2 48. Rxd2 a2 49. Qh8+ Kg6 50. Qa1) 48. Qh8+ Rh7 49. R2d7 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hertneck} d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Ne4 $5
7. e3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 g6 $1 9. Be2 (9. c4 Bg7 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Be2 Qa5+ 12. Qd2
O-O {Ehlves,J-Neverov/Helsinki op/1992/}) (9. Bd3 $5 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. e4 $14
) (9. Ne5 {Hertneck} Qa5 10. Qb3 Bg7 11. Nxc6 $6 (11. Bb5) 11... bxc6 12. a3 $6
e5 $132 {Eingorn,V-Dorfman,J/Moskva GMA/1990}) 9... Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. c4 dxc4
12. Bxc4 Bf5 (12... Bg4 13. h3 (13. Be2 $14 {Hertneck}) 13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 e5
15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Bd5 Rab8 $10) (12... a6 $5) 13.
Rc1 Rc8 14. Qe2 (14. Qa4 {Hertneck}) 14... a6 (14... Na5 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3
Qd7 17. Qa3 $1 $14) 15. h3 $2 (15. Rfd1) (15. d5 $1 Na5 (15... b5 $5 16. Bb3 $1
(16. dxc6 bxc4 17. e4 (17. c7 Qd3) 17... Be6 $13) 16... Na5 17. e4 $14) 16. e4
$14) 15... Na5 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Qd7 18. Rc3 (18. e4 Qa4) (18. Qa3 Nc4 19.
Qb4 (19. Qb3 b5 $15) 19... b5 20. a4 Nb6 21. axb5 Nd5 $15) 18... b5 $1 $15 19.
Rfc1 (19. Ra3 $2 Nc4 $1 20. Rxa6 $2 Qb7) (19. Rxc8 $5 Rxc8 20. Qa3 Qd8 21. e4)
19... Nc4 20. Qe2 (20. Nd2 e5 $1 21. dxe5 Qxd3 22. Rxd3 Nxe5 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 $17)
(20. e4 f5 $1) 20... Nb6 $1 (20... e6 21. a4 $1) 21. Rc7 $6 (21. Be5 $5 $15)
21... Qe6 22. Bg5 $6 (22. e4 $6 Rxc7 $6 23. Bxc7 (23. Rxc7 $2 Nd5) 23... Rc8
24. Bf4 Rxc1+ 25. Bxc1 Qc6 (25... f5 $5) 26. Bf4 e6 {/\ a5,b4-/+}) (22. Ng5 Qf5
23. g4 $2 Rxc7 24. Rxc7 Qb1+ 25. Kg2 Nd5) (22. Be5 $5) 22... Nd5 23. R7c5 (23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 25. e4 Nc3 $17) 23... h6 24. Bh4 b4 $1 $17 25. Qb2 (
25. Qc4 Rxc5 26. Qxc5 (26. dxc5 Nc3 27. Qxe6 fxe6 28. Rc2 g5 29. Bg3 Rc8) 26...
Nc3 27. Rc2 $8 Qe4 $5 $17) 25... Nc3 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Kh1 Kh7 $3 {/\ Na4} (
27... a5 28. a3 $1 Na4 29. Rxc8+ Qxc8 30. Qb3 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qxa3 32. Qd5 $1 $132
) 28. Ra1 $8 a5 29. Qb3 $1 (29. Nd2 $1 $17) 29... Qxb3 30. axb3 g5 31. Bg3 a4
$1 $19 32. Nd2 (32. bxa4 b3 33. Nd2 b2 34. Re1 Nxa4 $19) 32... a3 33. Rc1 (33.
Nc4 Rxc4 34. bxc4 a2 $19) 33... e5 $1 (33... f5 $5 {/\ f4}) 34. d5 (34. Bxe5
Bxe5 35. dxe5 Rd8 36. Nc4 Rd1+ 37. Rxd1 Nxd1 $19) 34... a2 35. Ra1 e4 36. d6
Ra8 37. Nc4 (37. d7 Rd8 $19) 37... Nb5 38. Be5 Nxd6 $1 39. Rxa2 $8 Rxa2 40.
Bxd6 Rxf2 41. Bxb4 Rf1+ 42. Kh2 Rb1 0-1

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 Be7 (5... a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7.
Bf4 (7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O c6 11. Rab1 h6 12. Bf4 c5 13. Be2
b5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Rbd1 Bb7 16. Be5 Rc8 17. Qf5 Qb6 18. Bd4 Qe6 19. Qb1 b4
20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Na4 Bxe3 22. Bd3 Qc6 23. fxe3 Qxa4 24. Nd4 $15 {Skembris,
S-Raicevic,V/Athens Akropolis (2)/1992/0.5 (61)}) 7... Be7 8. e3 c6 9. h3 Nf8
10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Ne5 N6d7 13. f4 Qe7 14. Qf2 f6 15. Nf3 Ng6 16.
O-O O-O 17. f5 Nh8 18. Rfe1 Nb6 19. Qg3 Nf7 20. e4 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Qd8 22. Nc5
Ng5 23. Nb3 a5 24. Nxg5 $14 {Ljubojevic,L-Smagin,S/Moscow 25'/1992/0.5 (59)}) (
5... c6 6. e4 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8. Qxe4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nxd2 O-O 11. Bd3
Nf6 12. Qh4 e5 13. Nb3 exd4 14. O-O-O {Ivanchuk,V-Akopian,V/Moscow Final GMA 
(7)/1990/0.5 (14)}) (5... Bb4 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 O-O (8... a5 9.
Nd2 Nxd2 10. Bxd2 O-O 11. e3 e5 12. cxd5 exd4 13. e4 Re8 14. O-O-O c6 15. f4
cxd5 16. e5 Qb6 17. Bd3 Nf8 18. Kb1 Bd7 19. Rc1 Rac8 20. Qd1 Ne6 21. Bf5 Rc5
22. Rxc5 Qxc5 23. Qb3 Bc6 24. Rc1 $13 {Agrest,E-Orlov,V/St.Petersburg-chop/
1992/0.5 (37)}) 9. g3 c6 10. Bg2 b6 11. O-O Ba6 12. b3 Rc8 13. Rd1 Qf6 14. Bb2
Qf5 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. e3 Nd6 17. Qxf5 Nxf5 18. Nd2 Nf6 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nxe4
Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Nd6 22. Bg2 f6 23. Bh3 Nf5 24. Re1 $13 {Miralles,G-Rogers,I/
Geneva (09)/1990/0-1 (66)}) 6. Bf4 (6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 dxc4 8. e4 a6 9. a4 c5 10.
dxc5 Qc7 11. Bxc4 Bxc5 12. Qe2 Nh5 13. O-O-O O-O 14. e5 Nb6 15. Bb3 Bd7 16. Kb1
Nf4 17. Qc2 Bb4 18. Qe4 Bxc3 19. Qxf4 Ba5 20. Bf6 Rfc8 21. Qg4 g6 22. Qf4 g5
23. Nxg5 Bxa4 24. Nxe6 $18 {Savchenko,S-Smagin,S/Moscow Tal/1992/1-0 (27)})
6... dxc4 (6... O-O 7. e3 a6 8. a3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Ba2 c5 11. Rd1 c4 12. e4
Bb7 13. Bb1 g6 14. O-O Qb6 15. d5 exd5 16. e5 Nh5 17. Bh6 d4 18. Nxd4 Nxe5 19.
Bxf8 Bxf8 20. Nce2 Rd8 21. Qc3 Bc5 22. Kh1 Qf6 23. f3 Bd6 24. Be4 $16 {Gelfand,
B-Nogueiras,J/Biel izt (02)/1993/1-0 (32)}) 7. e4 a6 8. a4 (8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3
c5 $10) 8... c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bxc4 Nh5 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. Ne2 (12. O-O Bxf2+
13. Rxf2 Qxc4 $15) 12... b6 13. b4 Bd6 14. Rc1 O-O 15. O-O Nhf6 (15... Bb7 16.
Ned4 (16. e5 Nxe5 17. Ng5 Nf6 18. Nxe6 Qc6 $1) (16. Qd3 Qb8 $13) 16... Nhf6 $6
17. Nxe6 $1 $16) 16. Ned4 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Nf3 Bf4 (18... Bb7 19. Nxe5
Qxe5 20. f3 $14) 19. Rfe1 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 Qe7 21. e5 Nd7 22. Nd4 Nb8 (22... Bb7
23. Nf5 (23. Re3 $5 Qg5 24. f4 Qxf4 25. Nxe6 $1) 23... exf5 24. e6 Ne5 25. Rxe5
Kh8 26. Ree1 $14) 23. Re3 Rd8 24. Bd3 $1 Bb7 25. Bb1 g6 (25... Qd7 26. Qc2 g6
27. Nf3 $14) 26. Rh3 Qf8 27. Rd3 Bd5 (27... Be4 28. Nxe6 Rxd3 29. Bxd3 fxe6 30.
Bxe4 $18) 28. Ba2 Ra7 (28... Be4 29. Nxe6 $1 Rxd3 30. Qh6 $3) 29. Nf5 $1 Rad7 (
29... gxf5 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. Qf6+) 30. Nd6 Bxa2 31. Qxa2 Qh6 32. Qb2 Qg7 33. Qe2
Qh6 34. Rdc3 Qh4 35. Rc4 Qe7 36. g3 b5 37. axb5 axb5 38. Rf4 f6 39. Ne4 $1 fxe5
40. Nf6+ Kh8 41. Nxd7 exf4 42. Nxb8 Qd6 (42... Rxb8 43. Qe5+ $18) 43. Nc6 Rc8
44. Qxb5 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Romero Holmes"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1993.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. f3 Rd8 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Qf2 d5 (12... Nd7 13. Nb5 Qb8
14. g4 a6 15. N5d4 Qc7 16. h4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 18. g5 d5 19. exd5 Rxd5 20. Bc4
$14 {Gipslis,A-Tukmakov,V/URS/1975/}) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Rxd5 15. Rxd5 exd5
16. g4 (16. Bb5 $5) 16... Bf6 (16... Be6 17. Nd4 Rc8 18. Kb1 Bf6 19. c3 $13 (
19. Nxe6 $6 fxe6 20. g5 $2 Bxb2 21. Kxb2 Nb4 $40 {Jimenez-Pomar/Havana olm/
1966/})) 17. Kb1 Be6 18. g5 (18. c3) (18. Bd3 Nb4 19. Bd4 Nxd3 20. cxd3 $14 {
Rogers,I-Kotronias,V/Manila/1992/}) 18... Be5 19. f4 d4 $1 20. Bc1 (20. fxe5
dxe3 21. Qxe3 Nxe5 $36) (20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 Bxf4 $15) 20... Bd5 21. Rg1 Bd6
22. Bg2 (22. Nxd4 Nxd4 (22... Bc5 23. c3 Qa5 $40) 23. Qxd4 Bc5 24. Qxd5 Bxg1
$17) 22... Bxg2 23. Rxg2 Qd7 $1 24. Qe2 (24. Nxd4 Bc5) 24... Bf8 25. Qd3 Rd8
26. a3 Qd5 27. Re2 b5 28. Bd2 a6 29. Re1 g6 30. h4 $6 h5 $1 {xh4} 31. Re4 Kh7
32. Qe2 $6 (32. Nc1 $1) 32... Bg7 33. Na5 $2 (33. Nc1 $1) 33... d3 $1 34. cxd3
(34. Qxd3 Qxd3 (34... Qf5 35. Qe3 Rxd2 36. Nxc6 Rh2 $17) 35. cxd3 Rxd3 $17)
34... Nd4 $1 (34... Qxd3+) 35. Qf1 Nf5 36. Be1 Qxd3+ 37. Qxd3 Rxd3 38. Nc6 Ne3
(38... Rh3) 39. Ka2 Ng2 40. Ne5 Nxe1 41. Rxe1 (41. Nxd3 Nxd3 $19) 41... Rd2 (
41... Bxe5 $5 42. fxe5 Rh3 43. e6 fxe6 44. Rxe6 Rxh4 45. Rxa6 Rg4 46. Ra5 Rxg5
47. a4 h4 48. Rxb5 h3 $19) 42. a4 bxa4 43. Re4 Rh2 44. Nxf7 (44. Rxa4 Rxh4 45.
Rxa6 (45. Nxf7 Rh2 46. Ne5 h4 $17) 45... Rxf4 $19) 44... Bxb2 45. Rxa4 Bg7+ 46.
Kb3 Rxh4 $19 47. Kc2 Rg4 48. Kd3 h4 49. Ke4 h3 50. Ra2 Kg8 51. Ne5 Rg2 52. Ra3
Re2+ 53. Kd5 h2 54. Rh3 Bxe5 55. fxe5 a5 56. e6 a4 57. Kd6 a3 58. Rb3 h1=Q 0-1

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1993.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
Qd8 (8... Bd6) 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. Rc1 a6 12. e4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b5 14. Ba2
c5 15. d5 $14 c4 (15... Nb6 16. Ne5 $14) 16. e5 $1 exd5 (16... Bb7 17. Bb1 $1
$36) 17. Qxd5 Rb8 18. e6 fxe6 $2 (18... Nf6 $1 19. Qxd8 Bxd8 $10) 19. Qxe6+ Kh8
20. Rcd1 $1 $16 Rxf3 $6 (20... Rb6 $5) 21. gxf3 Rb6 22. Qf7 Rf6 23. Qh5 Qf8 24.
Bb1 g6 25. Qd5 Nc5 26. Rfe1 Kh7 27. Qe5 Ne6 28. Nd5 Rxf3 29. Qh5 $1 $18 Rd3 30.
Rxd3 gxh5 31. Rf3+ Kg7 32. Rxf8 Bxf8 33. Bf5 Kf7 34. Nb6 Nd4 35. Bxc8 Nf3+ 36.
Kf1 Nxe1 37. Kxe1 Bg7 38. Bxa6 Bxb2 39. Bxb5 c3 40. Kd1 Bxa3 41. Na4 Bd6 42. h3
Be5 43. Kc2 Bd4 44. f3 Kf6 45. Nxc3 Kg5 46. Ne2 Be5 47. Kd3 Kh4 48. Bd7 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1993.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. Qc2 a6 12. b4 f5 $6 (12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bf6 14.
Ne4 e5 $132) 13. c5 $1 Bf6 14. a4 g5 (14... g6 {/\ e5+/=}) 15. b5 a5 16. Ne2
Bg7 17. Rab1 Qe7 18. Nd2 f4 $6 19. exf4 gxf4 20. Rfe1 e5 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. dxe5
Nxe5 23. Nd4 Qf6 24. N2f3 Nxf3+ (24... Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bg4 26. Rb6 $16) 25. Nxf3
Bf5 26. Rb6 Bxd3 27. Qxd3 Rae8 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. h3 Re6 30. Kh2 Qg6 31. Qd2 $1
(31. Qxg6 Rxg6 $13) 31... Qe4 32. Qxa5 Kh7 33. Rb8 Rf6 34. Qc7 d4 (34... Qxa4
35. Qe7 $1 Rg6 36. Qf7 h5 37. h4 Qc2 38. Ng5+ Kh6 39. Rh8+ Bxh8 40. Qh7#) 35.
Rb7 Rg6 36. Qe5 Qc2 (36... Qxe5 37. Nxe5 Re6 38. Nd3 $18) 37. Nh4 (37. Qxd4 $18
) 37... Rg5 38. Qxd4 Qxc5 $2 39. Rxg7+ $1 $18 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1993.11.07"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Bayern Muenchen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 h6 14. Rc1 Be7
15. O-O Be6 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Nc5 Rac8 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qe2 Bf6 20. Qh5 Ne7 21.
b4 Rc6 22. h4 Rfc8 23. Rcd1 Rc3 24. e4 e5 25. exd5 exf4 26. d6 Rd8 27. dxe7
Bxe7 28. Be4 Rcc8 29. Qf5 Bxh4 30. Qh7+ Kf7 31. Bd5+ Kf6 32. Qe4 Bg5 33. Rfe1
Re8 34. Qxe8 Rxe8 35. Rxe8 Qc7 36. Rde1 Kg6 37. Rd1 Bf6 38. Be4+ Kf7 39. Ra8 b6
40. Bf5 Be7 41. Rd7 Qc1+ 42. Kh2 Kf6 43. Raxa7 Kxf5 44. Rxe7 g5 45. f3 h5 46.
Rf7+ Kg6 47. Rfc7 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.01.30"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Chandler, Murray G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Solingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 e5 5. Bg2 d6 6. d3 Be7 7. Bg5 O-O 8. O-O
Be6 9. a3 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Ne1 g6 12. Nc2 Bg7 13. Rb1 f5 14. b4 Qd7 15. Ne3
e4 16. Ned5 exd3 17. Qxd3 cxb4 18. Nb5 Bf7 19. axb4 Ne5 20. Qb3 Rfc8 21. Rfc1
Nxc4 22. Nxa7 Rxa7 23. Rxc4 Rxc4 24. Qxc4 Kh7 25. b5 Ra5 26. Bf3 Be5 27. e3 Kg7
28. Qc7 Qxc7 29. Nxc7 b6 30. Bc6 Kf6 31. Na8 Ba2 32. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.04.16"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Rozentalis, Eduardas"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Koblenz"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. d4 d5 8. e5 $5
(8. exd5 Qxd5 $1 9. dxc5 (9. c4 Qd6 10. dxc5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ne4 12. Bxc6 bxc6
13. Na3 Bg4 14. Nc2 Nxc5 15. Ncd4 Rfc8 $10 {Torre-Kotronias/Manila ol/1992/})
9... Qxc5 10. Bxc6 $6 Qxc6 $1 11. Rxe7 Be6 12. Nd4 Qd6 13. Rxb7 Ng4 14. g3 Rfd8
15. Bg5 (15. Bf4 Qd5 16. Rc7 g5 17. Be3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qe4 $19) 15... Bxd4 $1
16. Qxd4 (16. cxd4 Qd5 $1) 16... Qf8 $1 17. Bxd8 (17. Qa4 Qc5 $1) 17... Qh6 $1
$19 {Vedder-Jakovic/Leeuwarden op/1992/23/0-1/}) 8... Ne4 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 cxd4
10. cxd4 Qb6 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 Rd8 $15 {Polgar,J-Kramnik,V/
Monaco blind/1994/0-1/40/ ;EXP 40}) (9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nbd2 cxd4 11. cxd4 c5 $10
) 9... Qb6 10. Ba4 (10. Bxc6 Qxc6 11. Bf4 b6 $15) 10... Bf5 (10... Be6 $5 {
/\ f6}) 11. Na3 (11. Re2 $142 $10 {/\ Be3, Nbd2}) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 f6 $1 13.
Bb3 Rad8 (13... e6 14. Be3 $1 $13 (14. g4 $2 fxe5 $44)) 14. exf6 (14. g4 $2 Be6
15. Rxe4 dxe4 16. Bxe6+ Kh8 $17) 14... exf6 $15 15. Nc2 Rfe8 16. Bf4 Be6 17.
Re2 (17. Ne3 g5 $1 18. Bh2 f5 $36) 17... g5 $1 18. Bh2 f5 (18... h6 $15) 19.
Qe1 Bf7 $1 (19... f4 $2 20. Nd2 $1 {/\} Nxd4 $2 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23.
Rxe4 $18) (19... g4 $2 20. hxg4 fxg4 21. Nd2 g3 22. Nxe4 $5 gxh2+ 23. Kxh2 dxe4
24. Rxe4) 20. Rd1 (20. Ne3 Nxd4 $1 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Nxf5 Bc5 $17 {><f2} 23.
Kf1 Qf6 $5) 20... f4 21. g3 fxg3 (21... Kh8 $5) 22. fxg3 Rf8 23. Kg2 $2 (23. g4
$1 $15) 23... Na5 $1 $17 24. Qb4 (24. Re3 Nc4 $5 25. Bxc4 dxc4 26. Rxe4 Bd5)
24... Qxb4 25. Nxb4 Nxb3 26. axb3 Rd6 $1 {><b3} 27. Nd3 Rb6 28. b4 Rc8 29. Nfe5
Be8 30. g4 Ba4 $1 31. Ra1 Bb5 32. Rd1 (32. Ra3 Ra6) 32... Bf8 {/\ Bb4} 33. Rde1
$6 (33. Re3 $142 Rc2+ $17) 33... Bd6 $1 34. Re3 (34. Rd1 Bxb4 $19) 34... Rc2+
35. Kg1 Bxd3 36. Rxd3 Rxb2 37. Rc1 R6xb4 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.04.17"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D57"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Porz"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Rd8 12. c4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nc6 14. Be2 b6
$1 (14... Bg4 15. O-O $14) 15. O-O Bb7 16. Rac1 Na5 17. Qb2 Rac8 $10 18. h3 (
18. Rc3 c5 19. Qa3 Kf8 $10) 18... c5 19. dxc5 (19. Qa3 Kf8 20. dxc5 Rd5 $5 $10)
19... Rxc5 20. Rxc5 Qxc5 21. Rc1 Qe7 22. Nd4 Qg5 (22... Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.
Qc3 $14) (22... Qf6 23. Qc3 $5 {/\} Rc8 24. Qxc8+ Bxc8 25. Rxc8+ Kh7 26. Bd3+
g6 27. Rc7) 23. Bg4 Qd5 (23... Nc4 $2 24. Rxc4 Qd5 25. Bf3 Qxc4 26. Bxb7) (
23... h5 24. Bf3 $14) 24. Bf3 Qd7 25. Bxb7 Nxb7 (25... Qxb7 $2 26. Nf5 $16) 26.
Nc6 Ra8 (26... Qd2 27. Qxd2 (27. Qa3) 27... Rxd2 28. Ne7+ $5 {/\ Rc7}) 27. Qd4
Nc5 $2 (27... Qxd4 $2 28. exd4 $36) (27... Qe6 $1 28. Qc4 Qe8 $10 {/\ Nc5}) 28.
Qxd7 Nxd7 29. Rd1 Nc5 30. g4 $14 g6 $2 {><h6} (30... Kf8 $14) 31. Kg2 Kg7 {
/\ Rc8} 32. Rd2 $1 a6 (32... Ne4 33. Rd7 $16 {><f7}) 33. Rd6 Rc8 34. Nd4 b5 35.
h4 $1 $16 {/\ h5} b4 (35... a5 36. Nxb5 Rb8 37. Nc3 Rb2 38. Rd5) 36. Rb6 a5 37.
Rb5 Nd3 38. Rxa5 Ne1+ 39. Kg3 Nc2 40. Nb3 $6 (40. Nf3 $1 Rc3 41. Ne5 Kf6 (41...
Ra3 42. Rxa3 bxa3 43. Nd3 $1 $18) 42. Kf4 g5+ 43. hxg5+ hxg5+ 44. Ke4 $18)
40... Na3 41. Ra4 Rc4 42. Nd4 $1 Nc2 43. Nf3 Rc5 (43... Rc3 44. Ne5 Kf6 45. Kf4
) 44. Ra7 g5 (44... Na3 $142 45. g5 h5 $8) 45. h5 $18 Kg8 46. Nd2 Na3 47. Ne4
Rc2 (47... Rc6 48. Kf3 $5 {/\ Ng3}) 48. Rb7 Rxa2 49. Rxb4 Rc2 50. Rb6 Kh7 (
50... Kg7 51. Nd6) 51. Rb7 (51. Nd6 $2 Nc4 52. Rc6 Nxe3) 51... Kg8 52. Nd6 Rc6
53. Nxf7 Nc4 54. Rd7 (54. Nxh6+ Rxh6 55. Rb5) 54... Rf6 55. Rd4 $1 (55. Rd4
Nxe3 56. Nxh6+) 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.05.08"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Watson, William N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E96"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Castrop Rauxel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 7. O-O e5 8. Re1
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. Bf1 c6 11. Rb1 Nc5 12. f3 a5 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Qd2 Nfd7 15.
Kh1 Ne5 16. Rbd1 Bf8 17. Bh6 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 f6 19. Qd2 Nf7 20. b3 Qb6 21. Qb2
Kg7 22. Rd2 Bd7 23. Red1 Ne6 24. Na4 Qa7 25. Nxe6+ Bxe6 26. Qc3 b6 27. Qd4 Rab8
28. f4 Qc7 29. Nc3 Rbd8 30. Be2 Bc8 31. Rf1 Bb7 32. Bf3 Re7 33. Nd1 Rde8 34.
Nf2 Bc8 35. a3 Qd8 36. Qc3 Qc7 37. Kg1 Be6 38. Rfd1 Bc8 39. Bg4 Bb7 40. Bh3 Bc8
41. Bxc8 Qxc8 42. g4 h6 43. h4 g5 44. hxg5 hxg5 45. fxg5 Nxg5 46. Rxd6 Re6 47.
Kg2 Nf7 48. Rd7 R8e7 49. Rxe7 Rxe7 50. Qf3 Re5 51. Nh3 Ng5 52. Nxg5 Rxg5 53.
Kg3 Qe6 54. Qf4 Qe7 55. Rd6 Rc5 56. Kf3 b5 57. Qd2 Qe5 58. Rd8 Qe6 59. Qh2 1-0

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ribli, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 (8... Nxd5 9. e4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. d4 Nd7 12. Bf4 Nf6 13. Ne5 Rc8 14.
Qd3 $14 {Beliavsky,A-Tiviakov,S/Beograd/1991/1.0 (56)/}) 9. d4 O-O 10. Bf4 (10.
Bg5 Nbd7 (10... Na6 11. Rc1 h6 (11... Re8 12. e3 Ne4 $10) 12. Be3 $1 Re8 13.
Qa4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Qc2 Ng4 16. Bf4 Bf6 17. Nf5 $14 {Podzielny,K-Ftacnik,
L/BRD/1993/}) 11. e3 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Rc1 Rfd8 14. Nd2 Rac8 15. Bh3 $14 {
Tregubov-Brodskij,M/R0stov/1993/1:0 (44)/}) 10... Nbd7 (10... Na6 $5 11. Rc1 (
11. Ne5 $5 {Vaganian/}) 11... Ne4 12. dxc5 Naxc5 13. Be5 Re8 14. Nb5 Bf8 15.
Nbd4 a5 $13 {Csom,I-Barczay,L/HUN(ch)/1977/}) 11. dxc5 bxc5 $6 (11... Nxc5 $5
12. Rc1 Nfe4 $14) 12. Nh4 $1 Nb6 13. Nf5 $16 Re8 (13... Qd7 14. e4 $5 (14. Bh3
Kh8) 14... d4 15. Nb5 Qxb5 16. Nxe7+ Kh8 17. Nf5 $16) 14. Nb5 Qd7 (14... Nh5
15. Bd6 Bf8 16. e4 Nf6 17. e5 $16) 15. Nbd6 Bxd6 16. Nxd6 Re6 $6 (16... Red8
17. Rc1 c4 (17... Bc6 18. e4 (18. Rxc5 $2 Nh5 $1) 18... Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20.
Qxd7 Nxd7 21. Bxe4 $16) 18. Nxb7 Qxb7 19. Be5 $16) 17. Bh3 Bc6 18. Qc1 c4 19.
Be5 $1 Rf8 (19... Qe7 20. Bxe6 (20. Nf5 Qf8 21. Qg5 Rxe5 22. Nh6+ Kh8 23. Qxe5
Re8 $17) 20... Qxe6 21. Qf4 Nh5 22. Qf5 g6 23. Qxe6 fxe6 24. b3 $18) 20. Qf4
Nh5 21. Bxe6 $1 (21. Qd4 $2 f6 22. Bxe6+ Qxe6 23. Bf4 Nxf4 24. Qxf4 g5 $19)
21... fxe6 22. Qd4 $18 Nf6 23. b3 Ba8 24. f3 Qc6 25. Rac1 Nfd7 26. bxc4 dxc4
27. Bxg7 Rxf3 28. exf3 Qxf3 29. Ne4 Nd5 1-0

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. a3
Qd8 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Be7 11. Qd2 c5 12. O-O-O O-O 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. Kb1 Nxc5
15. Qe3 b6 16. Nc3 Bb7 17. b4 Nd7 18. Nb5 Qc8 19. Nd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Qc7 21. Rd2
a5 22. Bd3 axb4 23. axb4 Ra4 24. Rb2 Rfa8 25. Rd1 Bxf3 26. Qxf3 Ne5 27. Qg3 Qc6
0-1

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hodgson, Julian M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Hertneck} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3
Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2
Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 Ke7 $5 (15... O-O 16. Qe3 Qf5+ 17. Kb3 Nc5+ 18. Ka3
b5 19. axb5 cxb5 20. Na5 b4+ 21. Ka2 Rfd8 22. Bc4 b3+ 23. Nxb3 Nxb3 24. Qxb3
$16 {Wijesundara,R-Tilmatine,A/Manila olm/1992/0.5 (65)}) (15... Qf5+ 16. Kc1 (
16. Kc3 $1 O-O (16... Qc5 17. Qe5 Qb4+ 18. Kc2 O-O-O 19. Be2 Rd5 20. Qxg7 Rhd8
21. Qc3 Qc5 22. Rhd1 Qf2 23. Qf3 Qc5 24. Qxf7 $16 {Solozhenkin,E-Sort/Berga (2)
/1993/1-0 (47)}) 17. Qe5 Qf2 18. Bd3 Rad8 19. Rhf1 Qh4 20. Qe4 Qh6 21. Qe3 Qh4
$16 {Karpov,An-Tukmakov,V/Gijon/1988/}) 16... O-O-O 17. Qe5 Qf2 18. Qe3 Qxe3+
19. Nxe3 Nc5 20. Ra3 Rd4 21. a5 Rhd8 22. Bc4 Nd3+ 23. Kb1 Nf4 24. Rc3 $14 {
Ghitescu,Th-Neamtu,S/Bucuresti/1966/1-0 (28)}) (15... O-O-O {Hertneck}) 16. Qe5
(16. Rd1 $2 Qf5+ 17. Kc1 Nb4 18. b3 Rhd8 $40) 16... Rhd8 (16... f6 17. Qg3 $16)
17. Be2 f6 (17... Nb4+ 18. Kb3 Qxe5 19. Nxe5 Rd2 20. Bf3 Nd5 21. Rad1 Rxd1 22.
Rxd1 Rc8 23. h4 Rc7 24. g4 $13 {Zueger,B-Hertneck,G/Mitropa-Cup (5)/1990/0.5 
(32)}) (17... Qxg2 $2 18. Rhg1 Qd5 19. Raf1 $18) 18. Qe3 $1 (18. Qxd5 cxd5 $10)
(18. Qg3 {Hertneck} Qe4+ 19. Kc3 Kf8 $13 (19... Qxe2 $4 20. Rhe1 $18)) 18...
Nb4+ $2 (18... Qf5+ $142 19. Kc3 (19. Kb3 b5 $5 $13) 19... Nc7 20. Qg3 Nd5+ 21.
Kb3 $14) 19. Kb3 a5 20. Rad1 Qf5 21. Qc3 $1 $16 (21. g4 $4 Qc2+ 22. Ka3 Qxc4 $1
$19) (21. Nb6 Qc2+ 22. Ka3 Rab8 $13) 21... b5 $2 (21... Qc5 22. Nxa5 $18) (
21... Nd5 $8 22. Qg3 g5 $16 (22... Qg6 $13 {Hertneck})) 22. Nxa5 $1 (22. axb5
Qxb5 (22... cxb5 $2 23. Nxa5) (22... Nd5 $2 23. Qg3 a4+ 24. Ka3 cxb5 25. Qxg7+
Ke8 26. Nd6+ $1 Rxd6 27. Bxb5+ Kd8 28. Qf8+) 23. Nxa5 Nd3+ 24. Kc2 Qa4+ (24...
Nb4+ $2 25. Qxb4+) 25. Kb1 Rxa5 26. Bxd3 Qa1+ 27. Kc2 Qa4+ 28. Kd2 (28. Kc1 {
Hertneck} Rdd5 29. Bc4 $1 Rdc5 30. b3 $16) 28... Qf4+ 29. Kc2 Qa4+ 30. b3 Qa2+
31. Qb2 Rc5+ 32. Bc4 Rxc4+ 33. bxc4 Qxc4+ $10) 22... c5 (22... bxa4+ 23. Kxb4
Rdb8+ (23... Qxa5+ 24. Ka3 Qxc3+ 25. bxc3 $18) 24. Ka3 Rb3+ (24... Rxa5 25.
Qxc6 $1 Rb3+ 26. Ka2 $18) (24... Qxa5 25. Qxa5 Rxa5 26. Bc4 Rc5 27. Rc1 $18)
25. Nxb3 axb3+ 26. Kxb3 Rb8+ 27. Ka2 (27. Kc4 $2 {Hertneck} Qe4+ $1) 27... Ra8+
28. Qa3+ Rxa3+ 29. Kxa3 $18) 23. Bxb5 $1 (23. Nb7 bxa4+ (23... c4+ $6 24. Bxc4
bxc4+ 25. Qxc4 Nd3 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 27. Rhf1 $16) 24. Ka3 Nc2+ 25. Ka2 Nb4+ $10 {
Ftacnik}) (23. Rxd8 bxa4+ 24. Kxa4 Rxd8 $16) 23... Rxa5 (23... Rxd1 24. Rxd1
Rxa5 25. Rd7+ Kf8 26. Qg3 $18) 24. Rhf1 Qh5 25. g4 $1 Qe5 (25... Qg5 26. h4 Qe5
) 26. Qxe5 fxe5 27. Rxd8 Kxd8 28. Kc4 $18 Ke7 29. Kxc5 Nd5 30. b4 Ra8 31. Bc6
Rc8 32. b5 e4 1-0

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Chekhov} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4
cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 (10... Bd7 {Chekhov} 11. Bxf6 gxf6
12. Qb3 O-O (12... a6 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O O-O (14... Qc7 15. Rab1 Na5 16. Qa3
Rc8 17. Rfd1 $14 {Kasparov,G-Hjartarson,J/Tilburg/1989/1:0 (26) Inf 48/551/})
15. Rad1 $14 {Eingorn,V-Gelfand,B/Debrecen/1989/1:0 (37) Inf 48/550/}) 13. O-O
Nc6 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rae1 Rfd8 17. e5 fxe5 18. Qc4 Rd5 19. Qg4+
Kh8 20. c4 Rc5 21. Rd1 e4 $1 22. Qxe4 Qc3 23. Rd4 Rg8 24. Rfd1 {Khenkin,
I-Rechlis,G/Tel Aviv/1992/} Rg6 $132) 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 (12. Ke2 {Chekhov}
Qb2+ 13. Kf1 gxf6 14. h4 e5 15. Nb3 a6 16. Be2 Nf8 17. Qd6 Be6 18. Rd1 Rc8 19.
Nc5 Qb4 20. Nxe6 Qxd6 21. Rxd6 Nxe6 22. g3 Rc1+ 23. Kg2 Rxh1 24. Kxh1 Ke7 25.
Rb6 Nc5 26. Bc4 $44 {Tukmakov,V-De La Villa Garcia,J/Leon/1992/ Inf 54/414/})
12... gxf6 13. h4 (13. Nxe6 $6 {Chekhov} Qe5 $1 14. Ng7+ $6 (14. Nd4 O-O 15.
Rc1 Nc5 $10) 14... Kf8 15. Nf5 Qxb5+ 16. Kg1 Qe5 17. h4 Rg8 18. Rh3 Rg6 19. Rc1
Nb6 $19 {Lobron,E-Polgar,Zs/Dortmund/1990/0:1 (38) Inf 49/483/}) (13. Nf5 $5 {
Chekhov Zueger,B-Costa,J/Bern/1991/0,5 (34) Inf 53/401/} exf5 $5 14. Rc1 Qe5
15. Rxc8+ Rxc8 16. Qxd7+ Kf8 17. Qxc8+ Kg7 18. Qxf5 Qa1+ 19. Ke2 Qxh1 20. e5 (
20. Qg4+ Kf8 $10) 20... Qxg2 21. Qxf6+ Kg8 $10) 13... a6 (13... Ke7 {Chekhov}
14. Rh3 Qc5 15. Rb1 Rd8 16. Qc1 $16 Qb6 (16... a6 $5 17. Ra3 Qb6 18. Nc6+ bxc6
19. Bxc6 Qa7 20. Rc3 Rb8 21. Qa3+ Nc5 22. Rxc5 Rxb1+ 23. Rc1+ Rd6 24. Rxb1 Qd4
$10 {Lukacs,P-Dzevlan,M/Budapest/1991/ Inf 54/414/}) 17. Rd3 $1 Nc5 18. Qa3 {
Dzhanzhava,L-Maljutin,E/SSSR/1991/1:0 (31) Inf 54/414/} Rd6 $1 $13) 14. Rh3 (
14. Ba4 Ke7 15. Rh3 Qc4+ 16. Kg1 Nc5 17. Bb3 Qb4 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. Re3 Rac8 20.
Rc4 Qb6 21. e5 fxe5 22. Rxe5 Nxb3 23. Nf5+ Kd8 24. Nd6 $40 {Magerramov,
E-Galliamova Ivanchuk,A/Rostov op/1993/1-0 (49)}) (14. Rc1 Qb4 15. Be2 $5 (15.
Ba4 {Chekhov} Ke7 16. Rh3 Nc5 17. Bb3 Bd7 18. Rc4 Qa5 19. Qc2 Rac8 20. Rhc3 b6
$17 {Nikolic,Pr-Gelfand,B/Sarajevo(m/4)/1991/0,5 (61) Inf 51/418/}) 15... O-O
16. Rh3 Kh8 17. Rg3 Rg8 18. Rcc3 Ne5 19. Rxg8+ Kxg8 20. Rg3+ Kf8 21. Nf3 Nc6
22. e5 $1 fxe5 23. Nxe5 Qd4 24. Nd3 $5 $13 {Wegner,H-Khalifman,A/Hamburg/1991/
0-1 (41)}) 14... Qa5 15. Be2 Nc5 $6 (15... Ke7 16. Rc1 Rd8 17. Qc2 Ne5 18. Qb2
Rd6 $1 19. Rb3 b5 $1 $8 20. f4 Nc4 21. Bxc4 bxc4 22. Rxc4 (22. e5 $2 fxe5 23.
fxe5 Rxd4 $1 24. Qxd4 $10 {Browne,W-Petursson,M/St.Martin/1991/0.5 (29)}) 22...
Bd7 23. a4 Rd8 24. e5 $16 {Cramling,P-Rodriguez Talavera,JC/Dos Hermanas (06)/
1992/1-0 (32)}) (15... O-O {Chekhov} 16. Rg3+ Kh8 17. Qc1 Rg8 18. Rxg8+ Kxg8
19. Qh6 $44) 16. Nb3 $1 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 e5 {?! Chekhov} (17... Qc7 18. Rd1 (18.
Rb1 Bd7 19. Qxb7 Qxb7 20. Rxb7 Bc6 21. Rc7 Bxe4 22. Bxa6 O-O {Gruenberg,
HU-Horvath,C/Budapest Kasparov (02)/1991/0.5 (23)}) 18... Bd7 19. Qb2 $1 O-O-O
$8 20. Rc1 Bc6 21. Bxa6 $1 Rd6 $8 22. Be2 Rhd8 $5 23. Qxf6 Rd2 24. Ra3 $16 {
Akopian,V-Horvath,Cs/Niksic/1991/1-0 (34)}) 18. Rf3 (18. Rd3 Qc7 $13 {/\ Qe7,
Be6}) (18. Rg3 Qc7 19. Bc4 b5 20. Bd5 Bb7 $13) (18. Rc3 Be6 $1 19. Qxb7 Qxc3
20. Qxa8+ Ke7 21. Qb7+ Kf8 22. Rd1 Bxa2 23. Qxa6 Be6 $10) 18... Qd8 (18... Ke7
19. Rc1 $16) (18... Be6 $142 19. Qxb7 O-O 20. Qe7 Qd8 21. Qxf6 (21. Qc5 $5 $16)
21... Qxf6 22. Rxf6 Rfd8 $16) 19. Rc1 $1 $16 (19. Rd1 $6 {Chekhov} Qe7) 19...
Qe7 (19... Bg4 $6 20. Rd3 (20. Rfc3 Bxe2+ 21. Kxe2 O-O $13) 20... Bxe2+ 21.
Kxe2 Qe7 22. Qb6 Qe6 (22... Rd8 23. Rc7 $18) 23. Qxe6+ fxe6 24. Rc7 $18) (19...
Be6 20. Qxb7 O-O 21. Rd1 Qe8 22. Rxf6 $16) (19... b5 20. Rc6 $1 Be6 21. Qa3 Qe7
22. Bxb5 $1 Qxa3 23. Rxa6+ Ke7 24. Rfxa3 $16) (19... O-O 20. Qe3 (20. Rd3 {
Chekhov} Qe7 21. Qb6 Be6 22. Rc7 Qe8 23. Rxb7 $16) 20... Kh8 21. Qh6 Rg8 (21...
Be6 22. Rd3 Qe7 23. Rc7 $1) 22. Rd3 Qe7 (22... Qf8 23. Qxf6+ Qg7 $16) 23. Rc7
$1 Qe6 24. Rd6 $3 Qxd6 25. Rxf7 Bf5 26. exf5 $18) 20. Qb6 Qd8 $6 (20... Bg4 21.
Rc7 Qe6 22. Qxb7 Rd8 23. Bc4 $1 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Qh3+ (24... Qd6 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26.
Bd5 $18) 25. Ke2 O-O 26. Rxf7 $18) (20... O-O 21. Rc7 Qe6 22. Rxf6 (22. Qe3 $5)
(22. Qc5 {Chekhov} Bd7 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Bc4 Bb5 25. Qxb5 axb5 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27.
Rgg7 $18) 22... Qxb6 23. Rxb6 $18) (20... Qe6 $1 21. Rxf6 Qxb6 22. Rxb6 Be6 $16
) 21. Rc7 Qd4 $8 (21... O-O {Chekhov} 22. Rd3 $18) 22. Re7+ $1 (22. Qxd4 exd4
23. Bc4 $16) 22... Kxe7 (22... Kf8 23. Rxf7+ Kg8 24. Rg7+ Kxg7 25. Qxf6+ Kg8
26. Qf8#) 23. Qxf6+ Kd7 24. Rd3 (24. Qxf7+ Kd8 (24... Kc6 25. Rf6+ Kc5 26. Qe7+
) 25. Rd3 Bd7 26. Rxd4 exd4 27. Qf6+ Kc7 28. Qe5+ Kc6 {/\ Rae8}) (24. Qxh8 $4 {
Chekhov} Qa1+) 24... Qxd3 25. Bxd3 Re8 (25... Rf8 26. Bc4) 26. Bc4 Re7 27. Bxf7
Kd8 (27... b5 28. Bd5 Ra7 29. Bc6+ Kd8 30. Qf8+) 28. Qb6+ Kd7 29. Bb3 $1 Ke8
30. Ba4+ Kf7 (30... Bd7 31. Bxd7+ (31. Qxb7 {Chekhov} Rd8 32. Qxa6 $18) 31...
Rxd7 32. Qe6+ Kd8 33. Qg8+) 31. Qd8 1-0

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Ne7 9. a4 $5 $146 Nf5 10. c3 g6 11. Be2 $6 (11. Bd3 $5 Bg7 12. O-O O-O 13.
Qb3 Re8 14. Re1 b6 (14... Bd7 $5) 15. a5 a6 16. axb6 Rb8 17. Na3 Rxb6 18. Qa4
$14 {Yudasin,L-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee(m/3)/1994/0,5 (62)/}) 11... Bg7 12. O-O
O-O 13. Qb3 Re8 14. Qb4 e4 15. Bf4 (15. Kh1 Be5 {/\Qh4|^/}) 15... Be5 16. Bxe5
Rxe5 17. Rad1 Nh4 $1 18. Kh1 (18. Qxd6 $6 Qg5 19. g3 Bh3 20. Rfe1 Rd8 21. Qc7
Qf6 22. Nd4 Rexd5) (18. Nxd6 $6 a5 19. Qa3 Qg5 20. g3 Bg4 $1 21. gxh4 Bf3+ 22.
hxg5 Rxg5#) 18... Qg5 19. Rg1 (19. g3 Bg4 $1 20. gxh4 Bxe2 $1 $19) 19... Bg4
20. Bxg4 Qxg4 21. Rde1 (21. Qxd6 Nf3 $1 22. Rdf1 (22. Nd4 Nxg1 23. Rxg1 Rh5)
22... Rg5 $17) 21... Qf4 22. Qxd6 (22. Nxd6 Rh5 $1 23. Qxe4 (23. Rxe4 Nf3 $1)
23... Qxd6) 22... Nf5 23. Qc7 (23. Qb4 Qxf2 24. Rxe4 Rae8 25. Rxe5 Rxe5 $36)
23... e3 24. Rxe3 $2 (24. h3 exf2 25. Qxe5 Ng3+ 26. Kh2 Nf1+ 27. Kh1 fxe1=Q 28.
Qxf4 Ng3+ 29. Kh2 Qxg1+ 30. Kxg3 Re8 $1 31. Nd4 Re3+ 32. Nf3 Re2 $17) (24. Nd4
exf2 25. Rxe5 Ng3+ 26. hxg3 Qh6+) 24... Qxe3 $3 $19 25. Nd6 (25. fxe3 Ng3+ 26.
hxg3 Rh5#) 25... Re7 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Qd6 Qe5 28. Qb4 Rae8 29. Qh4 f6 30. h3
Qxd5 0-1

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 (10. Qd2 $5 Qb6 11. Bd3 f5 $6 (11... Ba6 $5 12. Bxa6
Qxa6 13. Qe2 Qxe2+ 14. Kxe2 f5 15. Nf2 Rb8 $10) 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Nxf6+ gxf6
14. Qe2 $1 $14 {Dolmatov,S-Chekhov,V/Moscow/1992/0,5 (49) Inf 55/211/}) (10. c3
Be7 11. Bd3 Qb6 12. Qe2 (12. c4 $6 f5 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Qc2 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Ba6
16. Bd2 Bf6 $36 {Ye,J-Ivanchuk,V/Manila(ol)/1992/0:1 (32) Inf 55/211/}) 12...
O-O (12... Bb7 $5 13. c4 f5 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. exd6 Nf6 16. Be3 Qb4+ 17. Bd2
Qxd6 18. Bxf5 c5 19. O-O-O Qc6 20. Rhg1 $14 {Howell,J-Krasenkov,M/Hastings/
1992/ Inf 56/198/}) 13. c4 f5 14. cxd5 fxe4 15. Qxe4 Qb4+ 16. Qxb4 Bxb4+ 17.
Ke2 exd5 $10 {De La Riva,O-Braga,F/ Zaragoza/1993/ Inf 57/190/}) 10... Qb6 11.
Bd3 $5 $146 (11. c4 $6 Qd4 $1 12. Qb1 Rb8 13. b3 (13. cxd5 $2 Rxb2 14. Qd3 Rxd2
$1 $19) 13... f5 $1 $17 {Adams,M-Khenkin,I/Chalkidiki/1992/}) 11... Be7 (11...
Qxb2 12. O-O $36) 12. Rb1 (12. c4 Qd4 13. Qb3 (13. Qf3 Nb4 $36) (13. Qc2 Rb8)
13... f5) 12... Ba6 13. Qe2 (13. c4 f5 (13... Nb4 14. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 15. Nd2) (
13... Qd4 14. Qe2 Nb4 15. Bxb4 Bxb4+ 16. Kf1 $13) 14. exf6 Nxf6 $13) 13... Bxd3
14. Qxd3 f5 $1 $15 15. exf6 (15. Nf2 Bc5 16. Qe2 (16. O-O Ne3 17. Bxe3 Bxe3 18.
g3 g5 $36) 16... Ne3 17. Bxe3 Bxe3 18. Nd3 Qa5+ 19. Kf1 Qxa2) 15... gxf6 $5 (
15... Nxf6 $5 16. Nxf6+ (16. Be3 Qa5+ 17. Nc3 Nd5 $36) (16. Nd6+ $2 Bxd6 17.
Qxd6 Ne4) 16... Bxf6 17. b4 (17. Be3 Qa5+) 17... O-O 18. c4 (18. Qxd7 $2 Rad8
19. Qxe6+ Kh8 $17) 18... d5 $13) 16. f5 (16. a3) (16. a3 f5 17. Nc3 Rg8 $36) (
16. c4 $6 Nb4 17. Qb3 Qd4 $36) 16... O-O-O 17. a3 $6 (17. fxe6 dxe6 18. Qe2)
17... Rhe8 18. Kf1 exf5 19. Ng3 f4 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. b4 Ne3+ 22. Bxe3 fxe3 23.
Ke2 (23. Re1 Re5 24. Rxe3 Rd5 $19) 23... d5 24. Rhf1 Re4 $17 25. c3 (25. Rf3 $5
) 25... Bd6 $1 26. Rf3 Bb8 27. g3 (27. Rxe3 Rde8 28. Rxe4 Rxe4+ 29. Kf1 Bxh2) (
27. Nd4 Be5) 27... Rde8 28. Rbf1 (28. Ng7 R8e7 29. Nh5 Be5 30. Nxf6 Rc4 31. Rc1
Qa6) 28... a5 $1 29. Ng7 R8e7 30. Nh5 axb4 31. cxb4 (31. axb4 Qa7 $19) (31.
Nxf6 $5 bxc3 32. Nxe4 dxe4 (32... Qb2+ $1 33. Ke1 (33. Kd1 $2 e2+ 34. Qxe2 Qb1#
) 33... Rxe4 34. Rf8+ (34. Qa6+ Kd7 35. Rf7+ Re7 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 37. Qd3 Qd2+
38. Qxd2 cxd2+ $19) 34... Kc7 $1 35. R1f7+ (35. R8f7+ Kb6 $19) 35... Kd6 36.
Rf6+ Kc5 37. Rxc6+ (37. Rxb8 Qd2+ $1 38. Qxd2 exd2+ $19) 37... Kxc6 38. Qa6+ (
38. Rf6+ Kc5) (38. Rc8+ Kd7) 38... Kd7 39. Rf7+ Ke8 $19) 33. Rf8+ Kb7 34. Qxc3
(34. Qxe3 Qb2+ 35. Ke1 c2 $19) 34... Qb5+ 35. Ke1 Bc7 36. R8f5 $13) 31... Rd4
32. Qf5+ Kb7 33. Qxf6 Qa6+ 34. Ke1 Ree4 $19 35. Qg7+ Ka8 36. Rf8 Rd1+ $1 37.
Kxd1 e2+ 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Boensch Ftacnik Glatman} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Rhe1
Bc6 13. f5 $5 (13. Kb1 $6 {Glatman} h6 14. Bh4 {Kholmov,R-Glek,I/Moscow/1983/0,
5 (46) Inf 35/259/} b5 $1 15. Bb3 b4 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qxd6 Rac8 {/\Rfd8-/+/})
(13. Nd5 {Glatman} exd5 14. exd5 Rae8 15. dxc6 bxc6 $13) (13. Bb3 $6 {Glatman}
Rfe8 14. f5 (14. e5 {Ftacnik} dxe5 15. fxe5 Rad8 16. Qf4 Nd5 17. Bxd5 Bxg5 18.
Qxg5 Bxd5 19. Rd4 h6 20. Qg3 Qc5 21. Rg4 Qf8 22. a3 Bc6 23. Ne2 Kh7 24. Nf4 {
Tolnai,T-Leko,P/Budapest GM/1992/1-0 (32)}) 14... exf5 15. e5 dxe5 16. Rxe5 Qc7
17. Rxf5 Rad8 18. Qc4 Rxd1+ 19. Nxd1 Bd8 $10 {Polgar,J-Sax,G/HUN/1991/1:0 (51)
Inf 53/191/}) 13... b5 (13... exf5 $5 14. exf5 Rae8 {Glatman} (14... Qxf5) 15.
g4 Bf3 16. Rd3 (16. Be2 {Ftacnik} Bc6 17. Kb1 d5 18. Qd2 Qb6 19. Be3 Bc5 20.
Bd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Re3 23. Rg1 Rfe8 24. Rg2 {Ivanov,Alexa-Rachels,
S/USA-ch (13)/1992/0-1 (80)}) 16... Bxg4 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Qc4+
d5 20. Rxd5 Rxe1+ 21. Rd1+ Ke7 22. Rxe1+ Kd8 23. Qxg4 Bxc3 $10 {Polgar/}) 14.
Bb3 (14. e5 $2 dxe5 15. Rxe5 Rad8) 14... b4 15. Ne2 (15. e5 $2 dxe5 16. Rxe5
Qc7 17. Nb5 Bxb5 18. Rxb5 Rad8 $36) (15. Nd5 $2 Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Qxd6
Rae8 18. fxe6 fxe6 $19) (15. Nb1 {Ftacnik} exf5 16. exf5 Qxf5 17. Bd2 Ne4 18.
Bxb4 Bf6 19. Qd3 Qf4+ 20. Nd2 Nf2 21. Qxd6 Qxd6 22. Bxd6 Rfc8 $17) 15... Ba4 $1
(15... exf5 16. exf5 Qxf5 17. Qh4 h6 (17... Bxg2 {Ftacnik} 18. Nd4 Qd7 19. Rxe7
Qxe7 20. Bxf6 Qe3+ 21. Kb1 gxf6 22. Nf5 Qg5 23. Qf2 {/\ Rg1}) (17... Qc5 18.
Nd4 Rae8 19. Rxe7 (19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxb4 $13) 19... Rxe7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21.
Qxf6 Re5 22. Rd3 (22. Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Rd3 Re1+ 24. Kd2 Qxg2+ 25. Kxe1 Re8+ $19)
22... Be4 23. Rg3+ Bg6 24. Rxg6+ hxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Qh6+ Kg8 27. Qg6+ $10)
18. Nd4 Qxg5+ 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. Nxc6 $16) (15... h6 $2 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qxd6
Bxe4 18. fxe6 $16) (15... e5 16. Qe3 (16. Qg1 {Ftacnik} Bxe4 17. Ng3 Bb7 18.
Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qe3 $40) 16... h6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Kb1 Qc7 19. Ng3 $40) (15...
d5 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Qe5 $36) (15... Rad8 $5) 16. Kb1 (16. Bxa4 Qxa4 17. Kb1 (
17. a3 {Glatman} Rfc8 18. c3 a5 $40) (17. fxe6 {Ftacnik} Qxa2 18. exf7+ Rxf7
$40) 17... Rfc8 (17... Rac8 {Boensch} 18. Qd3 h6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21.
axb3 $15) 18. Qd3 h6 19. Bc1 (19. Bh4 exf5 20. exf5 b3) (19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. fxe6
fxe6 21. Nf4 Bxb2 22. Kxb2 Rc3 23. Qe2 Rac8 24. Rd2 Ra3 25. Ra1 Qc6 $5) 19...
e5 $13) (16. Qd3 exf5 17. Ng3 (17. exf5 Bxb3 18. Qxb3 Qxf5 $132) 17... Bxb3 $1
(17... fxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe7 Nc5 20. Qxd6) 18. Qxb3 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Rfe8 $1
(19... Qf5 20. Qd3 Nxe4 21. Bxe7 Nc5 22. Qd5 $1 $16) 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxf6+ (
21. Nxd6 Rf8 22. Rd5 Qc7 $13) 21... gxf6 22. Rf1 (22. Kb1 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Qc5 $10
) 22... Rac8 $132) (16. Bc4 $2 {Glatman} Rac8 $17) 16... Bxb3 17. axb3 (17.
cxb3 exf5 18. Ng3 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qf5 20. Ka1 Rfe8 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6
23. Qxb4 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 $5 $44) 17... Rfc8 (17... Rac8 $1 $132) (17... exf5 {
Ftacnik} 18. Ng3 fxe4 19. Nxe4 $36) 18. Bd2 (18. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 19. Qxd6 Rxc2 (
19... exf5 $5 20. Rd5) (19... Be5 20. Qd7 Qc5 21. Rd2 $1) 20. Kxc2 Rc8+ 21. Kb1
(21. Kd2 Rd8) (21. Nc3 bxc3 22. e5 Qa2 23. exf6 $2 cxb2+ 24. Kd3 b1=Q+ 25. Rxb1
Qc2+ $1 26. Ke3 (26. Kd4 Qd2+ 27. Ke5 gxf6+ $19) 26... Rc3+ 27. Kf4 Qxf5#)
21... Bxb2 22. Kxb2 Qa3+ 23. Kb1 Qxb3+ 24. Ka1 Qa3+ 25. Kb1 Qb3+ $10) 18... Qc7
(18... Rab8 19. Nc1 Rc6 20. c4 bxc3 21. Bxc3 Qc7 $1 $17) 19. Qd3 (19. Rc1 e5 (
19... a5 $40 {Ftacnik}) 20. Qd3 Qb7 21. Ng1 (21. Ng3 {Glatman} Rd8 {/\d5/})
21... h6) 19... exf5 (19... Ng4 $6 {Ftacnik} 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Rc1 a5 22. Qh3
$1) 20. exf5 d5 (20... Ng4 21. Rc1) 21. Bf4 (21. Bg5 h6 22. Bxf6 (22. Bh4 a5
23. c3 $10) 22... Bxf6 23. g3 a5 24. Nf4 a4 25. Nxd5 Qa7 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 $13) (
21. Nf4 Bd6 (21... a5 {Ftacnik} 22. Rc1 a4 $40) 22. g3 a5 23. c3 $17) (21. Nd4
Ne4 $36) 21... Bd6 (21... Qb7 {Ftacnik} 22. Nd4 a5 23. Qb5 $1) 22. g3 (22. Bxd6
{Ftacnik} Qxd6 23. c4 bxc3 24. Nxc3 Rd8 $17) 22... a5 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Nf4 (
24. Qb5 a4 25. bxa4 Rcb8) 24... a4 (24... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 25. Qb5 Rdb8 26. Qd3
Rd8 27. Qb5) 25. bxa4 (25. Nxd5 Nxd5 (25... axb3 $4 26. Ne7+ Qxe7 27. Rxe7
bxc2+ 28. Qxc2 Rxc2 29. Kxc2 $18) 26. Qxd5 Qc7 (26... Qa6 {Glatman} 27. Re7 Rf8
28. Kc1 (28. Qc4 $1 Qf6 (28... Qa5 29. Qd5 $10) 29. Rc7 axb3 30. Qxb3 Qa6 $19)
28... axb3 $19) 27. Qc4 (27. Re2 {Ftacnik} axb3 28. Qxb3 Qa5 $19) (27. Qd3 {
Boensch} axb3 28. Qxb3 Qa5 29. Kc1 Qa1+ 30. Kd2 Rd8+ 31. Ke2 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Re8+
33. Kd2 Rd8+ $19) 27... Qa7 28. Qd4 axb3 29. Qxa7 bxc2+ $19) 25... Rxa4 26.
Nxd5 (26. b3 Ra5) 26... Nxd5 (26... Rca8 27. c4 $13) 27. Qxd5 (27. Qb5 Raa8 28.
Rxd5 Qc7 29. Rc5 $2 Qxc5 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxc5 Re1#) 27... Qc7 (27... Qa6 {
Glatman} 28. Kc1) 28. Qe4 (28. Qb3 {Ftacnik} Qa7 29. Kc1 Ra1+ 30. Kd2 Qf2+ $19)
28... Raa8 (28... Qa7 $4 {Ftacnik} 29. Qe8+) (28... h6 $5 {Boensch} 29. b3 Ra6
30. Qc4 Rc6 $17) 29. Rd4 (29. Kc1 $5 {Glatman} h6 $1 $40) 29... Qa5 30. Kc1 b3
(30... Qa1+ 31. Kd2 Qxb2) 31. c4 (31. c3 Qa1+ (31... Rxc3+ {Glatman} 32. bxc3
Qxc3+ 33. Kd1 Ra1+ $19) 32. Qb1 Rxc3+ $1) (31. Re2 Qa1+ 32. Kd2 bxc2 $19) (31.
Rc4 {Ftacnik} Qxe1+ $1 32. Qxe1 Rxc4 (32... Ra1+ 33. Kd2 Rd8+ $19) 33. Qe7
Rxc2+ 34. Kb1 Ra1+ 35. Kxa1 Rc1#) 31... Qb4 (31... Qb4 32. Kb1 Qa4 33. Kc1 Re8
$19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Glatman,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2
Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 (12... Bg4 13.
h3 Be6 14. Qc2 $5 Qd7 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Rfd1 Rac8 17. f4 $14 {/\Bf2,e4/Marin,
M-Petursson,M/GRE/1987/1:0 (44)}) 13. Na4 $5 $146 (13. a3 Bg4 14. h3 Be6 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bd4 $1 Bd7 17. Qd3 Nh7 18. Be3 $1 $14 {Karpov,A-Illescas Cordoba,
M/Leon/1993/1:0 (36)}) (13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Na4 Bd7 15. Bc5 Bxc5 16. Nxc5 Bg4 17.
Re1 Qa5 18. h3 Bf5 19. Qd4 Rab8 20. a3 $14 {Kasparov,G-Illescas Cordoba,M/
Linares(2)/1994/1:0 (43)/}) 13... Bd7 (13... Qa5 {Ftacnik} 14. a3 Ne5 15. Bd2
Qd8 16. Qb3 Nc4 17. Rfd1 Nxd2 18. Rxd2 Ne4 19. Rdd1 Qf6 20. Bf3 Ng5 21. Nc3
Nxf3+ 22. Nxf3 Be6 23. Qxb7 Rab8 24. Qxa7 Rxb2 25. Qe3 $13 {Robatsch,K-Huebner,
R/Mitropa Cup/1993/0-1 (56)}) (13... Ng4 {Ftacnik} 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Bd4 Bd7
16. Nc5 Bf5 17. Re1 Qg5 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 21. Bxe4 {
0,5/Robatsch,K-Anikaev,Y/Sochi/1974/}) 14. Nc5 Na5 $6 (14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bc6
{/\Ne4/}) (14... Bxc5 {Ftacnik} 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bxc5 $14) 15. b3 (15. Nxd7 {
Ftacnik} Qxd7 16. Bf4 $14) 15... Rc8 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Qd3 $14 Nc6 (17... Ne4 {
Ftacnik} 18. Rxc8 Rxc8 19. Nb5 Nc5 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21. Nxa7 $16) 18. Nxc6 (18.
Rfd1 $5) 18... bxc6 19. Rfd1 Qb7 (19... Bd6 {Ftacnik} 20. Rc2 $14) 20. Bc5 Bxc5
21. Rxc5 Qe7 (21... Ne4 22. Bxe4 Rxe4 23. Rdc1 $16) (21... Nd7 {Ftacnik} 22.
Rc2 Ne5 23. Qd4 $14) 22. Rc2 Qa3 $6 (22... Red8 $5 23. Qa6 Qd7 (23... c5 $2 24.
Bxd5) 24. e3 $16) 23. e3 (23. Rdc1 {Ftacnik} c5 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Rxe2 $1)
23... Red8 24. Qf5 (24. Rdc1 {Ftacnik} c5) 24... Rb8 $2 (24... Qa6 $5) (24...
a5 {Ftacnik} 25. Bxd5 $1 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 $16) 25. Rxc6 Qxa2 26. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 (
26... Qxb3 27. Qg4 h5 28. Qxh5 gxf6 29. Bxd5 $18) 27. Bxd5 $18 Rxd5 (27... Kg7
{Ftacnik} 28. Qg4+ Kh7 29. Qh5 Qb2 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31. Qg6 Rd7 32. Rd4 $18) 28.
Rxd5 Qxb3 29. Qg4+ Kh7 (29... Kf8 {Ftacnik} 30. Rd6 Qb1+ 31. Kg2 Qg6 32. Qd4
$16) 30. Rd6 Qb1+ (30... Rb6 31. Qf5+) 31. Kg2 Qg6 (31... Rb6 32. Rd7 (32. Qc4
$1 Qg6 33. Rd7 Kg7 34. Rxa7 $18) 32... Rb7 33. Rd8 Qg6 34. Qf3 Re7 35. Rd4 f5
36. Rf4 Re5 $13) 32. Qf3 (32. Qd4 {Ftacnik} Rb6 $16) 32... Kg7 (32... Rb6 {
Ftacnik} 33. Rd8 a5 34. Qa8 $18) 33. Ra6 Rb5 34. Rxa7 Rf5 35. Qe2 Qh5 (35...
Re5 $5) (35... Rc5 $16 {Ftacnik}) 36. g4 $1 Qg6 (36... Rg5 37. h3) 37. Rxf7+ $1
Kxf7 38. Qc4+ (38. Qc4+ Ke7 (38... Kf8 39. Qc8+ $18) (38... Kg7 39. Qc7+ Kg8
40. Qc8+ $18) 39. Qe4+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Kramnik Boensch Bulletin} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. e5
dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bxf6 $2 {I watched this move being played with some
curiosity but it falls short} gxf6 15. Bd5 (15. Nd5 $10 {Boensch} Bxd5 (15...
exd5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qxf6 dxc4 18. Rd4 h5 19. Rhd1 Rae8 (19... Rfe8 20. Rf4
$18) 20. Rd5 $10 {(Schwarz,R) Sizilianisch IV}) 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qxf6 Bxc4 18.
Rd4 Be2 19. Re4 Bh5 20. Re5 Qxa2 21. Rxh5 Rfd8 (21... Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Rfd8+ 23.
Kc3 $1 Qxh1 24. Rg5+ Kf8 25. Rg7 Rac8+ (25... Qe1+ 26. Kb3) 26. Kb3 Rd7 27. Qg5
Rd3+ $10) 22. Qg5+ Kf8 23. Qc5+ Ke8 24. Qa3 $10 {Marciano,D-Gschnitzer,O
Wildbad (01) 1990 1/4 48}) 15... f5 $1 {Simple and best} (15... fxe5 $2 16.
Qxe5 {Boensch} h6 17. h4 $1 exd5 18. Qxe7 $16 (18. Rd3 $2 Rfe8 $13)) (15... Kh8
{Kramnik} 16. Bxc6 (16. exf6 Bc5 17. Qg4 Rg8) 16... bxc6 (16... fxe5 17. Qa4)
17. exf6 Qg5+ 18. Qd2 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Qxd2+ 20. Rxd2) (15... Qb6 {Kramnik} 16.
Bxc6 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 bxc6 (17... fxe5 18. Rg4+) 18. Rd7 $14) 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. g4
Bg5+ $1 {Black can try for more} (17... Rad8 18. Qf4 (18. Qe3 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1
fxg4 20. Rg1 h5 $1) 18... Qxc3 19. Rxd8 (19. gxf5 {Boensch} Qb4 20. Qg3+ Kh8
21. f6 Rg8 22. fxe7 Qxe7 $10) (19. bxc3 Ba3+ 20. Kb1 Rb8+ $10 (20... Rb8+ {
Kramnik} 21. Ka1 Bb2+ 22. Kb1 Ba3+ $10)) (19. gxf5 $5) 19... Rxd8 20. bxc3 Ba3+
21. Kb1 Rb8+ 22. Ka1 Bb2+ 23. Kb1 Ba3+ $10) (17... Rab8 {Kramnik} 18. gxf5 Ba3
19. Na4) 18. Kb1 Rad8 (18... Rab8 {Kramnik} 19. gxf5 Rb4 20. Qg1 (20. Qd3)
20... Rxb2+ 21. Ka1 h6 $17) 19. Qc4 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Qxe5 21. gxf5 exf5 {Not bad
but I prefer 21...Qxf5} (21... Qxf5 {Boensch} 22. Qxc6 Bf6 23. Ne4 Bg7 24. c3
$15) 22. Qxc6 (22. Rg1 {Boensch} Qe3 $17) 22... Rb8 (22... Qxh2 {Boensch} 23.
Qc5 Rd8 $15) 23. Qg2 (23. a3 {Kramnik} Bf6 (23... h6) 24. Rd5 Qe1+ (24... Qxc3
25. Rd8+ Kg7 26. Qg2+ Kh6 27. Rxb8 $18) 25. Rd1 (25. Ka2 Qe6) 25... Rxb2+ (
25... Qe5 26. Rd5) 26. Kxb2 Bxc3+ 27. Kc1 Bb2+ 28. Kxb2 Qxd1 29. Qc8+ Kg7 30.
Qxf5 $10) 23... h6 24. Ka1 (24. a3 $1 {Boensch} Kh8 25. Ka2 $10) (24. h4 {
Kramnik} Qxc3 25. b3 (25. Rd8+ Kg7) 25... Qf6 (25... Qe3) 26. Rg1 (26. hxg5
hxg5) 26... Kg7 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Qxg5+ Qxg5 29. Rxg5+ Kf6 $15) 24... Kh8 (
24... Kh7 {Kramnik}) 25. a3 f4 (25... Bf6 $1 $15 {/\ Bg7.}) 26. Qh3 Qf6 27. Rd3
$1 (27. Qf3 {Kramnik} Qb6 28. Na4 Qe3) 27... Qb6 28. b3 (28. Nd1 {Kramnik} Rd8
$6) 28... Re8 29. Nd5 (29. Kb2 $1) 29... Qg1+ (29... Qc5 {Boensch} 30. Kb2 (30.
Kb1 {Kramnik} Re2 31. Nc3 Re3) 30... Re2 31. Nc3 Re3 $19) 30. Ka2 (30. Kb2 {
Boensch} Re1 31. Qf5 $13) 30... Kg7 (30... Qc1 31. Rc3 Kg7 (31... Re1 {Kramnik}
32. Rc8+ Kg7 (32... Kh7 33. Qd3+) 33. Qc3+)) 31. b4 (31. Rd2 {Kramnik} f3)
31... Qc1 (31... Re2 $17 {Boensch}) 32. Rc3 (32. Qg2 $1 Re1 (32... Rc8 {Boensch
} 33. c3 $10) 33. Kb3 {Kramnik} Rg1 34. Qe4 $5) 32... Re1 (32... Re2 {Boensch}
33. Qf5 $16) 33. Kb3 Re5 (33... Qb1+ {Kramnik} 34. Ka4) 34. Qd3 (34. Qf3 $5 Qd2
35. Rd3 Qxh2 36. c4 $13) (34. Qg2 $5 {Boensch}) 34... Qb1+ 35. Ka4 (35. Kc4 $13
{Boensch}) 35... Qh1 36. Rc5 (36. Nc7 {Kramnik} Re3 37. Qd4+ Bf6) 36... Qe4 $1
(36... Qxh2 37. Qd4) 37. Qc3 $2 (37. Nc3 $2 Qxd3 38. cxd3 Re3 $17) (37. Qxe4 $1
Rxe4 38. Rc3 {Boensch} Re5 39. Rd3 f3 40. c4 f2 41. Rf3 Bh4 $19) (37. Qd1 $1 {
Boensch /\ Nc3}) (37. h4 {Kramnik} Qxd3 38. cxd3 f3 39. hxg5 hxg5 $17) 37... f3
$1 $19 (37... Kh7 {Kramnik} 38. Qb3 $1 f3 39. Nc3 Qf4 40. Rxe5 f2 41. Ne2) 38.
Nb6 (38. Ne3 {Boensch} Bf6 39. Rxe5 Bxe5 40. Qd3 Qxd3 41. cxd3 Bxh2 $19) (38.
h4 {Kramnik} f2 39. hxg5 f1=Q 40. gxh6+ Kh7) (38. Rc4 {Kramnik} Qxd5 39. Rc5
Qd7+ 40. b5 Qg4+ 41. Kb3 f6 $19) 38... Bf6 39. Nd7 Rf5 40. Qd2 (40. Nxf6 {
Boensch} Rxf6 41. Rc4 Qf5 {Kramnik} 42. Qe1 f2 43. Qf1 Qg6 44. Rc3 Qg1 45. Rg3+
Rg6) (40. Qb3 {Kramnik} Rxc5 41. Nxc5 Qc6+ $19) 40... f2 41. Qd6 f1=Q $1 42.
Qf8+ Kg6 43. Qg8+ Bg7 44. Nf8+ Kh5 45. Qxf7+ Kh4 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E93"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Bulletin Ernst Ftacnik Kharitonov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. h4 g4 (11...
Nf4 {Kharitonov} 12. hxg5 hxg5 13. Qc2 $1 Nxg2+ 14. Kf1 Nf4 15. Bxf4 gxf4 (
15... exf4 16. e5 $36) 16. Kg2 f5 17. Rag1 {/\Kf1|^/}) 12. Nh2 (12. Nd2 {
Kharitonov} f5 $1 13. exf5 Ndf6 14. Bxg4 (14. Nf1 Bxf5 15. Ne3 Qd7 16. O-O Nf4
$17) 14... Nxg3 15. fxg3 Nxg4 16. Qxg4 Bxf5 17. Qe2 e4 $1 $36 {Boleslavsky/})
12... Nxg3 13. fxg3 h5 14. O-O f5 (14... Bh6 $5 {Kharitonov} 15. Bd3 (15. Bxg4
{Ftacnik} hxg4 16. Nxg4 Bg7 17. Qf3 (17. Ne3 c6 $5 18. Nf5 Nf6 $13 19. g4 cxd5
$2 20. g5 $1 $14 {Ivkov,B-Gufeld,E/Beograd/1988/0.5 (47)}) 17... f5 18. exf5
Nc5 19. Ne3 e4 20. Nxe4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 Qf6 22. Rad1 Bd7 23. Rf2 Rae8 24. Qd3 {
Heyns-Bouazis,S/Lugano olm/1968/1-0 (41)}) 15... Nc5 (15... Nf6 16. Qe2 Bd7 17.
Rf2 Ne8 18. Nf1 Ng7 19. Ne3 c6 20. c5 dxc5 21. Nc4 f6 22. Raf1 Ne8 23. dxc6
Bxc6 24. Nxe5 {Ziembinski,M-Stilling/corr/1974/1-0 (34)}) 16. Qe2 (16. Bc2 a5
17. Qe2 f6 18. Rf2 c6 19. Rd1 a4 20. Nf1 Kg7 21. Ne3 Qb6 22. dxc6 bxc6 23. Rxd6
Nb3 24. axb3 {Hort,V-Janosevic,D/Wijk aan Zee/1970/1-0 (30)}) 16... c6 17. Kh1
a5 18. Rf2 Kg7 $13 {Bischoff,K-Wilder,M/Mendoza/1985/0:1 (40)/}) (14... Nf6 {
Ftacnik} 15. Bd3 c6 16. Qe2 Bh6 17. Rf2 Nh7 18. Nf1 Kg7 19. Ne3 Qb6 20. Ncd1 f5
21. exf5 Nf6 22. Kh1 a5 23. Nf1 cxd5 24. cxd5 {Bjerre,T-Maeder,K/Dresden/1969/
0-1 (42)}) (14... a5 {Ftacnik} 15. Rf5 Nf6 16. Rf2 Bh6 17. Nf1 Nd7 18. Bd3 Nc5
19. Qe2 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qe7 21. Ne3 Bxe3 22. Qxe3 f5 23. Raf1 f4 24. gxf4 {
Yusupov,A-Correa,A/Mendoza/1985/1-0 (31)}) 15. exf5 (15. Rxf5 $1 {Ernst} Rxf5
16. exf5 Nc5 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. Rf1 Bxf5 19. Nxg4 $1 $16 {Lyrberg,P-Bologan,V/
Oslo op/1994/}) 15... Nc5 16. b4 (16. Qd2) (16. Qc2 $6 {Kharitonov} Qf6 (16...
e4 $2 17. Nxe4 Bxf5 18. Rxf5 Rxf5 19. Nxc5 $18) 17. b4 e4 18. Rac1 (18. Nxe4 $2
Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Qd4+) 18... Nd3 19. Bxd3 Qd4+ 20. Kh1 exd3 $17) (16. Bd3 {Ftacnik
} Qe7 17. Bc2 e4 $17) 16... e4 (16... Na6 {Kharitonov} 17. Rb1 (17. Qb1 e4 18.
Nxe4) 17... Bxf5 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 $14 (19. Rxf8+ {Ftacnik} Qxf8 20. Qxd3
$14)) 17. Rc1 (17. Qd2 $5) (17. bxc5 $2 {Kharitonov} Bxc3 18. Rc1 Be5 $17)
17... Nd3 (17... Be5 $2 {Kharitonov} 18. bxc5 Bxg3 19. Nxe4 $18) (17... Na6 {
Ftacnik} 18. Nxg4 hxg4 19. Bxg4 $36) 18. Bxd3 exd3 19. f6 $1 (19. Qxd3 $2 Qf6 (
19... Be5 $13 {Ernst})) 19... Rxf6 20. Qxd3 Qf8 (20... Bd7 $6 {Kharitonov} 21.
Ne4 Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 $16) (20... a5 {Ftacnik} 21. Ne4 Rf5 22. b5 $14 (22. Ng5 Qf6
23. Ne6 Bxe6 24. dxe6 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Qxe6 $13)) 21. Nb5 $5 (21. Ne4 Rxf1+ (
21... Rf5 $6 {Kharitonov} 22. Ng5 Qf6 23. Kh1 $16) 22. Nxf1 (22. Rxf1 Bf5 $44)
22... Bf5 23. Ne3 Bxe4 (23... Bg6 24. Rf1 Qe7 25. Nf5 $16) (23... Bh7 24. Rf1
Qc8 $1 {/\Qd7,Re8 /}) 24. Qxe4 Re8 25. Qd3) 21... Bf5 22. Rxf5 (22. Qb3 {
Kharitonov} Rf7 23. Rce1 a6 24. Nc3 Re8 $44) 22... Rxf5 23. Nxc7 Rc8 24. Ne6
$13 Qf6 25. Nf1 (25. Rf1 Rf8 $3 (25... Rxf1+ 26. Nxf1 $36) 26. Nxf8 (26. Rf4
Bh6) 26... Qd4+ 27. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 28. Kh1 Rxf1+ 29. Nxf1 Kxf8 30. Nd2 $10) (25. c5
$5) 25... Re5 (25... Bh6 {Ftacnik} 26. Rd1 Re5) 26. Rd1 $1 (26. Nd2 Qf5 27.
Qxf5 Rxf5 28. Ne4 Rxd5) (26. c5 Rxe6 (26... Qf5 27. Qxf5 Rxf5 28. Rd1) 27. dxe6
Qd4+ 28. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 29. Kh2 dxc5) (26. Ne3 $2 {Kharitonov} Bh6) 26... Qf5 $5 (
26... Bh6 27. c5 (27. a3 {Ftacnik} Re8 $13) 27... dxc5 28. bxc5 Re8 29. Nd2 $1
Re3 30. Qb5 Re7 31. Rf1 Qe5 32. Qb1 $5) 27. Qxf5 Rxf5 28. c5 Bf8 (28... dxc5
29. d6 (29. bxc5 {Ftacnik} Re5 $13) (29. Ne3 {Ftacnik} Re5 30. Nc4 Re2 31. bxc5
$36 (31. Nd6 Rb8 32. bxc5 Be5 (32... Rxa2 33. Nf5 Be5 34. d6 $16) 33. Nf5 $13))
) (28... Be5 29. Ne3 Rf7 30. Kh2 (30. Nc4 {Ernst} Bxg3 31. Nxd6 Bxd6 32. cxd6
Rd7 $15)) 29. Ne3 Rf6 (29... Re5 $2 {Kharitonov} 30. Nc4 Re2 (30... Rxe6 {
Ftacnik} 31. dxe6 dxc5 32. b5 (32. Rd7 cxb4) 32... Re8 33. Re1 (33. Rd7 Rxe6
34. Rxb7 Re4 35. Na5 Bd6 36. Kf2 Ra4 $132) 33... b6 34. Re4 Kg7 35. Ne3 $16)
31. Nxd6 Bxd6 32. cxd6 Rcc2 33. Nf4 Re8 34. Ne6 $18) 30. Nc4 dxc5 (30... Kf7 $2
{Kharitonov} 31. Ng5+ Ke8 32. Ne4 Rg6 33. Ncxd6+ Bxd6 34. Nxd6+ Rxd6 35. cxd6
Kd7 36. Rf1 $18) 31. b5 $1 (31. Ne5 cxb4 32. Nd7 Rf5 (32... Rxe6 $5) 33. Nexf8
Rcxf8 34. Nxf8 Kxf8) 31... Bh6 $2 (31... Re8 32. Re1 (32. a4 Rexe6 (32... b6 {
/\Ree6=/}) 33. dxe6 Rxe6) (32. Nf4 Re4 (32... Bd6 33. Nxh5 Rh6 34. Rf1 (34. Nf4
Re4) 34... Rxh5 35. Nxd6) 33. d6 (33. Nxh5 $4 {Kharitonov} Rf5 $19) 33... Rxc4
(33... Rfxf4 $2 34. gxf4 Rxc4 35. d7 Be7 36. d8=Q+ Bxd8 37. Rxd8+ Kf7 38. Kh2
$5 (38. Rd7+ Ke6 39. Rxb7 g3 $1) 38... Rxf4 39. Rd7+ Ke6 40. Rxb7 Ra4 41. Rh7
Rxa2 42. Rxh5 $1) 34. d7 Be7 35. Nd5 Bd8 36. Nxf6+ Bxf6 37. d8=Q+ Bxd8 38.
Rxd8+ Kf7 39. Rd7+ Ke6 40. Rxb7 Ra4 41. Rh7) 32... Rf5 33. Rd1 (33. d6 Rd5)
33... Rf6 $5 (33... b6)) (31... b6 {Ftacnik} 32. Re1 Re8 33. Re5 Rh6 34. Rg5+
Kh8 35. Ne5 $18) 32. Re1 (32. Nd6 Rcf8 33. Nxf8 Be3+ 34. Kh2 Rxd6 $13) 32...
Re8 33. Re5 (33. Kh2 Bf8 (33... Re7 34. d6 $5) 34. Re5 Rh6 35. Rg5+ $16) 33...
Re7 34. Rxh5 Ref7 35. Kh2 (35. Nxc5 $2 {Ftacnik} Rf1+ 36. Kh2 Rb1 37. Ne4 Rff1
38. Nf2 Rxf2 39. Rxh6 Rff1 $19) 35... Bc1 (35... Rf1 {Ftacnik} 36. Rxh6 Rc1 37.
Ne3 $18) 36. Re5 (36. Nxc5 Rf5 $5) (36. Ne5 {Bulletin} Rf5 37. Rxf5 Rxf5 38. d6
(38. Nxg4 Kf7 39. Nxc5 Rxd5 40. Nxb7 Ba3 $15) 38... Rxe5 39. d7 Rd5 40. d8=Q+
Rxd8 41. Nxd8 c4 $19) 36... Rf1 37. Re4 Rd1 38. Rxg4+ Kh7 $2 (38... Kh8 39. Re4
(39. Ne5 {Bulletin} Rff1 40. Ng6+ Kh7 41. Ngf8+ Kh8 $10) 39... Rxd5 (39... Rff1
40. Kh3) 40. Ne5 (40. g4 Re7 41. Nxc5 Rxe4 42. Nxe4 Rd4 43. Ncd6 Bf4+ $19)
40... Rf6 41. Nf3 $1 $16 c4 $140 42. Rxc4 Rxe6 43. Rxc1 Rxb5 44. g4 $18) 39.
Ne5 (39. Ng5+ Bxg5 40. Rxg5 Rff1 41. Kh3 Rh1+ 42. Kg4 Rd4+ $19) 39... Re7 (
39... Rff1 {Kharitonov} 40. Rg7+ Kh6 41. Nf7+ (41. Ng4+ {Ftacnik} Kh5 42. Nf6+
Rxf6 (42... Kh6 43. Ng8+ Kh5 44. g4+ Kxh4 45. g3#) 43. g4+ Kh6 44. g5+ Kh5 45.
gxf6 $18) 41... Rxf7 (41... Kh5 42. g4+ Kxh4 43. g3#) 42. Rxf7 $18) 40. Nf8+ $1
(40. Nf8+ $1 Kh6 41. Rg6+ Kh5 42. g4+ Kxh4 43. g3#) 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B62"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Bb5 Qb6 8.
Bxf6 gxf6 9. Nb3 a6 10. Be2 Qc7 11. a4 b6 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Qd4 Rg8
15. Bf3 Qc5 16. Qd3 O-O-O 17. O-O h5 18. Kh1 h4 19. h3 Kb8 20. Ra3 Qe5 21. Rb3
d5 22. Bg4 Bc5 23. exd5 f5 24. Be2 Rxd5 25. Nxd5 Bxd5 26. Bf3 Bxb3 27. Qxb3 Rd8
28. c3 Rd2 29. Rd1 Bxf2 30. c4 Qxb2 31. Qxb2 Rxb2 32. g4 hxg3 33. h4 Be3 34.
Bg2 Rc2 35. h5 Rxc4 36. Bf3 Rc1 37. Rxc1 Bxc1 38. Be2 Bh6 39. Bxa6 Kc7 40. Kg2
f4 41. Bb5 Kd6 42. Kf3 f5 43. Bd3 Ke5 44. Ba6 Kf6 45. Bc8 e5 46. Kg2 e4 47. Bd7
Kg5 48. Kh3 Bf8 49. Be6 Bd6 50. h6 f3 51. h7 g2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Nxd5
Qxd5 9. Qc2 Bg7 10. Bc4 Qd7 11. e4 Nc6 12. d5 exd5 13. Bxd5 Nd8 14. O-O Bxd5
15. exd5 Qxd5 16. Rd1 Qb7 17. Qa4+ b5 18. Qh4 Ne6 19. Bh6 O-O 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21.
Ng5 h5 22. Ne4 Ne8 23. Nc5 Qc8 24. Nd7 Nd6 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Rd5 Rh8 27. Qd4 Kh6
28. g4 Qe6 29. g5+ {Time} 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Polgar, Zsuzsa"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 8.
O-O Bb4 9. Bd2 a5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. a3 Be7 12. Rfc1 O-O 13. Rab1 Bd6 14. b4
axb4 15. axb4 Qe7 16. b5 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Qf5 Rfd8 19. Rd1 Nce4 20. Nxe4
dxe4 21. Nd4 Bc5 22. Bc3 Rd5 23. Qf4 Qd7 24. Qg3 Rc8 25. Ba1 Bd6 26. f4 exf3
27. Qxf3 Re8 28. Nc2 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Ne4 30. Nd4 Qc7 31. g3 g6 32. Ne2 Qc2 33.
Rxd6 Nxd6 34. Qf6 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. Kf2 Qxe3+ 37. Kg2 Qxe2+ 38. Kg1 Qd1+
39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kg1 Re1+ 41. Kf2 Ne4+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. f3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O 6. Ne2 Nbd7 7. c4 c5 8. Nbc3
a6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Nf4 e6 11. Be2 cxd4 12. Bxd4 Re8 13. Be3 Bf8 14. O-O b6 15.
b3 Bb7 16. Rc1 Rac8 17. Rfd1 Ne5 18. Qe1 Nfd7 19. Qf2 Bg7 20. Bf1 Rb8 21. Kh1
Ba8 22. Nfe2 f5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Nf4 Nf6 25. Be2 Kh8 26. Na4 Ned7 27. Nc3 Ne5
28. Na4 Ned7 29. b4 e5 30. Nd5 Bxd5 31. cxd5 Qb7 32. b5 f4 33. Bd2 axb5 34. Nc3
Nc5 35. Nxb5 Qd7 36. Na3 Qf5 37. Nc4 Rbd8 38. Nxb6 e4 39. Bc3 Qg5 40. Kg1 e3
41. Qf1 Rg8 42. Nc4 Nh5 43. Bxg7+ Qxg7 44. Rc2 Qg5 45. Bd3 Rd7 46. Qe1 Nf6 47.
Bf1 Nxd5 48. Nxd6 Rxd6 49. Rxc5 Qd8 50. Bc4 Qb6 51. Rdxd5 {Time} 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.06"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c5 3. dxc5 e6 4. Bg5 Nf6 5. e4 Bxc5 6. e5 Bxf2+ 7. Ke2 Qb6 8.
exf6 gxf6 9. Bc1 Bd7 10. Nc3 Na6 11. Ne1 Rc8 12. Nd3 Bd4 13. Qe1 Nb4 14. Kd1
Rg8 15. Nxb4 Qxb4 16. Bd2 Qxb2 17. Rb1 Qa3 18. Rb3 Qc5 19. Qh4 f5 20. Bd3 Rxg2
21. Ne2 Be5 22. Bb4 Rg4 23. Qxg4 fxg4 24. Bxc5 Rxc5 25. Rxb7 h5 26. Rxa7 h4 27.
Kd2 f5 28. Rb1 Kd8 29. h3 g3 30. Ng1 Rc7 31. Ra8+ Ke7 32. Nf3 Bf6 33. Bb5 e5
34. Bxd7 Rxd7 35. Rbb8 e4 36. Rf8 Bg7 37. Rae8+ Kd6 38. Nxh4 Bxf8 39. Nxf5+ Kc5
40. Rxf8 g2 41. Rg8 Rf7 42. Ne3 Rf2+ 43. Ke1 Rf3 44. Nxg2 Rxh3 45. Nf4 Rh1+ 46.
Kd2 d4 47. Rc8+ Kb5 48. Ne2 Rh2 49. Rd8 d3 50. cxd3 exd3 51. Rxd3 Kc4 52. Rc3+
Kd5 53. Kd3 Rh3+ 54. Kc2 Rxc3+ 55. Nxc3+ Kc4 56. a3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. d4 d5 8. e5
Ne4 9. Nbd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qb6 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 Rd8 14. Bf4
Qd5 15. Qe2 Bf5 16. g4 Bd7 17. Nxe4 Bb5 18. Qe3 Qxd4 19. Nc3 Bc6 20. h3 a6 21.
Bg5 Qxe3 22. Rxe3 Kf8 23. a4 Rd4 24. Re2 Rd3 25. Kh2 Bf3 26. Ree1 Rc8 27. e6 h6
28. Bf4 Rc4 29. Bg3 Bd4 30. exf7 Kxf7 31. Ra3 g5 32. Be5 Bxf2 33. Rf1 Bc5 34.
Raa1 Kg6 35. Rae1 Rd2+ 36. Kg3 Bc6 37. Rf3 Bxf3 38. Kxf3 Rf2+ 39. Kg3 Rxb2 40.
Ne4 Rb3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. Nd2
Kh8 9. a3 c5 10. h4 h5 11. Nf3 Ng4 12. Ng5 Nh6 13. Be3 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Qd2
Ng4 16. Bxg4 Bxg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. O-O-O Qe7 19. Ne6 Bxe6 20. dxe6 e4 21. Qxd6
Qxd6 22. Rxd6 exf3 23. e7 Rfe8 24. Nd5 Rac8 25. gxf3 Nc7 26. Bg5 Kg8 27. Re1
Kf7 28. Re4 Bd4 29. b3 Nxd5 30. cxd5 Rc7 31. Kc2 b5 32. Ra6 Rd7 33. d6 Bg7 34.
Rc6 Bd4 35. Kd3 Bf2 36. Rf4+ Kg8 37. Kc2 Bg3 38. Rf6 Be5 39. Re6 Bd4 40. Rc7
Rxc7 41. dxc7 Kf7 42. Rd6 Be5 43. c8=Q Bxd6 44. Qd7 Bxe7 45. Qxa7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Zsuzsa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "235"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nd7 5. Nc3 Ngf6 6. e4 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. e5
d4 9. exf6 dxc3 10. Bxc4 Qxf6 11. Bg5 Qg6 12. O-O f6 13. Rad1 c2 14. Rd2 fxg5
15. Ne5 Qf5 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Rxd7 Qxd7 18. Bb5 Rd8 19. Re1+ Be7 20. Qe4 Kf7
21. Bxd7 Rxd7 22. Qf5+ Ke8 23. Qxc5 Kd8 24. Qxc2 Bd6 25. g3 h6 26. Rd1 Rf8 27.
Kg2 Rf6 28. Qa4 a6 29. Qc4 Rf8 30. Rd2 Rf6 31. Qd4 Rff7 32. Qc4 Rf6 33. a4 Bf8
34. Re2 Bd6 35. Qg8+ Rf8 36. Qe6 Kc7 37. Rc2+ Kd8 38. b4 Rf6 39. Qe4 Rc7 40.
Rd2 Rd7 41. b5 axb5 42. axb5 Rff7 43. b6 Bc5 44. Rb2 Rf6 45. Qe5 Bxb6 46. Qb8+
Ke7 47. Qg8 Bd4 48. Re2+ Kd6 49. Qb8+ Kd5 50. Qe8 Rfd6 51. Qc8 b6 52. Rd2 Ke5
53. Qe8+ Kf6 54. Re2 Bc5 55. Qe4 Rd8 56. h4 gxh4 57. Qxh4+ Kf7 58. Re7+ Kg8 59.
Qg4 Bd4 60. Rb7 Kh8 61. Qe4 Rf8 62. f4 Rfd8 63. Kh3 Bf6 64. Rf7 Kg8 65. Rb7 Kh8
66. Kg4 Bd4 67. Kh5 Bf6 68. g4 Rd4 69. Kg6 R4d6 70. Kf7 R6d7+ 71. Rxd7 Rxd7+
72. Kg6 Rd8 73. g5 Bb2 74. Qe7 Rc8 75. Qd7 Rf8 76. Qd6 Rg8 77. Qxb6 Ba1 78. Qa7
Bb2 79. Qb7 Ba1 80. f5 Rf8 81. Qe7 Kg8 82. Qd7 Kh8 83. f6 Bxf6 84. gxh6 Rg8 85.
Qh3 gxh6+ 86. Kxf6 Kh7 87. Qd7+ Kh8 88. Qe7 Rg5 89. Qf7 Rg8 90. Qc4 Kh7 91.
Qe4+ Kh8 92. Qc4 Kh7 93. Qf7+ Kh8 94. Qd7 Rg5 95. Qb7 Rg8 96. Qb3 Kh7 97. Kf7
Rg5 98. Qe6 Rg7+ 99. Kf8 Rg5 100. Qf6 Rg8+ 101. Kf7 Rg5 102. Qd4 Rf5+ 103. Ke6
Rg5 104. Kf6 Rg8 105. Qd7+ Kh8 106. Qd2 Kh7 107. Qc2+ Kh8 108. Qc5 Kh7 109.
Qf5+ Kh8 110. Qe6 Kh7 111. Kf7 Rg7+ 112. Kf8 Rg5 113. Qd7+ Kh8 114. Qf7 Rg1
115. Qf6+ Kh7 116. Qf5+ Kh8 117. Qe5+ Kh7 118. Qe4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 O-O 11. e4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. e5 Rc8 15.
Be4 b4 16. Ne2 Qb6 17. Nf4 Rfd8 18. Qb3 Nf8 19. Rfd1 c5 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. d5
Bg5 22. Nxg5 hxg5 23. Nh3 Rxd5 24. Nxg5 c4 25. Qf3 c3 26. bxc3 Rxd1+ 27. Qxd1
bxc3 28. g3 Ng6 29. Qd3 c2 30. f4 Qb2 31. Qd2 Ne7 32. Nf3 Nd5 33. Ne1 Nb4 34.
a4 a5 35. Kf2 Qa3 36. f5 exf5 37. e6 fxe6 38. Qd7 Rf8 39. Qxe6+ Kh7 40. Rxc2
Nxc2 41. Nxc2 Qxa4 42. Ne3 Qe4 43. Qd6 Re8 44. Ng2 Rc8 45. Ne3 Rc3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. f3 Rd8 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. h4 a6 13. Qf2 b5 14. Be3 Rb8
15. g4 Ne5 16. g5 Nfd7 17. h5 b4 18. Ne2 a5 19. g6 a4 20. Nbd4 Nc5 21. gxf7+
Kxf7 22. Nf4 Bf6 23. Nb5 Qe7 24. Be2 b3 25. cxb3 axb3 26. a3 Na4 27. Rd4 Nxb2
28. Kxb2 Nc6 29. Rc1 Bd7 30. Nxe6 Rdc8 31. Nec7 Nxd4 32. Nxd4 d5 33. Ba6 Ra8
34. Qe2 Qd6 35. f4 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Bxd4+ 37. Bxd4 Qxc7 38. Be5 Qc5 39. Bc3 Bc8
40. Qg2 Rxa6 41. Qxg7+ Ke8 42. Qh8+ Qf8 43. Qe5+ Qe7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8.
Bg2 a6 9. Qa4 Neg4 10. O-O Rb8 11. b4 axb5 12. Nxb5 d5 13. Nd6+ Ke7 14. c5 Qa6
15. Qc2 Ne8 16. b5 Qa8 17. Bf4 Nxd6 18. Bxd6+ Ke8 19. Bxb8 Qxb8 20. a4 Qc7 21.
Rfc1 f5 22. a5 Ne5 23. c6 b6 24. axb6 Qxb6 25. Ra8 Kd8 26. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 Qc7 11. O-O Bb7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Be7 14. Ng5 Qc6 15.
Qf3 h6 16. Qh3 hxg5 17. Qxh8+ Kf7 18. Qh3 g4 19. Qh4 Ne5 20. f3 gxf3 21. gxf3
c4 22. Be3 Ng6 23. Qe1 Rh8 24. Rd1 Bd6 25. Rd2 Qc7 26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Qd2 Qe5
28. Rf2 Rh3 29. Bd1 Nh4 30. Bd4 Qc7 31. Qg5 Qd8 32. Rd2 Bc6 33. e5 Nf5 34. Bc5
Qc7 35. exf6 Bxf3 36. fxg7 Qxc5+ 37. Rf2 Kg8 38. Bc2 Rxh2 39. Qd8+ Kxg7 40.
Qd7+ Ne7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nunn, John DM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8.
Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 Bg7 12. Bd3 Ne7 13. Nxe7 Qxe7 14. c3 f5
15. O-O O-O 16. Nc2 Rb8 17. exf5 e4 18. Re1 Bxf5 19. Nd4 Bg6 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21.
f3 d5 22. fxe4 dxe4 23. Qg4 Qc5 24. Kh1 Rb6 25. Nf5 Rg6 26. Qxe4 Bf6 27. Re2 a5
28. a3 h6 29. Rf1 Rd8 30. h4 Qd5 31. h5 Rg5 32. Nxh6+ Kg7 33. Nf5+ Kh7 34. Nh4+
Qxe4 35. Rxe4 Rd6 36. g4 Rgd5 37. Nf5 Rd1 38. Nxd6 Rxf1+ 39. Kg2 Rb1 40. Re2 b4
41. axb4 axb4 42. cxb4 Bxb2 43. Nxf7 Bc3 44. g5 Rxb4 45. Re7 Kg8 46. Nh6+ Kf8
47. Rf7+ Ke8 48. g6 Rh4 49. Rf5 Bg7 50. Ng8 Bb2 51. Kf3 Bg7 52. h6 Bb2 53. g7
1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. d3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Bh6 Bg7 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Qa4 Na6 13. Qa3 Rb8 14. Rab1 f6
15. Rfc1 e5 16. Nd2 b6 17. Rc4 b5 18. Rc2 Rf7 19. Ne4 c4 20. dxc4 bxc4 21. Rbc1
Rb4 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Rxc4 Rc7 24. Rxc7+ Qxc7 25. Nd6 Kh6 26. Qe3+ g5 27. Nxc8
Qxc8 28. Qxa7 Qc1+ 29. Bf1 Nc5 30. Qc7 Qa3 31. Qd6 Kg7 32. e3 Qc1 33. Kg2 Qc2
34. Qe7+ Kg6 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qc6 h5 37. a4 h4 38. a5 Qc3 39. a6 Qa5 40. Bb5
Qa3 41. Qc7+ Kh6 42. Qe7 Qb4 43. Qxf6+ Kh7 44. Qf5+ Kh6 45. a7 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E93"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 h5 11. Nd2 Nh6 12. f3 Nf7 (12... a5 $5) 13. Qc2 (13. O-O
Bh6 $13) 13... Bh6 14. O-O-O (14. Bf2 a5 15. O-O-O Nc5 $13) 14... c5 15. dxc6
$6 (15. Kb1 $14 a6) 15... bxc6 $13 16. Kb1 a5 (16... Nc5 $1 17. Nb3 (17. Bf2
Ne6 18. Nb3 Qe7 $132) 17... Be3 $132) 17. Na4 c5 18. Nc3 Be3 $2 (18... Bb7 19.
Nd5 a4 $13 (19... Ng5 20. Bxg5 $5 Bxg5 21. g3 Bh6 22. f4 $36)) 19. Nd5 Bd4 20.
Nb3 Bb7 21. Nxd4 cxd4 22. f4 $16 Rb8 $6 (22... Nh6 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. c5 Bc6 (
24... Rc8 25. Qb3 Nxc5 26. Nxf6+ Kh8 27. Qg3 $1 $16) 25. Rhf1 $16) 23. Rhf1 Nh6
24. c5 $5 (24. fxe5 dxe5 25. c5 Bc6 $16) 24... Bxd5 25. exd5 Nf5 26. fxe5 $1 (
26. c6 Nc5) 26... Nxh4 (26... Nxe5 27. Rxf5 gxf5 28. c6 Qb6 29. Bf2 $16) 27.
exd6 Ne5 28. Rxd4 Nf5 (28... Rb4 29. Rxb4 axb4 30. Qe4 Nf5 31. Qxb4 $16) 29.
Rxf5 $1 gxf5 30. Qxf5 Kg7 (30... Rb4 31. Qe6+ Kh8 (31... Nf7 32. Rxb4 axb4 33.
Qe4 (33. Bxh5 Kg7 34. Bxf7 Rxf7 35. c6 Qb6 36. c7 Qg1+ 37. Kc2 $16) (33. d7 Qa5
(33... Kg7 34. Bxh5 (34. d6 b3 $3 (34... Qa5 35. c6 b3 36. Qxb3 $16) 35. axb3 (
35. c6 bxa2+ 36. Ka1 Qa5 $132) 35... Qa5 $132) 34... Qa5 35. Bxf7 Rxf7 36. c6
$16) 34. c6 (34. Bxh5 $5 Qxc5 35. Bxf7+ Kg7 36. Bh5) 34... b3 35. axb3 Qe1+ 36.
Kc2 Kg7 37. Qe7 $18) 33... Ne5 (33... Re8 34. Qg6+ Kf8 35. Bxh5) 34. Qxb4 $16 {
/\ a3, Ka2}) 32. Rxb4 axb4 33. Qe7 $1 Qa8 $8 34. d7 Kg8 (34... b3 35. axb3 Kg8
36. Qd6 $5 Qa5 37. b4 Qxb4 38. Qxf8+ $18) 35. Bd1 $1 Nf7 (35... Qa5 36. Bc2 $40
) (35... Qxd5 36. Bb3 Nc4 37. Bxc4 Qxc4 38. Qxf8+ Kxf8 39. d8=Q+ Kg7 40. Qe7+
Kg6 41. Qe3 Qf1+ 42. Qc1 $18) 36. Qxf6 Qxd5 37. Bc2 Ng5 (37... Ne5 38. Bb3 Nc4
39. Bxc4 Qxc4 40. Qxf8+ Kxf8 41. d8=Q+) 38. Bb3 $18) 31. Bxh5 Rh8 $2 (31... Rb4
$8 32. Rxb4 (32. Rd2 $1 $16 Qc8 (32... Nc4 33. Qg6+ Kh8 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Rd3
Rxb2+ 36. Ka1 Rb1+ 37. Kxb1 Qb8+ 38. Rb3 $18) (32... Qb8 33. a3 Rc4 (33... Rb5
34. Rc2 Rc8 35. c6 $16) 34. Rc2 Qb3 (34... Rxc2 35. Qxc2 $16) (34... Qb5 35.
Be2) 35. c6 (35. Bd1) 35... Rxc2 36. Qxc2 Qxd5 37. c7 $16) (32... Rh8 33. a3
Rb5 (33... Rh4 34. g4 $16) (33... Rc4 $5) 34. Rd4 $5 Rxc5 $2 35. Rg4+ Kf8 36.
Qe6 $18 {/\ d7, Qe8}) 33. Qxc8 Rxc8 34. c6 $16) 32... axb4 33. Qe6 (33. Qe4 Qa5
$132) 33... Qa5 $1 34. Qe7+ (34. c6 b3) 34... Kg8 35. Qe6+ Kg7 $10) 32. Rg4+ $1
Kf8 33. Qe6 $1 Rb7 (33... Rc8 34. c6 $18) 34. c6 Rxb2+ 35. Kxb2 Qb6+ 36. Ka3 $1
Qc5+ 37. Ka4 Qc2+ 38. Kb5 Qb2+ 39. Ka6 Qe2+ 40. Kb7 Rh7+ (40... Qb5+ 41. Kc7
Rh7+ 42. d7 Rxd7+ 43. cxd7 Qc5+ 44. Kd8 $18) 41. d7 1-0

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7
15. Qh5 e4 16. Be2 Qd7 17. Rad1 Ng6 18. g3 O-O 19. Nc2 Rae8 20. Ne3 Re5 21. Qh3
Qc8 22. Nc2 f4 23. Qxc8 Rxc8 24. f3 exf3 25. Bxf3 fxg3 26. hxg3 Ree8 27. Nb4 a5
28. Nc6 b4 29. cxb4 axb4 30. Rd2 Ne5 31. Rc2 Nd3 32. b3 Ra8 33. Be2 Re3 34. Kg2
Bc3 35. Bxd3 Rxd3 36. Rf4 Rd2+ 37. Rxd2 Bxd2 38. Rf2 Bc3 39. Ne7+ Kf8 40. Nf5
Be5 41. Rc2 Ke8 42. Kf3 Kd7 43. Rh2 h5 44. Rc2 Rg8 45. Rg2 Rg5 46. Ne3 Bd4 47.
Nc2 Bc5 48. Rd2 Rf5+ 49. Kg2 Ke7 50. Ne1 Kf6 51. Nf3 Ke7 52. Nh4 Re5 53. Nf3
Re3 54. Nd4 Kf6 55. Nc2 Rc3 56. Ne1 Kf5 57. Nf3 Be3 58. Re2 Ke4 59. Nh4 Kxd5
60. Nf5 Bc5 1-0

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cvitan, Ognjen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B74"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nge2 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 Nf6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Kh1 Bd7 10. f4 Rc8 11. Nb3 a6 12. a4 Na5 13. e5 Ne8 14. Nxa5 Qxa5
15. Nd5 Rc6 16. Nxe7+ Kh8 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. exd6 Nf6 19. Bf3 Ne4 20. Bd4 f5 21.
Bxg7+ Kxg7 22. Qd4+ Kh6 23. b4 1-0

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hertneck, Gerald"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7
9. e4 e6 10. Bc4 exd5 11. exd5 Re8+ 12. Be3 d6 13. O-O Nbd7 14. bxa6 Bxa6 15.
Bxa6 Rxa6 16. h3 Nb6 17. Qd3 Qa8 18. Rfd1 Nxa4 19. Qc4 Nxc3 20. Rxa6 Nxd1 21.
Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Bc1 Ra1 23. Qc2 Bh6 24. Nd2 Ne4 25. Nb3 Rxc1 26. Nxc1 Ndxf2 27.
Nd3 Be3 28. Nxf2 Bxf2+ 29. Kf1 f5 30. Qa4 Kf7 31. Qd7+ Kf6 32. Qxh7 1-0

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hjartarson, Johann"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Bd3 Bd7 10. O-O b5 11. Bf4 c4 12. Bc2 Qb6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Na6 15.
Nxd7 Nxd7 16. d6 Nb4 17. Be3 Qd8 18. Be4 Rc8 19. a3 Nc6 20. Qd2 a6 21. Rad1 Re8
22. Bc2 Qh4 23. Bb1 Re5 24. Nd5 Rd8 25. Bf4 Rh5 26. Bg3 Qg5 27. Qxg5 Rxg5 28.
Ne7+ 1-0

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. g3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Ne4 7. Qe3 Qa5+ 8.
Nbd2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 O-O 10. dxc5 Na6 11. Bg2 Qxc5 12. Qxc5 Nxc5 13. O-O-O a5 14.
Nb1 Rd8 15. Rd6 Ra6 16. Rhd1 Kf8 17. Nc3 Ke7 18. Nb5 Rxd6 19. Rxd6 Na6 20. Rb6
d5 21. cxd5 exd5 22. Na7 Nc5 23. Rb5 Kd6 24. Rxa5 Bg4 25. b4 Na6 26. Rxd5+ Ke7
27. Rxd8 Kxd8 28. a3 b6 29. Nc6+ Kc7 30. Nd4 Kd6 31. h3 Bd7 32. f4 Nc7 33. e4
f6 34. Kd2 g5 35. Bf1 h6 36. h4 gxh4 37. gxh4 Ne8 38. Bb5 Ng7 39. Bxd7 Kxd7 40.
Nf5 Ne6 41. Ke3 h5 42. Ng3 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. d3 O-O 8. Nbd2
d6 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nc4 h6 11. h3 Be6 12. Bd2 Qd7 13. Qc1 Kh7 14. Re4 g5 15.
Bxg5 hxg5 16. Qxg5 Bf5 17. Rh4+ Kg8 18. g4 Bg6 19. Re1 dxe5 20. Nfxe5 Qe6 21.
Qd2 Nb6 22. Nxg6 Qxg6 23. Ne5 Qd6 24. Rh5 Nd5 25. Rg5 Qh6 26. Nf3 f6 27. Rf5
Qxd2 28. Nxd2 Rae8 29. Re6 Kf7 30. Rxc6 e6 31. Rf3 Rc8 32. Ra6 Rc7 33. c3 Rb8
34. Nc4 Ke7 35. h4 Nb6 36. Na5 Kf7 37. Re3 Nd5 38. Rexe6 Rxb2 39. Nc4 Rb1+ 40.
Kh2 Rf1 41. Red6 Nxc3 42. Kg2 Ra1 43. a3 Ne2 44. Rd8 Nf4+ 45. Kf3 Ne6 46. Nd6+
Kg6 47. Re8 Nd4+ 48. Kg2 Rc6 49. h5+ Kh7 50. Rxc6 Nxc6 51. Rc8 Nd4 52. Rc7 Rxa3
53. Ne8 Ne6 54. Re7 Ra6 55. Nxf6+ Kh6 56. Ne4 Bf8 57. Rf7 Bg7 58. f4 Ra3 59.
Ng3 Rxd3 60. g5+ Kh7 61. h6 Kg6 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
Nc6 9. Qf4 Rc8 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Bd2 Nh5 12. Qh4 Na5 13. b3 f5 14. Rac1 Nc6 15.
Nd5 e6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Nc3 Nf6 18. Bf4 Ne8 19. Nb5 a6 20. Nc3 Nb4 21. Bg5
Bf6 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. a3 Nc6 24. Na4 Na5 25. Nxb6 Rc6 26. b4 Rxb6 27. bxa5 Rb2
28. Rb1 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 Bxf3 30. Bxf3 Rc8 31. Rb6 Rxc4 32. Rxa6 Ra4 33. Bb7 Rxa3
34. Ra8+ Kf7 35. a6 Ra2 36. Rc8 g5 37. f3 h5 38. Kf2 h4 39. gxh4 gxh4 40. Rh8
Ra4 41. Ke3 Kg7 42. Rd8 Kf7 43. Kd3 Ke7 44. Rc8 Nh5 45. Rc4 Ra3+ 46. Kc2 f4 47.
Kb2 Ra5 48. Kb3 Kd6 49. Bc8 e5 50. Ra4 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 Nc6 4. Bb2 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. Bd3 d5 8. Nxc6
bxc6 9. Nd2 Qc7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. c4 Rd8 13. Rac1 Qa5 14. Bc3 Qb6 15.
cxd5 cxd5 16. e5 Nd7 17. Nf3 a5 18. Bd4 Qb4 19. Rc7 a4 20. bxa4 Qxa4 21. Bb5
Qa5 22. Rfc1 Ba3 23. R1c3 Rb8 24. Bd3 Be7 25. Ra7 Qb4 26. Rb3 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. b4 Ne7 14. Nce3 Bg5
15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nd5 Qb7 17. a4 Be6 18. g3 Rfc8 19. Ra3 Bxd5 20. exd5 e4 21.
Be2 Bf6 22. O-O Bxc3 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 Qd7 25. Qb1 Re8 26. Ra6 g6 27. Rc6
Bd2 28. Qb2 e3 29. f4 Qf5 30. Rxd6 h5 31. Ra1 Rbc8 32. Rd1 Red8 33. Rf6 Bc3 34.
Rxf5 Bxb2 35. Re5 Bxe5 36. fxe5 Rc2 37. Bf3 Re8 38. e6 fxe6 39. dxe6 Rd2 40.
Re1 Rxe6 41. Be2 Re5 42. Kg2 Rf5 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Bb3 b5 11. d5 Bxc3 12. dxe6 Ba5 13. exf7+ Kh8 14. Bf4
Nc6 15. Bd6 Bg4 16. Rc1 Ne7 17. Bc5 Ne4 18. Qxd8 Bxd8 19. Bxe7 Bxe7 20. Rfe1
Bf5 21. Bc2 Rac8 22. Nd4 Bg6 23. Ne6 Rxf7 24. Bxe4 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Bxe4 26. Rc8+
Bf8 27. Nxf8 h6 28. f3 Bb7 29. Rd8 Kg8 30. Ne6+ Kh7 31. Kf2 g5 32. Rd7 Rxd7 33.
Nf8+ Kg7 34. Nxd7 Bc6 35. Nc5 a5 36. Ke3 Kf6 37. Kd4 Kf5 38. a3 g4 39. fxg4+
Kxg4 40. g3 Kh3 41. Ke5 Kxh2 42. Kf4 Bd5 43. Nd3 Bc4 44. Ne5 Bd5 45. Ng4+ Kg1
46. Nxh6 b4 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B44"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Kasparov,G"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
Bd3 e5 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 d6 $2 (10... Bxc3 $1 11. bxc3 d6 $10) 11. Na4 d5 12.
exd5 cxd5 13. a3 Be7 14. cxd5 Nxd5 $2 (14... Qxd5 15. Nc3 Qe6 16. Qf3 Bd7 $14)
15. Bc5 Nf6 16. Re1 Bxc5 (16... Bg4 $2 17. Bxh7+ $1 $16) 17. Nxc5 Qb6 18. Qc2
Re8 19. h3 a5 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. Re2 h6 22. Bc4 Re7 23. Rd2 e4 $1 24. Na4 Qa7 25.
Rd8+ Kh7 26. Ba2 (26. Bxf7 Bxh3 $1) 26... Bd7 (26... Be6 $1 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28.
Qc5 Rd7 29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. Qxa5 Qf4 31. Re1 (31. Qe1 e3 $1 $17) 31... Rd2 32.
Qa7 Nd5 $17) 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28. Nc5 Bf5 29. Qb3 Qd6 30. Qe3 Bg6 31. b4 axb4 32.
axb4 Qb8 33. Rb1 Ra7 $2 (33... Qb5 $1 34. Rb2 Nd7 $1 35. Bd5 Nf6 36. Ba2 Nd7
$10) 34. Bc4 Qe5 35. Nd3 Qc7 36. Nf4 Rb7 37. Bf1 Bf5 38. b5 g5 39. Ne2 Nd5 40.
Qd4 e3 41. Rc1 exf2+ 42. Qxf2 Qe5 43. Rc5 Be6 44. Nd4 Qf4 45. Nxe6 Qxf2+ 46.
Kxf2 fxe6 47. Bc4 Nc7 48. Ke3 Kg7 49. Kd4 Kf6 50. g4 Ke7 51. Ke5 Kd7 52. Kf6
Rb6 53. Kg7 Kd6 54. Rc6+ Rxc6 55. bxc6 Kxc6 56. Kxh6 Kd6 57. Kxg5 Ke7 58. Kg6
Ne8 59. h4 Nd6 60. Bb3 Nf7 61. g5 Ne5+ 62. Kh6 Nf3 63. Kh5 Kf7 64. Kg4 Ne5+ 65.
Kf4 Ng6+ 66. Kg3 Ne7 67. h5 Nf5+ 68. Kf4 Nd4 69. Bc4 Nf5 70. Ke5 Ng3 71. Bxe6+
Kg7 72. Bg4 Nf1 73. h6+ Kh7 74. Bf5+ 1-0

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 (5... e5 6.
Nc3 Nc6 7. d3 g6 8. Nd5 Nce7 9. O-O Bg7 10. Rb1 $1 $14 {/\b4 Keres-Panno/
Petropolis/1973}) 6. Nc3 Nc6 (6... Qg4 $2 7. O-O Nxe4 8. Qb3 $1 b6 9. h3 Qf5
10. Qa4+ Kd8 (10... Nd7 $2 11. Qc6 $18) 11. Nd5 Nd7 12. d3 Nef6 13. Ng5 Qg6 14.
Nf4 $18) 7. O-O g6 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Nde2 $5 (10. Be3 O-O 11. f3 Rac8
12. b3 e6 $13) 10... O-O 11. f3 a6 12. a4 (12. Be3 {Ftacnik} Ne5 13. b3 b5 14.
Nd5 Qb7 15. Nb6 Rab8 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Nc3 b4 18. Nca4 Rfd8 19. Qe2 d5 20. exd5
Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Rxd5 22. Rad1 Rbd8 23. Nb6 R5d6 24. Nc4 {Tseitlin,Ma-Lerner,K/St.
Petersburg/1992/0.5 (44)}) (12. Bg5 {Ftacnik} Ne5 13. b3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15.
a4 bxa4 16. Rxa4 Rab8 17. b4 Rfc8 18. b5 Nc4 19. Qb3 Qc7 20. Rc1 Qc5+ 21. Kh1
Qxg5 22. Rxc4 Nd7 23. Nd5 Nc5 24. Qb1 {Kubala,P-Dumitrescu,D/Szombathely
EUchJM-U16 (5)/1993/1-0 (41)}) 12... Rfc8 (12... Qd8 {Ftacnik Kramnik,
V-Gelfand,B (7)/FIDE-cm2 Sanghi Nagar/1994/}) 13. b3 Qd8 (13... Na7 $6 14. Be3
$2 (14. a5 $16) 14... b5) 14. Kh1 Nd7 15. Bg5 Qa5 16. Qd2 Nc5 17. Rab1 e6 (
17... Rab8 {Ftacnik} 18. b4 Nxb4 19. Nd5 Nc6 20. Qxa5 Nxa5 21. Nxe7+ $18) 18.
Rfd1 (18. Qxd6 Rd8 $5 (18... Nxb3 19. Rxb3 Qxg5 20. Rxb7 Na5 21. Rc7 Nxc4 22.
Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Qxa6 Qc5 $44) (18... f6 {Ftacnik} 19. Be3 Bf8 20. Qd2 Rd8 21.
Qc2 Nb4 $44) (18... Nxa4 {Ftacnik} 19. Nxa4 Qxg5 20. Nb6 Rd8) 19. Bxd8 Rxd8 20.
b4 Nxb4 21. Qg3 Nbd3 22. Nd1 Qd2 $44) 18... Rab8 19. Bh4 Qb6 20. Qxd6 Be5 (
20... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxd8 (21. Qg3 Rxd1+ 22. Nxd1 Nxa4 $13) 21... Rxd8 22.
Qg3 Nd3 23. Rf1 (23. Nd5 Rxd5 24. exd5 Nf2+ 25. Qxf2 Qxf2 26. dxc6 bxc6 (26...
Qxe2 $2 27. c7 $18) 27. Ng3 Be5 $13) 23... Qb4 $132) 21. Qd2 Nxb3 22. Qb2 Nca5
23. Nd5 $3 exd5 (23... Bxb2 24. Nxb6 Nxc4 (24... Bg7 {Ftacnik} 25. Bg3 $16) (
24... Rc6 25. Nd7 $18) 25. Nxc8 Rxc8 26. Rd7 $16) 24. Qxe5 Nxc4 (24... dxc4 25.
Nc3 {/\Nd5}) 25. Qxd5 Qe3 (25... Ne3 26. Qd3 $1 Nxd1 27. Qxd1 $18 (27. Qxd1 {
Ftacnik} Qc6 $1 28. Qxb3 Qc2 $132)) 26. Re1 Nbd2 (26... Ncd2 {Ftacnik} 27. Nc1
Qc3 28. Nxb3 $16) (26... Nba5 {Ftacnik} 27. Nd4 Qa3 28. Bg3 $16) 27. Rxb7 Rxb7
28. Qxb7 Re8 29. Qd7 Rb8 30. Bg3 Nxf3 (30... Rf8 31. Nf4 $1 (31. Bf4 Qb6 32.
Bxd2 Rd8 (32... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 33. a5 Rxd7 34. axb6 Rxd2 35. b7 $18)) 31... Qc5
32. Nd5 {/\Bh6}) 31. Bxb8 Qxe4 (31... Qf2 {Ftacnik} 32. Bg3) (31... Nxe1 {
Ftacnik} 32. Qc8+ Kg7 33. Qxc4 Nd3 34. Qd4+ Qxd4 35. Nxd4 $18) 32. gxf3 Qxf3+
33. Kg1 Qe3+ (33... Ne3 {Ftacnik} 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. Be5+ $18) 34. Kg2 Qe4+ 35.
Kh3 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. g3 O-O
15. Bg2 a5 16. O-O Rb8 17. Re1 Qd7 18. Qh5 f5 19. Rad1 e4 20. Nce3 (20. f3 $5
exf3 (20... Ne5 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. Bxe4 Bf5 23. Nd4 $14) 21. Bxf3 Ne5 22. Nd4 (
22. Bg2 Nc4 {/\ Qa7}) 22... Bf7 (22... Nxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Bxd4+ 24. Rxd4 $16) 23.
Qg5 $5 (23. Qxf5 $2 Qxf5 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Nexf5 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Bh5 $17) 23...
Nxf3+ (23... Kh8 24. Bg2) 24. Nxf3 Kh8 25. Re7 Qc6 26. Rc7 $16) 20... Ne5 21.
Re2 Ng6 22. Red2 (22. f3 exf3 23. Bxf3 f4 $132) 22... Be5 23. a4 bxa4 24. Nc4
Qf7 $1 25. Qg5 (25. Nxa5 $2 Rb5 $19) (25. Nxe5 dxe5 $17) 25... Kh8 26. Kh1 Rg8
27. Qe3 Qg7 28. Bf1 Rbf8 29. Be2 Re8 30. Qb6 $2 (30. Bh5 $1 $13) 30... Nf4 $1
31. Nxf4 $6 (31. Nc7 $5 Re7 $1 (31... Nxe2 32. Nxe8 (32. Nxe6 Qg4 33. Nxe5 dxe5
34. Qe3 Qf3+ 35. Qxf3 exf3 36. Nc5 a3 $17) 32... Qg4 $1 33. Nxe5 dxe5 34. Rxe2
Qxe2 35. Qxe6 Qxd1+ 36. Kg2 $10) 32. Nxe6 Rxe6 33. Nxe5 (33. Ne3 Nxe2 34. Rxe2
f4 $132) 33... dxe5 34. Qxa5 Nxe2 35. Rxe2 Qg4 $15) 31... Bxf4 32. Rd4 (32.
Nxd6 Rb8 33. Qxa5 Bxd2 34. Rxd2 $17) 32... d5 $1 33. Rxd5 (33. Ne3 Be5 34. Rxa4
f4 35. Nxd5 fxg3 36. fxg3 Bxg3 37. hxg3 Qxg3 38. Qd4+ Rg7 $19) 33... Bxd5 34.
Rxd5 Bc7 35. Qc6 f4 36. Nd6 (36. Rd7 Re7 37. Rxe7 Qxe7 $19) 36... Re6 37. Bc4
Qe7 38. Re5 Rxd6 (38... Rxe5 $2 39. Nf7+ Qxf7 (39... Kg7 40. Qh6#) 40. Bxf7 $18
) 39. Rxe7 (39. Qxe4 Rd1+ $19) 39... Rxc6 40. Bxg8 Kxg8 41. Rxe4 a3 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Kharitonov,A"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. Qc2 a6 12. b4 $5 dxc4 $5 $146 (12... f5 13. c5
Bf6 14. a4 g5 $6 (14... g6 $142 {/\ e5}) 15. b5 a5 16. Ne2 $14 {Kramnik,
V-Illescas Cordoba,M (04)/ Alcobendas m/ 1993/ 1:0/ 37}) 13. Bxc4 a5 14. Qb3
$16 (14. b5 c5 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. d5 Nb6 $13) 14... Nb6 15. Ne5 $5 (15. Be2 axb4
16. axb4 Rxa1 17. Rxa1 Nd5 18. b5 Qb6 19. Na4 Qa5 20. Rc1 $14) 15... Nxc4 16.
Qxc4 Bd7 17. Ne4 $1 Be8 (17... Qc7 18. Nc5 $16) 18. Nc5 Qc8 (18... Qc7 19. Rae1
$16) 19. bxa5 $1 Rxa5 20. Qc3 Ra7 21. Nc4 f6 (21... b5 22. Ne5 f6 23. Ned3 $16)
(21... Bxc5 22. dxc5 Qc7 23. Rfd1 $16) 22. Nb6 Qc7 23. Rab1 Bf7 24. f4 Bd6 25.
a4 $1 Qe7 (25... e5 26. dxe5 fxe5 27. f5 e4 28. h3 $16) 26. a5 $6 (26. Ne4 $142
Bb8 27. a5) 26... Rd8 $2 (26... Bxc5 $2 27. dxc5 Rd8 28. Rfd1 $18) (26... e5 $5
$132) 27. Rb2 Kh8 $6 (27... e5 28. fxe5 fxe5 29. Rbf2 exd4 30. exd4 $36) (27...
Bxc5 $5 28. dxc5 Bg6 $132) 28. Ne4 $1 Bc7 (28... Bg6 29. Nxd6 Qxd6 30. Rc1 $16)
29. Nc4 Rd5 30. Nc5 (30. Rfb1 $6 Bxa5 31. Nxa5 Rdxa5 32. Rxb7 Rxb7 33. Rxb7
Qxb7 34. Qxa5 Qb1+ $19) 30... e5 (30... Bd8 31. Rfb1 Bg6 32. Rxb7 Bxb1 33. Rxe7
Rxe7 (33... Bxe7 34. Nb6 Rd8 35. Nxe6 $18) 34. Qb4 Ba2 35. Nb6 Bxb6 36. axb6
$18) (30... Rxc5 31. dxc5 Qxc5 32. Qb4 $18) 31. fxe5 $18 Rxc5 (31... fxe5 32.
Nxb7 exd4 33. exd4 Rxb7 34. Rxb7 Bxh2+ 35. Kxh2 Qxb7 36. a6 Qc7+ 37. Ne5 Bg8
38. Ra1 $18) 32. dxc5 Bxc4 (32... Qxc5 33. exf6 Qxc4 (33... Bxc4 34. fxg7+ Kh7
35. Rf8 $18) 34. Qxc4 Bxc4 35. f7 $18) 33. exf6 (33. Qxc4 Qxe5 $132) 33... Qe4
(33... gxf6 34. Qxc4 Qe5 35. Qf4 Qxb2 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Qe8+ Kg7
39. Qe7+ $18) 34. f7 Bxf7 35. Rxf7 Rxa5 $2 (35... Be5 36. Rb4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. h3 e5 6. d3 (6. Nxe5 {
Ftacnik} Qd4) 6... f6 $5 $146 7. c3 $5 (7. Be3 Nh6 8. Nbd2 Nf7 9. a3 Be6 $15)
7... Nh6 8. O-O (8. Be3 {Ftacnik} Nf7 9. d4 $13) 8... Nf7 9. Be3 (9. d4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Bg7 $10) 9... g5 $1 (9... Be6 10. Qe2 Be7 $6 11. d4 $14) 10. Ne1 (10.
d4 cxd4 11. cxd4 g4 $1 12. hxg4 Bxg4 13. Nbd2 $13 (13. dxe5 {Ftacnik} Qxd1 14.
Rxd1 Nxe5 15. Nbd2 Bb4 $15)) 10... Be6 11. Nd2 h5 12. a3 (12. Nc2 g4 $1 13. h4
f5 $15) 12... a5 (12... Qd7 13. b4) 13. Qe2 b6 (13... Rh7 $5 14. Nc2 Nh8 $1 {
/\ Ng6}) 14. Nc2 Ra7 $1 15. d4 $2 (15. Rfd1 $1 Rd7 16. Nf1 $14 Bb3 17. Ng3 h4
18. Nf5 Nd6 19. d4 $5) (15. Rad1 {Ftacnik} Rd7 {xd3}) 15... cxd4 (15... Rd7 16.
dxc5 Bxc5 17. Rfd1) 16. cxd4 Rd7 17. dxe5 Nxe5 $15 (17... fxe5 $13) 18. Rfd1 (
18. f4 $2 Bc5 (18... gxf4 {Ftacnik} 19. Bxf4 (19. Rxf4 Bh6 20. Qxh5+ Bf7 $17)
19... Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Bg4 $36) 19. Rad1 Bxe3+ 20. Nxe3 (20. Qxe3 $2 Nc4) 20...
gxf4 21. Nf5 (21. Rxf4 Nd3) 21... Rhh7 $5 $17 22. Rxf4 (22. Nf3 Bc4) 22... Bb3)
18... Be7 (18... Rhh7 $5) 19. Nf1 (19. b3 b5 $5 20. b4 (20. a4 bxa4) 20... a4)
(19. Ne1 b5 $5 20. Nef3 g4 21. Nxe5 fxe5 $15) 19... Bc4 (19... a4 $5 {Ftacnik})
20. Rxd7 Qxd7 (20... Bxe2 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22. Nd4 Bc4 (22... Bd3 23. Ne6) 23.
Nd2 Bf7 24. b4) 21. Qd2 (21. Qe1 $2 g4 $1 22. h4 (22. Rd1 Bd3 $1 23. Nd4 (23.
Nh2 gxh3 24. f4 Rg8 25. g3 h4 $19) (23. Bf4 $5 gxh3 24. Bxe5 fxe5 25. Nh2 (25.
Nce3 hxg2 26. Nh2 Qd4 $17) 25... Bc5 $17 26. Ne3 (26. Qc3 Qg7) 26... Qg7) (23.
h4 Nf3+ 24. gxf3 gxf3 25. Nd4 (25. Bf4 Qg4+ 26. Bg3 Bxc2 27. Ne3 Qh3) 25... Qh3
26. Nxf3 Bxf1 27. Qxf1 Qxf3 $19) 23... gxh3 24. Nh2 (24. Nf5 Rg8 25. N1g3 hxg2)
(24. f4 Qg4 25. Rd2 Nc4 26. Nh2 Qg8) 24... Rg8 $19) 22... Nf3+ $3 23. gxf3 gxf3
24. Bf4 Qh3 25. Nce3 (25. Nfe3 Rg8+ 26. Bg3 Bc5 $1 27. Qd2 Rxg3+ 28. fxg3 Qxg3+
29. Kh1 f2 $19) 25... Rg8+ 26. Bg3 (26. Ng3 Bc5 27. Qd2 Bxe3 28. fxe3 Rxg3+ 29.
Bxg3 Qxg3+ 30. Kh1 f2 $19) 26... Bc5 27. b4 (27. Qd2 Bxf1 28. Rd1 Bd3 $19)
27... Rxg3+ 28. Nxg3 Bxe3 $19) 21... Bd3 $5 (21... c5 $15 22. b4 Qxd2 23. Nxd2
Bd3 24. Ne1 cxb4 25. axb4 Bxb4 26. Bxb6 Bxd2 27. Nxd3 Nxd3 28. Rd1 Bb4 29. Rxd3
Ke7 $17) 22. Qc3 $8 (22. Bxb6 $2 Bxf1 (22... Nc4 $19 {Ftacnik})) (22. Rd1 Bxe4
{Ftacnik} 23. Bxb6 Qxh3 $1 (23... Qxd2 24. Rxd2 Nc4 25. Rd4 $1) 24. f3 Nxf3+
25. gxf3 Bxf3 $19) (22. f3 g4) (22. Ng3 h4 23. Nf5 Bxe4) 22... Bxe4 (22... c5
23. Rd1 Qb5 24. f4) 23. Ng3 (23. Bxb6 g4 (23... Qd3 $17) (23... Bxg2 $5 {
Ftacnik} 24. Kxg2 Qd5+ 25. f3 g4 $40) 24. h4 Qd3 $5 25. Qxd3 Bxd3 $17 26. Ne1 (
26. Nce3 a4) 26... a4 $5) 23... Bd5 $1 (23... Bxc2 24. Qxc2 c5 25. Rd1 Qe6) 24.
Bxb6 h4 25. Ne2 g4 26. Nf4 Be4 $2 $138 (26... Rg8 $1 27. Nxd5 cxd5 28. hxg4 (
28. Kh1 Kf7 $1 29. hxg4 (29. Rd1 Rc8 30. Qb3 gxh3 31. gxh3 Rxc2 32. Rxd5 Qc6)
29... Qxg4 30. Ne3 Qe6 $17 31. Bxa5 h3 32. g3 Nc6) 28... Qxg4 29. Ne3 Qe6 30.
Bd4 (30. Bxa5 d4) 30... h3 31. Bxe5 fxe5 32. Qxa5 d4 $17) 27. Re1 $1 (27. Ne3 {
Ftacnik} gxh3 28. Rd1 Qb7 29. Bc5 hxg2 $17) 27... Qf5 (27... Bxc2 28. Qxc2 gxh3
29. Rxe5) 28. Ne6 $1 (28. Nd4 $5 Qxf4 29. Ne6 Nf3+ 30. gxf3 (30. Qxf3 Qxf3 31.
gxf3 Bxf3) 30... Qxf3 31. Qxf3 Bxf3 32. Nd4 Kf7 33. Nxf3 (33. hxg4 Bxg4 34.
Nxc6 Bd6) 33... gxf3 34. Bxa5 Rg8+ 35. Kf1 Bc5 $10) 28... Rg8 (28... gxh3 $4
29. Ng7+) 29. Ncd4 Nf3+ $1 30. Kf1 $4 (30. Kh1 $2 Nxd4 (30... Nxe1 31. Nxf5
Bxg2+ 32. Kh2 $18) (30... gxh3 31. gxf3 (31. Qxf3 hxg2+ 32. Kg1 Qxf3 33. Nxf3
Bxf3 34. Nd4 $16) 31... Qg4 32. Nf4 h2 33. Qc1 Bxf3+ 34. Kxh2 $18) (30... Qe5
31. gxf3 Bd6 32. Nf4 $18) 31. Qxd4 (31. Nxd4 Qxf2 (31... Qd5 32. Qxc6+ Qxc6 33.
Nxc6 Bxc6 34. Bc5 Rg7 $19) 32. Nf3 Qxb6) 31... Bxg2+ (31... Bd5 {Ftacnik} 32.
Nc7+ Kf7 33. Nxd5 cxd5 34. Qe3 Bd6 35. Bxa5 (35. hxg4 Qxg4 36. Qh3 Qxh3+ 37.
gxh3 a4 $15) 35... d4 36. Qxd4 (36. Qb3+ Kg7) 36... Qxa5 37. Qc4+ $13) (31...
gxh3 32. Qxe4 hxg2+ 33. Kg1 Qh3 (33... Qxe4 34. Rxe4 h3 35. Re1 {/\ Nf4}) 34.
Nc7+ $18) 32. Kxg2 (32. Kg1 Bd5 (32... gxh3 33. Ng7+ $1 Rxg7 34. Qd8+ Kf7 35.
Rxe7+ Kg6 36. Qe8+ Kh7 37. Rxg7+ Kxg7 38. Qe7+ Kg6 39. Qe8+ Kg5 40. Qg8+ Kf4
41. Qc4+)) 32... Qf3+ (32... gxh3+ 33. Kf1 h2 34. Ng7+ Rxg7 35. Qd8+ Kf7 36.
Rxe7+ Kg6 37. Rxg7+ Kxg7 38. Qc7+ Kg6 39. Qxh2 Qb5+ 40. Kg2 Qxb6 41. Qxh4 $10)
33. Kf1 (33. Kh2 g3+) 33... gxh3 {/\ Rg1} 34. Qe4 (34. Nf4 h2 35. Rxe7+ Kxe7
36. Bc5+ (36. Qc5+ Ke8) 36... Ke8 $19) (34. Qd8+ Bxd8 35. Ng5+ Kd7 36. Nxf3
Bxb6 37. Re4 Rg2 $19) (34. Ng5 Qg2+ 35. Ke2 Rxg5) (34. Ng7+ $5 Kf8 $1 (34...
Kf7 35. Qc4+ Qd5 36. Qxd5+ cxd5 37. Nf5 $1 h2 38. Rxe7+ Kf8 39. Bc5 $3 h1=Q+
40. Ke2 Qc1 41. Rc7+ Ke8 42. Re7+ Kd8 43. Bb6+ Kc8 44. Nd6+ Kb8 45. Rb7+ Ka8
46. Ra7+ Kb8 47. Rb7+ $10) 35. Ne6+ (35. Qxh4 Rxg7 36. Qh8+ Rg8 37. Qh6+ Ke8
38. Rxe7+ Kxe7 39. Qh7+ Kd6 40. Bc7+ (40. Qxg8 Qd1#) 40... Kc5 41. Qe7+ Kb5 42.
a4+ Ka6 $19) (35. Rxe7 Kxe7 36. Bc5+ Kf7 37. Qd7+ Kg6 $19) (35. Bc5 Bxc5 (35...
Qg2+ $5) 36. Qxc5+ Kxg7 $19) (35. Qd7 Qg2+ 36. Ke2 Rxg7 $19) 35... Kf7 $19) (
34. Nc7+ Kf8 35. Ne6+ Kf7 36. Nd8+ (36. Nf4 h2 37. Qc4+ Kg7 $1 38. Rxe7+ Kh6
39. Qxg8 h1=Q+ 40. Qg1 Qd1+ $19) 36... Ke8 37. Rxe7+ Kxe7 38. Qc5+ Ke8 $19)
34... Qxe4 35. Rxe4 f5 (35... h2 36. Rxh4 Rg1+ 37. Ke2 h1=Q 38. Rxh1 Rxh1 39.
Bxa5) 36. Re3 h2 $19) (30. Qxf3 gxf3 31. Nxf5 Bxf5 32. Nd4 $1 (32. Nf4 {Ftacnik
}) 32... Rxg2+ 33. Kh1 Bd7 34. Bc5 (34. Nxf3 Rg7) 34... Rg7 35. Nxf3 (35. Kh2
Rg2+ 36. Kh1 Rg7 $10) (35. Bxe7 $6 Rxe7 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 37. Kh2 Kd6 38. Nxf3 Kd5
39. Nxh4 Kc4) 35... Bxh3 36. Nxh4 $10) (30. Nxf3 {Ftacnik} gxf3) (30. gxf3 $2 {
Ftacnik} gxf3+ 31. Kh2 Rg2+ 32. Kh1 Qxh3#) 30... Bd3+ 31. Re2 (31. Ne2 {Ftacnik
} Bxe2+ 32. Rxe2 Qb1+ $19) 31... Bxe2+ (31... gxh3 $6 {Ftacnik} 32. Qxc6+ (32.
Nxf3 Bxe2+ 33. Kxe2 Qxe6+ $19) 32... Kf7 33. Nd8+ (33. Nxf3 hxg2+ 34. Kg1 Bxe2)
33... Rxd8 (33... Bxd8 34. Qb7+ Kf8 35. Bc5+ Qxc5 36. Ne6+) 34. Nxf5 h2 35.
Qe6+) 32. Kxe2 Qe4+ 33. Qe3 Nxd4+ 34. Nxd4 Qxe3+ 35. Kxe3 gxh3 36. gxh3 Rg5 $5
37. Nxc6 Bc5+ 38. Bxc5 Rxc5 39. Nd4 a4 40. Kd3 Rc1 $1 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Adianto, Utut"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb5 a6 8.
Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nc3 Bf5 10. Nge2 e6 11. O-O Be7 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. f4 O-O 14. f5 Bxf5
15. Nxf5 exf5 16. Rxf5 Qd7 17. Rf1 Rad8 18. Be3 Nc4 19. Bf2 Qe6 20. Qe2 f6 21.
b3 Nb6 22. Rad1 fxe5 23. dxe5 Nd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Qxd5 26. Rd1 Qe6 27.
Bb6 Re8 28. h3 Bf6 29. Qh5 Qxe5 30. Qg4 Qe6 31. Qf3 Qe2 32. Qxe2 Rxe2 33. a4
Kf7 34. a5 Ke6 35. Kf1 Rb2 36. Rd3 Be7 37. Re3+ Kd7 38. Bd4 Rb1+ 39. Ke2 g6 40.
Kf3 Bb4 41. Bb6 Rc1 42. Rd3+ Ke6 43. Kg4 Rc3 44. Rd8 h5+ 45. Kg5 Be7+ 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 Bxc3 6. bxc3 d6 7. O-O e5 8. d3
Nc6 9. e4 Nd7 10. Nh4 Nc5 11. d4 Nd7 12. f4 b6 13. Nf5 g6 14. fxe5 dxe5 15.
Nh6+ Kg7 16. Ng4 Kg8 17. Bh6 Bb7 18. Qd2 Qe7 19. Rf2 f6 20. Raf1 Qd6 21. Bxf8
Rxf8 22. Rd1 Qe7 23. Ne3 Na5 24. c5 Kg7 25. cxb6 axb6 26. d5 Nc5 27. d6 cxd6
28. Qxd6 Qxd6 29. Rxd6 Bxe4 30. Rxb6 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Ne4 32. Rc2 f5 33. Ra6 Nb7
34. Ra7 Rf7 35. Nc4 Kf6 36. Rb2 Nbd6 37. Ra6 Ke6 38. Nxd6 Nxd6 39. c4 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nunn, John DM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Duisburg"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Nd2 Bd7 12. Kh1 Nh7 13. a3 h5 14. f3 Bh6 15. b3 Qb8
16. Qc2 Be3 17. Rae1 Qa7 18. Nd1 Bc5 19. Qc1 Rae8 20. Bd3 c6 21. Nb1 Qb6 22.
Bc2 Kg7 23. Nbc3 Qa7 24. Bg3 f6 25. f4 h4 26. Bf2 exf4 27. Qxf4 g5 28. Qd2 Rf7
29. e5 Rxe5 30. Rxe5 fxe5 31. Bxh7 Kxh7 32. Qxg5 Bxf2 33. Nxf2 Nc5 34. Qxh4+
Kg7 35. Re1 Bf5 36. Qg5+ Bg6 37. Ng4 Rf5 38. Qh6+ Kf7 39. Qh8 Ke7 40. Qg7+ Bf7
41. Nh6 Rf2 42. Qg5+ Kd7 43. Qe3 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Enders, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Erfurt"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 Bd7 12. Be2 Rc8 13. Be3 Bb4 14. Bd4
Bc6 15. Bf3 Qa5 16. Bxc6 Rxc6 17. a3 Qxe5 18. Bxe5 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Rfc8 20. Rd3
Nd5 21. Kd2 Kf8 22. Re1 Rc4 23. f3 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Ke7 25. Rb1 b6 26. Rb4 g5 27.
Rxc4 Rxc4 28. Rd4 Rc5 29. Ra4 Rc7 30. Kd3 f5 31. h4 Kf6 32. Rd4 gxh4 33. Rxh4
Kg5 34. Rd4 e5 35. Rd8 Kf4 36. Rg8 h5 37. Ke2 h4 38. Rh8 Rxc3 39. Rxh4+ Kg5 40.
Rh7 Rxa3 41. Rg7+ Kf6 42. Rb7 f4 43. Rb8 Rc3 44. Kd2 Rc7 45. Rf8+ Rf7 46. Rh8
Rg7 47. Rh2 e4 48. fxe4 Ke5 49. Kc3 Kxe4 50. Kb2 Rg3 51. Kc1 Ke3 52. Kb2 Rg4
0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zude, Arno"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Hofheim"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. h3
a6 9. Rd1 b5 10. c5 a5 11. Bd3 b4 12. Na4 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. O-O Qc8 15. Ne1
Bd8 16. Nd3 Bc7 17. a3 bxa3 18. bxa3 Re8 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. Rb1 e5 21. Rb6 Raa8
22. Qb2 exd4 23. exd4 Re4 24. Rb7 Qc8 25. Rb1 h6 26. f3 Re8 27. Qd2 Nh5 28. g4
Ng3 29. Nc3 h5 30. Kf2 Ne4+ 31. fxe4 dxe4 32. Ne5 Nxe5 33. dxe5 Rxe5 34. Qd6
e3+ 35. Ke2 Re8 36. Qd7 Qxd7 37. Rxd7 hxg4 38. hxg4 Re5 39. Rbb7 Rxc5 40. Ne4
Rc4 41. Re7 Ra4 42. g5 Kh8 43. Nd6 Kh7 44. Rxf7 Rg8 45. Nf5 Kg6 46. Nxg7 Rxa3
47. Ne6 Ra2+ 48. Kxe3 Ra1 49. Rf6+ Kh5 50. Rb2 Re1+ 51. Kf2 Ra1 52. Rb3 Ra2+
53. Kg3 Rh8 54. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hertneck, Gerald"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Muenchen 36"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qb3 Qc7 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. Bxc7 cxb3 8.
e4 Bg6 9. a3 Be7 10. Nd2 Bd8 11. Bxd8 Kxd8 12. Nxb3 Nd7 13. Rc1 Ne7 14. f3 Rc8
15. Kf2 Kc7 16. h4 h5 17. Ne2 f5 18. e5 Nd5 19. Nc3 Nxc3 20. bxc3 f4 21. Rg1
Rcf8 22. g3 Bf5 23. gxf4 Rf7 24. c4 Kb8 25. d5 cxd5 26. cxd5 Nb6 27. d6 Nd5 28.
Nd4 Rhf8 29. Kg3 Bg4 30. fxg4 Rxf4 31. Nxe6 Rxg4+ 32. Kh2 Rxh4+ 33. Bh3 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Porz"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O g6 18. Qe2 Bd7 19. Rfa1 Bh6 20. g3 f5 21. exf5
gxf5 22. b4 e4 23. bxa5 Ne5 24. Rb4 Rxb4 25. cxb4 f4 26. Nd4 e3 27. fxe3 f3 28.
Qa2 f2+ 29. Kg2 Qe8 30. Be2 Ng4 31. Bf3 Nxe3+ 32. Nxe3 Qxe3 33. Qxf2 Bh3+ 34.
Kg1 Qc3 35. Re1 Bd2 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Chandler, Murray G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Solingen"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
Be6 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. c4 a5 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qd2 b6 15.
Nc1 Na6 16. b3 h6 17. a3 Bg5 18. Rb1 f5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. Qxg5 hxg5 21. Na2 Kf7
22. Nc3 Nc7 23. Rfc1 Ke7 24. Bd1 Ra7 25. g3 g6 26. Bc2 Rb8 27. Bd3 Raa8 28. Re1
Rh8 29. Rbc1 Rh7 30. Nb5 Nxb5 31. cxb5 Nc5 32. Bc4 Rhh8 33. Rc3 Rhc8 34. Be2 a4
35. b4 Nb3 36. Rc6 Rab8 37. Kf2 Nd4 38. Bd3 Rh8 39. Rh1 Nxc6 40. bxc6 Kd8 41.
Kg2 Kc7 42. Rc1 Rh7 43. Kg1 b5 44. Rc2 Kb6 45. Kg2 Re7 46. Re2 Rbe8 47. Bb1 e4
48. fxe4 fxe4 49. Kh3 Re5 50. Ba2 e3 51. Bb1 Rxd5 52. Bxg6 Rd2 53. Re1 Re7 54.
Bh5 Rh7 55. Kg4 Rd4+ 56. Kxg5 Rd5+ 57. Kg6 Rhxh5 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mokry, Karel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Tuebingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. e4 e5 5. Be2 Be7 6. Nc3 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 Bg5 8.
Bxg5 Qxg5 9. O-O Qd8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qb3 Qb8 12. Qa3 c6 13. Bg4 Ngf6 14. Bh3
Qd8 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Rd6 Nf8 17. Qc5 N8d7 18. Qa3 Nf8 19. Rfd1 Ng6 20. g3 O-O
21. c5 Rfe8 22. b4 a5 23. b5 cxb5 24. Nxb5 Nxe4 25. Qe3 Nf6 26. Rb6 Red8 27.
Nd6 Ne8 28. Qb3 Ra7 29. Nc8 Rxc8 30. Bxc8 Qxc5 31. Rd8 Qe7 32. Rd7 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. O-O Be7 6. a3 Nf6 7. Rb1 O-O 8. b4
a6 9. d3 b5 10. Ba2 cxb4 11. axb4 Be6 12. Nd5 a5 13. bxa5 Rxa5 14. Bb3 Bg4 15.
Bd2 Ra8 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bd5 Rc8 18. c3 b4 19. cxb4 Nd4 20. Be3 Bxf3 21. gxf3
Bg5 22. Kh1 Qf6 23. Rg1 h6 24. Rg3 Bf4 25. Rg4 Nb5 26. Qd2 h5 27. Rg2 g6 28.
Rbg1 Kh7 29. Bxf4 exf4 30. Rg5 Nd4 31. Qb2 Rc2 32. Qa1 Rxf2 33. R5g2 Rxf3 34.
e5 dxe5 35. Bxf3 Nxf3 36. Rf1 Nh4 37. Re2 Qc6+ 38. Re4 Qc2 39. Rg1 Qxd3 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "189"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nf6 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Ne5 c5
15. e3 Ne4 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. h4 Qe6 18. Nf3 Qe4 19. Qd2 Qa4 20. Nd4 Rfd8 21.
Nf5 Bf8 22. Qe2 Qd7 23. Bh3 Qe8 24. h5 Bc8 25. g4 g6 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Ng3 Be6
28. Bg2 Bg7 29. Bg5 f6 30. Bf4 Rac8 31. Nf1 Bf7 32. g5 f5 33. Rd4 Ne4 34. Bxe4
dxe4 35. Kg2 Rxc3 36. Rxd8 Qxd8 37. Rd1 Rd3 38. Rc1 Rd5 39. Ng3 Be5 40. Qa6 Kg7
41. Qxa7 Bxf4 42. exf4 Rd7 43. Qa3 Rd3 44. Qb4 Qd4 45. Qxd4+ Rxd4 46. Rc6 b5
47. Rb6 b4 48. Ra6 Rd2 49. Nf1 Rxa2 50. Rb6 b3 51. Ne3 Rd2 52. Rb7 Kf8 53. Kf1
b2 54. Ke1 Rd7 55. Rxb2 Ra7 56. Rb6 Kg7 57. Kf1 Ra1+ 58. Kg2 Ra2 59. Kg3 Rd2
60. Ra6 Re2 61. Nd1 Re1 62. Ne3 Rg1+ 63. Kh2 Re1 64. Ra7 Re2 65. Kg3 Kg8 66.
Ng2 Rd2 67. Ne3 Rd3 68. Kg2 Rc3 69. Kf1 Rd3 70. Ke2 Rc3 71. Ra5 Rd3 72. Nc2 Rc3
73. Nd4 Rc4 74. Nb5 Rc5 75. Ra8+ Kg7 76. Nd6 Rc7 77. Ke3 Rd7 78. Nb5 Rb7 79.
Nd6 Rd7 80. Ra6 Rc7 81. Kd4 Rd7 82. Ke5 Re7+ 83. Kd4 Rd7 84. Kc5 Rc7+ 85. Rc6
Ra7 86. Nb5 Ra5 87. Kb4 Rxb5+ 88. Kxb5 Be8 89. Kc5 Bxc6 90. Kxc6 Kf7 91. Kd6
Kf8 92. Ke6 Kg7 93. Ke7 Kg8 94. Kf6 Kh7 95. Kf7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.04"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Damljanovic, Branko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "Gagarin,V"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia & Montenegro"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "YUG"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 c6 5. a4 Bg4 6. Ne5 Bh5 7. f3
Nfd7 8. Nxc4 e5 9. Ne4 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qe7 11. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2
exd4 14. Ned6+ Ke7 15. Nf5+ (15. Nxb7 Na6 {Ftacnik} 16. e3 (16. Nca5 Nb4 17.
Rc1 Nb6 18. Nc5 f6 19. Nd3 Nxd3 20. exd3 $10 {Bareev,E-Dimitrov,V/Gausdal/1986/
}) (16. Re1 Ndc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. e3 Rhd8 19. exd4+ Kf8 20. Re5 Rxd4+ 21. Kc3
Rd5 22. a5 f6 23. Rxd5 cxd5 24. Nd6 {Magerramov,E-Pomes,J/Andorra op (8)/1993/
0.5 (40)}) 16... Ndc5 (16... dxe3+ 17. Kxe3 Nac5 18. Nba5 Rhc8 19. Be2 Rab8 20.
Rhc1 Nb3 21. Nxb3 Rxb3+ 22. Kf2 Nb6 23. Rc2 Bg6 24. Rd2 {Hansen,SuB-Jauernig,U/
Budapest Festival (2)/1991/1-0 (32)}) 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Na5 dxe3+ 19. Kxe3 Rhe8
20. Bc4 Rad8 21. Kf4 Rd4+ 22. Kg3 Kf6 23. Rhe1 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 $14 {Adorjan,
A-Flear,G/Szirak/1986/}) 15... Kf6 (15... Kd8) 16. Nxd4 Rd8 (16... Nc5 17. Kc3
Rd8 18. e4 $1 {-16...Rd8/}) 17. e4 $1 Nc5 18. Kc3 Rxd4 (18... Nbd7 {Ftacnik}
19. g4 Bg6 20. Be2 $16) 19. Kxd4 Nb3+ 20. Kc3 Nxa1 21. Be2 Ke7 (21... b5 $6 22.
Ne3 $16) (21... Nd7 22. Rxa1 Nc5 {Polugaevsky,L-Huebner,R/Tilburg/1985/0,5/31/}
23. g4 $1 (23. e5+ {Ftacnik} Ke7 24. g4 {Polugaevsky,L-Huebner,R/Tilburg/1985/
0.5 (31)}) 23... Bg6 24. h4 h6 (24... h5 25. g5+ Ke7 26. b4 Ne6 27. Na5 Rb8 28.
Ba6 $1 $16) 25. b4 Ne6 26. Na5 $16 {Polugaevsky/}) 22. Rxa1 $16 {>< Bh5/} Nd7
23. b4 $1 {/\ Na5 ><b7,c6/} f6 24. Rd1 $1 (24. Na5 Rb8 $14 {/\ Kd8-c7/} (24...
Rb8 {Ftacnik} 25. Rd1 Kd8 26. Ba6 $5 bxa6 27. Nxc6+ Kc7 28. Nxb8 Nxb8 $14))
24... Nb6 25. Na5 $1 {>< b7,c6/} Nxa4+ (25... Rb8 26. Kb3 $5 (26. Ba6 $5 Nxa4+
27. Kc2 (27. Kb3 $6 Nc5+ $1 28. bxc5 bxa6+ 29. Kc3 Be8 $17) 27... c5 28. Bxb7
Be8 29. Nc6+ Bxc6 30. Bxc6 Rxb4 31. Rd7+ Kf8 32. Rxa7 Nb6 $14) 26... Bf7+ 27.
Ka3 $16 {/\ Ba6!/}) 26. Kb3 Nb6 27. Nxb7 Bf7+ 28. Kc3 Rb8 29. Ba6 $1 (29. Nc5
$6 Rc8 30. Ra1 Rc7 $14) (29. Na5 {Ftacnik} Rc8 30. Ra1 Rc7 $14) 29... Be8 (
29... Na4+ $5 30. Kc2 Be6 $16) 30. Ra1 Nd7 (30... h6 31. Nc5 Nd7 32. Nb3 Nb6
33. Bc4 $1 Ra8 34. Nd4 Bd7 $16) 31. h4 $1 Nb6 32. Nc5 Nd7 33. Nb3 g6 34. Nd4
Nb6 35. Bc4 $1 Rb7 {/\ c5/} (35... Nxc4 36. Kxc4 $16 {>< a7,c6/} (36. Rxa7+ {
Ftacnik})) 36. Bb3 $1 (36. f4 {Ftacnik} c5 $1 37. bxc5 Na4+) 36... Bd7 37. Ra5
$1 {>< c5/} Na8 38. Ba4 Rc7 39. Rc5 $18 Nb6 (39... Nb6 40. Bxc6 $18 (40. Bxc6 {
Ftacnik} Bxc6 41. Rxc6 $18)) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Kupreichik, Viktor D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belarus"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BLR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. h4 Bh6 8. g4
Bf4 9. Nd5 Nge7 10. Nxf4 exf4 11. Bb5 O-O 12. Bxc6 Nxc6 13. Nb3 d5 14. Bxf4
dxe4 15. dxe4 Qf6 16. Be3 Qxb2 17. Bxc5 Rd8 18. Qe2 b6 19. Be3 Nb4 20. Kf1 Qxc2
21. Qxc2 Nxc2 22. Rc1 Nxe3+ 23. fxe3 Bxg4 24. Kf2 Re8 25. Rc4 Be6 26. Ra4 a5
27. Rb1 g6 28. Nd4 Bd7 29. Rc4 Rxe4 30. Rxb6 Rxh4 31. Rc7 Be8 32. Rbb7 Rh2+ 33.
Kg3 Rxa2 34. Nf3 Re2 35. Kf4 a4 36. Ng5 a3 37. Ra7 Rxa7 38. Rxa7 a2 39. Ne4 Bc6
40. Nc3 Rc2 41. Nxa2 Bd5 42. Nb4 Rc4+ 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.06"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 {Hecht Dolmatov} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6
7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.
Kxd2 Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O-O (15... Qf5+ {Dolmatov} 16. Kc1 Rd8 (16...
O-O-O $2 17. Qe5 Qf2 18. Qe3 Qf5 19. Qxa7) 17. Qe5 Qf2 18. Qe3 Qf5) 16. Qe3 (
16. Qe5 $1 {Usual I prefer this move} f6 17. Qe3 (17. Qxd5 cxd5 18. Na3 Nb4+
19. Kd2 Kd7 20. Rc1 Rc8 21. Rc3 b6 $1 22. Bb5+ Kd6 23. Be2 a6 {Kramnik,
V-Lautier,J/Linares/1994/}) 17... Kb8 18. Be2 Qxg2 (18... e5 19. g3 Qe6 20. b3
Rd5 21. Kb2 Rhd8 22. Rad1 Nb4 23. Qc3 Qe7 {Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V/Linares/1994/})
19. Rhg1 Qxh2 20. Rxg7 Nb4+ 21. Kb3 Nd5 22. Qf3 h5 $5 23. Rf1 Rc8 24. Ka2 Rc7
25. Rfg1 {Kramnik,V-Lautier,J/Cannes/1993/}) 16... Kb8 $6 (16... Nc5 $142) 17.
Be2 $16 Ka8 $6 (17... Qxg2 $5 18. Rhg1 (18. Qe5+ {Dolmatov} Ka8 19. Rhg1 Qd5
20. Rxg7 $16) 18... Qxh2 19. Rxg7) (17... e5 {Dolmatov} 18. Rhd1 $16) (17... f6
$5 {Dolmatov} 18. Rad1 Qf5+ 19. Kc1 e5 $14) 18. g4 {><f5 (preventing Qd5-f5)} (
18. g3 $5) 18... f6 (18... Nc7 $142 19. Rad1 Qg2 20. Qf3 $5 Qxf3 21. Bxf3 $16)
19. Rhd1 Qg2 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Qxe6 (21. Rd1 $6 Rxd1 22. Kxd1 Qd5+ $14) 21...
Qxh2 (21... Nb4+ 22. Kb3 Nd5 23. Rd1 Qxh2 24. Bf3 Qh3 25. Rd3 Qf1 26. Be4 Rb8
27. Rxd5 $1 cxd5 28. Qxd5 $18) (21... Nc7 22. Qe7 Re8 23. Qxc7 (23. Rd1 $2
Qxe2+ 24. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 25. Kb3 Nd5 $17) 23... Qxe2+ 24. Kc3 (24. Nd2 {Dolmatov}
Qxg4 $10 25. Re1 Qxa4+ 26. b3 Qa2+ 27. Kc3 Rb8) 24... Qf3+ (24... Qxg4 $6 25.
a5 $1 Qf3+ 26. Kb4 Qe4 (26... Qg4 27. a6 $18) 27. Rd1 $40) 25. Kb4 Qxg4 (25...
b6 26. b3) 26. Re1 $5 Rc8 27. Qf7 $16) 22. Rd1 Rb8 23. a5 $5 (23. Qe7 Nb4+ 24.
Qxb4 Qxe2+ 25. Rd2 $16) 23... Nc7 (23... Nb4+ 24. Kb3 (24. Kb1 $5) 24... Nd5
$16) 24. Nb6+ $3 (24. Ra1 $2 Re8 25. Nb6+ Kb8) 24... axb6 25. axb6 Na6 (25...
Re8 26. bxc7 Qxe2+ 27. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 28. Kc1) (25... Rh8 $1 26. bxc7 Qxc7 27. Rd7
$16) 26. Ra1 Rd8 (26... Qf2 27. Rxa6+ bxa6 28. Qxc6+ Rb7 29. Qc8+ Rb8 30. Qxa6#
) (26... Qg2 27. Qe7 {/\ Ra6}) (26... Qe5 27. Rxa6+ (27. Bxa6 {Dolmatov} bxa6
28. Qxc6+ $18) 27... bxa6 28. Qxc6+ Rb7 29. Bf3 Qb8 30. Kb1 h6 31. Qc4 $18) (
26... Rh8 27. Qe7 Kb8 (27... Qb8 28. Bxa6) 28. Rxa6 bxa6 29. Qa7+ Kc8 30. b7+
$18) 27. Qe7 Qd6 28. Rxa6+ Kb8 29. Qxd6+ (29. Qxg7 $2 Rd7 30. Qg8+ Rd8 31. Qxh7
Rd7 $10) 29... Rxd6 30. Ra3 c5 31. Rb3 g6 32. Rb5 Re6 33. Bd3 Re5 34. b4 $1 h5
(34... Rg5 $142 {Trying a last trap!} 35. Be2 cxb4 36. Rxb4 $1 (36. Rxg5 $2
fxg5 37. Kb3 h5 38. gxh5 gxh5 39. Bxh5 Kc8 $10)) (34... cxb4 35. Rxe5 fxe5 36.
g5 Kc8 37. Be4 $18 (37. Bc4 {Hecht} Kd7 38. Bg8 Ke7 39. Bd5 Kd6 40. Bxb7 Kc5
41. Bd5 Kxb6 42. Bg8 e4 43. Bxh7 Kc5 44. Bxg6 Kd4 45. Bxe4 $18)) (34... c4 35.
Bxc4 Rxb5 36. Bxb5 h5 37. gxh5 gxh5 38. Be2 h4 39. Bg4 $18) 35. Rxc5 Re6 36.
gxh5 gxh5 37. Rxh5 Rxb6 38. Kc3 Rc6+ 39. Kd4 Rb6 40. Kc5 Rc6+ 41. Kd5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.08"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Apicella, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 {Boensch Hecht} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5
7. Nf3 {/\Bg5} h6 8. h3 (8. Bc4 Be7 (8... a6 9. O-O Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd5
Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nb4 13. Bb3 Be6 14. c3 Nc6 15. Be3 Na5 16. Bd5 Qc7 17. Qd3 Nc4
18. b3 Nb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. Nd2 Rac8 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Ne3 Qxc3 23. Qxc3 Rxc3
24. Bxb7 {Eng,H-Doncevic,D/BL 8384 Koblenz-Braunschweig [1] 1983/1-0 (35)}) 9.
Qe2 (9. h3 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. Bb3 Na5 12. Re1 Nxb3 13. axb3 Qd7 14. Be3 a6 15.
Qd3 b5 16. Ne2 Qc6 17. Ng3 Rac8 18. Re2 Rfd8 19. Nh4 d5 20. Ngf5 Bf8 21. Bxh6
gxh6 22. Qg3+ Kh7 23. exd5 Rxd5 {Steiner,L-Bronstein,D/Saltsjobaden izt (18)
1948/0-1 (42)}) 9... O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bb3 Na5 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. g4
Nxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Kh1 b5 $1 {/\ 17. - b4, 18. - Qxc2} 17. b4 Qc4 18. Qxc4 (
18. Qe1 $142) 18... Rxc4 19. Re1 $2 (19. Nd2 $8 Rxb4 20. Rxa6) 19... Bc8 $18
20. g5 hxg5 21. Bxg5 Bb7 22. Kh2 Rxb4 {Stoltz,G-Boleslavsky,I/Groningen (13)
1946/0-1 (46)}) (8. O-O Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Nb8 (11... Rc8 {
Boensch} 12. Nd5 (12. a4 Nb4 13. a5 d5 14. exd5 Nfxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. c3 Bxf3
17. gxf3 Nc6 {1/2-1/2 Fabre,J-Minguez,A/Saragossa-ch 1992}) 12... Bxd5 13. exd5
Nb8 14. c4 Ne8 15. b4 Nd7 16. Be3 b6 17. Rc1 f5 18. Bd3 Rc7 19. Bb1 $14 {
Fishbein,A-Benko,P New York op 1987 1/2 101}) 12. a4 (12. b3 Nbd7 (12... a6 13.
Nb1 (13. a4 Qc7 14. Re3 Nbd7 15. a5 Rac8 16. Ra2 Qc6 17. Ba3 Rfe8 18. Qe1 Bd8
19. Bb4 b5 20. g3 Bc7 21. Bg2 Bb8 22. Ra1 Ba7 {=/+ Abramovic,B-Popovic,P/
Jugoslavija 38/(244) 1984}) 13... b5 14. a4 b4 15. Bb2 Nbd7 16. Nbd2 Nc5 17.
Nh2 Qc8 18. Rc1 Qb7 19. Qe2 Rfc8 20. g3 Rc6 21. Bg2 Rac8 22. Nhf1 Qd7 23. Kh2
Nxa4 24. bxa4 Rxc2 25. Rxc2 Rxc2 26. Ba1 Qxa4 27. Ne3 Ra2 {Beshukov,S-Aseev,K/
Sochi 1993/0-1 (58)}) 13. Bb2 (13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bf5 15. Ba3 (15. c4 Bg6
16. Bb2 Re8 17. Nh2 e4 18. f3 Bh4 19. Re2 f5 20. fxe4 fxe4 21. Ng4 h5 $17 {
Becker,Mi-Grosar,A Budapest FS AprGM (01) 1994 0-1 29}) 15... Bh7 16. c4 e4 17.
Nd4 Ne5 18. f4 exf3 19. Nxf3 Ng6 20. Qd2 Re8 21. Bb2 Qd7 22. Bd3 Bf8 23. Qc2
Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Re8 25. Rxe8 Qxe8 26. Bd4 b6 27. Bf2 Be7 {Bellia,F-Wittmann,W/
Mitropa-Cup (2) ITA-OST [3] 1991/1/2-1/2 (43)}) 13... Rc8 (13... Re8 14. Nd2
Rc8 15. Nc4 Nc5 16. a4 a6 17. a5 Ncxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Nb6 Nc3 20. Qd3 e4 21.
Rxe4 Nxe4 22. Nxc8 Bf6 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Qxe4 Qxa1 25. Nxd6 Rd8 26. Nxb7 {
1/2-1/2 Geisler,F-Littke,A/Budapest ExpFS AugIM (06) 1993}) (13... a6 14. Nd5
Nxd5 15. exd5 Bf5 16. c4 Bf6 17. b4 Re8 18. a3 Bh7 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. Qe3 a5 21.
Bc3 axb4 22. axb4 Qc7 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Ra1 Rc8 25. Bb2 Nb6 26. Qb3 Nd7 27. Qe3
Nb6 28. Qb3 {1/2-1/2 Barua,D-Kosten,A/London NATWEST 1989}) 14. Na4 Nb6 15.
Nxb6 Qxb6 16. c4 Nd7 17. Bd3 a5 18. Bc1 Nc5 19. Be3 Qc6 20. Rc1 Nxd3 21. Qxd3
f5 22. Bd2 fxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxh3 25. Nxe5 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 dxe5 27.
Bxa5 Bc5 28. Rc2 {Bashkov,V-Drbohlav,F/Brno op 1994/1/2-1/2 (54)}) (12. Nd5
Bxd5 $13 (12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Bf5 14. c4)) 12... Nbd7 13. a5 a6 (13... Rc8 14.
a6 Rxc3 $5 (14... Rb8 15. b3 Nc5 16. axb7 Rxb7 17. Nd2 Qc7 18. Qf3 Nfd7 19. Nc4
Nb6 20. Nb5 Qd7 21. Nxb6 Rxb6 22. Rxa7 Rb7 23. Rxb7 Qxb7 24. Nc3 f5 25. exf5
Qxf3 26. gxf3 Bxf5 27. Ne4 Ne6 28. c3 {Smirin,I-Aseev,K/URS-ch57 Leningrad
1990/1-0 (41)}) 15. bxc3 b6 16. Ba3 Qc7 17. Bb4 Nc5 18. Nd2 Qc6 19. Bd3 Rc8 20.
Qe2 Bf8 21. c4 $1 $14 {/\ Nb1-c3-d5} Qd7 $1 22. Qf3 (22. Nb1 $2 Ncxe4 23. Bxe4
Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Rxc4) 22... Na4 23. Reb1 Be7 24. Qe2 Ne8 25. Ra3 Bg5 26. Nf1 Nc5
27. Ne3 Bxe3 28. Qxe3 Qc6 29. f3 Nf6 {Kindermann,S-Gulko,B/Aruba 54/193 1992/
1-0 (46)}) (13... Nc5 14. b4 Ncd7 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. Bb2 Bg6 18. c4
Re8 19. Ra3 Rc8 20. Qa1 Bf6 21. Rae3 Re7 22. Qa3 Qc7 23. Rd1 Ree8 24. Rde1 Qb8
25. Rc1 Be7 26. Qa4 Nf6 {Goetz,R-Baum,B/2.BLO 9293 Bamberg-Nьrnberg [2] 1992/
1-0 (38)}) 14. Nd5 (14. Be3 Rc8 15. Nd5 Nxe4 16. Bb6 Nxb6 17. Nxb6 f5 18. Nxc8
Qxc8 19. c4 Qc5 20. Qc2 Bd8 21. b4 Qxb4 22. Reb1 Qc5 23. Rxb7 Bc8 24. Rb3 Bxa5
25. Rab1 Bd2 26. Nxd2 Qxf2+ 27. Kh1 Qxd2 28. Rc1 {Borm,F-Sax,Gy/Amsterdam 38/
244 1984/0-1 (40)}) (14. b3 Rc8 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. c4 Bh7 18. Bb2
Re8 19. b4 e4 20. Nd2 Bg5 21. Ra3 f5 22. Nb3 e3 23. Bd4 f4 24. fxe3 fxe3 25.
Nc1 {[#]} Ne5 26. Bxe3 Bh4 27. Bf2 Bxf2+ 28. Kxf2 Qh4+ 29. g3 Qf6+ 30. Kg1 Rf8
31. Bg2 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Rxc4 33. Rf1 Qb2 {0-1 Fernandes,J-Lanka,Z/Manila ol 1992})
14... Nxd5 (14... Rc8 15. c4 Nh7 16. b4 Ng5 17. Nh2 Nf6 18. Bd3 Nxd5 19. exd5
Bd7 20. Bf1 f5 21. Ba3 Qe8 22. c5 Qg6 23. Qb3 f4 24. Kh1 f3 25. g4 h5 26. h4
hxg4 27. hxg5 Bxg5 28. Bc1 Bxc1 29. Raxc1 Qh5 30. c6 Kf7 {0-1 Abramovic,
B-Damljanovic,B/JUG-ch 1985}) (14... Bxd5 $5 15. exd5 b6 (15... Nh7 $13) 16.
axb6 Qxb6 17. b3 Nc5 18. Be3 Rfc8 19. Bc4 Qb7 20. Nh4 Qd7 21. Nf3 Bd8 22. Nd2
Qb7 23. Qf3 Ncd7 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. Qxe4 Bb6 26. Bd2 a5 27. Qg4 Nf6 28. Qg3 Kf8
29. Ra4 Ra7 30. Qf3 Qe7 31. Bd3 {1/2-1/2 Reyes,J-Ubilava,E/Toledo (9) 1991})
15. exd5 Bf5 16. c4 (16. b4 Bf6 (16... b5 17. axb6 Qxb6 18. c3 a5 19. Be3 Qc7
20. Qa4 Be4 21. Bb5 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Nb6 23. Bxb6 Qxb6 24. bxa5 Qc5 25. Qc4 Qa7
26. a6 {1/2-1/2 Hassapis,Demis-Dzhandzhgava,Lasha/London LB 1990}) 17. Ra3 Re8
18. c4 Rc8 19. Be3 e4 20. Nd2 Ne5 21. Bb6 Qd7 22. Nxe4 Bh4 23. Qd4 Ng6 24. Rae3
Rxe4 25. Rxe4 Bf6 26. Qd1 Bc3 27. R1e3 Bxb4 28. Rd4 Nf8 29. Qb3 Bc5 30. Bxc5
Rxc5 31. g4 Bg6 32. Qb6 f5 33. Rb3 Rc7 34. Re3 fxg4 35. hxg4 Nh7 36. Re6 Bf7
37. Rxd6 Qc8 38. c5 Ng5 39. Bg2 Qe8 40. Re6 {1-0 Sinowjew,J-Gonzalez,G_J/
Budapest FS 12 GM(08) 1993}) (16. Nd2 $5 {N} Bh7 (16... Rc8 17. Nc4 $5) (16...
Bg6 17. b4 f5 18. c4 Re8 19. Nb3 Bf8 20. Bb2 f4 21. c5 dxc5 22. bxc5 Nxc5 23.
Rxe5 Rc8 24. Rxe8 Bxe8 25. Nd2 (25. Nd2 Bf7 26. Nc4 Bxd5 27. Nb6 Bb3 28. Qf3
Rc6 29. Qxf4 Bf7 30. Qf3 Nb3 31. Rd1 {Glek,I-Van Der Wiel,J/Tilburg(1) 1994/1/
2-1/2 (62)}) 25... Bf7 26. Nc4 Bxd5 27. Nb6 Bb3 28. Qf3 Rc6 29. Qxf4 Bf7 30.
Qf3 Nb3 31. Rd1 Nd2 32. Qf4 Rd6 33. Be2 Nb3 34. Rxd6 Qxd6 35. Qxd6 Bxd6 36. Bc3
Bc5 37. Bf3 Nd4 38. Bxd4 Bxd4 39. Bxb7 Bc3 40. Bxa6 Bxa5 {Glek,I-Van der Wiel,
J/Tilburg (01) ;CBM 44 1994/1/2-1/2 (62)}) 17. b4 (17. c4 Nc5 $13) (17. Nc4 $5)
17... f5 18. c4 Kh8 19. Nb3 Rc8 20. Ba3 (20. Bb2 $5 {/\ c5}) 20... f4 21. c5
Nf6 $1 (21... dxc5 22. bxc5 Nxc5 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxe5 $14) 22. cxd6 (22. c6
bxc6 23. Bxa6 Nxd5 24. Bxc8 Qxc8 $44) 22... Bxd6 23. Nc5 Qe7 24. Rc1 (24. Qb3
e4 $13) 24... Bg8 25. Bc4 Rfd8 26. Qb3 e4 27. Bb2 e3 $1 $13 28. fxe3 f3 $1 29.
gxf3 Nxd5 30. Ne4 Be5 $1 31. b5 Bxb2 32. Qxb2 axb5 33. Bxb5 Rxc1 34. Qxc1 Qb4
35. Bf1 Qxa5 36. Rd1 Rf8 37. Bg2 b6 $6 38. f4 Qa7 39. Nf2 Nf6 40. Nd3 Nd7 41.
Kh2 b5 42. Qc6 {Glek,I-Chandler,M/Deutschland 56/207 1992/1/2-1/2 (59)}) 16...
Re8 (16... Bg6 17. b4 e4 (17... f5 18. Bb2 Bf6 19. Qb3 Re8 20. Rac1 Rc8 21. Qa3
Bf7 22. Red1 Bh5 23. Re1 Bf7 24. Red1 Bh5 {1/2-1/2 Sion Castro,M-Franco,Z/Leon
(02) 1990}) (17... Kh8 18. Bb2 f5 19. c5 dxc5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 cxb4 22.
Qd2 Bf6 23. Qxb4 Qxd5 24. Rad1 Qg8 25. Rd7 Rf7 26. Bc4 Rxd7 27. Bxg8 Bxe5 28.
Be6 Bd6 29. Qb1 Re7 30. g4 Rf8 31. Qb6 {Tolnai,T-Wang Zili/WchT Luzern 1989/
1-0 (53)}) 18. Nd2 f5 19. Nb3 Bf6 20. Nd4 Be5 21. Ne6 Qf6 22. Bf4 Bxf4 23. Nxf4
Bf7 24. Ra2 Qc3 25. Qd2 Qxd2 26. Rxd2 Rfc8 27. Rc1 Nf6 28. Ne2 Kf8 29. f4 exf3
30. gxf3 g5 31. Nd4 Nxd5 32. Nxf5 Nxb4 33. Rxd6 {Belotti,B-Caposciutti,M/Forli
op (03) 1992/1/2-1/2 (53)}) (16... Bh7 17. b4 e4 $1 $132 18. Nd2 (18. Nd4 Ne5 (
18... Ne5 {/\ Nd3}) 19. Be3 Re8 20. Qb3 Nd3 21. Bxd3 exd3 22. Nf3 Bf6 23. Ra2
Rc8 24. Rd1 Qc7 25. Rc1 Be4 26. Nd2 Bxd5 27. Qxd3 Qc6 28. Qf1 Be6 29. Qd3 d5
30. Bc5 Bg5 31. cxd5 Bxd5 32. Rac2 Be4 33. Nxe4 Bxc1 34. Rxc1 Rxe4 {Zadrima,
A-Kotronias,V/Balkan tt 1994/0-1 (48)}) 18... Bf6 19. Ra3 {/\ f3} (19. Ra2 $5
Re8 20. Bb2 $13) 19... Re8 20. f3 $6 (20. g3 b6 $5 21. Bg2 bxa5 22. Rxa5 Qb6
23. Bxe4 $1 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxb4 25. Bd2 $1 Qxc4 26. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Qc7 $10)
20... b6 $5 (20... Bd4+ $5 21. Kh1 Bf2 22. Re2 e3 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. fxe4 Rxe4
25. Bxe3 Bxe3 26. Raxe3 Rxe3 27. Rxe3 $13) (20... e3 $5 21. Ne4 Bxe4 22. fxe4
Rxe4 23. Bd3 $1 Re8 24. Bxe3 Bh4 25. Re2 Ne5 $13) 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rxe4
23. fxe4 bxa5 24. bxa5 Nc5 $44 25. Qg4 {/\ Bh6} Bd4+ $1 26. Kh1 Rb8 27. Rf3
Qxa5 28. Bf4 $1 Rd8 $1 29. Qf5 $5 Qc7 30. Qg4 Qa5 31. Kh2 Qe1 32. Bg3 $5 Qxe4
$2 33. Rf4 Qb1 34. Rxd4 Qxf1 35. Rf4 $2 Qd3 $6 36. Bf2 Nd7 37. Rf3 $2 Qe2 38.
Qh4 Re8 39. Rg3 Ne5 40. c5 dxc5 41. d6 $2 {Smagin,S-Timoshchenko,G/Beograd 46/
247 1988/0-1 (65)}) 17. b4 (17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc5 19. Qa3 e4 20. b4 Bf6 21.
bxc5 Bxa1 22. Nd2 Be5 23. Nxe4 dxc5 24. Bd2 f5 25. Ng3 Qf6 26. Rb1 Qf7 27. Qxc5
Rac8 28. Qa7 Rxc4 29. Rxb7 Qxd5 30. Qxa6 Rc2 31. Bxh6 Rc6 32. Rb6 Rxb6 33. Qxb6
Re6 {0-1 Hellsten,J-Hellers,F/Malmo(2) 1994}) 17... e4 18. Nd4 Bg6 19. Be3 (19.
Ra3 {1/2-1/2 Kuporosov,V-Aseev,K/Brno-B (04) 1991}) (19. Bf4 $1 Rc8 (19... Ne5
$6 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Nc2 e3 22. Rxe3 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Bxb4 24. Qf5 $5 {/\ Bd3, Rg3
}) 20. Qd2 (20. Nb3 $5 {/\} Bf6 21. Bxd6 Bxa1 22. Qxa1) (20. Rc1 $5) 20... Bg5
(20... Bf8 $5 {/\ Ne5-d3}) 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Nb3 g4 23. hxg4 Ne5 24. c5 Nxg4
25. Qf4 (25. Qf4 Qh4 $2 26. Re3 $1 {/\ Rh3}) 25... Ne5 26. Rad1 Qd7 27. Re3 Qa4
28. Rd4 Nd3 29. Bxd3 exd3 30. cxd6 $1 $16 Rxe3 31. Qxe3 Re8 $1 32. Qh3 d2 $1 $8
33. Rxd2 Qxb4 34. Qg3 Rd8 35. Rd4 Qa3 36. Qe5 $2 f6 $1 37. Qe7 Qxd6 38. Qxd6
Rxd6 39. Nc5 Bf7 40. Nxb7 Rxd5 41. Rxd5 Bxd5 {Kindermann,S-Kozul,Z/Muenchen 56/
208 1992/1/2-1/2 (53)}) 19... Bf6 20. Qb3 (20. Ra3 Ne5 21. Qd2 Nd3 22. Bxd3
exd3 23. Rc1 Bxd4 24. Bxd4 Re2 25. Qc3 Qg5 26. Be3 Qh4 27. Raa1 Re8 28. Bb6 Rc8
29. Be3 d2 30. Rd1 Rxc4 31. Qa3 Re4 32. Ba7 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Re1 35.
Qa1 Qf4+ 36. g3 Qe4 {0-1 Beshukov,S-Aseev,K/Helsinki Open 1992}) 20... Rc8 21.
Red1 Bg5 (21... Ne5 22. c5) 22. c5 Bxe3 23. fxe3 dxc5 24. Ne6 Qe7 25. Nxc5 (25.
Nxc5 Nxc5 26. bxc5 Qxc5 27. d6 Red8 28. Ra4 Rxd6 29. Rc4 Rxd1 30. Rxc5 Rxf1+
31. Kxf1 Rxc5 32. Qb6 Rb5 33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. g4 f6 {Zagrebelny,S-Benjamin,J/
Luzern WchT (UZB-USA) (3) 1993/0-1 (100)}) 25... Nxc5 26. bxc5 Qxc5 27. d6 Red8
28. Ra4 Rxd6 $1 29. Rc4 Rxd1 30. Rxc5 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Rxc5 {Q 5/i} 32. Qb6 Rb5
33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. g4 $2 {><g4} f6 35. Kf2 h5 36. Kg3 hxg4 37. hxg4 Re5 38. Qc7
Rb5 39. Qd8 Rb3 40. Kf4 Rb1 41. Kg3 Rb5 42. Kf4 Re5 43. Qc7 Rg5 44. Qb6 Rb5 45.
Qd8 {Zagrebelny,S-Benjamin,J/Luzern 59/215 1993/0-1 (101)}) 8... Be6 (8... Be7
9. O-O (9. Be3 Be6 10. Qd2 (10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 a6 12. a4 Nb4 13. a5 Qb8 14.
Ra4 d5 15. exd5 Nfxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxh6 Rd8 18. Bd3 b5 19. Re4 f6 20. Rh4
Bf8 21. Be3 f5 22. Ng5 Bc8 23. Qe2 g6 24. g4 e4 25. Bd4 Bg7 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27.
Bxe4 fxe4 28. Qxe4 Qf4 29. Rh7+ Kf6 30. Rf7+ Kxg5 31. Rxf4 Nxf4 32. Qe7+ {
1-0 Garcia Gomez,J.P-Levin,F/Linares op (01) 1994}) 10... d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12.
Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Bxd5 14. c3 (14. O-O O-O 15. a3 f5 16. Rad1 Be6 17. Bb5 e4
18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Rfd8 20. f3 a6 21. Bc4 Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8
24. c3 exf3 25. Rxf3 Bc5 26. Kf2 Bxe3+ 27. Kxe3 Re8+ 28. Kd2 g6 {Lematschko,
Tatjana-Foisor,Cristina/Novi Sad ol-W (01) 1990/1-0 (43)}) 14... O-O 15. O-O f5
16. Rfd1 Be6 17. Bb5 f4 18. Bd2 e4 19. Re1 exf3 20. Rxe6 Rad8 21. Be1 Rf6 22.
Rxf6 Bxf6 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. gxf3 {Leminski,H-Schirm,F/2BLN 8788
Hannover-Eimsbьttel [3] 1988/1/2-1/2 (44)}) (9. Nh2 Be6 10. Ng4 O-O 11. Be3 Qd7
12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Ne7 15. Qb3 d5 16. Bb5 Qd8 17. exd5 Qxd5
18. Bc4 Qc6 19. O-O Rac8 20. Be2 Qxc2 21. Bg4 Rc7 22. Qa3 Nc6 23. Rac1 {
Letzelter,J._C-Benko,P/Lugano (ol) 6/486 1968/1/2-1/2 (41)}) 9... a6 10. Re1
Be6 11. Bf1 Nb8 12. b3 Nbd7 13. a4 O-O 14. Bb2 (14. Ba3 Rc8 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16.
exd5 Bf5 17. c4 a5 18. b4 axb4 19. Bxb4 Nc5 20. a5 Bh7 21. Ra3 f5 22. Nd2 Bh4
23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Nb3 Rc7 25. a6 bxa6 26. Rxa6 Rb7 27. c5 Qb8 28. Bc4 Rb4 29.
Na5 Rb2 30. Rf1 Bxf2+ 31. Kh1 Bxc5 32. Nc6 Qb7 33. Qf3 Rc2 34. Nxe5 Rxc4 35.
Nxc4 Qxa6 {0-1 Nunez Vallina,J-Atalin,S/Oviedo 25' (03) 1993}) 14... Rc8 (14...
Qc7 15. Nd2 (15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. c4 Bd8 18. a5 b6 19. b4 bxa5 20.
Rxa5 Qb8 21. Ra4 a5 22. Qa1 Bc7 23. b5 Bb6 24. Bc1 Nc5 25. Ra3 Bh7 26. Nd2 a4
27. Kh1 Qa7 28. Bb2 f5 29. Bc3 f4 {Hjartarson,J-Lutz,C/Munich(2) 1993/0-1 (53)}
) 15... Rad8 (15... Rfd8 16. Nc4 Qc6 17. Qf3 Nc5 18. a5 Ncd7 19. Ne3 Nf8 20.
Ncd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Qc7 22. Nf5 Ng6 23. c4 Nd7 24. Qg3 Bf8 25. h4 Kh8 26. Qf3
Nf6 {[#]} 27. Nxh6 gxh6 28. Qxf6+ Bg7 29. Qf5 Nxh4 30. Qh5 {Xie,J-Madl,I/
Manila ol 1992/1-0 (60)}) 16. Nc4 Rfe8 17. Ne3 Qc6 $5 18. f3 $6 (18. Qf3 $14)
18... Qc5 $1 19. Kh2 Nh5 {/\ Bh4} 20. g3 Bg5 21. Qe2 Ndf6 $36 {/\ 22...b5, 22..
.Ng3} 22. h4 $6 Nxg3 23. Kxg3 Nh5+ 24. Kh2 Bxh4 25. Red1 Bg3+ 26. Kg1 Nf4 27.
Qd2 d5 $1 28. Ba3 Qa7 29. exd5 Bxd5 30. Ncxd5 Nxd5 31. Bc1 Bf4 32. Re1 e4 33.
Qf2 exf3 34. Nxd5 Bh2+ $1 {0-1 Womacka,M-Aseev,K/Koeln/Porz 52/192 1991}) (
14... Re8 15. Nd2 Nc5 16. Qf3 Qc7 17. a5 Qc6 18. Nc4 Nfxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20.
Nb6 f5 21. Nxa8 Rxa8 22. Bd3 Rf8 23. c4 Nc5 24. Qxc6 bxc6 25. Bc2 Rb8 26. Ba3
Nb7 27. Rad1 c5 28. b4 cxb4 29. Bxb4 {Kacheisvili,G-Bagaturov,G/Protvino zt
1993/1-0 (53)}) (14... Qa5 15. Na2 Qb6 16. Nd2 Rac8 17. c4 Nh7 18. Nc3 Bh4 19.
Re2 Ng5 20. a5 Qa7 21. Ba3 Qd4 22. Re3 f5 23. g3 f4 24. Rd3 Qxd3 25. Bxd3 Nxh3+
26. Kg2 fxg3 27. fxg3 Rf2+ 28. Kh1 Bxg3 29. Nf1 {Apicella-Bologan/Belfort 1995/
1-0 (46)}) 15. Nd2 (15. a5 Qc7 (15... Re8 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bf5 18. c4 e4
19. Nd2 (19. Nd4 $6 Bg6 {/\ Ne5 ><d3}) 19... Bf6 (19... Bg5 {- 57/(198)}) (
19... Bg5 20. b4 e3 (20... Ne5 {[#]} 21. c5 Bxd2 22. Qxd2 dxc5 23. b5 Nd3 24.
Bxd3 exd3 25. Rxe8+ (25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26. bxa6 bxa6 27. Re1 Qd7 28. g4 Bg6 29. f4
Qxd5 30. f5 Bh7 31. Re7 Qd6 32. Qe3 Kf8 33. f6 gxf6 34. Rd7 Qxd7 35. Qxh6+ Ke8
36. Qxh7 Qd5 37. Bc3 Kd7 {0-1 Ermenkov,E-Greenfeld,A/Elenite (03) ;CBM 44 1994}
) 25... Qxe8 26. bxa6 bxa6 27. Re1 Qd7 28. g4 Bg6 29. f4 Qxd5 30. f5 Bh7 31.
Re7 Qd6 32. Qe3 Kf8 33. f6 gxf6 34. Rd7 Qxd7 35. Qxh6+ Ke8 36. Qxh7 Qd5 37. Bc3
Kd7 {0-1 Ermenkov,E-Greenfeld,A/Elenite-A (3) 1994}) 21. Nf3 Bf6 22. Bxf6 exf2+
23. Kxf2 Qxf6 24. Qd4 Ne5 $13 {Smirin,I-Greenfeld,A/Israel 57/(198) 1993}) 20.
Qc1 Bg6 (20... Nc5 21. b4 Nd3 22. Bxd3 Bxb2 23. Qxb2 exd3 24. Qd4 $14) (20...
Bg5 21. Qc3 Bf6 $10) 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. b4 Qh4 23. Qc3 f5 24. c5 $5 dxc5 25. b5
(25. b5 axb5 26. Bxb5 Red8 27. a6 $1 bxa6 28. Rxa6 Nf6 29. d6 $44) 25... Ra8 $5
26. bxa6 bxa6 27. d6 Bf7 28. Rab1 Ra7 29. Rb2 Kh7 $1 30. Bc4 Bxc4 $6 31. Nxc4
f4 $2 32. Rxe4 $1 Rxe4 33. Qc2 f3 34. gxf3 Qxh3 35. Qxe4+ Kg8 36. Qd5+ Kh7 37.
Qe4+ Kg8 38. Ne3 $1 Qh5 39. f4 $1 Qh4 40. Rb7 Rxb7 {Smirin,I-Lerner,K/Moskva 
(open) 57/198 1992/1-0 (51)}) 16. Nd2 Qc6 (16... d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bc4 (18.
Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Nc4 Be6 20. Qf3 f6 21. Red1 Qc6 22. Be2 Nc5 23. Nb6 Rc7 24. Nd5
e4 25. Qg3 Rd7 26. Nxe7+ Rxe7 27. Ba3 Rd7 28. Rxd7 Bxd7 29. Rd1 Bf5 30. Bc4+
Ne6 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. Qb8+ Ke7 33. g4 Bg6 34. Bxe6 Kxe6 35. Qg8+ Bf7 36. Qd8 h5
37. c4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Ke5 39. Qe7+ Be6 40. Qxg7 e3 41. Re1 {1-0 Zagrebelny,
S-Stajcic,N/Caissa KFT(01) 1993}) 18... Nf4 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Nc4 Rf6 21. Kh2
e4 22. Kh1 Nxh3 23. Nxe4 Nxf2+ 24. Nxf2 Rxf2 25. Qg4 Bf6 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Bxf6
Nxf6 28. Nd6 Rf8 29. Nf5 Ng4 30. Nd6 R2f5 31. b4 Nf2+ 32. Kg1 Rf4 33. Re2 Ng4
34. c4 Rd4 35. c5 Rxb4 36. Qe7 Qxc5+ 37. Re3 Qxe3+ 38. Qxe3 Nxe3 39. Ne4 Rb3 {
0-1 Payen,A-Loncar,R/Cannes op A(6) 1994}) 17. Nc4 Rfe8 18. Qf3 d5 19. exd5
Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Qg3 Bf6 (21... Bxc4 22. Bxc4 Bb4 23. Re3 Re7 24. Qg4 Nf6
25. Qf5 Rce8 26. Rd1 Bxa5 27. Rg3 Bb6 28. Ba3 Ne4 29. Rf3 Ng5 30. Rd6 Nxf3+ 31.
gxf3 Qc8 32. Qxc8 Rxc8 33. Rxb6 Rd7 34. Bb2 Re8 35. f4 exf4 36. Rg6 b5 37.
Rxg7+ Kf8 38. Rh7 Re1+ 39. Kg2 Rdd1 40. Bxf7 Rg1+ 41. Kf3 a5 42. Be6 Rd6 43.
Bf5 Rd5 44. Kxf4 {1-0 Apicella,M-Lutz,C/Cap d'Agde(02) 1994}) 22. Rad1 e4 23.
Bxf6 Nxf6 24. Nb6 Rcd8 25. c4 Be6 26. b4 Bf5 27. Qe3 Qc7 28. b5 Rxd1 29. Rxd1
Rd8 {Apicella,M-Thorsteins,K/Reykjavik FRA-ISD (2) 1993/1-0 (44)}) 15... Nc5 (
15... Qa5 16. Nc4 Bxc4 17. Bxc4 Nb6 18. Bf1 Rfd8 19. Qf3 {1/2-1/2 Cigan,
S-Grosar,A/Maribor (07) 1990}) (15... Qb6 16. Qf3 Qc6 17. Bc4 Bd8 18. Nd5 Nc5
19. Rad1 {1/2-1/2 Vogt,L-Gabriel,C/Altensteig (01) 1994}) 16. a5 (16. Qf3 Bd7
17. a5 Bc6 18. Qe3 Re8 19. Bc4 Qc7 20. Qf3 Bd8 21. g4 Ne6 22. Nd5 {1/2-1/2
Vogt,L-Wirthensohn,H/SWZ-ch (01) ;EXP 43 1994}) 16... Qc7 (16... Bd7 17. Nd5
Nxd5 18. exd5 Bf5 19. b4 Nd7 20. c4 Bh7 21. Nb3 e4 22. Nd4 Bf6 23. Qb3 Re8 24.
Rac1 Be5 25. Ba1 Qf6 26. Rcd1 h5 27. Be2 Bg6 28. g3 Qd8 29. Rc1 Bf6 30. c5 dxc5
31. Ne6 fxe6 32. dxe6 {Apicella,M-Bernard,C/Wildbad (02) 1990/1-0 (43)}) 17.
Nc4 Qc6 (17... Ncxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 d5 20. Bxe5 Qc6 21. Rd4 dxc4 22.
Bxc4 Rfd8 (22... Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Qe6 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Bb2 Qf5 26. c4 Rd8 27. Qe1
Bc5 28. Bc3 Rd3 29. Rc1 Qf4 30. Rc2 Bd6 31. Kf1 Qf5 32. Qe2 h5 33. b4 Rxc3 34.
Qe8+ Kh7 35. Rxc3 Qb1+ 36. Ke2 Qb2+ 37. Kd3 Bxb4 {Salazar,H-Wirthensohn,H/Novi
Sad olm (08) CHI-SWZ 1990/0-1 (99)}) 23. Bd3 f6 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bb2 Bf5 26.
Qe2 Bxd3 27. cxd3 Bb4 28. Qg4 Bd2 29. Qe2 Bb4 30. d4 Rd5 31. Ra4 Bxa5 32. Rc4 {
Kramnik,V-Grosar,A/Sochi-B 1989/1/2-1/2 (47)}) 18. Nb6 Ncxe4 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20.
Nxe4 Nxe4 21. c4 f5 22. Ba3 b6 23. Bd3 Nc5 24. axb6 Qxb6 25. Bxc5 Qxc5 26. Rxa6
e4 27. Bf1 Rb8 28. Qc2 Bf6 29. Rd1 Be5 30. Qd2 Rxb3 31. Qa5 {1/2-1/2 Apicella,
M-Kiselev,S/Bucharest 1993}) 9. O-O Be7 10. Re1 Rc8 11. Bf1 {>< Pe4, /\12.Nd5
Nxd5 13.exd5 +-} Nb8 12. Nd5 (12. Be3 {Boensch} a6 13. Nd5 Nbd7 14. Nxe7 Qxe7
15. Nd2 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nf3 O-O 18. Bd2 Qf6 19. c4 Nf4 20. b3 Rfe8 21.
Bxf4 Qxf4 $10 {Xie Jun-Benjamin,J Donner mem-A (03) 1994 1/2 68}) 12... Nxd5
13. exd5 Bf5 14. c4 (14. Bd3 {Boensch} Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Qc7 $15) 14... O-O 15. Qa4
$6 (15. b4 $5) (15. Be3 {Boensch} a5 16. a3 Na6 $10) 15... a5 {>< b4, /\Nd7-c5}
16. a3 Bd7 17. Qd1 a4 {>< Pb2, ><b3, /\Na6-c5, f7-f5} 18. b4 axb3 19. Qxb3 Na6
20. Be3 $6 (20. Qxb7 $8 Nc5 21. Qb1 (21. Qb4 {Boensch} f5 $44) 21... Rb8 22.
Qa2 $13) 20... Qc7 $15 21. a4 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Qxb7 Rc7 24. Qb3 Ra8 {
/\Rca7} 25. Nd2 (25. Nd2 f5 26. Nb1 Bh4 27. g3 Bf6 28. Nc3 e4 29. Ra2 Qa5 30.
Rc1 Be5 31. Rcc2 Rc5 32. Nb5 Kh8 33. Qe3 Qb4 34. Nd4 Rcc8 35. Ne6 Rxa4 36. Rxa4
Qxa4 37. Rd2 Qa1 38. Kg2 Rb8 39. Nf4 Rb1 {M07102 Apicella - Kramnik/ 1994/0-1 
(61)}) (25. Nd2 f5 26. Nb1 Bh4 27. g3 Bf6 28. Nc3 e4 29. Ra2 Qa5 30. Rc1 Be5
31. Rcc2 Rc5 32. Nb5 Kh8 33. Qe3 Qb4 34. Nd4 Rcc8 35. Ne6 Rxa4 36. Rxa4 Qxa4
37. Rd2 Qa1 38. Kg2 Rb8 39. Nf4 Rb1 {Apicella-Kramnik/Moscow Olympiad (07)
1994/0-1 (61)}) 25... f5 {><e4} (25... Rca7 26. Ne4 Qc7 27. Nc3 {/\Nb5}) 26.
Nb1 {/\Nb1-c3-b5} Bh4 27. g3 (27. Ra2 $2 Rxa4 $17) 27... Bf6 28. Nc3 e4 {
/\Bd4, >< Pf2} 29. Ra2 Qa5 (29... Bxc3 {Boensch} 30. Qxc3 Rxa4 $15) 30. Rc1 Be5
31. Rcc2 Rc5 32. Nb5 Kh8 {/\g7-g5, f5-f4} 33. Qe3 $6 Qb4 {/\Rxa4} 34. Nd4 (34.
Qa3 $2 Qxa3 35. Rxa3 Bxb5 $19) 34... Rcc8 {/\Qc5, Bxa4} (34... Rxa4 35. Rab2 (
35. Rcb2 Qa5 36. Nb3 (36. Rb8+ {Boensch} Kh7 37. Ne6 $1 (37. Nb3 Rxa2 38. Nxa5
Rcxa5 $13) 37... Bxe6 38. Rxa4 Qxa4 39. dxe6 $16) 36... Rxa2 37. Nxa5 Rxb2 $17)
35... Qa3 (35... Qa5 36. Nb3 $16) 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. Qxa3 Rxa3 38. Ne6 $132) (
34... Bxa4 $2 35. Rcb2 Qa5 36. Nb3 $16) 35. Ne6 Rxa4 (35... Bxa4 $17) 36. Rxa4
Qxa4 (36... Bxa4 37. Ra2 $15) 37. Rd2 Qa1 {/\Rb8-b1} 38. Kg2 Rb8 39. Nf4 Rb1
40. Qe2 (40. Ng6+ {Boensch} Kh7 41. Nf8+ Kg8 42. Nxd7 Rxf1 $19) 40... Re1 (
40... Ba4 $2 {/\Bd1} 41. Ra2) 41. Ra2 Rxe2 42. Rxa1 Rxf2+ 43. Kxf2 Bxa1 $19 44.
Ke3 Kg8 45. Ne6 g6 (45... Kf7 $5 46. c5 Bxe6 47. dxe6+ Kxe6 48. cxd6 Kxd6 $17)
46. c5 Be5 (46... Bxe6 $1 $19 {Boensch} 47. dxe6 dxc5 48. g4 Kg7 49. gxf5 gxf5
50. e7 (50. Kf4 Kf6 51. e7 Be5+ $19) 50... Kf7 51. Kf4 Kxe7 52. Kxf5 e3 53. Kg6
Ke6 54. Kxh6 Kf5 (54... Kd5 55. Kg5 c4 56. Kf4 Bd4 57. Kf3 $10) 55. Ba6 Ke4 56.
Kg5 Kf3 (56... Kd4 57. Kf4 c4 58. Bxc4 $10) 57. Kf5 e2 58. Bxe2+ Kxe2 59. Ke4
c4 $19) 47. g4 (47. cxd6 {Boensch} Bxd6 $17 (47... Bxg3 $2 48. Nc5 $10)) 47...
Bxe6 48. dxe6 d5 $1 $19 {The three connected passed pawns will win easily.} (
48... dxc5 {Hecht} 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. h4 Kg7 51. Bh3 Kf6 (51... Bd4+ 52. Kf4 e3
53. Bf1 Kf6 54. e7 Be5+ 55. Kxe3 Kxe7 $19) 52. e7 (52. Bxf5 $10) (52. Bxf5 $10
{Boensch}) 52... Bd4+ 53. Ke2 Kxe7 54. Bxf5 e3 55. Bd3 Kd6 56. Bc4 Kc6 57. h5
Kb6 58. Kd3 Ka5 59. Bf7 Kb4 60. Be6 c4+ 61. Bxc4 e2 62. Kxe2 Kxc4 63. Kf1 Kd3
64. Kg2 $10) 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. Bb5 Kf8 51. Bc6 d4+ 52. Kd2 Bf4+ 53. Kc2 d3+ 54.
Kc3 Be3 55. Kc4 Ke7 56. Kd5 Bxc5 57. Bb5 (57. Kxc5 {Boensch} e3 $19) 57... Bd6
58. Bc4 Bc7 59. Bb5 Kf6 60. h4 Bg3 61. h5 Bc7 (61... Bc7 {/\Kf6-g5-f4}) (61...
Bc7 {Hecht} 62. Bc4 (62. Ba6 {Boensch} Bd8 63. Bc4 Kg5 64. Ke5 Bf6+ $19) 62...
Bd8 63. Kd6 f4 64. Kd5 Kf5 65. Kd4 Bf6+ 66. Kd5 f3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.10"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Malaniuk, Vladimir P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik Notkin Speelman Fritz3} f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. d4 g6 5. O-O
Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 Na6 9. Rb1 Bd7 10. b4 c5 11. dxc6 Bxc6 {An idea
of Gurevich,M} (11... bxc6 $142 {Is the normal move}) 12. Qb3 (12. b5 Bxf3 13.
Bxf3 $6 (13. exf3 $142 $14 {Gurevich,M}) 13... Nc5 14. Be3 Rc8 15. Bxc5 (15.
Na4 $6 {Notkin} Nce4 16. Qb3 Qf7 17. b6 a6 18. Rfc1 Rc6 $15 {Hertneck,G-Lutz,C/
Baden Baden/1992/1/2-1/2/57/}) 15... Rxc5 16. Bxb7 Rxc4 17. Bc6 Qf7 18. Rb3 Rc8
19. a4 Rd8 20. a5 d5 21. a6 e6 22. Bb7 Ne8 23. Na2 Nd6 24. Nb4 Qc7 25. Nc6 Re8
26. Nxa7 Nxb7 27. axb7 Qxb7 28. Nc6 Qb6 $17 {Gelfand,B-Gurevich,M Linares 1991.
}) 12... Ne4 (12... Kh8 $5 {Notkin} 13. Bb2 e5 14. e3 Rd8 15. a4 b6 16. Ba3 Ba8
$14 {Annakov,B-Reinderman,D/Buenos Aires/1993/0:1/43/} (16... Ba8 {Ftacnik} 17.
Rbd1 h6 18. Nb5 e4 19. Nfd4 Qe7 20. h3 h5 21. Ne2 Kh7 22. Rd2 $14 {Annakov,
B-Reinderman,D/WchJ-Buenos Aires/1992/0-1 (43)})) (12... h6 {Ftacnik} 13. c5+
Kh7 14. cxd6 exd6 15. Bb2 Qe7 16. e3 Rac8 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. Nd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
Nc7 20. Rbc1 Ng4 21. h3 Ne5 22. Nd5 $14 {Lukacs,P-Dao Thien Hai/Budapest FS
JulGM (07)/1994/0.5 (37)}) 13. Bb2 Nxc3 $6 (13... Rc8 $142 {Ftacnik} 14. Nxe4
Bxe4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Rbc1 Rf6 {Lukacs,P-Beim,V/Budapest FS AprGM (06)/1994/0.
5 (16)}) 14. Bxc3 Bxc3 15. c5+ $5 {Born for 'creativity'.} (15. Qxc3 $5 {
With a small, but lasting advantage.} Rc8 $1 16. Rbc1 Rf6 17. a3 Kg7 18. Rfe1
Nb8 19. c5 Be4 20. Qe3 dxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxc5 22. Qxc5 a6 23. Ne5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Nd7
25. Qc3 Nxe5 26. Qxe5 Qc6+ 27. Kg1 Qd6 28. Qxd6 {Illescas Cordoba,M-Topalov,V/
Leon (3)/1993/1/2-1/2/}) 15... e6 (15... d5 $2 16. Qxc3 {Xe5, Xd4}) (15... Qf7
16. Qxc3 Bb5 (16... Qxa2 {Ftacnik} 17. Ra1 Qf7 18. Ng5 Qe8 19. Qb3+ $16) 17. a4
Bxa4 18. Ng5 Qg7 19. Qxg7+ Kxg7 20. Bxb7 $18) (15... Rf7 {Notkin} 16. Qxc3 dxc5
(16... Be4 17. Ng5) 17. Ne5) 16. Qxc3 dxc5 $1 (16... Rd8 {Notkin} 17. cxd6 Rxd6
18. b5 Bxb5 19. Nd4 Bc6 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Rb7 Rf7 22. Rfb1 $16) 17. b5 $1 {
A purely intuitive sacrifice.} (17. bxc5 Rc8 $1 $15 {Xc5} (17... Be4 $1 {
Ftacnik} 18. Rbc1 Rc8 $13)) 17... Bxb5 18. Ne5 Rb8 (18... Bc6 $6 19. Bxc6 bxc6
20. Rb7 $1 $18 (20. Qc4 $16 {Notkin})) (18... Bxe2 {Ftacnik} 19. Rfe1 Bb5 20.
Bxb7 Rb8 21. Bxa6 Bxa6 22. Rxb8 Qxb8 23. Nd7 $16) 19. Rfe1 b6 {Speelman: Even
though Black has an extra two pawns, he is under severe pressure in this
position. White's dark square domination, the bad knight on a6 and the vital
e4 break are clear compensation.} (19... Bc6 {Notkin} 20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. Qc4 Qc8
(21... Rb5 {Ftacnik} 22. a4 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 Qc8 24. Rd1 $44) 22. Rxb8 Nxb8 23. e4
$16) 20. e4 Nc7 (20... fxe4 21. Ng4 $1 e5 22. Rxe4 $16) (20... f4 21. Ng4 e5 (
21... h5 {Ftacnik} 22. Nf6+ Rxf6 23. Qxf6 $16) 22. Nxe5 {/\Ng4 and Nh6+.}) (
20... Rd8 $5) (20... Ba4 $5) (20... Nb4 $1 {!? Notkin} 21. exf5 (21. a3 Nc6 22.
Rxb5 Nxe5 23. Qxe5 Qxb5 24. Qxe6+ Rf7 25. exf5 Qd7 $1) 21... gxf5 22. a3 (22.
Qd2 Qd8 $1) 22... Nd5 (22... Nc6 23. Rxb5 Nxe5 24. Qxe5 Qxb5 25. Qxe6+ Rf7 (
25... Kg7 26. Qe5+ Kg6 27. Qd6+ $18) 26. Bd5 Rbf8 27. Qxf5 Kg7 (27... Qb2 28.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 29. Re8+ Kg7 30. Qg5#) 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Bxf7 Rxf7 30. Qd8+ Kg7 31.
Re8 $18) 23. Qd2 $142 $1 (23. Bxd5 {Speelman} exd5 24. Qd2 Bc6 $5 (24... Rd8
25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Rxb5 Qxb5 27. Nf7+ Rxf7 28. Qxd8+ Kg7 29. Re8 h6 30. Rg8+ Kh7
31. Rh8+ Kg7 32. Qg8+ Kf6 33. Rxh6+ Ke7 34. Qg6 $40) 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Qh6 $44)
23... Nf6 24. Qg5+ (24. Rbd1 $5) 24... Kh8 25. Qh6 Ba4 {><d1} 26. Rbc1 {
/\Rc1-c4-h4} Qh5 27. Qf4 $36) 21. exf5 gxf5 (21... exf5 {Ftacnik} 22. Ng4 fxg4
23. Rxe8 Bxe8 24. Qe5 Rf7 25. Bd5 $16) 22. Qe3 {Now it is hard for Black to an
active move, his pieces are disorganized..} a6 $6 (22... Qh5 23. Bf3 $1) (22...
Kh8 $142 23. Qh6 Ba4 (23... Rg8 24. Rxb5 Qxb5 (24... Nxb5 25. Bc6 $18) 25. Nf7#
) 24. Bf3 {/\ Bh5 and Ng6+ ->}) (22... Nd5 {Notkin} 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Qg5+ Kh8
25. Nf3 Be2 26. Qd2 $16) (22... Qe7 23. Bc6 $1 f4 {Speelman} (23... Ba6 24. Nd7
$18) (23... a6 24. Bxb5 axb5 25. Nc6 $18) 24. Qf3 Bxc6 25. Nxc6 Qg5 26. Nxb8
fxg3 27. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 28. hxg3 Rxb8 29. Rbd1 $16) (22... Ba4 $142 {Probably the
best defence, covering the square d1.} 23. Rbc1 $36 {This move I like best.
The idea is tocontinue with Rc1-c4-h4. Other interesting active ideas are 23.
h4!?. 23.Qf4!? and 23.Bf3.} Qe7 $6 24. Bc6 $1) 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Rbd1 Rg8 (24...
Nd5 25. Rxd5 $5 exd5 26. Bxd5 Rc8 {Notkin} (26... Rd8 27. Nf7+ $18) (26... Qd8
27. Ng6+ Kg7 28. Re7+ $18) (26... c4 27. h4 {/\h5,Ng6/}) 27. Nf7+ Qxf7 28. Bxf7
Rxf7 29. Re7 $16) (24... Rd8 $2 {Ftacnik} 25. Rxd8 Qxd8 26. Nf7+ $18) (24...
Rc8 {Ftacnik} 25. Rd6 $16) 25. Qf4 $1 (25. Qf6+ {Ftacnik} Rg7 26. Rd6 Qe7)
25... Qe7 (25... Rg7 $142 26. Rd6 $36) 26. Bc6 $1 {Prosaic} (26. Rd6 $5 {
More beautiful} Qxd6 $2 27. Nf7+ $18) 26... Rg4 $2 {Looses by force.} (26...
Rbf8 {Ftacnik} 27. Rd7 $18) (26... Rbd8 27. Rxd8 (27. Bxb5 {Speelman} Rxd1 (
27... axb5 28. Nc6 Rxd1 29. Nxe7 Rxe1+ 30. Kg2 $18) 28. Rxd1 Nxb5 29. Rd7 Qf6
30. Nf7+ Kg7 31. Nh6+ $16) 27... Rxd8 28. Bxb5 {/\Nc6/} axb5 29. Nc6 Qd7 30.
Nxd8 Qxd8 $18) 27. Nxg4 Bxc6 28. Rd6 $1 (28. Ne5 Bd5 {Speelman: And Black has
some compensation thanks to the d5 square.}) 28... Be8 (28... Bd5 $2 29. Rxd5
Nxd5 30. Qxb8+ $18) (28... fxg4 {Ftacnik} 29. Rxc6 Rb7 30. Qxg4 $18) 29. Nh6 $6
$18 (29. Qxf5 $5) (29. Rdxe6 $142 $1 {I saw this variation, but I thought the
text move would win more directly.} Nxe6 30. Qe5+ $1 $18 (30. Qxb8 fxg4 31.
Qe5+ $18) 30... Qg7 31. Qxb8 Nc7 32. Rxe8+ Nxe8 33. Qxe8+ $18) 29... Rc8 $1 {
Prolonging resistance.} (29... Qg7 {Ftacnik} 30. Rdxe6 Nxe6 31. Qxb8 $18) 30.
Rxb6 (30. Rdxe6 $142 $1 {Fritz3} Nxe6 31. Qe5+ Qg7 32. Qxe6 Bd7 33. Nf7+ Kg8
34. Qxd7 $18) 30... Qg7 31. Rb7 Bc6 32. Ra7 Nd5 (32... Be4 {Ftacnik} 33. Qe5
Qxe5 34. Nf7+ Kg8 35. Nxe5 $18) (32... Bd5 {Fritz3} 33. Rc1 c4 34. Qe5 Qxe5 35.
Nf7+ Kg8 36. Nxe5 $18) 33. Qe5 (33. Rxg7 {Ftacnik} Nxf4 34. Re7 Nh3+ 35. Kf1
Bb5+ 36. Kg2 Ng5 $16) 33... Qxe5 34. Nf7+ Kg8 35. Nxe5 Bb5 (35... Nc3 $5 {
Fritz3} 36. Nxc6 (36. Rxa6 Ne2+ 37. Rxe2 Bb5 38. Rxe6 Bxe2 $18) 36... Rxc6 37.
Re7 $18) 36. a4 Bxa4 37. Rxa6 Bb5 (37... Bb3 38. Rxe6 c4 39. Nc6 $18) 38. Rxe6
c4 39. Rd6 Nb4 40. Rb6 Nc2 41. Rb1 $1 (41. Rb1 {Ftacnik} Na3 42. R1xb5 Nxb5 43.
Rxb5 c3 44. Rb1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt m"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lobron, Eric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qd2 h6 9. Bh4 Bb4 10. Rc1 O-O 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Qxa3 13. e4 N5b6 14. Bd3 Re8
15. O-O e5 16. Bg3 exd4 17. cxd4 Nf8 18. Rfe1 Be6 19. Ra1 Qe7 20. Qb2 Bc4 21.
Bc2 Ba6 22. Qc3 Bc4 23. Ra5 f6 24. Nh4 Be6 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. Rxf5 Rad8 27. f3
Kh8 28. Bf2 Nc8 29. e5 fxe5 30. Qd3 g6 31. Rfxe5 Qxe5 32. Rxe5 Rxe5 33. Bh4 g5
34. Bg3 Red5 35. Bb3 Ne7 36. Qe4 R8d7 37. Be5+ Kg8 38. h4 gxh4 39. Qxh4 Kh7 40.
Qf6 Neg6 41. Bc2 Rxe5 42. dxe5 Rg7 43. Qxf8 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt m"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e4 dxe4 8.
Nxe4 Bb4+ 9. Ke2 Qf4 10. Qd3 Be7 11. g3 Qc7 12. Bg2 O-O 13. Rhd1 Nd7 14. Kf1 b6
15. Rac1 Ba6 16. Kg1 Rad8 17. Qc2 Nf6 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Qa4 a5 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.
Qb3 c5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Qe3 Qc7 24. f4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Rxd4 26. Qxd4 Rd8 27. Qe3
Qd6 28. Re1 a4 29. Kf2 Qb4 30. Re2 Bxe5 31. fxe5 Qxc4 32. Qxb6 Rd3 33. Qb7 g6
34. Kg2 Qxa2 35. Kh3 Qd5 36. Qa7 Qd4 37. Qe7 h5 38. Rc2 Qg4+ 39. Kg2 Qf3+ 40.
Kh3 Qf5+ 41. Kg2 Rxg3+ 42. Kxg3 Qxc2 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Qf6 Qf5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Bd2 e5 14. d5 Rad8
15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Be1 e4 17. Bb3 Qe5 18. Bc2 Bd6 19. g3 Nc5 20. Kg2 Qf5 21. Rd2
Be5 22. Rad1 Rb8 23. Bb1 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Nxa4 25. Ra2 Nb2 26. Rd2 Nc4 27. Rd1 Ne5
28. h3 Nf3 29. Ra4 Ng5 30. g4 Qe5 31. Qc2 Rfe8 32. Rxa7 Nf3 33. Qa2 Qh2+ 34.
Kf1 Qxh3+ 35. Ke2 Ne5 36. Bc2 Qxg4+ 37. Kd2 Red8+ 38. Kc1 Rxd1+ 39. Bxd1 Qg1
40. Bd2 Nd3+ 41. Kc2 Rb2+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nunn, John DM"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 Bd7 12. h4 Rc8 13. Rh3 Qc7 14. Qe1
Bc6 15. Rg3 Bd6 16. Rgd3 Be5 17. Re3 Ng4 18. Red3 h6 19. Bd2 b5 20. f3 Bg3 21.
Qe2 Nf2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Ne4 10. Qc2 Nd7 11. Bf4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nf6 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Bg5 Re8
15. c4 c5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. e4 Bb7 19. e5 Bd8 20. d5 c4 21. d6
Qc5 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Bxb7 Rab8 24. Bd5 g6 25. Qxc4 Qxc4 26. Bxc4 b5 27. Bd5 a5
28. f4 Bd8 29. g4 a4 30. f5 Ba5 31. e6 fxe6 32. fxe6 Bxe1 33. e7+ Kg7 34. Rxe1
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 h6 9. Bd2 O-O 10. e3 Bxc5 11. Bd3 a6 12. O-O Ba7 13. Ne2 Re8 14. Bc3 Nf8
15. Nf4 Be6 16. Rad1 Rc8 17. Qb3 b5 18. Qa3 Ra8 19. Nd4 Qd7 20. Nde2 Qd8 21.
Bb1 N8d7 22. Ng3 Bc5 23. b4 Bd6 24. Qb2 Qb8 25. Nge2 Ne5 26. Qa1 Ned7 27. h3
Be5 28. a3 Rc8 29. Bd4 a5 30. Qb2 axb4 31. axb4 Qd6 32. Nd3 Bxd4 33. Nxd4 Qb6
34. Nf4 Rab8 35. Bd3 Ne5 36. Bxb5 Qd6 37. Rb1 Ne4 38. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 39. Rxc1 Bd7
40. Bxd7 Qxd7 41. b5 g5 42. Nc6 Nxc6 43. bxc6 Qc7 44. Qxb8+ Qxb8 45. c7 Qc8 46.
Nxd5 Kg7 47. Ne7 Qd7 48. c8=Q Qxe7 49. Qc4 h5 50. Qd4+ Kg6 51. Rc6+ f6 52. Qd5
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be3 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8.
Nc3 Qd6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Qc2 a6 12. O-O g6 13. Rad1 Bd7 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bd3 Rac8 17. Qe2 Bf6 18. g3 Ne7 19. Bh6 Rfe8 20. Rfe1 Ba4 21.
Rc1 Rxc1 22. Bxc1 Nd5 23. h4 Bc6 24. Bc4 f4 25. g4 Nc7 26. Rd1 b5 27. Bb3 Bb7
28. g5 Bg7 29. Bd2 Nd5 30. Rc1 Qb6 31. Qd3 Rd8 32. h5 gxh5 33. Bc2 Ne7 34.
Qxh7+ Kf8 35. Be4 e5 36. Bb4 Re8 37. Qf5+ Kg8 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Bxb7 Qxb7 40.
Nxe5 Bxe5 41. dxe5 a5 42. e6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. d3 Bg7 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8.
h3 Bxf3 9. Nxf3 Nd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. c3 e5 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. Qb3 b6 14. Rfe1 Rfe8
15. Rad1 Qe6 16. Qa4 a5 17. Ng5 Qf6 18. d4 cxd4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Rxd4 Nc5 21.
Qc2 Ne6 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Rc4 b5 24. Rxc6 Qxa2 25. Bc1 a4 26. f4 b4 27. e5 a3
28. bxa3 Qxc2 29. Rxc2 bxa3 30. Ra2 Bf8 31. Kf2 Rec8 32. Be3 Rab8 33. Ke2 Rb2+
34. Rxb2 axb2 35. Kd3 Ba3 36. Rb1 Rc1 37. Bxc1 bxc1=Q 38. Rxc1 Bxc1 39. Ke4 Kf8
40. g4 Ke7 41. h4 h5 42. gxh5 gxh5 43. f5 Bd2 44. e6 f6 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nunn, John DM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 h6 8. Bxf6
exf6 9. d5 b4 10. dxc6 bxc3 11. cxd7+ Bxd7 12. Qxc3 Bg7 13. O-O O-O 14. Qd2 Qb6
15. c3 Rab8 16. Rab1 Be6 17. b3 d5 18. Nd4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Rfd8 20. Rbd1 f5 21.
Bf3 Bd5 22. Qb2 Be4 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. Qc1 Rbc8 25. Ne2 Rd3 26. c4 Rcd8 27. Nf4
Rc3 28. Rxd8+ Qxd8 29. Qe1 Rc2 30. Qxe4 Rxa2 31. Nd5 a5 32. g3 a4 33. bxa4 Rxa4
34. Rd1 Qb8 35. Qc2 Qa7 36. c5 Bd4 37. Ne7+ Qxe7 38. Qxa4 Bxc5 39. Qc6 Kg7 40.
Kg2 h5 41. Rd7 Qf8 42. Qd5 Be7 43. h3 Bf6 44. g4 hxg4 45. hxg4 Qe8 46. Rb7 Ba1
47. Kf3 Bf6 48. Qd7 Qf8 49. Kg2 Ba1 50. Qe7 Qg8 51. f4 Bf6 52. Qe6 Qf8 53. g5
Ba1 54. f5 gxf5 55. g6 Qa8 56. Qxf7+ Kh6 57. g7 Qa6 58. g8=N+ Kg5 59. Qe7+ Kg6
60. Qe8+ Kg5 61. Qd8+ Kg4 62. Qd1+ Kg5 63. Qd2+ Kh5 64. Rh7+ Kg4 65. Nh6+ Kh5
66. Nf7+ Kg4 67. Qd1+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8.
Bd2 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 e4 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne7 12. Qa4+ Bd7 13. Qa3 Bg4 14. h3
Bh5 15. g4 e3 16. Rh2 Bg6 17. fxe3 Qf3 18. Qa4+ Nc6 19. Qf4 Qd5 20. Rd2 Qc5 21.
h4 h5 22. O-O-O Rc8 23. Rd5 Qb6 24. e6 O-O 25. Rb5 Qa6 26. Rxh5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8.
Bd2 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 e4 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne7 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rd1 Qxa2 14. Qxe4
Bf5 15. Qc4 Qxc4 16. Bxc4 Rac8 17. Bb3 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Bb4 Rfe8 20. O-O
Nd5 21. Bd6 Rc2 22. b4 Rec8 23. g3 a6 24. Rfe1 R8c3 25. Bc5 b6 26. Bd6 Rc4 27.
Rd3 Nxb4 28. Rf3 h6 29. Rf8+ Kh7 30. Re8 Nd3 31. Rf1 Re2 32. Kg2 Rcc2 33. h4
Nxf2 34. Kf3 Red2 35. Re1 Nd3 36. Rb1 Nb2 37. Rxe6 Rd3+ 38. Kg4 Nc4 39. Bb8 Rg2
40. Re8 Rgxg3+ 41. Kf5 Rg6 42. Rc1 Rf3+ 43. Ke4 Nd2+ 44. Kd4 Rgg3 45. e6 Rd3+
46. Ke5 Rge3+ 47. Kf5 Rd5+ 48. Kf4 Re4+ 49. Kg3 Rd3+ 50. Kg2 Re2+ 51. Kg1 Nf3+
52. Kf1 Rde3 53. Rc6 Re1+ 54. Kf2 R1e2+ 55. Kf1 Nd4 56. Rxb6 Re1+ 57. Kf2 R1e2+
58. Kf1 Rf3+ 59. Kg1 Rd3 60. Rb1 Rdd2 61. Rf8 Nxe6 62. Rf3 Nd4 63. Rf7 Kg6 64.
Rf4 Kh7 65. Rf7 a5 66. Kf1 a4 67. Bg3 a3 68. Be1 a2 69. Ra1 Nb3 70. Bxd2 Rxd2
71. Re1 a1=Q 72. Rxa1 Nxa1 73. Rf4 Nc2 74. h5 Ne3+ 75. Kg1 Rg2+ 76. Kh1 Rg5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 cxd4 6. Qxd4 a6 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7
8. Bg5 Bc6 9. O-O-O h6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Rhe1 b5 12. Kb1 e6 13. Nd5 Bg7 14. Qd3
h5 15. Nf4 Bf8 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Nf5 Qc7 18. Nxd6+ Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Rc8 20. Qxc7
Rxc7 21. h4 Ke7 22. g3 b4 23. Re3 Bb5 24. a3 a5 25. axb4 axb4 26. Rd4 Rc4 27.
Rxc4 Bxc4 28. b3 Ba6 29. e5 f5 30. c3 bxc3 31. Rxc3 Kd7 32. Kb2 Bb7 33. b4 Be4
34. Kb3 Bd5+ 35. Nxd5 exd5 36. f4 Rd8 37. b5 f6 38. exf6 d4 39. Rd3 Kc7 40. Kc4
Rf8 41. Kxd4 Rxf6 42. Ke5 Rf8 43. Ke6 Kb6 44. Rd5 Rg8 45. Rxf5 Rxg3 46. Rxh5
Rg6+ 47. Kf5 Rd6 48. Ke4 Rd1 49. Re5 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.27"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Vaisser,A"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. O-O Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Qxf3 Nf6 9. a4 Nd7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Qe2 e5 12. b3 Re8 13. Nc4 Nf8 14. Be3 Ne6
15. a5 Qc7 16. Rfd1 b5 17. axb6 axb6 18. Qf1 b5 19. Nd2 Nd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21.
Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Ra1 Ra5 23. Qd1 Qa7 24. Rxa5 Qxa5 25. Nf3 h6 26. Kf1 c5 27. Ke2
Qa2 28. Nd2 Bf8 29. Nf3 Bd6 30. Nd2 Kg7 31. Qb1 Qa3 32. Nf3 Bc7 33. Nd2 Ba5 34.
Nf3 Kf6 35. Nh2 Ke6 36. g4 Bd8 37. Nf3 g5 38. Nd2 Ba5 39. Nf1 f6 $2 (39... Bd8
40. Ng3 Be7 41. Nf5 Bf8) 40. Ng3 Qb4 41. Qd1 c4 42. bxc4 bxc4 43. Nf5 Qb2 44.
Nxh6 (44. dxc4 $132 Qc3) 44... c3 45. Nf5 Bb4 46. Kf3 Bf8 47. Ng3 Be7 48. Nf5
Bf8 49. h4 gxh4 50. Nxh4 $2 (50. Kg2 $18) 50... Bh6 51. Nf5 Bg5 52. Kg2 Kd7 53.
Qh1 Qxc2 54. Qh7+ (54. Qa1 $5) 54... Kc6 55. Ne7+ Kb5 56. Nd5 Ka4 57. Qb7 Ka3
58. Qb4+ Ka2 59. Nb6 Qb3 60. Qa5+ Kb1 61. Nc4 c2 62. Na3+ Qxa3 63. Qxa3 c1=Q
64. Qb3+ Ka1 65. Kf3 Qc3 66. Qd1+ Kb2 67. Ke2 Qc2+ 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Bd3 7. Bxd3 cxd3 8.
Qxd3 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 O-O 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Rad1 h6 13. Bc1 Re8 14. Qe2 Qa5
15. Nd2 Qh5 16. f3 e5 17. Nb3 exd4 18. Nxd4 Bc5 19. Be3 Nf8 20. Rfe1 Rad8 21.
Qf2 N6d7 22. Nf5 Bxe3 23. Qxe3 Nb6 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. a5 Nc8 26. Qc5 Qg5 27. h4
Qf4 28. Qb4 Qc7 29. Ne2 Ne6 30. Qc3 Nd6 31. Neg3 Nxf5 32. Nxf5 Qf4 33. Qb4 g6
34. Ne3 Qg3 35. Rf1 Nf4 36. Qe7 Ne6 37. Qxb7 Rd3 38. Qxa7 Nf4 39. Qb8+ Kh7 40.
Qa7 Ne2+ 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Vaisser,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 b6 12. e4 Bb7 13. e5 Ng4 14. Ne4 Rfd8
15. O-O Na5 16. Nxc5 Bxf3 $2 (16... bxc5 $14) 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Nxe6 Re8 19.
Nc7 Rc8 20. e6 Nxc4 21. e7 Bc6 22. Rd1 Re8 23. Nxe8 Bxe8 24. Rd8 Nf6 25. Bg5
1-0

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kengis, Edvins"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Baburin} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O
Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 Bf5 (12... Qe7 {
Baburin} 13. Bc3 Rd8 14. e3 Bf5) 13. Qb3 Bb6 14. Be3 (14. Rad1 Be4 15. Bc3 Qe7
16. e3 Rad8 17. Bd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qe4+ 20. Kg1 h5 21. Ne2 Qc4 22.
Nf4 Qxb3 23. axb3 d4 24. Ne6 {Larsen,B-Bareev,E/Naestved op/1988/1-0 (50)})
14... Na5 (14... Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Re8 (15... d4 {Baburin} 16. Qf4 {/\Rfd1, Rd2 +
Rad1.}) 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qb5 a6 18. Qb4 Be4 19. Rac1 Nc4 20. Rfd1 a5 21. Qb5 Nd6
22. Qb3 Qe7 23. Nh4 a4 24. Qb4 {Groszpeter,A-Farago,I/Budapest/1986/1-0 (37)})
15. Qc3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Re8 17. Qc5 b6 (17... Rxe2 $2 18. Nd4 Re5 19. f4 $16) 18.
Qb5 a6 19. Qa4 b5 (19... Rxe2 20. Nd4 Re5 21. f4 Bd7 22. Qd1) 20. Qf4 Be4 21.
Rac1 Nc4 22. b3 Ne5 (22... Nd6 23. Rc6 Nf7 24. Rfc1 $16) 23. Nd4 Bxg2 24. Kxg2
Qb6 25. Rfd1 Rad8 $6 {Baburin: This position is definitely in White's favour:
he blockades the isolated pawn and controls the c-file. The potential weakness
of the e6-square does not make Black's life any easier.} (25... Rac8 $5) 26.
Qf5 g6 27. Qc2 Rd7 (27... Rc8 28. Qxc8 Rxc8 29. Rxc8+ Kf7 30. e3 Ke7 31. Rdc1
$16) 28. h3 Kg7 29. Qc5 Qb7 (29... Qxc5 30. Rxc5 Nf7 31. e3 $14 {xd5}) 30. Rc3
b4 $6 (30... Ree7 $142 $14) 31. Rc2 Ree7 32. Rdc1 h5 (32... Re8 33. Qa5) 33.
Qc8 Qb6 (33... Qxc8 34. Rxc8 f5 35. R1c5 $16) 34. e3 Rd8 $2 (34... Rb7) 35.
Ne6+ $1 Qxe6 (35... Rxe6 36. Rc7+ Rd7 37. Rxd7+ Nxd7 38. Qxd7+ Kh6 39. Rc8 $1
$18) 36. Qxd8 Nf7 37. Qc8 Qe4+ 38. Kg1 Ng5 39. Rc7 $1 Nf3+ 40. Kf1 Nh2+ 41. Ke2
(41. Ke2 Qf3+ 42. Ke1 Qh1+ 43. Kd2 Nf3+ 44. Kc2 Ne1+ 45. Rxe1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Qa5 12. exf6 Ba6 13. Qf3 Rc8 14. Be2 b4 15.
Ne4 c5 16. d5 $3 (16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Bxc5 18. O-O Bd4 19. Qf4 Qe5 20. Qxe5
Bxe5 $44 {Sokolov,I-Kamsky,G/Beograd/1991/0.5 (45)}) 16... exd5 17. Qf5 dxe4
18. O-O-O Rc7 (18... Qc7 19. Bg4 (19. Rd5 Bb7 20. Qxe4+ Kd8 21. Bf4 Bd6 (21...
Qc6 22. Rhd1) 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 Bxe4 24. Rhd1 Bf5 25. h4 $13) (19. Qxe4+
Qe5 20. Qxe5+ Nxe5 21. Rd5 Nd7 22. Bg4 Rc7 23. Re1+ Kd8 24. Red1 Bb5 $17) 19...
Ne5 (19... Bb5 20. Qxe4+ Kd8 21. Rhe1 Bd6 22. Qd5 c3 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 $16
) 20. Rd5 Bd6 (20... Nxg4 21. Qxe4+ Be7 22. fxe7 f6 23. Qg6+ Kxe7 24. Re1+ Kf8
25. Bxf6 $18) (20... Nd3+ 21. Kb1 Bd6 22. Qxe4+ Kf8 23. Qe3 {/\ Bh6}) 21. Qxe4
Rd8 22. f4 Bb7 23. Rhd1 $40) 19. Bg4 Bb5 (19... Qxa2 20. Rxd7 Qa1+ 21. Kd2
Qxb2+ 22. Ke3 Qc3+ 23. Kf4 Bb7 24. Rhd1 $18) 20. Qxe4+ Kd8 21. Bxd7 Bxd7 (21...
Rxd7 22. Qa8+ Kc7 23. Rxd7+ Bxd7 24. Bf4+ Kb6 25. Qd8+ Ka6 26. Qxd7 $16) 22.
Rhe1 Bh6 (22... Kc8 23. Qa8#) (22... Bd6 23. Rxd6 Qb5 24. Red1 $18) 23. Qa8+
Rc8 24. Rxd7+ $1 Kxd7 25. Qd5+ (25. Qd5+ Kc7 26. Re7+ Kb6 27. Qb7#) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3
Nc6 15. d5 Na5 16. Bc5 Bf6 17. e5 {In this case it is a sacrifice, but white
always dreams about building a strong center with P on d5 and e5.} Bxe5 18. Rb4
(18. h3 Bxf3 (18... Rfd8 $5 19. hxg4 Rxd5 20. Bd4 $1 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Rad8 $1 22.
Qc2 $1 Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Rd2 24. Rfd1 $13 {Strelbin-Nadanian,A/URS/1991/}) 19. Bxf3
Rfe8 20. d6 Qc4 21. d7 Qxc5 22. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 23. Qa4 Nc6 24. Rxb7 $14 {Gelfand,
B-Ivanchuk,V/Tilburg/1990/1-0 (62)}) 18... Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Bf6 $2 (19... Rae8 20.
Be3 Bc3 21. Ra4 Qb2 22. Qd3 b5 23. Bc1 bxa4 24. Bxb2 Bxb2 25. d6 Bf6 26. Qb5
Nb3 27. d7 Rd8 28. Rd1 Nd4 $10 {Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Riga Tal mem (06)/1995/0.5 
(41)}) 20. Ra4 Qb3 21. Rxa5 Qxd1 22. Rxd1 b6 23. d6 $1 {[%csl Gd6] Tactics
will help to turn dP into a magnificient piece.} Rac8 (23... exd6 24. Bxb6 $18)
(23... bxa5 24. dxe7 Rfc8 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rd7 $18) 24. d7 Rcd8 (24... bxa5
25. dxc8=Q Rxc8 26. Bxa7 $18) 25. Bxe7 $1 Bxe7 {Opposite colour B are not
saving black, because he will be unable to blockade the dP.} (25... bxa5 $2 26.
Bxf6 $18) 26. Rxa7 Rb8 (26... Bc5 27. Re1 f5 28. Bd5+ Kg7 29. Re8 $18) 27. Re1
Bd8 (27... Bf6 28. Bd5 b5 29. Re8 $1 Rbxe8 $140 30. dxe8=Q Rxe8 31. Bxf7+ $18)
28. Re8 {[%csl Yd8,Ye8,Yf8] Black is left tied down, his Rf8 will never be
active again.} b5 (28... Bf6 29. Ra8 $18) 29. Ra8 Rxa8 30. Bxa8 b4 31. Bd5 Kg7
32. Kf1 (32. Kf1 f5 33. Ke2 Bc7 34. Kd3 Bd8 35. Kc4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Dolmatov} e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 (5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O
7. d3 d6 {-> A26}) 5... exd4 (5... d6 $2 {Dolmatov} 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 dxe5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bg5 Be7 10. O-O-O+ Nd7 11. h4 f6 12. Be3 c6 13. h5 $16 {
Petrosian,T-Bannik,A/URS/1958/}) 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Nxc6 (7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9.
Nxc6 (9. Nc2 d6 10. b3 Bf5 11. Rb1 a5 $1 $13 {Hansen,Cu-Akopian,V/Groningen/
1991/CBM27/INF53,32/}) 9... dxc6 (9... bxc6 10. Qa4 Bb7 11. Bf4 $14 {Miles,
A-Ivanchuk,V/Biel/1989/CBM14/INF48,21/}) 10. Bf4 Qe7 11. e4 Ng4 $13 {Tukmakov,
V-Romanishin,O/Erevan/1980/INF29,58/}) 7... dxc6 $5 {Eine Neuerung.} (7... bxc6
{Dolmatov} 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O a5 10. Be3 Re8 11. Bd4 Rb8 12. b3 Bb7 13. Rc1 d6
14. c5 $14 {Gheorghiu,F-Hebert,R/Buenos Aires/1978/}) 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {Kramnik
hat recht, seine Figuren sind aktiv und das ist genueg Kompensation fuer den
Doppelbauern auf der c-Linie.} 9. e4 (9. Bf4 $5 {Dolmatov} Be6 10. e4) (9. Bd2
$5 $14 {Dolmatov}) 9... Bg4 10. Be2 Bxe2 11. Kxe2 Re8 12. f3 Nd7 13. Bg5+ (13.
Bd2 {Dolmatov} f5) 13... Kc8 (13... f6 $5 {Dolmatov} 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 f5) 14...
f5 15. Rad1 $132) 14. Rac1 a5 $1 (14... f5 $6 {Dolmatov} 15. Rhd1 fxe4 16. Nxe4
Bxb2 17. Rc2 $44) 15. Rhd1 $6 (15. b3 $5 {Weiss sollte das gegnerische
Manoever (a4 und Ra5) verhindern.}) (15. b3 $5 {Dolmatov} f5 (15... a4 16. Nxa4
b5 17. cxb5 cxb5 18. Nc3 Bxc3 19. Rxc3 Rxa2+ 20. Ke3 f6 21. Bf4 c5 $14) 16.
Rhd1 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 fxe4 18. fxe4 Rxe4+ 19. Kf2 $44) 15... a4 $1 16. Rd2 {
Droht Rcd1.} Nf8 (16... Ra5 $2 {Dolmatov} 17. Rcd1 $1 Rxg5 18. Rxd7 $16) 17.
Be3 Ra5 18. a3 $2 {Dieser Zug sieht sehr schlecht aus. Man fuehlt schon jetzt,
dass bei dem weis- sen Damenfluegel etwas nicht stimmt.} (18. Bd4 $5) (18. Kd3
$5 {Dolmatov} Rd8+ (18... Ne6 19. Kc2 $10) 19. Kc2 Rxd2+ 20. Bxd2 $14) 18...
Ne6 19. Kf2 {/\20.f4 Nc5 21.Bc5 Rc5 22.Na4} (19. f4 $2 {Dolmatov} Nc5 20. Bxc5
Rxc5 21. Nxa4 Rxe4+ 22. Kf3 Rcxc4 23. Rcd1 Rcd4 $17) 19... g5 20. Rcd1 (20.
Rcc2 {Dolmatov}) 20... f5 21. exf5 Bxc3 $1 {Sehr starker Zwischenzug.} 22. bxc3
Rxf5 23. Rd7 (23. g4 $5 {Dolmatov} Rf7 24. Kg3 $15) 23... h5 24. Rh7 (24. Kg2
b6 $1 $17) 24... g4 (24... Ref8 $2 {Dolmatov} 25. Rxh5 Rxf3+ 26. Ke2) 25. f4 {
[#]} Ng5 $1 26. Rg7 (26. Rxh5 Ne4+ $19) 26... Ne4+ 27. Kf1 Nd6 $1 (27... Nxc3
$2 28. Rdd7 Rxe3 29. Rxc7+ Kd8 30. Rxb7 $10) (27... Nxg3+ $4 28. hxg3 Rxe3 29.
Rg8+ $18) 28. Bb6 (28. c5 Nc4 29. Bg1 (29. Rdd7 Nxe3+ 30. Kf2 Nd5 31. c4 Rd8
$19) 29... Rd5 $19) 28... Rf7 $1 (28... Nxc4 $2 {Dolmatov} 29. Rxc7+ Kb8 30.
Rdd7 Nxb6 31. Rxb7+ Kc8 32. Rbc7+ $10) 29. Rxf7 Nxf7 30. Bd4 (30. Bc5 b6 31.
Bd4 c5 $19) 30... Nd6 31. c5 Nc4 32. Kf2 (32. f5 {Dolmatov} Ne3+ 33. Bxe3 Rxe3
34. Rd2 Rxc3 $17) 32... b5 $1 (32... Nxa3 $2 {Dolmatov} 33. Ra1 Nc2 34. Rxa4)
33. cxb6 (33. f5 {Dolmatov} Nxa3 34. f6 Nc4 35. Re1 Kd7 $19) 33... cxb6 34. Bf6
(34. f5 Rf8 35. f6 c5 $19) 34... b5 35. Rd4 (35. Ra1 Kc7 {/\ c5,Kc6,Re3 -+})
35... Nxa3 36. Rd6 Kc7 37. Be5 Nc4 38. Re6+ Kd7 {Nach dem fruehzeitigen
Damentausch koennte man nicht glauben, dass Schwarz so ueberzeugend gewinnen
wird.} 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Horn,Pe} d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O c6 5. d3 Ngf6 6. Nbd2 e5 7. e4
dxe4 (7... Bd6 8. h3 Bh5) 8. dxe4 Be7 (8... Bc5 9. c3 a5 10. Qc2 O-O 11. b3 Re8
12. Bb2 Qc7 13. a3 b5 14. h3 $14 {Ivkov,B-Marovic,D/JUG/1972/}) (8... Bd6 9. b3
O-O 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Qb1 a5 12. a3 Qc7 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nh4 $14) 9. h3 Bh5 10. b3
(10. Qe2 {Horn,Pe} O-O 11. a4 a5 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. Bd2 Rfe8 14. Qe1 b6 15. Nh4
Bc5 16. Nf5 Bg6 17. Nce3 Nf8 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 Ne6 20. c3 Rad8 21. Qe2 Rd7
22. Rfd1 Red8 23. Be1 {1/2-1/2 Hartoch,R-Brenninkmeijer,R/Wijk-B 1987}) (10.
Qe1 {Horn,Pe} O-O 11. Nh4 Re8 12. Nf5 Bf8 13. a4 Nc5 14. Nc4 b5 15. axb5 cxb5
16. Na5 Ne6 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Qb1 Nc5 19. f3 Bg6 20. Nh4 Na4 21. Nb3 Red8 22.
Nxg6 hxg6 23. c3 Nd7 24. Qc2 Ndb6 25. Rae1 Nc4 26. Bc1 a5 27. Kh1 Naxb2 28.
Bxb2 a4 29. Bc1 axb3 30. Qxb3 Nd2 31. Bxd2 Rxd2 32. Rd1 Raa2 33. Rxd2 Rxd2 34.
f4 exf4 35. e5 fxg3 36. e6 Qe5 37. exf7+ Kh7 38. Qb1 Rxg2 39. Kxg2 Qe2+ 40.
Kxg3 Bd6+ {0-1 King,D-Yusupov,A/BL 9495 Castrop Rauxel-Bayern [2] 1994}) 10...
O-O 11. Bb2 Qc7 12. c4 $6 {Horn,Pe Jetzt entsteht eine Struktur, die aus dem
Reti-System mit b3 (A12) bekannt ist. Schwarz hat bei der Zugfolge ein Tempo 
(durch e7-e5) gewonnen, der Aufbau Be7 ist aber dort selten.} (12. a3 a5 13.
Qe1 Rfe8 14. Nh4 $14) 12... a5 13. a3 Rfd8 14. Qc2 Ne8 {[%cal Gf7f6]} 15. Bc3 {
[%cal Gb3b4]} f6 16. b4 (16. Nh4 Nc5 $132) 16... Nd6 (16... Nf8 $5 17. c5 Bf7
18. Rfc1 b6 $132) (16... axb4 {Horn,Pe} 17. axb4 Nd6 18. c5 Nb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8
20. Ra1 Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1 $10) 17. Rfc1 (17. c5 Nb5 18. Bb2 axb4 19. axb4 b6 $15)
(17. bxa5 {Horn,Pe} Bf7 18. Rfd1 (18. Rfe1) 18... Nxc4 $140 $2 (18... Bxc4 $2
19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qb3 $16) (18... b6 $5) (18... c5 $14) 19. Nxc4 Bxc4 20. Bb4
$18) (17. Rfe1 {Horn,Pe} Bf7 18. bxa5 $5 $14 (18. Bf1 {Horn,Pe} axb4 19. axb4
c5 20. bxc5 Nxc5 21. Bb4 $10) 18... Nxc4 $2 (18... Bxc4 $2 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20.
Qb3 $16) 19. Nxc4 Bxc4 20. Bb4 $18) 17... Bf7 18. Bf1 axb4 19. axb4 c5 $1 (
19... Nf8 20. c5 Nb5 21. Nc4 $14) 20. b5 Nf8 21. Nh4 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Qd7 (22...
Ne6 23. Ng2 (23. Nf5 {Horn,Pe} Nxf5 24. exf5 Nd4 25. Qe4 $14) 23... Nd4 24. Qb1
$132) (22... g6 $2 23. Ng2 Ne6 24. Ne3 $14) 23. Nf5 $6 (23. Kh2 $5 Ne6 24. Ng2
Nd4 25. Qd1 $10) 23... Be6 24. Nxd6 (24. g4 $6 Ng6 25. Ne3 h5 (25... Nf4 {
Horn,Pe} 26. Nd5 $13) 26. f3 Bf8 27. Nd5 hxg4 28. hxg4 Bxg4 29. fxg4 Qxg4+ 30.
Bg2 Nh4 $132) (24. Nxe7+ Qxe7 25. Kh2 Bf7 26. Bd3 Ne6 $15) (24. Ne3 $2 {Horn,Pe
} Bxh3 25. Bxh3 Qxh3 26. Nd5 Qd7 $17) 24... Bxd6 25. h4 Bf7 26. Kh2 Ne6 {
[%cal Re6d4]} 27. Bh3 Qe7 28. Kg2 (28. Bxe6 Bxe6 29. Bb2 Qf7 30. Ra4 g5 $1 $40)
28... Nd4 29. Qd1 Bc7 30. Ra7 Bb6 31. Ra4 g6 $17 32. Qa1 Kg7 (32... Ne2 $5) 33.
Nf1 Ne2 34. Bb2 (34. Ne3 Nxc3 35. Qxc3 Rd4 36. Nd5 Bxd5 37. exd5 f5 $40) 34...
Qd6 35. Qb1 (35. Ne3 $2 {Horn,Pe} Qd3 $17 {[%csl Re4]}) 35... Qd1 36. Qxd1 Rxd1
37. Ne3 (37. Bg4 $1 {Horn,Pe} Re1 38. Ne3 Rg1+ 39. Kh2 Rb1 40. Ba1 $10) 37...
Rg1+ 38. Kh2 Rb1 39. Ra2 (39. Ba1 {Horn,Pe} Nd4 (39... Rb4 40. Ra8 Bxc4 41.
Nxc4 Rxc4 42. Rb8 Ba5 43. Rxb7+) 40. Bc8 $10) 39... Nd4 40. Bc8 (40. Kg2 $2
Nxb5 41. Nd5 Bxd5 42. exd5 Nd6 $17) 40... Nf3+ $1 (40... Nxb5 $2 41. Bxb7 Nd6 (
41... Nd4 {Horn,Pe} 42. Bd5 $10) 42. Bd5 $10) 41. Kg2 Nd2 {[%csl Rc4,Re4]} 42.
Bxb7 (42. Bxe5 Nxc4 $17) (42. Nd5 {Horn,Pe} Bxd5 (42... Nxc4 43. Nxb6 Nxb6 44.
Bxb7 Nc4 45. Bc3 Rxb5) 43. cxd5) 42... Nxc4 43. Nd5 Rxb2 (43... Nxb2 {Horn,Pe}
44. Ra6 Bd8 45. Ra8 Nd1 46. Rxd8 Rxb5 $19) 44. Rxb2 Bxd5 45. Rc2 Ne3+ 46. fxe3
Bxb7 47. Rd2 Bxe4+ 48. Kf2 c4 49. Rd7+ Kh6 (49... Kh6 50. Rd6 c3 51. Rxb6 c2
$19) 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.21"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 c6 3. e3 h6 4. Bh4 Qb6 5. Qc1 e5 6. c3 Nd7 7. Nf3 Bd6 8. Be2
Ne7 9. Bxe7 Kxe7 10. c4 e4 11. Nfd2 Bb8 12. Bg4 Ne5 13. Be2 Nd7 14. Nc3 Nf6 15.
Rb1 Re8 16. b4 Kf8 17. b5 Qd8 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Nb3 Bd6 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Nb5
Bb4+ 22. Nd2 Ba5 23. O-O a6 24. Nc3 Bc7 25. Na4 Kg8 26. Qc5 Bd6 27. Qb6 Qe7 28.
Nc5 a5 29. Rfc1 Bf5 30. Nf1 Reb8 31. Qc6 Rc8 32. Qb5 Rcb8 33. Qc6 Rc8 34. Qb5
h5 35. h3 h4 36. Nh2 Bc7 37. Nf1 Rab8 38. Qa4 Rxb1 39. Rxb1 Nh7 40. Rb7 Ng5 41.
Bg4 Bxg4 42. hxg4 h3 43. Qd7 Qxd7 44. Nxd7 Bd6 45. Rb6 Rc1 46. Rxd6 Rxf1+ 47.
Kh2 Rxf2 48. Rxd5 Rxg2+ 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.22"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. O-O
Bg7 9. e3 O-O 10. b3 a6 11. Bb2 Qa5 12. a4 Rfc8 13. h3 Rab8 14. Re1 Qb6 15. Rb1
Kf8 16. Nde2 Na5 17. Ba1 Qd8 18. Nd5 Ne8 19. Bxg7+ Nxg7 20. e4 Nc6 21. Nec3 Kg8
22. Re2 Ne8 23. Rd2 e6 24. Ne3 Qa5 25. Rc1 Ne7 26. Kh2 Bc6 27. Rb2 Qd8 28. b4
b6 29. Rd2 Qc7 30. Nb5 Bxb5 31. axb5 axb5 32. e5 d5 33. c5 Qxe5 34. Ng4 Qg7 35.
cxb6 h5 36. Ne3 Rxb6 37. Rxc8 Nxc8 38. Rc2 Ncd6 39. Rc5 Qb2 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D21"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Konikowski,J"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6 (4... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 5. Qxc4
Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. e4 Bb4 9. Bd3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Bg5
h6 13. Bf4 Ne7 14. Qxc7 Qxc7 15. Bxc7 b5 16. a5 $16 {Bruelhart,K-Lueber,H/Bad
Ragaz op (01)/1995/1-0 (45)}) 5. Qxc4 Nf6 6. Bg5 (6. Nc3 {Ftacnik} Bb4 7. Bd2
O-O 8. a3 Be7 9. e4 Na5 10. Qa4 b6 11. b4 Nb7 12. Bb5 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bc6
Nd7 15. Bf4 Bf6 16. Qc2 Nb8 17. Bb5 cxb4 18. axb4 Qb6 19. e5 Be7 20. O-O Bxb4
21. Ng5 g6 22. Nge4 $40 {Krasenkov,M-Chernosvitov,A/Voskresensk/1992/1-0 (31)})
6... h6 {Aufmersamkeit verdient} (6... Be7 $5 7. e3 O-O 8. Nc3 Nd5 9. Bxe7
Ncxe7 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. e4 Nf4 13. Bc2 Rc8 14. g3 Nfg6 15. b4 c5 16.
bxc5 bxc5 17. dxc5 Qa5 18. Nb5 a6 19. Nd6 Rxc5 20. Nxb7 (20. Qe2 Bc6 $13) 20...
Rxc4 21. Nxa5 Rxc2 {und Schwarz darf keine Probleme haben.}) 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
Nc3 Bd6 9. g3 {Auf} (9. e4 {folgt einfach} e5 10. Nd5 (10. d5 Ne7 11. Nb5 c6
12. Nxd6+ Qxd6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Qc3 O-O 16. Bb5 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8
$132) 10... Qd8 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. f4 Bd6 14. e5 c6 15. exd6 cxd5
16. Qxd5 O-O 17. Be2 Re8 {und Schwarz hat genug Kompensation fьr den Bauern.})
9... O-O 10. Bg2 Bd7 (10... e5 {Ftacnik} 11. Ne4 Qd8 12. Nxd6 cxd6 13. O-O $13)
11. O-O Rfd8 12. Rac1 Qe7 13. Ne4 Be8 14. e3 {[%csl Gc5] Ftacnik Black enjoys
very compact but somewhat passive position, later Nc5 is hard to prevent.} Rac8
15. Rfd1 a6 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. Qxc5 Qxc5 18. Rxc5 Ne7 (18... Nb8 {Ftacnik} 19.
Ne5 c6 20. Rc3 Nd7 21. Nc4 $16) 19. Ne5 Nd5 (19... c6 {Ftacnik} 20. Bh3 $16)
20. a3 f6 $2 {Erweist sich als erhebliche Schwдchung der Bauernstruktur, wie
WeiЯ sofort aufzeigt. Es sollte} (20... Kf8 {geschehen.}) 21. Bh3 $5 fxe5 (
21... Bf7 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. e4 Nb6 (23... Ne7 {Ftacnik} 24. d5 $16) 24. d5 {
wдre noch schlechter fьr Schwarz.}) 22. Bxe6+ Bf7 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. dxe5 {
Ftacnik Two P and R is a good compensation for the B and N, since the light
pieces have no squares in the center.} Nb6 25. Rd4 {xc4} Be6 26. f4 Kf7 27. e4
g6 28. Kf2 Ke7 29. Rc1 (29. Kf3 {Ftacnik} h5 {xg4}) 29... a5 {Oder} (29... c5
30. Rd6 Nd7 31. Ke3 {mit weiЯem Vorteil.}) 30. Rc5 a4 31. Rb4 Bd7 32. Rc1 Bc6 {
Der Lдufer wдre wohl besser auf der Schrдge c8-h3 geblieben, wo er die weiЯen
Bauern zurьckhalten kцnnte. Auf c6 gibt er das Motiv fьr den entscheidenden
Schlag ab (siehe 41.Rxc6!). Also in Frage kдme 32...Be6!?} 33. Ke3 {White
certainly enjoys a pleasant plus, but it is quite difficult to improve the
position any further.} Nd7 34. Rbc4 Rb8 (34... h5 {Ftacnik} 35. Rxc6 $5 bxc6
36. Rxc6 Rb8 37. Rxg6 Rxb2 38. Rg7+ Ke8 39. e6 $16) 35. h4 $6 {Dies erschwert
die Aufgabe von WeiЯ, da nun seine Kцnigsbauern festgelegt werden kцnnen.
Statt des Partiezuges logischer wдre auf jeden Fall} (35. h3 $5) 35... h5 $1
36. Rg1 Rh8 37. Rc2 (37. g4 {Ftacnik} hxg4 38. Rxg4 Rh6) 37... Ke6 38. Rgc1 Nb8
(38... Rb8 $5) 39. Rc5 Ke7 40. R1c2 Nd7 $2 {Damit lдЯt Schwarz dem Gegner zu,
auf c6 zu opfern.Dagegen hдtte er mit} (40... Ke6 {das Qualitдtsopfer
verhindern kцnnen.}) 41. Rxc6 $1 {WeiЯ opfert konsequent Material, um die
schwarze Stellung durchzubrechen. Die entscheidende Rolle werden nun die
weiЯen Bauern spielen.} bxc6 42. Rxc6 {[%csl Ge4,Ge5,Gf4,Ra4,Rc7,Rg6] Ftacnik
There is enormous difference between the value of white and black pawns on the
board.} Rb8 (42... Nf8 {Ftacnik} 43. Rxc7+ $18) 43. Rxg6 Rxb2 {Oder} (43...
Rb3+ 44. Kd4 Rxb2 45. f5 c5+ 46. Ke3 {und nun geht nicht} Nxe5 47. Re6+ {
mit leichtem Gewinn fьr WeiЯ.}) 44. f5 Rb3+ (44... Nxe5 45. Re6+ $18) 45. Kf4 {
Der weiЯe Monarch hat einen sicheren Plдtzchen gefunden.} Rxa3 {Eine Variante
nach} (45... Nc5 46. e6 Rxa3 (46... Nd3+ 47. Kg5 Ne5 48. Rg7+ Kd6 49. Kf6 Ng4+
50. Rxg4 $1 hxg4 51. e7 Rb8 52. e5+ Kd5 53. e6 Kd6 54. Kf7 c5 55. f6 c4 56.
e8=Q Rxe8 57. Kxe8 c3 58. f7 c2 59. f8=Q+ $18) 47. e5 Nd3+ 48. Ke4 Nf2+ (48...
Nc5+ 49. Kd5 $18) 49. Kd5 Rd3+ 50. Kc6 Rc3+ (50... Ng4 51. Rg7+ Kf8 52. e7+ Ke8
53. f6 Nxe5+ 54. Kxc7 Rc3+ 55. Kb7 Rb3+ 56. Ka6 $18) 51. Kb7 Ne4 52. Rg7+ Kf8
53. e7+ Ke8 54. f6 Rxg3 55. Rh7 Rb3+ 56. Kc8 Nxf6 57. exf6 Re3 58. Rh8+ Kf7 59.
Rf8+ Kg6 60. Kxc7 {wдre fьr WeiЯ klar gewonnen.}) 46. Rg7+ Ke8 47. e6 Nf6 48.
g4 $1 {Ein Sperrzug: Der weiЯe Kцnig kann ungehindert weiter vordringen, da
auf g3 kein Bauer mehr mit Schachgebot geschlagen werden kann.} Ra1 {Das
Schlagen auf g4 verliert in allen Varianten:} (48... Nxg4 49. e5 Ra1 50. f6
Rf1+ 51. Kg5 $18 {bzw.}) (48... hxg4 49. Ke5 Nxe4 (49... Nh5 {Ftacnik} 50. Rh7
$18) 50. Kxe4 Rf3 51. Ke5 c5 52. Rg8+ Ke7 53. f6+ Rxf6 54. Rg7+ $18) 49. e5
Nd5+ {Natьrlich keine Rettung wдre} (49... Nxg4 50. f6 Nxf6 (50... Nh6 51. Kg5
$18) 51. exf6 Rf1+ 52. Kg5 Rg1+ 53. Kh6 {und WeiЯ siegt, bzw.}) (49... Rf1+ 50.
Kg5 Ne4+ (50... Nxg4 51. f6 Nxf6 52. exf6 Rg1+ 53. Kxh5 $18) 51. Kg6 Nc5 52. f6
Nxe6 53. Re7+ Kd8 54. Rxe6 hxg4 55. f7 $18) 50. Ke4 (50. Ke4 {Ftacnik} Nc3+ 51.
Kd3 Nd5 52. gxh5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Von Gleich} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 O-O (5... c5 $1 6.
dxc5 d4 $13) 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Rd1 dxc4 $6 (7... c6 {Von Gleich} 8. e3 a6 {
Orthodoxe Tempo-Kampf-Variante}) 8. e4 Nb6 $6 (8... c5 $5) 9. h4 Nfd7 (9... Qe8
$5) 10. Be2 Re8 11. Be3 c6 12. e5 Nf8 (12... Qc7 {Von Gleich}) 13. Ne4 Bd7 14.
O-O f5 (14... Bxh4 15. Nd6 $16 (15. Nxh4 {Von Gleich} Qxh4 16. Bg5 $18)) (14...
h6 {Von Gleich}) 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Bh6 Ng6 17. Nc5 Qc7 18. Bxc4 $16 Nxc4 19.
Qxc4 Bf8 20. Bxf8 Nxf8 21. Rfe1 Re7 22. Qc3 Rae8 23. Ne4 Rf7 24. d5 $1 e5 25.
dxc6 Qxc6 26. Nd6 $18 Qxc3 27. bxc3 Re6 28. Nxf7 Kxf7 29. Nd2 Ra6 30. Ne4 Bc6 (
30... Rxa2 {Von Gleich} 31. Nd6+ Ke7 32. Nxb7) 31. Rd6 Nd7 32. Red1 Ke7 33.
R6d2 (33. Rxd7+ {Von Gleich} Bxd7 34. Rxd7+ Kxd7 35. Nc5+ Kc6 36. Nxa6 bxa6 37.
Kf1 Kd5 38. Ke2 Kc4 39. Kd2 f5) 33... Ra3 34. f3 Ba4 35. Rc1 Bc6 36. Nd6 Nc5
37. Nc4 Ra4 38. Ne3 Ne6 39. Rcd1 Kf7 40. Nf5 Nc5 41. Rd8 Rxa2 42. h5 Ne6 43.
Rh8 Ng5 44. Rc8 Rxg2+ 45. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ftacnik Ribli} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Qb6
7. Nb3 Ne5 8. e4 Bb4 9. Qe2 d6 10. f4 (10. Bd2 {Ribli} O-O 11. Rc1 a5 12. f4
Nc6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Nd2 b6 $13 {Timman,J-Gulko,B/Riga Tal/1995/CBM47/}) 10...
Nc6 11. Be3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. Bg2 O-O 14. O-O (14. c5 dxc5 15. Bxc5 Rd8
16. e5 Na5 $1 $10 (16... Na5 {Ribli} 17. Bb4 Nxb3 18. axb3 Nd5 19. Qc4 $10 {
Vaganian,R-Kramnik,V/Riga Tal/1995/CBM47/})) 14... b6 {[%csl Yc3,Yc4,Rg8]
Ftacnik The position bears the structure of the Hedhehog, but the B from e7
was exchanged for the Nc3. White s pawn structure is thus rather weak, but
black s K is far more endangered.} (14... e5 15. f5 (15. f5 {Ftacnik} b6 16. g4
Ne8 17. g5 Ba6 18. Rf3 Na5 $6 19. Nxa5 bxa5 20. Rh3 g6 21. Qf2 Qxc4 22. Qh4 h5
{Moutousis,K-Wojtkiewicz,A/Athens/1992/1-0 (23)})) 15. g4 (15. e5 {Ftacnik}
dxe5 16. fxe5 Nd7 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. Bf4 Na5 19. Bxb7 Nxb7 20. Rad1 Na5 21. Qg4
Kh8 22. Qh5 Nxc4 23. Nf3 Qc5+ 24. Kg2 {Heinig,W-Psakhis,L/Berliner Sommer/1991/
0-1 (36)}) (15. Nd4 {Ftacnik} Bb7 (15... Nxd4 16. cxd4 Ba6 17. e5 Bxc4 18. Rfc1
Bxe2 19. Rxc7 {Cvetkovic,S-Lanka,Z/Trnava-B (07)/1989/0.5 (19)}) (15... e5 16.
Nb5 Qe7 17. Rad1 Bg4 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Rfd8 20. f5 Na5 21. Bg5 Nxc4 22.
Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qd3 d5 24. a4 Nb2 {Dienz,O-Remling,C/Wiesbaden op/1992/0-1 (24)})
16. Nb5 Qe7 17. Rad1 Rfd8 18. Qd3 Ne8 19. Rf2 Na5 20. Nxa7 Rxa7 21. Bxb6 Bc6
22. c5 Rdd7 23. Bxa7 dxc5 24. Qb1 {Ostenstad,B-Dvoirys,S/Gausdal Peer Gynt (6)/
1991/0-1 (41)}) (15. c5 {Ftacnik} dxc5 16. g4 Bb7 17. g5 Nd7 18. h4 Ne7 19. c4
Rad8 20. h5 f5 21. gxf6 Nxf6 22. Bc1 Qd7 23. Ba3 Ba6 24. Bh3 {Sunye Neto,J-Van
Riemsdijk,H/Bogota Lat Cup (08)/1992/0-1 (41)}) 15... Bb7 {Ribli Der erste
neue Zug. Schwarz hat eine interessante Idee, er spielt erst nicht gegen den
c4 (wie die Anderen) sondern gegen den e4P.} (15... Ba6 $5 16. g5 Nd7 17. Rf3 {
Ribli} Rfe8 18. Rh3 Ne7 (18... Nf8 $5 $13 {Illescas Cordoba,M-Gelfand,B/Dos
Hermanas/1994/CBM42/INF60,42/}) (18... Nf8 {Ftacnik} 19. Qh5 (19. Rd1 $5 Rad8
20. f5 Ne5 21. Qh5 Qxc4 $13 {Garcia Ilundain,D-Izeta,F/Espana/1993/}) 19...
Bxc4 20. f5 Ne5 21. Bd4 $2 g6 $1 22. Qh6 exf5 23. exf5 gxf5 $1 24. Bxa8 {
Illescas Cordoba,M-Gelfand,B/Dos Hermanas/1994/0.5 (61)}) 19. f5 $40 {Akesson,
R-Hansen,Cu/Reykjavik zt/1995/CBM47/} (19. f5 exf5 20. exf5 Bxc4 21. Qh5 Nf8
22. Nd4 Bd5 23. f6 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 {Akesson,R-Hansen,Cu/Reykjavik zt (01)/1995/
0-1 (77)})) 16. g5 Nd7 17. Rf3 Ne7 (17... f5 18. Rh3 $5 (18. gxf6 Nxf6 19. Rg3
$14)) (17... Rfe8 18. Rh3 Nf8 19. Rf1 $40) 18. Rh3 {Ftacnik Somewhat
artificial but often very efficient way of preparing strong attack.} Rfc8 (
18... Rfe8 {Ribli}) (18... f5 $2 {Ftacnik} 19. Qh5) 19. Qh5 (19. Nd2 f5 $1 20.
gxf6 (20. Qh5 Nf8) 20... Nxf6 $132 21. Bd4 e5) 19... Nf8 20. Nd2 (20. Bd4 $2 e5
) (20. Rf1 Qxc4 21. Bd4 e5 $5 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Bxe5 Neg6 $13) (20. Nd4 $5 $13)
(20. Rd1 {Ftacnik} Qxc4 21. Rxd6 Qxc3 $17) 20... d5 $1 {[%csl Rc4,Rf4,Rg1]
Ribli Schwarz kehrt sich an die Regel: Gegen einen Angriff am Koenigsfluegel
soll man im Zentrum spielen.  Ftacnik Excellent move, that shows the
vulnerability of opponents set up. Pawns are rather exposed and white king can
also come under fire.} 21. cxd5 (21. f5 exf5 22. exd5 f4 $5 $132) 21... exd5
22. f5 (22. Bd4 dxe4 23. Nxe4 Nf5 $13) (22. e5 d4 $5 (22... Nf5) 23. Bxd4 Bxg2
24. Kxg2 Nf5 $44) (22. exd5 {Ribli} Nxd5 $15 (22... g6 {Ftacnik} 23. Qg4 Bxd5
$17) (22... Nxd5 23. Bxd5 (23. g6 Nf6 24. gxf7+ Kh8 25. Qe5 Bxg2 26. Qxc7 Rxc7
27. Kxg2 Rxc3 $17) 23... Bxd5 24. g6 Qxc3 25. gxh7+ Kh8 26. Rf1 Bxa2 $17))
22... Qxc3 $2 (22... dxe4 $1 23. Rf1 {Droht /\ f6 oder Nxe4,Nf6+.} (23. f6 g6
$1 {/\Nf5}) 23... Nd5 $8 24. Nxe4 (24. f6 $6 Nxe3 25. fxg7 Nxf1 26. Qh6 (26.
gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 $17) 26... Qc5+ 27. Kh1 Qf5 28. gxf8=Q+ Rxf8 29. Nxf1
Qg6 $19 (29... e3 $5)) (24. Bd4 $2 Nf4) 24... Nxe3 25. Rxe3 $13) 23. Rf1 $2 (
23. Nb3 $1 dxe4 24. Bd4 Qc2 (24... Qb4 {Ribli} 25. Rf1 $44 {Droht /\ f6.}) 25.
Rf1 $1 $16 {->}) 23... d4 (23... Qb2 {Ftacnik} 24. f6 $1 $40) 24. Bf4 (24. f6
Neg6 25. fxg7 Kxg7 (25... dxe3 $2 26. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 27. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 28. Qxh7+
$18 Kf8 (28... Qg7 29. Rf3+) 29. Rf3+) 26. Bf4 d3 $13) 24... d3 $15 25. Qh4 {
Mit der Idee /\ g6 und den Ne7 haengt.} (25. Kh1 $5 Qd4 26. Be3 Qd7 27. f6 Neg6
28. fxg7 Kxg7) (25. Nf3 $6 Bxe4 26. Ne5 Qd4+ 27. Re3 g6 $17) (25. Be3 $5 {
Ribli Droht /\ f6 wieder.}) (25. f6 {Ftacnik} Neg6 26. fxg7 Qxg7 $17) 25... Re8
(25... Qd4+ $5 26. Be3 Qd7) 26. Qg3 Rad8 27. Rf2 $6 $138 (27. Kh1 $15 Qc6 $5 {
/\} 28. Be5 Nxf5 $5 29. Rxf5 Qc1+ 30. Nf1 (30. Rf1 Qxd2) 30... d2) (27. f6 {
Ftacnik} Neg6 28. fxg7 Ne6 $17) 27... Qa1+ 28. Rf1 (28. Bf1 Nc6 $5 {/\Nd4}) (
28. Nf1 {Ftacnik} Nc6 $17) 28... Qb2 (28... Qxa2) 29. Rf2 Qxa2 $17 {Ribli
Schwarz hat schon zwei P mehr und der weisse Angriff sieht nicht besonders
gefaehrlich aus.} 30. Be5 (30. f6 {Ftacnik} Neg6 $17) 30... Nxf5 $5 {[%cal
Ye8e1,Yb7g2] Ribli Mit diesem ueberraschenden Zug uebernimmt der Nachziehende
die Initiative. In Frage kommt 30...Qa5 -/+ auch.  Ftacnik Ingenious tactics,
that reduces the number of attackers and opens diagonals and files for black
pieces.} (30... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 31. Bd6) (30... Qa5 {Ftacnik} 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32.
Qh4 (32. f6+ Kh8 33. fxe7 Rxe7 $17) 32... Ng8 $17) 31. exf5 (31. Rxf5 {Ribli}
Qxd2 $19) 31... Bxg2 32. Kxg2 $2 (32. g6 fxg6 33. fxg6 Nxg6) (32. Rxg2 $8 Qd5
$17 (32... Rd5 $5) (32... Qa5 {Ftacnik} 33. Bf4 Qxf5 $19) 33. Bc7 (33. Nf3 Rxe5
$1) (33. Bf4 {Ribli} Qxf5 $17 {Schwarz hat 4-Bauern fuer die geopferte Figur,
er steht sehr nahe zum Gewinn.}) 33... Rc8) 32... Qd5+ 33. Nf3 Rxe5 $1 $19 {
Ein eleganter Abschluss der Partie.} 34. Qxe5 Qxe5 35. Nxe5 d2 36. Rxd2 (36.
Rf1 {Ftacnik} d1=Q 37. Rxd1 Rxd1 38. Ra3 a5 39. Rb3 Rd5 40. Nc6 Rd2+ 41. Kg3
Nd7 $19) 36... Rxd2+ 37. Kf3 {Ribli Kramnik hat sehr gut die Ungenauigkeit
seines Gegners ausgenutzt und spielte grosszuegig.} (37. Kf3 {Ftacnik} g6 38.
f6 Ne6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Von Gleich,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Baburin Ftacnik Knaak Konikowski} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5.
Qc2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. Rd1 (8. O-O-O $5 {Konikowski}) 8... g6 {
Es ist fraglich, ob dieser Plan in dieser Stellung der richtige ist. Nach} (
8... c6 9. e4 (9. e3 Nd7 10. Bd3 a6 {ergibt eine gьnstige Variante des
Damengambites fьr Schwarz.}) (9. e3 {ist auch mцglich}) 9... dxe4 10. Qxe4 $13
(10. Nxe4 {Konikowski} Qa5+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Rxd2 Be7 13. a3 Nd7 14. Bd3 Nf6 {
mit etwa gleichen Chancen.})) (8... dxc4 {Ftacnik} 9. e4 c5 10. e5 Be7 11. Bxc4
cxd4 12. Rxd4 Qc7 13. Qe4 Nc6 14. Bd3 g6 15. Rc4 Rd8 16. h4 h5 17. Rg1 Rxd3 $5
18. Qxd3 b5 19. Re4 Nb4 20. Qb1 Bb7 21. Ke2 Rd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1 23. Kxd1 Bxe4 24.
Qxe4 {Drasko,M-Jasnikowski,Z/Polanica Zdroj (12)/1988/0.5 (28)}) (8... c5 {
Ftacnik} 9. dxc5 Qa5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qd2 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. bxc3 Be6 14.
Nd4 Rc8 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bc4 Kf7 18. Rd4 Na6 19. Bxa6 bxa6 20. Kd2
Rab8 21. Rc1 Rxc5 22. Rxe4 Rd5+ 23. Kc2 Rdb5 24. Kd3 {Romanishin,O-Beliavsky,A/
Leningrad/1977/0.5 (39)}) (8... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 9. e3 b6 10. a3 Bb7 11. cxd5 exd5
12. Be2 Re8 13. O-O a6 14. Ne1 Ne7 15. Nd3 Qd6 16. Bf3 g6 17. g3 Rab8 18. b4
Bg7 19. Rfe1 c6 20. Nf4 Qd8 21. a4 b5 22. Nd3 Nf5 23. Nc5 Bc8 24. a5 {
Romanishin,O-Arlandi,E/Reggio Emilia (07)/1994/0.5 (28)}) 9. e3 c6 (9... Nc6 {
Ftacnik} 10. Be2 Bg7) 10. Bd3 dxc4 $6 {Ein merkwьrdiger Zug, wonach WeiЯ
leicht mit e3-e4 das Zentrum besetzen kann. Vorzuziehen ist} (10... a6 {
Mit dem Schlagen geht das Spiel in die sog. Moskauer Variante (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bf6 Qf6 ), jedoch hier mit einem Minustempo fьr
Schwarz, da die ьbliche Aufstellung Qe7,Bg6,Bg7 ein Zug mehr kostet.}) (10...
Nd7 $5 {Konikowski}) 11. Bxc4 Nd7 12. h4 {WeiЯ kann sich diesen Zug leisten -
die Bauern f2 und g2 schьtzen den Kцnig hinreichend.} (12. Ne5 Qe7 13. f4 Nxe5
$6 (13... c5) 14. fxe5 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Qh4+ 16. Qf2 Qxc4 17. Rd4 {mit sehr
starkem Angriff}) 12... Qe7 (12... Bg7 {Knaak} 13. h5 g5) 13. a3 $1 {Kramnik
folgt einer Idee von Nikolic, die dieser obwohl mit Minustempo erfolgreich
gegen xxx anwandte.} Bg7 14. Ba2 {Ftacnik One of the good sides of the modest
a2-a3 move is this tidy square for B.} b6 (14... Rd8 {Knaak} 15. Bb1 Nf8 {
kцnnte WeiЯ mit} (15... Nf6 {Ftacnik}) 16. Qe4 {oder 16.Ne2 das Manцver b6 und
Bb7 erschweren.}) 15. Bb1 {Kramnik mobilisiert seine Krдfte gegen die
gegnerische Kцnigsstellung. Nach} (15. h5 g5 16. Bb1 f5 17. e4 (17. Ba2 {
Konikowski} Bb7 {ist es noch nicht zu sehen, wie WeiЯ weiter das Spiel
fortsetzen soll, um einen Vorteil zu kдmpfen.}) 17... Bb7 18. Ba2 Kh8 $13)
15... h5 $6 {Eine ernsthafte Schwдchung der Kцnigsstellung, die dem weiЯen
Springer erlaubt, einen festen Stьtzpunkt auf g5 zu finden. Schwarz sollte
Nach diesem Zug kann Schwarz seinen f-Bauern praktisch nicht mehr ziehen, da
g6 zu schwach wьrde.} (15... Rd8 16. h5 g5 (16... g5 {Konikowski} 17. Qh7+ (17.
Ne4 Bb7 18. Nexg5 hxg5 19. h6 Bf6 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Rh5 (21. Nxg5 {Ftacnik} c5
22. Be4 Bd5 $13) 21... c5 22. Rxg5 Ke8 23. Rg8+ Nf8 24. Qc2 (24. Bc2 a6 25. Qd3
) 24... Rac8 25. Qe2) (17. O-O Bb7 $14) 17... Kf8 18. Ne4 f5 (18... Bb7 {Knaak}
19. Nfxg5 f5 $1 (19... hxg5 20. h6 Bf6 21. Rh5 {/\ 22.R:g5}) 20. Qg6 (20. Nxe6+
Qxe6 21. Ng3 Nf6 22. Qg6 f4 23. Nf5 Qf7 24. Nxh6 Qxg6 25. hxg6 fxe3 26. fxe3
$44) 20... hxg5 21. Nxg5 Nf6 22. h6 $1 (22. Ba2 Rd6 23. h6 (23. e4 fxe4 24. Rh4
Qe8 25. Nh7+ Nxh7 26. Qxh7 Qf7 27. g3) 23... Bh8) 22... Bh8 23. h7 Bc8 (23...
Rd6 24. e4 $1) 24. Rc1 Rd6 25. g4 $40) (18... Nf6 $6 19. Nxf6 Qxf6 20. Ne5 {
nebst 21.Ng4}) 19. Ng3 Bb7 20. Ba2 Nf6 21. Qg6 c5 {und Schwarz bekommt ein
Gegenspiel.})) (15... Nf6 {Ftacnik} 16. h5 g5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 f5 19. Qxc6
Bb7 20. Qa4 $14) 16. O-O {[%cal Yb1h7] Ftacnik The castling nests are not
equal for both kings. Black is potentially under great fire along the b1-h7
diagonal, while white has no such problem.} Bb7 17. Ng5 Rfd8 {Danach wird
Schwarz langsam an die Wand gedrьckt. Stattdessen sollte er energisch im
Zentrum vorgehen und seinen Bb7 aktivieren. Man sehe:} (17... c5 18. d5 (18.
dxc5 Nxc5 19. b4 Nd7 20. Nce4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Nf6 22. Qf3 Rad8 23. Ba2 Nh7 24.
Nxh7 Kxh7 25. g3 Kg8 $10) 18... exd5 (18... Bxc3 $2 19. dxe6 $1) 19. Nxd5 Bxd5
20. Rxd5 Nf6 21. Rd2 Nh7 22. Nf3 Rfd8 (22... Rad8 {Konikowski} 23. Rfd1 Bf6 24.
Qc4 Kg7 {mit guten Ьberlebenschancen fьr Schwarz.}) 23. Rfd1 Nf8 24. Ba2 $14
Ne6 $2 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Bxe6 fxe6 28. Qxg6 $18) (17... Nf6 18.
e4 Rad8 19. e5 Ng4 20. Ba2 $1 {/\ Be6}) (17... Bf6 {Ftacnik} 18. Nce4) 18. Ba2
Nf6 {Zu versuchen wдre, den N lieber auf f8 zu postieren.} (18... Nf8 19. b4 (
19. Nce4 $14 {Ftacnik}) 19... Rac8 20. Nce4 f5 21. Ng3 c5 22. dxc5 bxc5 23.
bxc5 Rxc5 24. Qa4 $14) (18... Rac8 19. e4 Bh6 20. f4 $14) 19. e4 Ng4 {Der Gaul
g5 sollte durch Hier steht der Springer sinnlos rum. Mit} (19... Nh7 {Knaak}
20. Nf3 {verbliebe Schwarz mit einer vцllig passiven, aber nicht
hoffnungslosen Stellung.}) 20. e5 {Jetzt liegt ein Opfer auf e6 in der Luft. 
Opens the diagonal b1-h7 for the attacking purposes.} Rd7 $2 {In der
kritischen Stellung verkennt Short die drohende Gefahr. Er muЯte sich auf die
halsbrecherischen Komplikationen nach 20...c5 einlassen. Die einzige Chance
war, mit} (20... c5 21. d5 (21. dxc5 Nxe5 $13) (21. Bxe6 $1 {Knaak} fxe6 22.
Qxg6 cxd4 (22... Qe8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Ne2 $18) 23. Ne2 $1 Nxe5 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25.
Nf4 Bd5 26. Rfe1 $1 {/\ Re5+-}) 21... exd5 22. Nxd5 (22. e6 $6 f6 23. Nf7 (23.
Nxd5 Bxd5 24. Bxd5 fxg5 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Qxg6 gxh4 27. Rd7 (27. Qxh5 Qxe6)
27... Ne5) 23... f5 24. g3 d4 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Rfe1 Ne5) 22... Qxe5 23. f4
Qxb2 (23... Qd4+ 24. Rxd4 Bxd4+ 25. Kh1 (25. Ne3 Bxe3+ 26. Kh1 Bd5 27. Bxd5
Rxd5 28. f5 $2 Bxg5 29. hxg5 (29. fxg6 Bf6 30. gxf7+ $17 Kxf7 $15) 29... gxf5
30. Rxf5 $2 Rxf5 31. Qxf5 Rd8 $19) 25... Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. f5 (27. Qb3 {
Konikowski} Ne3 28. Rf3 c4 29. Qb4 Re8 $13) 27... gxf5 (27... Ne3 28. Qe4 Rad8
29. fxg6 Nxf1 (29... fxg6 30. Qxg6+ Bg7 31. Qh7#) 30. gxf7+ Kf8 31. Ne6+ Kxf7
32. Nxd8+ Rxd8 33. Qf5+ Bf6 34. Qxh5+ Kg7 35. Qg4+ Kf8 36. Qf3 Kg7 37. Qxf1
Bxb2 38. Qa6 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Be5+ 40. g3 Rd7 {und der cP gibt dem Schwarzen gute
Konterchancen.}) 28. Rxf5 Ne3 29. Qe4 Rxf5 30. Qxa8+ Kg7 31. Nf3 Bxb2 32. Qxa7
$13) 24. Ne7+ (24. Qxg6 $5 Qxg2+ $3 (24... fxg6 25. Ne7+ Kf8 (25... Kh8 26.
Nxg6#) 26. Nxg6+ Ke8 27. Bf7#) 25. Kxg2 fxg6 $17) 24... Kf8 (24... Kh8 $4 25.
Nxf7+ Kh7 26. Qxg6#) 25. Nxg6+ fxg6 (25... Kg8 26. Bxf7#) 26. Nh7+ Ke7 27.
Rfe1+ Ne5 28. Qxb2 Rxd1 29. Qf2 $18 (29. Qf2 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1 $18)) (20... Nh6
21. Nce4 {wдre hingegen zu schlapp} (21. Bxe6 $1 fxe6 22. Qxg6 c5 (22... Nf7 {
Knaak} 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Nce4 Nxg5 25. Nxg5 {droht 26.Rd3}) 23. dxc5 Qe8 (23...
bxc5 24. Nxe6 Rxd1 (24... Rd4 25. Nxd4 cxd4 26. Rxd4 Qxe5 27. Rd7 Rb8 28. Rfd1
$16) 25. Rxd1 Rb8 26. Rd6 $16) 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Rd6 Rxd6 26. cxd6 Nf5 27. Nb5
$16) 21... Nf5 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 (22... Nxd4 $1) 23. Ng5+ Ke8 24. Bxe6 Nxh4 25. f4
Bh6 26. Bf7+ Kf8 27. Bxg6 Bxg5 28. fxg5+ Kg8 29. Qc4+ Kh8 (29... Rd5 30. Bf7+)
30. Rf7 Nxg6 31. Rxe7 Nxe7 32. Qf7) 21. Ne2 {/\ Nf4-e6 (g6) Baburin The Black
position has been compromised by driving away the Nf6 and now White brings
another piece to the Kside for the attack.} (21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Qxg6 Qe8) (21.
Nce4 {Ftacnik} Rad8 22. Nd6 Rxd6 $1 23. exd6 Rxd6 $44) 21... Rad8 {Konsequent
ins Verderben, eine Rettung war indes nicht mehr mцglich} (21... c5 22. Bxe6
fxe6 23. Qxg6 Bd5 24. Qh7+ (24. Nf4 $18 {Ftacnik}) 24... Kf8 25. Nf4 $18) (
21... Qe8 {Knaak} 22. Nf4 Re7 23. Ne4) 22. Bxe6 $1 {Kramnik opfert den Lдufer
und erkдmpft sich die entscheidende Ьberlegenheit.} fxe6 23. Qxg6 $18 {[%cal
Rg6h7,Re2f4] Ftacnik Black faces very serious threat of Nf4, his material
compensation is of no importance.} Nxe5 (23... Nf6 {Ftacnik} 24. exf6 Qxf6 25.
Qh7+ Kf8 26. Nf4 $1 $18) 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Nf4 (25. Nf4 {Ftacnik} Ke8 26. dxe5
Rxd1 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Nfxe6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Nc6 9. Qxc4 Qd5 10. Nbd2 Rd8 11. e3 Qh5 12. e4 Bd7 13. b3 b5 14. Qc3 Be8 15.
axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Bb2 Ra2 18. Qc1 Qh6 19. h3 g6 20. Re1 Qf8 21. Qb1
Nb4 22. Ne5 Nd7 23. Bc3 Ra6 24. Nxd7 Bxd7 25. Nf3 Qa8 26. Ne5 Bc6 27. Qd1 Na2
28. Bb2 b4 29. d5 Be8 30. Ng4 Nc3 31. Qf3 h5 32. Nf6+ Bxf6 33. Qxf6 exd5 34.
Qd4 Ra2 35. Qxb4 Nb5 36. Bf6 Qa7 37. Re3 d4 38. Qe7 Nd6 39. Rd3 Qa6 40. Rd1 Qe2
41. Rf1 d3 42. Bd4 d2 43. Qe5 Kf8 44. Be3 Kg8 45. Bh6 Qxf2+ 46. Rxf2 d1=Q+ 47.
Rf1 Rxg2+ 48. Kxg2 Qe2+ 49. Kg1 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Miles, Anthony John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "Vaisser,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5
Nb6 $5 (8... Bb4 $5 9. Qc2 Nb6) 9. Ng5 $6 h6 10. Qh5 (10. Nge4) 10... hxg5 $2 (
10... g6 $1 11. Qh3 (11. Qh4 $2 Be7 12. f4 (12. Nce4 Bb7 13. Qh3 Qxd4 $19)
12... Qxd4 $19) 11... Qxd4 12. Nf3 Qd8 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Rd1 N8d7 15. Ne4 Bxg5 (
15... Nd5 16. Bxc4 Bxg5 (16... Nxe5 $2 17. Nxe5 Bxg5 18. Nc6 Qd7 19. Nxg5) 17.
Nfxg5 (17. Nexg5 $2 Nf4) 17... Qe7 $1 $16 (17... Nxe5 $2 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Qc3)
(17... Nf4 $2 18. Qf3 hxg5 19. Nf6+ Kf8 20. Qxa8)) 16. Nfxg5 axb5 17. Nh7 $1
Rxh7 18. Nf6+ Nxf6 19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. exf6 Nd5 $17) 11. Qxh8 Qxd4 12. Be2 Qxe5
13. O-O $44 axb5 14. Rxa8 Nxa8 15. f4 $1 gxf4 16. Bxf4 Qc5+ 17. Kh1 Nd7 18. Ne4
Qd4 19. Ng5 Nf6 20. Bf3 $1 Nb6 21. Bxc7 Qc5 22. Bxb6 Qxg5 (22... Qxb6 23. Bh5
$1 $40 Nxh5 $140 24. Rxf7 Qd6 25. Qxh5 Kd8 26. Ra7 $18) 23. Bd4 $1 (23. h4 $2
Qh6) 23... b4 $8 24. h4 $2 (24. Bc6+ Nd7 (24... Bd7 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Bxd7+ $18
) (24... Ke7 25. h4 Qa5 26. Bxf6+ (26. Rxf6 $2 e5 $1) 26... gxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kd6
28. Be4 $18) 25. Qg8 Qe7 26. Bxg7 $18) 24... Qb5 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Qxf6 Be7 27.
Qh8+ Kd7 28. Ra1 $6 (28. Qg7 $5) 28... Qc5 29. h5 Qf2 $2 (29... c3 $5 30. bxc3
bxc3 31. Rc1 f6 32. Qh7 Qc4 33. Qe4 $140 Qxe4 34. Bxe4 f5 35. Bd3 Bf6 36. Ra1
Bb7 $16) 30. Rd1+ Bd6 31. Qe5 Qf1+ $1 32. Rxf1 (32. Kh2 $4 Qxd1 $1) 32... Bxe5
$14 33. Be2 Ke7 34. Bxc4 Bxb2 (34... f5 35. Ra1 Kf6 36. h6 Kg6 37. h7 Kxh7 38.
Ra8 $18) 35. h6 Bb7 36. Bd3 $1 f5 (36... Bd5 37. h7 Kf8 38. Rc1 $1) (36... Kf8
37. Bg6 f5 38. Rd1 $18) 37. Rb1 Bc3 38. h7 Kf7 39. Rxb4 Bd5 40. Rb8 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 11th Group1"]
[Site "Clichy"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hjartarson, Johann"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Reykjavikur Taflfelag"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISL"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+
8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Ke7 14. Rc1
Rac8 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5 17. Na5 c5 18. O-O Rhd8 19. Rc2 Rc7 20. Rfc1
Rdc8 21. e4 Nf6 22. f4 Bd3 23. e5 Nd5 24. Rb2 c4 25. bxc4 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 Rxc4
27. Nxc4 Rxc4 28. Rb7+ Ke8 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rxa7 d4 31. Kf1 d3 32. Ke1 Rc2 33.
a4 Rxh2 34. a5 h5 35. a6 Ra2 36. f5 Kf8 37. Kd1 g5 38. f6 Kg8 39. Ra8+ Kh7 40.
e6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 11th Group1"]
[Site "Clichy"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Renet, Olivier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Clichy Echecs 92"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Qc2 O-O 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 Nbd7 8.
e3 Re8 9. Bd3 Nf8 10. h3 Be6 11. O-O c6 12. Ne5 N6d7 13. Bxe7 Rxe7 14. f4 f6
15. Nf3 Nb6 16. Rae1 Nc8 17. g4 Nd6 18. Qg2 Kh8 19. f5 Bf7 20. Kh1 Qc7 21. Rg1
g5 22. h4 h6 23. Qh2 Ne8 24. Rg3 Nh7 25. Kg2 Bg8 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Qh6 Qb6 28.
Re2 Rd8 29. Rh3 Rg7 30. e4 dxe4 31. Nxe4 Rxd4 32. Nxd4 Qxd4 33. Kf1 Bf7 34.
Rhe3 Nc7 35. Nf2 Nd5 36. Re4 Qc5 37. Bc4 Ne3+ 38. R2xe3 Bxc4+ 39. Kg1 Bg8 40.
b3 a5 41. Re8 Rd7 42. Rh3 1-0

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O (6. d3 $5 O-O 7. e4
d5 8. e5 Nfd7 9. cxd5 Bxd5 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. d4 f6 13. Qc2 $5 fxe5
14. Ng5 Nf6 15. Nxe6 Bxe6 16. Bxc6 exd4 17. cxd4 (17. Rd1 {Ribli,Z-Rozentalis,
E/BL9293/INF57,12/} Bd5 $1 18. Rxd4 Bxc6 19. Rxd8 Raxd8 $44) 17... Rb8 18. Ba3
Rf7 19. d5 Bd7 20. Rad1 Ne8 21. Rfe1 $14 {Yermolinsky,A-Johansen,D/Moscow olm/
1994/EXP44/}) 6... O-O 7. d3 {Weiss waehlt eine seltene Fortsetzung.} (7. Qc2
$5) 7... d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bf4 Re8 $6 (9... Bd6 10. Qd2 Bxf4 $6 (10... c5 $5
$10 {Mecking}) 11. Qxf4 Nbd7 12. e4 Nc5 13. e5 Ne6 14. Qa4 Ne8 15. d4 $16 {
Pfleger,H-Mecking,H/Hastings/1971/INF13,36/}) (9... a6 $5) 10. Nb5 $1 {
Normalerweise steht der weisse d-Bauer in der Damenindische Verteidigung auf
d4 und dann ist dieser Zug ist nicht gefaerhlich. Kramnik zeigt, was der
Unterschied in der Bauernstellung bedeutet.} Na6 11. Rc1 c6 12. Nbd4 {Das Feld
d4 ist frei fьr den N.} Bc5 13. a3 $1 {Jetzt stehen alle schwarzen Figuren am
Damenfluegel harmlos.} Nh5 (13... Nc7 14. b4 Bxd4 15. Nxd4 $16) 14. Bd2 Qd7 15.
e3 Nf6 16. Bc3 Nc7 17. b4 Bd6 18. Qc2 Rac8 (18... Ne6 19. Nf5 $36) 19. Qb2 Re7
20. Nh4 $1 {Schwarz befindet sich in grosser Not.} c5 21. Ndf5 Re6 22. Nxd6
Rxd6 23. bxc5 Rc6 24. Nf3 $1 Rxc5 25. Bxf6 gxf6 $2 (25... Rxc1 26. Rxc1 gxf6
27. Qxf6 $18) 26. Rxc5 {Der junge russische Weltklasse Spieler zeigte wie
"einfach" man Schach spielt.} 1-0

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bf4 (5. Bg5 Be7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bxe7
Ngxe7 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc8 10. O-O a6 11. b4 Bg4 12. Qb3 N6e7 13. a4 c6 14. b5
axb5 15. axb5 Nd6 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Ne5 Bxe2 18. Nxe2 Qc7 19. Nf4 Ne4 {
Vaganian,R-Short,N/Novgorod (09) ;CBM 48 1995/1/2-1/2 (54)}) 5... Nf6 6. e3 Be7
7. cxd5 (7. Be2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nb4 9. O-O O-O 10. Rc1 c6 11. Bg5 Nbd5 12. Qb3 Ne4
$10 {1-0 Huebner,R-Vaganian,R/GER-CupT sf Muenster ;CBM 46 1995 (62)} (12...
Qb6 $10 {Huebner,R})) 7... Nxd5 8. Bg3 O-O 9. Be2 Bb4 10. Qc1 Bd6 11. O-O Bxg3
12. hxg3 Qd6 13. Nd2 Bg6 14. Bf3 Nce7 15. Rd1 c6 16. Nc4 Qc7 17. e4 Nb6 18. Ne5
Rac8 19. Qe3 Rfd8 20. Rac1 Qb8 21. Be2 Nd7 22. f4 b5 23. b4 a5 24. a3 axb4 25.
axb4 f6 26. Nxg6 hxg6 27. d5 exd5 28. exd5 Nf5 29. Qf2 c5 30. Nxb5 Nd6 31. bxc5
Nxb5 32. c6 Nd6 33. cxd7 Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Rxd7 35. Bd3 Kf7 36. Rc6 Qb3 37. Qf3 Qb7
38. Qe3 Re7 39. Qb6 Qxb6+ 40. Rxb6 Rd7 41. Kf2 Nc8 42. Rb8 Nd6 43. Rb6 Nc8 44.
Rc6 Ne7 45. Bc4 Kf8 46. Rc5 Rd8 47. Ra5 Nf5 48. Bd3 Ne7 49. Be4 Kf7 50. Ke3 Rd7
51. Rc5 Nf5+ 52. Kf2 Ra7 53. g4 Nd6 54. Bc2 f5 55. Rc6 Ke7 56. gxf5 gxf5 57.
Ke3 Ra3+ 58. Bd3 Kd7 59. Kd4 Ra1 60. Bc2 Rf1 61. Ra6 Rf2 62. Ra7+ Ke8 63. Ba4+
Kf8 64. g3 Rf3 65. Rd7 Nf7 66. Rc7 Rxg3 (66... g5 67. Bd1 Rxg3 68. Bh5 Nd6 69.
Ke5 $18) 67. Rc8+ (67. Rc8+ Ke7 68. Re8+ Kd6 69. Re6+ Kc7 70. Re7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 (5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. O-O
e5) 5... e6 (5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10.
Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Ke7 14. Rc1 Rac8 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3
Nd5 17. Na5 $14 {Kramnik,V-Hjartarson,J/EU Cup Paris/1995/}) 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7.
Bg2 cxd4 (7... Be7 8. O-O O-O) 8. Nxd4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 (10. cxd4 $2
Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Qxd4 12. Qa4+ $2 Bd7 13. Qxb4 Qxa1+) 10... Qxd4 11. cxd4 Bd6 $6 (
11... Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Kd8 14. Rhc1 (14. a4 Re8 15. a5 Rb8 16. Rhb1
Re7 17. Rb2 b5 18. axb6 axb6 19. Rab1 Rd7 20. Rb4 Rd6 21. e4 b5 22. Bf1 Bd7 23.
Ra1 e5 24. d5 g5 25. Ke3 g4 26. Be2 Rh6 27. Rab1 Ke7 {1/2-1/2 Chernin,A-Farago,
I/HUN-ch (01) ;CBM 34 1992}) 14... Re8 15. Rc5 Rb8 $14) 12. O-O (12. Rb1 Rb8
13. Bf4 Ke7 14. Bxd6+ Kxd6 15. Rb3 b6 16. Ra3 Bb7 17. e4 a6 18. Kd2 Ke7 19. Rb1
b5 20. Rd3 Ba8 21. Ra3 {1/2-1/2 Groszpeter,A-Karolyi,T/HUN-ch ;EXT 86ch 1986})
(12. Bf4 Ke7 (12... Bxf4 13. gxf4 Ke7 14. e3 Rb8 15. Kd2 b6 16. Rac1 Rd8 17.
Rc7+ Rd7 18. Rhc1 Bb7 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Kd3 Kd7 22. h4 {Loeffler,
S-Van der Sterren,P/NLD-chT (04) ;EXT 93ch 1993/1/2-1/2 (36)}) 13. Bxd6+ Kxd6
14. Kd2 Rb8 15. Rab1 b6 16. Rhc1 Bd7 17. e4 Rhc8 18. e5+ Ke7 19. Ke3 Rxc1 20.
Rxc1 Rc8 21. Rxc8 Bxc8 {Dokhoian,Y-Nasibullin,V/Pavlodar ;EXT 87 1987/1/2-1/2 
(46)}) 12... Rb8 13. e4 $1 (13. Bd2 Bd7 14. Rfc1 O-O 15. Bf4 Bxf4 16. gxf4 Rfc8
17. Rxc8+ Bxc8 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. Rc7 Bb5 20. e3 Ba6 21. d5 Kf8 22. dxe6 fxe6 {
Schmidt,Wl-Ernst,T/Poznan ;TD 87\06 1987/1-0 (45)}) 13... O-O (13... b6 14. Bb2
$1 (14. Be3 Bb7 15. a4 Kd7 16. a5 bxa5 17. Rxa5 a6 18. Ra4 Ra8 19. d5 exd5 20.
exd5 Rhb8 21. Re1 Bc8 22. Bd2 g6 23. Ba5 h5 {Cebalo,M-Pachman,L/Palma de
Mallorca GMA (07) ;TD 89\13 1989/1/2-1/2 (38)}) 14... Bb7 15. Rac1 Kd7 16. d5
$1) 14. e5 $1 Be7 (14... Bc7 15. Ba3 Rd8 16. Rac1 Rd7 17. Rxc7 Rxc7 18. Bd6 $18
) 15. Be3 Bd7 (15... b6 16. Rfc1 Bd8 17. Bd2 {/\Bb4-d6}) 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 18. Rc1 Kf8 19. Bh3 $5 (19. d5 exd5 20. Bxd5 (20. Bxa7 Ra8 21. Bxd5
Be6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Bc5 $14) 20... Be6 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Rc7 $1 b5 23. Rxa7
b4 $14) 19... Ke8 20. d5 Bd7 21. d6 Bd8 22. Bg2 (22. Bxa7 $2 Ra8 23. Be3 Rxa2
$132) 22... b6 23. f4 Rc8 24. Kf2 (24. Rxc8 Bxc8 25. Kf2) 24... Rxc1 25. Bxc1
Bb5 26. Be4 h6 (26... g6 {xf7} 27. h4 h5) 27. Be3 Kd7 28. Ke1 Bc6 29. Bd3 (29.
Bxc6+ $2 Kxc6) 29... Bd5 30. a3 f6 31. Kd2 fxe5 32. fxe5 Kc6 (32... Bg5 33.
Bxg5 (33. Bf4 $5 Kc6 34. h4) 33... hxg5 $16) 33. Kc3 Bf3 34. Bc4 Bd5 35. Ba6
Bf3 36. Kd4 Bd5 (36... b5 $2 37. Kd3 Bb6 38. Bxb6 Kxb6 39. Bxb5 $1 $18) 37. a4
Bb3 (37... Kd7 38. Bb5+ Kc8 (38... Bc6 $2 39. Kc4 $1 $18)) 38. Bb5+ Kb7 39. Bd7
$1 Bd5 40. Kc3 Ba2 41. Kb4 Bd5 (41... g5 $5) 42. h4 $1 Ba2 43. Bd2 $1 (43. Bc1
Bd5 44. Ba3 Ba2 45. Kc3 Bd5 46. Be8 $2 Bc6) 43... Bd5 44. Bc1 Ba2 45. Kc3 Bd5
46. Ba3 Ba2 (46... a6 47. Bb4) 47. Be8 $1 Bd5 48. d7 Bc6 49. Bf8 Bxa4 50. Bxg7
Kc7 51. Bxh6 Bxd7 52. Bf7 Kc6 (52... Be7 53. h5 Kd8 54. Bg7 Be8 55. h6 $1 $18)
53. h5 (53. Bg5 Bc7 54. Kd4 $18) 53... Kd5 54. Bg7 Bg5 55. g4 Ke4 56. h6 Bxh6
57. Bxh6 Kxe5 58. g5 Kf5 59. g6 Kf6 60. Bg5+ Kg7 61. Kd4 Ba4 (61... b5 62. Ke5
a5 63. Bf6+ Kf8 64. Bxe6 Bxe6 65. Kxe6 b4 66. Kd5 $18) 62. Ke5 Bc2 63. Bf6+ Kf8
64. Kf4 1-0

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik Stohl} Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Ne4 6. Nxe4 Bxe4
7. e3 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4,Ge3] White has more influence in the center and this
promises him a slight, but lasting initiative.} (7. Bf4 {Stohl} c5 8. d5 exd5
9. cxd5 Be7 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nd2 Bg6 12. e3 d6 13. Be2 $14 {Vaganian,R-Browne,W/
Buenos Aires/1978/}) (7. Nd2 {Stohl} Bb7 8. e4 Qf6 9. d5 Bc5 (9... a5 $142 $5
$14) 10. Nf3 exd5 (10... Qg6 11. b4 Qxe4+ 12. Be2 Be7 13. O-O $44) 11. cxd5 Qg6
12. Bd3 Qxg2 13. Rf1 c6 14. Qe2 Be7 15. Rg1 Qh3 16. d6 Bxd6 17. Rxg7 h6 18. Bc4
c5 19. Bd2 Nc6 20. Bxf7+ Kf8 21. Bc3 Nd4 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23. Bxd4 h5 24. Bg6 Rh6
25. Rf7+ Kg8 26. Rf3 {1-0/Sonsky-Dvorak/CS-ch corr./1988/}) 7... Be7 (7... c5
8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 (10. Nxd4 {Ftacnik} Nc6 11. O-O Be7 12. Nf3
O-O 13. e4 Bf6 14. Ra2 Qc7 15. b3 Rfd8 16. Rd1 Rac8 17. Be3 {Browne,W-Kavalek,
L/Manila izt (06)/1976/1-0 (56)}) 10... Nc6 11. Qd3 Be7 12. e4 $14 (12. e4 Qc7
13. O-O O-O 14. b3 a6 15. Rd1 Ra7 16. g3 $16 {Gheorghiu,F-Andersson,U/London/
1980/})) (7... g6 $5 8. Bd3 (8. h4 Bg7 9. Ng5 Bb7 10. Qg4 Nc6 11. Bd3 Qe7 12.
Bd2 O-O-O 13. b4 f5 14. Qd1 e5 15. d5 e4 16. dxc6 dxc6 17. Be2 h6 {Mateus,
M-Soppe,G/Novi Sad olm (01)/1990/0-1 (30)}) 8... Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bg7 10. O-O O-O
11. e4 d6 12. Bg5 (12. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Nd7 13. Rad1 Qe7 14. Rfe1 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5
16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 {0.5/Dreev,A-Nenashev,A/Frunze/1988/}) 12... Qd7 {
/\Nc6}) (7... f5 {Ftacnik} 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. d5 O-O 11. e4 c5 12. Qc2
exd5 13. exd5 g6 14. Bh6 Rf7 15. Rae1 d6 16. h4 Nd7 17. h5 {Dankert,
P-Kreutzkamp,R/Hamburg-ch/1989/1-0 (60)}) (7... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 8. Nd2 (8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Ne7 10. O-O $16) 8... Bg6 9. Be2 Ne7 10. O-O Nc8 11. b4 (11. e4 $5
Be7 12. f4 $16) 11... Be7 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. b5 O-O 14. Qb3 Bd6 15. Bb2 Qg5 16. g3
h5 17. Bg2 Qh6 18. f4 h4 19. e4 Bh5 20. Rf2 Be7 21. e5 f5 22. a4 Rf7 $6 (22...
g5 $5) 23. Nf1 g5 {Eingorn,V-Gurgenidze,B/URS-FL Kharkov/1985/1-0 (41)}) 8. Bd3
(8. Bd2 {Ftacnik} a5 9. Bc3 O-O 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. O-O
Qd6 14. Rfd1 Nd7 15. Rac1 Qe6 16. h3 h6 17. b4 axb4 18. axb4 Ra3 19. Qc2 Rfa8
20. b5 Bd6 21. Bb2 R3a5 22. Qb3 Nf6 23. Ne5 Qe8 24. Rc6 Ra4 25. Nd3 Qe4 {
0.5/Gofshtein,L-Gruenfeld,Y/Tel Aviv (04)/1991/}) 8... d5 $6 (8... Bxd3 9. Qxd3
d5 10. O-O (10. Bd2 $1 {Stohl} O-O 11. O-O c6 12. Rac1 Bd6 13. e4 Re8 14. cxd5
cxd5 15. exd5 exd5 16. Ng5 g6 17. Qh3 h5 18. Qf3 Qd7 19. Bf4 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Na6
$14 {Andersson,U-Petursson,M/Reykjavik/1988/}) 10... O-O 11. e4 dxe4 12. Qxe4
Nd7 13. Qc6 Nf6 14. Bf4 Qd7 15. Qxd7 Nxd7 16. Rad1 c6 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. d5 cxd5
19. cxd5 exd5 20. Rxd5 Nf8 21. Kf1 $14 {Timman,J-Andersson,U/Wijk aan Zee 1981}
) (8... f5 {Stohl} 9. Bxe4 fxe4 10. Nd2 d5 11. Qh5+ g6 12. Qg4 {[%cal Rf2f3] /
\f3->} (12. Qe5 $6 Kf7 {[%cal Re7d6] /\Bd6})) 9. Bxe4 dxe4 10. Nd2 f5 11. f3 $1
{Black should be happy, his dark square bishop is nicely cooperating with the
pawn structure. But the relief has come at a cost, e6 pawn is weak and white
is trying to win a8-h1 diagonal for himself.} (11. Qa4+ Qd7 12. Qxd7+ Nxd7 $10)
(11. O-O O-O 12. f3 c5 $1 $132) 11... Bd6 (11... exf3 12. Qxf3 c6 (12... Nd7
13. Qc6 $1 Bd6 14. b4 {[%cal Rc4c5] /\c5} Kf7 $16 {[]}) 13. O-O {[%cal Yc1b2,
Ye1c1,Ye3e4] /\Bb2,0-0-0,e4} (13. b3 $36 {[%cal Yc1b2,Ye1c1,Ye3e4] /\Bb2,0-0-0,
e4}) (13. b4 $5 $36 {[%cal Ye1g1,Yc4c5,Yd2c4] /\0-0,c5,Nc4()<<}) 13... O-O 14.
b3 $14) (11... c5 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. fxe4 cxd4 14. exf5 dxe3 15. Nf3 exf5 16.
Bxe3 Qd3 17. Kf2 $16) 12. Qa4+ (12. fxe4 $2 {Stohl} Qh4+ 13. Ke2 fxe4 $40)
12... c6 (12... Nd7 13. O-O (13. fxe4 $1 {Stohl} Qh4+ 14. g3 $1 (14. Kd1 Qg4+
15. Kc2 Qxg2 $15) 14... Bxg3+ 15. Kd1 fxe4 16. Qc6 Ke7 17. Nxe4 Bd6 18. Bd2 $40
{[%csl Re7] עe7}) 13... Qh4 (13... O-O $2 14. fxe4 fxe4 15. Rxf8+ Nxf8 16. Qc6
$16) (13... exf3 14. Nxf3 O-O $13) 14. f4 g5 (14... Qe7 15. Qc6 O-O 16. b4 $16)
15. Qc6 Ke7 (15... O-O-O $2 16. c5 bxc5 17. Qa6+ Kb8 18. Nc4 $18) 16. Nb3 $36 {
/\c5}) (12... Qd7 {Ftacnik} 13. Qxd7+ Nxd7 14. fxe4 $16) 13. O-O Qh4 (13...
exf3 14. Nxf3 O-O 15. Bd2 $14 {/\Rae1,e4} (15. b4 $16 {Stohl})) 14. f4 (14. g3
{Ftacnik} Bxg3 $10) 14... O-O 15. c5 $1 {Sacrifice of a pawn for a very good
cause. White becomes development advanatage, his Bc1 gets into the play and a7,
c6, e6 pawn offer ample scope for attack.} bxc5 (15... Bc7 16. cxb6 Bxb6 17.
Nc4 $16) 16. Nc4 Qe7 (16... Bc7 17. dxc5 Qe7 18. b4 $16) 17. dxc5 (17. Nb6 $6 {
Stohl} axb6 18. Qxa8 cxd4 19. exd4 Qc7 20. Qa4 Nd7 $15) 17... Bxc5 18. b4 Bd6
19. Bb2 $1 $16 {[%csl Rb8] פb8} (19. Nb6 axb6 20. Qxa8 e5 (20... c5 $5 $44 {
Stohl}) (20... b5 21. Bd2 Qc7 22. a4 $14) (20... Qc7 21. Qa4 Nd7 22. Qb3 Re8
23. a4 Nf6 24. Bd2 $14) 21. Bb2 exf4 22. exf4 Qc7 $44) 19... Bc7 (19... a6 20.
Rfd1 Bc7 21. Bd4 $16) (19... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Rfd1 $16) 20. Rfd1
(20. Bd4 $5 {Stohl}) 20... c5 (20... Rd8 {Stohl} 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Rd1 $40)
21. bxc5 (21. Qb5 $5 Bb6 22. Nxb6 axb6 23. Qxb6 $16) 21... Qxc5 22. Rac1 Qe7 (
22... Qc6 $6 {Stohl} 23. Qxc6 (23. Qb3 $5) 23... Nxc6 24. Nd2 Rab8 $1 (24...
Bb6 25. Rxc6 Bxe3+ 26. Kf1 Bxf4 27. g3 Bxd2 28. Rxd2 $18) 25. Rxc6 Rxb2 26. Nc4
$1 (26. Rxc7 $2 Rd8 $10) 26... Rb7 27. Rd7 Rb1+ 28. Kf2 $16) 23. Qb5 {The game
provides a crystal clear example of a strategy, that is very efficient:
consequent play at limiting opponents possibilities. It is much more difficult
than trying to "come first" (towards king or with pawn to the 8th rank etc).
Karpov can claim to have mastered the art of "limiting" play in many brilliant
games.} Bb6 (23... a6 {Ftacnik} 24. Qb7 $18) 24. a4 $5 (24. Nxb6 axb6 (24...
Qb7 $2 {Stohl} 25. Qe5) 25. Qxb6 $16 (25. Qxb6 {Ftacnik} Na6 $16)) 24... Bc5 (
24... Rd8 {Stohl} 25. a5 (25. Nxb6 {Ftacnik} Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 axb6 27. Qxb6 $16)
25... Rxd1+ (25... Bc7 26. Qb7) 26. Rxd1 Bc5 (26... Bd8 27. Ba3) 27. a6 $1 {
[%cal Rb5b7] /\Qb7} Bb6 28. Ba3 $18) 25. Bd4 Bxd4 (25... Nd7 $5 {Stohl} 26.
Bxg7 $1 (26. Qb7 Nf6 $10) (26. Bxc5 Nxc5 27. Ne5 Nd3 $10) 26... Rf7 (26... Qxg7
27. Rxd7 Be7 28. Qb7 $18) (26... Rfd8 27. Bh6 (27. Ba1 h6 28. Qb2 Kh7 $14) (27.
Bd4 $16 {Ftacnik}) 27... Rab8 (27... Nf6 28. Bg5 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rc8 30. Qb2 Rf8
31. Qe5 $1 {(.)}) 28. Bg5 $1 (28. Rxd7 $5) 28... Qe8 29. Qc6 $1 (29. Rxd7 Rxd7
30. Qxc5 Rc8 $132) 29... Rbc8 30. Qa6 $18) 27. Ba1 Rd8 $5 $16 (27... Nf8 28.
Qb2 Ng6 29. Kh1 $1 {[%cal Rc4e5] /\Ne5+-})) 26. Rxd4 a6 {Despite a spare pawn
black is still pressed down with a powerful force.} (26... Rc8 27. Rcd1 Nc6 28.
Rd7 Qe8 (28... Qb4 29. Nd6 $16) (28... Rab8 {Stohl} 29. Qxc6 $1 (29. Rxe7 Rxb5
30. Rxe6 Rc5 $132) 29... Rxc6 30. Rxe7 Rxc4 31. Rdd7 $18) (28... a6 29. Qb6 $18
) (28... Qf6 29. Nd6 Rab8 30. Qc5 $18) 29. Qb7 Qf8 30. Nd6 Rab8 31. Qa6 Nb4 32.
Qxa7 Ra8 33. Qd4 $16) (26... Rd8 {Stohl} 27. Rxd8+ Qxd8 28. Qb7 $18 (28. Qb7 {
Ftacnik} Nd7 29. Rd1 $18)) 27. Qb6 Ra7 $2 (27... Rc8 $142) (27... Rc8 {Stohl}
28. Rcd1 Nc6 29. Rd7 Qf6 (29... Qb4 30. Qxb4 Nxb4 31. Nb6 $18) (29... Qe8 {
Ftacnik} 30. Qb2 (30. Qb7 Ra7 $1 31. Rxg7+ Kf8 32. Rf7+ Kg8 $10) 30... Qg6 31.
R1d6 $40) 30. Nd6 Rab8 31. Qc5 $18) 28. Nd6 Rd7 29. Rc8 $18 {[%csl Rb8] פb8} (
29. Nc8 $2 {Stohl} Qa3 $1 $13) 29... Rxc8 (29... Rfd8 {Ftacnik} 30. Nxf5 $1
exf5 31. Rxd8+ $18) 30. Nxc8 Qa3 (30... Qe8 {Stohl} 31. Qxb8 $18) (30... Qf8 {
Ftacnik} 31. Rxd7 (31. Qxb8 Rxd4 32. exd4 $18) 31... Nxd7 32. Qxe6+ Qf7 33.
Ne7+ Kf8 34. Qxd7 Qxe7 35. Qxf5+ Kg8 36. Qc8+ Kf7 37. Qxa6 $18) 31. Qxe6+ Kf8
32. Qxf5+ Ke8 (32... Kg8 33. Rxd7 Qxe3+ (33... Nxd7 {Ftacnik} 34. Qxd7 Qxe3+
35. Kf1 $18) 34. Kf1 Qc1+ (34... Nxd7 {Stohl} 35. Qe6+ Kf8 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37.
Qe8+ Nf8 38. Ne7+ $18) 35. Kf2 e3+ 36. Kg3 Nxd7 37. Qe6+ Kf8 38. Qe7+ $18) (
32... Rf7 {Ftacnik} 33. Rd8#) 33. Qe6+ Kd8 (33... Kf8 {Stohl} 34. Rxd7 Qxe3+
35. Kf1 Qxf4+ 36. Ke2 Nxd7 37. Nd6 $1 $18) 34. Qb6+ Ke8 (34... Kxc8 {Stohl} 35.
Rc4+ $18) 35. Nd6+ (35. Nd6+ Ke7 (35... Rxd6 {Stohl} 36. Rxd6 $18) 36. Rxe4+ (
36. Rxe4+ {Ftacnik} Kf6 37. Qd4+ Kg6 38. Re6+)) 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9596"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Horvath, Tamas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.10.14"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Tuebingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 d6 9. e4 Nbd7 10. a4 h6 11. Nd4 c5 12. Nc2 Ne8 13. Ne3 f5 14. f3 Nc7 15.
a5 Kh8 16. d4 fxe4 17. fxe4 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 Nf6 19. Qd3 cxd4 20. cxd4 d5 21.
exd5 exd5 22. Qg6 Qd7 23. Nf5 Nce8 24. a6 Bc8 25. g4 Nxg4 26. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Baburin,A"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. e3 Be7 8.
Bd3 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qb1 $5 $146 {Usually White plays in this
position 11.Rb1 with further b2-b4-b5, while Black could employ two ideas:
g7-g6, Ng7 with an eventual Bc8-f5, or f7-f5-f4. In the game White gains a
tempo to play b2-b4.} Nhf6 12. b4 Re8 13. Rc1 $1 {Here and later White does
not want to play b4-b5 in a view of the standard reply c6-c5. Instead Kramnik
prepares the advance of the b-pawn carefully, while Black finds it difficult
to keep the Knight on d7 al the time.} a6 14. a4 g6 15. Qb2 $5 a5 (15... Nf8
16. b5 $16) 16. bxa5 Rxa5 17. Nd2 Ng4 $6 18. Nb3 Qd6 19. g3 Ra7 20. e4 $5 {
White is well prepared for action in the centre.} dxe4 21. Nxe4 Qf8 22. Re1 b6
$6 (22... Ngf6) 23. Nbd2 Ba6 24. Bc2 $1 {The white Bishop will be very active
on the a2-g8 diagonal.} Rb7 25. Bb3 Ngf6 26. Rac1 Rc8 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. d5 $1
Nxd5 29. Ne4 Rd8 30. Rxc6 Qb4 31. Nf6+ Kf8 32. Nxh7+ Kg8 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34. Re4
1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Be3 Ng4 7.
Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Nb3 Be6 11. Be2 (11. Qd2 Nge5 12. Nd5 h5 13. h4
g4 14. O-O-O a6 15. c4 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Bxb5 O-O $44 {Prentos,K-Kotronias,
V Ano Liosia op (03) 1995 0-1 26 - EXP 46}) 11... h5 (11... Qd7 12. Qd2 f5 13.
exf5 Bxf5 14. O-O O-O-O 15. f3 Nf6 16. Bf2 Kb8 17. Nd4 e5 18. Nxf5 Qxf5 19. Nd5
Nxd5 20. Qxd5 Rhf8 (20... Qxc2 21. Bd3 $44) 21. c3 $14 {Kotronias,V-Mednis,E
New York WFW 1990 1-0 79}) (11... Bxc3+ $5 12. bxc3 Nge5 13. O-O Qd7 14. Qc1
Bc4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 16. Rd1 N6e5 17. Rd5 Qc7 18. Qf1 Rc8 $15 {Szalanczy,E-Leko,P
Budapest Exp FS MarGM (08) 1993 0-1 68}) (11... Nge5 12. Qd2 Qd7 13. h4 O-O-O
14. O-O-O gxh4 15. Bxh4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. a3 Kb8 18. f3 h5 19. Bg5 $14 {
McShane,L-Hon,A London Lloyds (05) 1994 1/2 43 - EXP 43}) 12. h4 {Ftacnik:The
younger generation of super GMs freely choses the modern lines, some of which
would seem uncomprehensible to old masters of the past.} (12. h3 {Ftacnik}
Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Nf6 $15) 12... gxh4 13. Bxh4 Rc8 $1 $146 {Ftacnik: With 6..Ng4
black have avoided the famous English attack, but everything comes at a price.
Kingside pawn structure is badly shaken and Kramnik has to believe in the
power of piece play. Richtet sich gegen die lange Rochade und was passiert
nach der "Kurzen" ? Sehen Sie selbst.} (13... Qb6 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nce5
16. a4 (16. c3 Bf6 17. Nd4 Qxb2 18. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 19. Kf1 Nxf6 20. Rc1 Qa5 $17 {
Szalanczy,E-Videki,S Kecskemet (07)1993 1-0 44}) 16... Ng6 17. a5 Qb4+ 18. c3
Qe4 19. Qd3 Qxd3 20. Bxd3 Nf4 21. Be4 f5 22. Bxf5 Nxg2+ 23. Kd2 Bh6+ 24. Kd3
Nf4+ 25. Ke4 $14 {Brodskij,M-Serper,G Helsinki op (03) 1992 1/2 31}) 14. O-O (
14. Qd2 {Ftacnik} Nge5) 14... Bf6 15. Bg3 $6 (15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Nd4 Qb6 (16...
Bd7 $13 {Ftacnik}) 17. Nxe6 fxe6 $36) 15... Rg8 $40 16. Nd5 h4 $1 (16... Bxb2
$5 {Ftacnik} 17. Rb1 Be5 18. Bxe5 Ncxe5 19. Nf4 Bc4 $17) 17. Nxf6+ (17. Bxg4 $2
Bxg4 18. f3 (18. Nxf6+ exf6 19. f3 hxg3 20. fxg4 Qb6+ $19) 18... hxg3 (18...
Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bh3 $1 $19) 19. fxg4 Bxb2 $19) 17... Nxf6 18. Bxh4 Nxe4 19. Bf3 (
19. Re1 Qb6 $13) 19... Ng5 20. Bxg5 (20. Bxc6+ bxc6 21. f4 Qb6+ 22. Qd4 $15)
20... Rxg5 {Ftacnik: Exchanges have clarified the situation, black seems to be
reasonably safe with K on e8.} 21. Qd2 Rg8 (21... Rg6 {Ftacnik} 22. Rfe1) 22.
Nd4 (22. Rfe1 Qb6 $15) 22... Ne5 $1 23. Be4 (23. Bxb7 Rb8 24. Bc6+ Bd7 25.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 $40) (23. Nxe6 $4 {Ftacnik} Nxf3+ 24. Kh1 Rh8+) 23... Qb6 24. Rfe1
$2 (24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Qe3 (25. Qh6 Kd7 $17) 25... Qxe3 26. fxe3 $15) 24... d5
$1 {Ftacnik: Adams has failed to spot the unusal problem with his centralised
pieces.} 25. Bxd5 $2 (25. Bh7 Qxd4 $1 26. Qxd4 Nf3+ 27. Kh1 (27. Kf1 {Ftacnik}
Nxd4 28. Bxg8 Nxc2 29. Rxe6 Nxa1 $17) 27... Nxd4 28. Bxg8 Nxc2 29. Rxe6 Nxa1
$17) (25. Bf3 {Ftacnik} Qxd4 $1 $19) (25. Nxe6 {Ftacnik} dxe4 26. Ng5 f6 $19)
25... Bxd5 26. Rxe5 Rxg2+ $19 (26... Qxb2 $6 27. Rae1 Rxg2+ 28. Kf1 $132) 27.
Kf1 Qg6 28. Qb4 (28. Rxd5 Rg1+ 29. Ke2 Qe4+ (29... Rxa1 $19 {Ftacnik}) 30. Qe3
Qxe3+ 31. fxe3 Rxa1 $19) 28... Bc4+ 29. Ke1 Qf6 $1 (29... Qf6 30. Nf3 Rg1+ $1
31. Nxg1 (31. Kd2 Rxa1 $19) 31... Qxe5+ 32. Kd1 Rd8+ 33. Kc1 Qf4+ (33... Qg5+ {
Ftacnik}) 34. Kb1 Rd1#) 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.11.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Diese Partie erhielt nicht nur den Spezialpreis fьr die "Beste Partie" beim
Belgrader Invest Turnier, sondern galt auch als die Partie des Jahres 1995.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Be3
Qa5 9. Nd4 Ne5 10. Bd3 Neg4 11. Bc1 g6 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Qe2 Bg7 14. f4 {Topalov
strebt das Maximum an (wie stets): h3 und nach dem Rьckzug des Springers wьrde
Be3 folgen.} Nh5 $1 15. Nd5 (15. Bd2 $5) 15... Qd8 16. Bd2 (16. O-O O-O 17. h3
Ngf6 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 $11) 16... e6 $1 17. Ba5 $5 {Typisch Topalov: Jede
Herausforderung wird angenommen.} (17. Qxg4 exd5 18. Qf3 O-O 19. O-O dxe4 20.
Bxe4 $11) 17... Qh4+ 18. g3 Nxg3 19. Nc7+ {Nach} (19. hxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Kd2 exd5
21. exd5+ Kd7 {steht der weiЯe Kцnig gefдhrdeter.}) 19... Ke7 20. hxg3 Qxg3+
21. Kd1 Nf2+ 22. Kd2 Nxh1 23. Nxa8 $2 {Dieser Fehler ist schwer zu begreifen:
Topalov vermeidet eine Zugwiederholung und gibt Schwarz seinerseits die
Mцglichkeit zur Zugwiederholung.} (23. Rxh1 Qxf4+ (23... Rb8 24. Bb6 $11) 24.
Kd1 Rb8 25. Bd2 Qg3 26. Be1 Qf4 {mit Zugwiederholung.}) 23... Qxf4+ 24. Qe3
Qh2+ 25. Qe2 Qf4+ 26. Qe3 Qh2+ 27. Qe2 Bh6+ $1 {Kramnik will auch mehr als ein
Remis.} 28. Kc3 ({Schwдcher ist} 28. Kd1 Qg1+ 29. Qe1 Qg4+ 30. Be2 Qxe4 31. Nb6
Be3 {mit Vorteil fьr Schwarz (Kramnik).}) 28... Qe5+ ({Objektiv besser ist
vielleicht} 28... Qxe2 29. Bxe2 Ng3 $17 {Die weiЯen Figuren stehen
unkoordiniert, der Pe4 ist sehr schwach und der schwarze h-Bauer wird ganz
schnell sein.}) 29. Kb4 Ng3 30. Qe1 Bg7 (30... Qxb2 $5) 31. Nb6 $2 ({Die beste
Verteidigung bestand in} 31. Rb1 Bd7 32. Ka3 {Doch nach} Rxa8 33. Bc3 Qf4 34.
Bxg7 {steht Schwarz auch ein wenig besser; in Frage kommt z.B. 34...e5.}) 31...
d5 $19 32. Ka4 (32. exd5 Qd6+ 33. Kc4 Qf4+ 34. Kc5 Bd7 35. a4 {wird widerlegt:}
Be5 $1 {(Burgess/Nunn/Emms)} 36. Nxd7 Kxd7 37. dxe6+ (37. c4 Rc8+ 38. Kb4 exd5
$19) 37... fxe6 38. Bd2 Rc8+ 39. Kb6 Bd4+ 40. Ka5 Bb6+ $1 41. Kxb6 Qc7+ 42. Ka7
b5+ 43. Kxa6 Ra8+ 44. Kxb5 Rb8+ 45. Ka6 Qb6#) 32... Bd7+ 33. Nxd7 b5+ 34. Kb4
Kxd7 35. Bb6 Qxb2 {Schneller und sicherer gewann} (35... Nxe4 $1 36. Bxe4 Qxb2
$3 37. Bd3 Kc6 $3 {Das wдre noch schцner gewesen!}) 36. exd5 Rc8 37. dxe6+ Ke8
$1 {[#]} 38. Bc5 $6 {Verliert schnell ebenso wie} (38. c4 $2 Ne4 $3 {: schauen
Sie selbst!}) ({Etwas zдher ist} 38. Bxb5+ axb5 39. exf7+ Kxf7 40. Qxg3 Qc3+
41. Qxc3 Bxc3+ 42. Kxb5 Bxa1 43. Nxa1 h5 {und WeiЯ steht nur materiell besser,
hat aber den schwarzen Bauern wenig entgegen zu setzen.}) 38... Bc3+ $1 39.
Qxc3 a5+ 40. Kxb5 Qxc3 {Quellen: "Informator 65" (Kramnik) Burgess/Nunn/Emms
"The World's Greatest Chess Games" Schach 1/1996} 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Hecht} c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6 (5... cxd4 6. Nxd4
dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 $14) 6. cxd5
Nxd5 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. cxd4 Bb4+ 12. Bd2
Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 $14 Ke7 14. Rhc1 Rd8 15. Rc7+ Rd7 16. Rac1 Kd8 17. Rxd7+ Kxd7
18. g4 $1 h6 19. f4 Rb8 20. g5 b6 (20... hxg5 $5 21. fxg5 b6 $14) 21. gxh6 gxh6
22. Rc3 Bb7 23. Bxb7 Rxb7 24. Rh3 Rc7 25. Rxh6 Rc4 26. Rh3 Rxd4+ $4 (26... Ra4
$1 27. a3 Rxd4+ $14) 27. Rd3 Rxd3+ 28. Kxd3 $16 {Hecht: [#] B-B: entfernter
Freibauer, Raum, Tempospiel} f6 (28... b5 {Hecht} 29. Kd4 Kd6 30. h4 a5 31. h5
Ke7 32. Kc5 b4 33. Kb5 $18) 29. Kc4 a6 30. f5 Kd6 (30... exf5 {Hecht} 31. Kd5
f4 32. h4 b5 (32... Ke7 33. Kc6 Kf7 34. Kxb6 Kg6 35. Kxa6 Kh5 36. Kb5 Kxh4 37.
a4 Kg3 38. a5 Kf2 39. a6 Kxe2 40. a7 f3 41. a8=Q f2 42. Qe4+ Kf1 43. Kc4 f5 44.
Qf3 f4 45. Kd3 Kg1 46. Qg4+ $18) 33. h5 Ke7 34. Kc5 Kf7 35. Kb6 Kg7 36. Kxa6
Kh6 37. Kxb5 Kxh5 38. a4 $18) 31. fxe6 Kxe6 32. Kd4 Kf5 33. Kd5 Kf4 34. Ke6 $1
(34. Kc6 $2 f5 35. h4 (35. Kxb6 {Hecht} Ke3 36. h4 Kxe2 37. h5 f4 38. h6 f3 39.
h7 f2 40. h8=Q f1=Q $10) 35... Kg4 36. Kxb6 Kxh4 37. Kxa6 Kg3 38. a4 Kf2 39. a5
Kxe2 40. Kb7 f4 $10) 34... f5 35. e3+ $18 Kg4 36. h3+ (36. h4 {Hecht} b5 37. h5
Kg5 38. h6 Kxh6 39. Kxf5 a5 40. e4 Kg7 $10) 36... Kg5 37. h4+ Kg6 38. h5+ Kg5
39. h6 Kg6 40. h7 Kxh7 41. Kxf5 Kg7 42. Ke6 (42. Ke6 {Hecht} b5 43. Kd5 Kf6 44.
Kc5 Ke5 45. Kb6 Ke4 46. Kxa6 Kxe3 47. Kxb5 Kd4 48. a4 Kd5 49. a5 Kd6 50. Kb6
Kd7 51. a6 Kc8 52. a7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Kramnik Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. g3 f5 12. exf5 e4 13.
f6 $2 (13. c3 Ne5 14. Qh5 Bb7 (14... Nf3+ 15. Ke2 Bb7 16. Rd1 O-O 17. Bh3 Re8
18. Nc2 Ne5 19. Nce3 Nd3 20. f6 Bxf6 21. Bf5 Bxd5 22. Nxd5 Nxb2 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 {
Alzate,D-Ochoa de Echaguen,F/Bayamo/1984/}) 15. Rd1 b4 {Horvath,T: Ein
typischer Zug, der aber jetzt nur den Springer ins Spiel bringt.} 16. Nc4 Nf3+
(16... bxc3 17. bxc3 Nf3+ 18. Ke2 Nd4+ 19. cxd4 Bxd5 20. Ne3 Qa5 21. Bh3 Qb5+
22. Ke1 Bc6 23. Bg4 Qb4+ 24. Kf1 Bxd4 {Vaisser,A-Feher,G/Budapest Perenyi-B/
1989/}) 17. Ke2 bxc3 18. f6 Bxf6 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Nxd6+ Kf8 21. bxc3 Rb8 22.
Qc5 Kg8 23. Nxb7 Kg7 24. Rd6 Qe7 25. Rg6+ Kf8 26. Qxe7+ Kxe7 27. Rb6 Rhd8 28.
Bh3 {Madl,I-Arakhamia,K/Belgrade-W (07)/1994/1-0 (33)}) 13... Bxf6 14. Nxf6+
Qxf6 15. Qd5 (15. c3 {Horvath,T} Ne5 16. Qd5 Rb8 17. O-O-O O-O $17 18. Qxd6 Be6
) 15... O-O $1 {The refutation of white's active idea, b2P is very weak and
white is critically behind in development.} (15... Qxb2 $2 16. Qxc6+ Kd8 17.
Rd1 $18) 16. c3 (16. Qxc6 $2 Qxb2 17. Qxa8 (17. Rd1 Qxa3 18. Qxa8 Qc3+ 19. Rd2
Qa1+ 20. Rd1 Qxd1+ 21. Kxd1 Bg4+ $17) 17... Qc3+ 18. Kd1 Bg4+ $19) (16. O-O-O {
Horvath,T} Bg4 $1 17. Qxc6 (17. Qxd6 Rad8 $19) 17... Bxd1 $19) (16. Bg2 {
Kramnik} Qxb2 17. O-O $10) 16... b4 $1 (16... Bb7 17. Bg2 Rab8 $13) 17. Nc4 (
17. Qxc6 bxa3 18. Rb1 (18. Qxa8 axb2 19. Rb1 Qxc3+ $19) 18... Rb8 $17) 17...
bxc3 18. Qxd6 (18. Qxc6 cxb2 19. Nxb2 (19. Rb1 Qc3+ 20. Kd1 Bg4+ 21. Be2 Bxe2+
22. Kxe2 Qd3+ 23. Ke1 Qxb1+ $19) 19... Qxb2 $19) 18... Be6 $1 (18... Qxd6 19.
Nxd6 Nb4 20. O-O-O Nxa2+ 21. Kb1 Be6 22. Bc4 $13) 19. Qf4 {Ljubojevic
desperately tries to tame down the flames of black's activity.} (19. Qxc6 cxb2
20. Nxb2 Qxb2 $16) 19... Qg7 20. O-O-O (20. Rb1 cxb2 21. Qd2 Bxc4 22. Bxc4 Ne5
$16) 20... Nb4 {The K have found no safety on the queenside, black has miriads
of attacking ideas.} 21. Qe5 (21. Qxe4 Qg5+ (21... Rac8 $17) 22. f4 Nxa2+ 23.
Kb1 Bf5 24. fxg5 Bxe4+ 25. Kxa2 Bxh1 $17) 21... Nxa2+ 22. Kb1 (22. Kc2 Qxe5 23.
Nxe5 Rfb8 $19) 22... Qxe5 23. Nxe5 Bb3 (23... Rfb8 $19) 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Giese} d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d4 e6 6. Nbd2 f5 7. c4 Bd6
8. Qb3 Rb8 (8... Qb6 $2 9. Qe3 $1 $16 f4 10. gxf4) 9. Re1 {Black has gone to
the great lenghts to prevent e2-e4 push, but it has cost him lot of time and
some weaknesess (b7,e6).} Nh6 {Speelmans move from the game Hug,W-Speelman,J/
Altensteig (10) ;CBM 43 1994. This move I mentioned in my notes to the game
Tkachiev,V-Tregubov,P/Wijk/1995/1-0 (32) ;CBM 46.  In the texgame Kramnik
seems to demonstrate a refutation of Speelmans move!} (9... Qe7 10. Ne5 $1 (10.
Nh4 Ngf6 11. f3 g5 $1 $132) (10. h3 Bh5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e4 (12. g4 $1 Bf7 13.
gxf5 exf5 14. Nf1 Ngf6 15. Ne3 g6 16. Ng5 Nb6 17. a4 f4 18. Nxf7 Kxf7 19. Nxd5
Nfxd5 (19... Qe6 20. e4 Nbxd5 21. Bd2 Nc7 22. Qxe6+ Nxe6 23. e5 Nxd4 24. exd6
Rhe8) 20. a5 Kg7 21. axb6 Nxb6 22. Rxa7 Bb4 23. Bxf4 Bxe1 24. Bxb8 Rxb8 25.
Qxb6 {Maiwald,J-Slobodjan,R/Bonn GSK (04)/1995/1-0 (34)}) 12... fxe4 13. Nxe4
dxe4 14. Rxe4 Bf7 15. Ng5 Ngf6 16. Nxf7 Kxf7 17. Bg5 Rhe8 18. Rae1 Nf8 19. f4
Qd7 20. Bxf6 Kxf6 21. g4 g6 22. f5 exf5 23. gxf5 gxf5 24. Rf1 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 f4
26. Qd5 Qe6 {Terreaux,G-Sher,M/Ticino op (06)/1994/0-1}) 10... Nxe5 (10... Bh5
$5 11. cxd5 cxd5 $8 12. Nxd7 $6 (12. Ndf3 $5) (12. f3 $5) (12. Ndf3 Ngf6 13.
Bf4 O-O {0.5/Berkovich,M-Van der Wiel,J/Amsterdam Donner op (04)/ 1995}) 12...
Qxd7 13. f3 Ne7 $13) (10... Ngf6 11. Nxg4 Nxg4 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e4 O-O 14. e5
Bb4 15. a3 Ba5 16. Bxd5+ cxd5 17. Qxd5+ Kh8 18. Qxa5 f4 19. Ne4 Qf7 20. f3 Nxh2
21. Kxh2 Qh5+ 22. Kg2 fxg3 23. f4 Qh2+ 24. Kf3 {Tkachiev,V-Winants,L/Wijk op 
(10)/1995/1-0 (40)}) 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e4 $1 fxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4
15. Rxe4 Nf6 16. Bg5 Be6 $6 (16... Qe6 17. Qxe6+ Bxe6 18. Rxe5 Kf7 19. a4 Rhe8
20. a5 a6 21. Rae1 $14) 17. Qe3 Nd5 18. Qd2 $5 Qf7 19. Rxe5 O-O 20. Rae1 $16 {
Tkachiev,V-Tregubov,P/Wijk aan Zee/1995/1-0 (32) ;CBM 46}) (9... Ngf6 10. Ng5
Qe7 11. f3 Bh5 12. e4 h6 13. exf5 e5 14. Ne6 Bf7 15. c5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Bxc5+ 17.
Kh1 Bd6 18. Nxg7+ Kf8 19. Ne6+ Bxe6 20. fxe6 h5 21. Bh3 {Hug,W-Lobron,E/
Garmisch-Partenkirchen 25' (02)/1994/1-0 (28)}) (9... Qf6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Qa4
Ne7 12. Ne5 b5 13. Qxa7 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. Nf3 Bxf3 16. exf3 Nc6 17. Qc5
Kd7 18. Rxe5 Nxe5 19. Qa7+ Kd6 20. Bf4 g5 21. Be3 Rhc8 22. Bd4 Ra8 23. Qb6+ Rc6
24. Bc5+ Kd7 25. Qb7+ Rc7 26. Qxb5+ Nc6 {Drasko,M-Blagojevic,D/JUG-chT Tivat 
(02)/1995/0.5 (41)}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. h3 (11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bc7 13. h3 Bh5
14. f4 Bb6+ 15. Kh2 O-O 16. Nf3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 {0.5/Hug,W-Speelman,J/Altensteig
(10)/1994/ ;CBM 43}) 11... Bh5 12. e4 $3 {[%cal Ge1e8] If this move can be
tactically justified it clearly represents the strategical win.  Giese: ->[+]}
fxe4 (12... Bxf3 13. Bxf3 fxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe6+ Qe7 (15... Be7 16. Bxh6
exf3 17. Bxg7 $18) 16. Rxe4 Kd8 17. Qd5 $16) (12... dxe4 13. Qxe6+ (13. Ng5 Bf7
14. Ndxe4 fxe4 15. Nxe6) 13... Qe7 14. Ng5 Bf7) 13. Ng5 Bf7 {[#]} (13... Qxg5
14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. Bg5 (15. Nxd6+ Qxd6 16. Bf4 Qe7 17. Bxd5 $16) 15... Nf6 (15...
Qf8 16. Qxd5 $1 Be7 17. Nd6+ Kd8 18. Bxe7+ Qxe7 19. Rxe6 $18) 16. Nxd6+ Qxd6
17. Bf4 Qd8 18. Bxb8 Qxb8 19. Rxe6+ Kf7 20. Rae1 $16) (13... Qe7 {Giese} 14.
Nxe6 $1 Qxe6 (14... Nf6 15. Bxe4 dxe4 (15... Qxe6 16. Bg6+ $18) 16. Nxe4 Nxe4
17. Rxe4 {[%cal Ye6g7]} Kf7 18. Nf4+ $18) 15. Rxe4 Be5 16. Re1 $18 {[%cal
Yd4e5]}) 14. Ndxe4 $1 {[%cal Gb3g8] @} dxe4 (14... Be7 15. Nxf7 Nxf7 16. Nc3
$18) 15. Nxe6 {The trojan horse landed in the enemy's territory, white should
win.} Bxe6 (15... Qe7 16. Rxe4 $16 (16. Rxe4 {Giese} Be5 17. Nxg7+ Kf8 (17...
Kd8 18. Qa4 Qf6 19. dxe5 Qxg7 20. e6 $18) 18. Bxh6 $1 Bxb3 19. Nf5+ $18)) (
15... Ng8 16. Rxe4 Bxe6 17. Rxe6+ Be7 18. Bf4 $16) (15... Nf5 16. Rxe4 Be7 17.
Bg5 $16) (15... Qb6 {Giese} 16. Nxg7+ Kd8 17. Qxb6+ axb6 18. Bxh6 $18) (15...
Qf6 {Giese} 16. Rxe4 Be7 17. Bf4 Rd8 (17... Rc8 18. Qxb7 Bxe6 19. Qxc8+ Bd8 20.
Bg5 $1 $18) 18. d5 Nf5 (18... Bxe6 19. Rxe6 Qf7 20. d6 $18) 19. Rae1 $18 {
[%csl Rb7,Rd8,Re7][%cal Yd5d6]}) 16. Qxe6+ Qe7 (16... Be7 17. Bxh6 (17. Bf4 Rc8
18. Bxe4 Nf8 19. Qb3 $40 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Ge1e8]}) 17... gxh6 18. Bxe4 {Giese}
(18. Rxe4 Rf8 19. Rae1 (19. d5 $2 Nc5) 19... Rf7 20. Qxh6 Nf6 $132 {Giese})
18... Rf8 (18... Nf6 19. Bd3 Kf8 20. Bc4 Qe8 21. Qe3 $18) 19. Bxh7 Rf6 20. Qg4
$40) 17. Rxe4 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Ye6d6]} Kd8 (17... Nf7 18. Qd5 $18 (18. Qb3 $1
$18 {Giese})) (17... Qxe6 18. Rxe6+ Be7 19. Bxh6 Kf7 20. Rae1 Bb4 21. Bd5 Bxe1
22. Rxe1+ Kg6 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Re7+ Kh6 25. Rxd7 Rhd8 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Bxb7
Rxd4 28. b3 $16) 18. Qd5 (18. Qd5 Qf8 (18... Nf6 19. Rxe7 Nxd5 20. Re6 Nf5 21.
Bxd5 Nxd4 22. Rxd6+ Ke7 23. Be4 Kxd6 24. Bf4+ Kc5 25. Bxb8 Rxb8 26. Bxh7 $18)
19. Re6 (19. Bg5+ {Giese} Nf6 20. Rae1 Nf7 21. Re6 Rg8 (21... Kc7 22. Bxf6 gxf6
23. Rxf6 $18) 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Bxf6+ Kc7 24. Qa5+ b6 (24... Kd7 25. Qb5+ $18)
25. Qxa7+ Kc8 26. Rc1+ $18) 19... Bc7 (19... Be7 20. Rxe7 $1 Qxe7 21. Bg5 $18)
20. Bg5+ Kc8 21. Rc1 $18) 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.09"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. d4 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O b6 13. Qc1 Bb7 14. Bc4
Qa4 15. Bb5 Qa2 16. Re1 Rc8 17. Qd1 e6 18. Ba4 Na6 19. h4 Qa3 20. h5 Qf8 21.
Bf4 Rd8 22. Bg5 Rd6 23. Bf4 Rdd8 24. Qd2 Rac8 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Qe3 Rc4 27. Bb5
Rb4 28. Qe2 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 Nb8 30. Rd1 Qb4 31. Bg5 Rc8 32. d5 exd5 33. exd5 a6
34. Be8 Qf8 35. Ba4 b5 36. Bb3 Re8 37. Qd2 Qa3 38. Qd3 Nd7 39. d6 Qb2 40. Bc1
Qf6 41. Ng5 Rf8 42. Qh3 Rc8 43. Bxf7+ Kf8 44. Nh7+ Kxf7 45. Qxd7+ 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.11"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. d4 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Bxc3+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Na5 13. h4 Bg4 14. h5
Bxf3 15. gxf3 e5 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. d6 b6 18. Qd5+ Kg7 19. Qxe5+ Qf6 20. Qh2 h5
21. Rd1 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Qc3+ 23. Kf1 Qxc4+ 24. Kg2 Rad8 25. Qe5+ Kg8 26. Rd5 Rf7
27. Rh3 Rdd7 28. Rg3 Rg7 29. Qe6+ 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e4 dxe4 8.
Nxe4 Bb4+ 9. Ke2 Qf4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. Ne5 f5 12. Nd2 Qxd4 13. Ndf3 Qc5 14. Ng6
Rg8 15. Nxe7 Qxe7 16. g3 e5 17. Bh3 e4 18. Rhe1 Na6 19. Kf1 Bd7 20. Nd4 g6 21.
a3 O-O-O 22. b4 Nc7 23. Kg1 h5 24. c5 h4 25. a4 hxg3 26. hxg3 Rh8 27. Bg2 Ne6
28. Rad1 Nxd4 29. Rxd4 Be6 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. b5 Qd7 32. bxc6 Qxc6 33. Bf1 Qd5
34. Re3 Qd2 35. Qb1 Qd1 36. Qb5 Bd7 37. Qb2 Bxa4 38. Ra3 a6 39. Ra1 Qd4 40. Qa3
Bc6 41. Rb1 e3 42. Qxe3 Qxe3 43. fxe3 Rd2 44. Rb4 a5 45. Rd4 Rxd4 46. exd4 Bd5
47. Bb5 Bb3 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.12"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Be2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. d4
Be7 9. c4 Nf6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Nc3 Ke7 13. Rd1 Rd8 14. Rxd8
Nxd8 15. a3 Bd7 16. b4 Bd6 17. Be3 h6 18. Rd1 Rc8 19. h3 Be8 20. Nd4 Nd7 21. f4
Bc7 22. Nb3 f6 23. c5 Nc6 24. Bf3 Rd8 25. h4 Ndb8 26. Rxd8 Nxd8 27. Kf2 Nbc6
28. g3 Bf7 29. Nd2 Bg6 30. h5 Bd3 31. Be2 Bh7 32. Nc4 Bg8 33. Bf3 Kd7 34. Ke2
Ne7 35. Kd3 Ndc6 36. Bf2 e5 37. Nb6+ Kd8 38. Nbd5 Bxd5 39. Nxd5 Nxd5 40. Bxd5
exf4 41. gxf4 Bxf4 42. Ke4 Bc1 43. a4 Nxb4 44. Bxb7 Kc7 45. Ba8 Kb8 46. Bd5 f5+
47. Kxf5 Nxd5 48. Bd4 Nf6 49. Kg6 Kc7 50. Be5+ Kc6 51. Kxg7 Nd7 52. Bd4 Nxc5
53. Kg6 Ne6 54. Bf6 Kc5 55. Be7+ Kc4 56. Kf5 Nf4 57. Kg4 Kb3 58. a5 Ka4 59. Bd8
Ne6 60. Bb6 Bg5 61. Kf5 Nf4 62. Kg4 Nd5 63. Kf5 Kb5 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Nd4 Ne6 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. cxd4 Bf5 13. f3 Re8 14. g4
Bg6 15. Kb1 Bh4 16. Bf2 h6 17. f4 Be4 18. Rg1 Qf6 19. Bxh4 Qxh4 20. Rg3 Re7 21.
d5 Rae8 22. a3 a6 23. Qf2 f5 24. h3 fxg4 25. hxg4 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Re1+ 27. Ka2
Rxf1 28. Qxf1 Qxg3 29. g5 hxg5 30. Rxg5 Qe1 31. Qg2 Qe6+ 32. b3 Qf6 33. Qd5+
Qf7 34. Qxb7 Qxf4 35. Qd5+ Qf7 36. Qd3 Re1 37. Qxa6 g6 38. Qd3 Re6 39. a4 Qf6
40. Rg1 Kg7 41. Rf1 Qe5 42. Qc4 d5 43. Qc5 Qd6 44. Qd4+ Qe5 45. Qxe5+ Rxe5 46.
a5 g5 47. b4 Kg6 48. Kb3 Re8 49. b5 g4 50. Kb4 Kh5 51. Kc5 g3 52. a6 g2 53. Rg1
0-1

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. a3 h6 11. h3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. Ba2 e4 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Nc4
Bc7 16. Ne2 Be6 17. Bd2 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Nd5 20. Rac1 Rad8 21. Bb4
Qg5 22. Nc3 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Qxe3+ 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. d3
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Nxe5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 d5 12. Bg5 dxe4 13. dxe4 b4 14. Nd5 Nxe4
15. Bxd8 Raxd8 16. Qc2 Bxd5 17. Rae1 Rfe8 18. Rxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Bd4 20. Qb7
Bxe5 21. Qxa6 Bxb2 22. Qc4 Bc3 23. Qxc7 Rd2 24. Qc6 Kf8 25. a5 g6 26. g3 Ra2
27. Qc5+ Kg7 28. Rd1 Be1 29. Kf1 Rxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Bxf2 31. Kxf2 Kf6 32. Ra1 Ra8
33. Ke3 Ke5 34. a6 Kd5 35. a7 Kc5 36. Ra4 f5 37. Kf4 Kb5 38. Kg5 Kb6 39. Rxb4+
Kxa7 40. Ra4+ Kb7 41. Rxa8 Kxa8 42. Kh6 Kb7 43. h4 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B29"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Romero Holmes"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kramnik} c5 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Ne5 Nf6 (
6... Nxc3 7. Qf3 $1) 7. Nxd7 Nbxd7 8. d4 cxd4 {Known was} (8... a6 9. Bxd7+
Nxd7 10. d5 $14) 9. Qxd4 a6 10. Be2 e6 (10... e5 $5 {Kramnik}) 11. Bf4 Bc5 12.
Qd3 O-O 13. O-O (13. Bf3 $5) 13... b5 $2 {A rare move, that makes easy life
for the pair of white bishops, in their pressure against queen side. Besides,
this move weakens black solid structure. I propose} (13... Qe7 $5 14. Bf3 Nb6 {
when black can hold the position, trying to get to d5, and play active.}) 14.
Bf3 Ra7 15. Rad1 Qa5 {After this move, Seirawan loose the exchange in a forced
way, without any compensation. Black problems involves to find a nice place
for the queen. For example:} (15... Qe7 16. a3 e5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 Qe6 19.
Rfe1 $16 (19. b4 $16)) 16. a3 $1 b4 {[#]} 17. Na2 $1 bxa3 18. b4 Bxb4 (18...
Qa4 $2 19. Rb1 {/\ 20.Nc3+-}) 19. Nxb4 Qxb4 20. Bd6 Qa5 21. Bxf8 Kxf8 22. Ra1
$18 {White will take a3 and the rest of the game is without interest.} Nc5 23.
Qd6+ Re7 24. Rfb1 Ne8 25. Rb8 Nd7 26. Ra8 Qc5 27. Qxc5 Nxc5 28. Bc6 f6 29. Rxa3
Kf7 30. Bxe8+ Rxe8 31. Rxe8 Kxe8 32. Ra5 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kramnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O d6 7. b3 $5
Nbd7 8. Bb2 Be7 9. d4 O-O $6 (9... cxd4 $142 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qc7 12. e3
$5 a6 13. f4 O-O 14. Qf3 Rac8 (14... Rfe8 15. g4 g6 16. Rad1 Rac8 17. g5 Nh5
18. Ne4 Bf8 19. Rd2 Nc5 20. Nf2 f5 21. gxf6 Nxf6 22. Ne2 Qf7 23. Ng3 b5 24.
cxb5 axb5 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Nge4 $16 {Petursson,M-Pira,D/Torcy op/1991/}) 15.
g4 Nc5 (15... Nb8 16. g5 Nfd7 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. h4 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxc6
Rxc6 21. Rd2 Rec8 22. Rfd1 b5 23. Ne4 bxc4 24. Nxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6
$16 {Yuferov,S-Yagupov,I/Moscow/1989/}) 16. g5 Nfd7 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. h4 Bf8
19. Rd2 Nb8 20. Rfd1 Nc6 21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. Qxc6 Rxc6 23. Ba3 Be7 24. Bxc5 bxc5
25. Ne4 Rd8 26. Kf3 Kf8 27. Kg4 Ke8 28. f5 exf5+ 29. Kxf5 $16 {[%csl Rd5,Rd6,
Re7] ><d5,d6,Be7,Andersson,U-Sokolov,A/Bilbao/1987/ Andersson shows White's
plan in an ideal form. With White's pawn only on e3 and possibile K-side
expansion (f4,g4-g5) hisa chances are somewhat better even against more
accurate play. But Topalov's move is clearly worse and gives White a strong
initiative.}) 10. d5 $1 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5,Ge4,Ge5] ()[+]} (10. e3 {Kramnik} Ne4 $1
$10) 10... exd5 (10... e5 11. Ne1 {[%cal Ye1d3,Ye2e4,Yf2f4] /\Nd3,e4,f4|^}) 11.
Nh4 (11. Ne1 {[%cal Re1c2,Rc2e3] /\Nc2-e3} Rb8 $1 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxd5
14. Qxd5 Bf6 $10) (11. cxd5) 11... g6 12. cxd5 $1 $36 (12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5
Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Bxh4 (14... Bf6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Qf3 $14 {[%cal Yh4g2,Yg2f4]
><d6,/\Ng2-f4}) 15. gxh4 Qxh4 16. Qxd6 Qg4+ 17. Qg3 (17. Kh1 Qe4+ 18. f3 Qxe2
$15) 17... Qxg3+ (17... Qxe2 18. Qc3 f6) 18. hxg3 Rad8 19. Rad1 Rfe8 $10) 12...
Ne8 13. f4 $1 Nc7 {Now and later on accepting the pawn sacrifice is extremely
risky: White's Bb2 without an opponent will be very strong.} (13... Bxh4 14.
gxh4 Qxh4 15. e4 $44 {[%csl Rf6,Rg7,Rg8,Rh6][%cal Rb2h8] גa1-h8,>>} (15. Qd2 {
Kramnik} Qe7 16. e4 f6 17. Rae1 Ng7 18. Bh3 $44)) 14. e4 b5 15. e5 $1 {[%cal
Re5d6,Rc3e4] /\ed6,Ne4} (15. Nf3 $5 {Kramnik}) 15... f5 $8 (15... dxe5 $2 16.
d6 $18) (15... Bxh4 16. gxh4 $16 (16. exd6 $6 Ne8 $1 17. gxh4 Nxd6 $13) 16...
dxe5 $2 17. d6 Bxg2 18. dxc7 Qxc7 19. Kxg2 $18) 16. a4 $1 (16. Rf2 {Kramnik}
Nb6 17. Rd2 b4 18. Ne2 c4 $132) (16. Ne4 $5 {Kramnik} fxe4 (16... dxe5 $5) 17.
Nxg6 hxg6 18. Qg4 $40) 16... b4 (16... bxa4 $142 {[%cal Yd7b6] /\Nb6+/-}) (
16... a6 $2 {Kramnik} 17. a5 $1 b4 18. Na4 Nb5 19. e6 Nf6 20. Nb6 $18) 17. Nb5
Nxb5 18. axb5 Qb6 (18... Nb6 {Kramnik} 19. Qe2 $1 {/\ 20.Rad1}) 19. Re1 $1 Qxb5
(19... dxe5 20. fxe5 c4+ 21. Kh1 $1 c3 22. Bc1 $16) (19... c4+ 20. Bd4 Qxb5 21.
bxc4 Qxc4 22. Rc1 Qb5 23. exd6 $5 Bf6 (23... Bxd6 24. Re6 $1 $40) 24. Rc7 $5
$40) 20. Bf1 (20. exd6 $6 Bf6 $1 $13) 20... Qb6 21. Bc4 {White's pawn
sacrifice gave him total central control, he can now prepare an attack against
Black's K without any real interference.} Qd8 (21... Rae8 22. exd6 Bxd6 23. Re6
$40) 22. exd6 (22. Nf3 $5 {Kramnik}) 22... Bf6 $8 (22... Bxd6 23. Re6 Nf6 (
23... Nb6 24. Nxg6 $1 $18) 24. Be5 $1 Bxe5 (24... Ne8 25. Nxg6 $40) 25. fxe5
Bxd5 (25... Nxd5 {Kramnik} 26. Rd6 $18) 26. Rxf6 $18) (22... Bxh4 23. gxh4 Qxh4
24. Re7 Rf7 25. Qe2 {[%cal Re2e6] /\Qe6} Qg4+ 26. Qxg4 fxg4 27. Bb5 Nb6 28.
Rxf7 Kxf7 29. Bc6 $18) 23. Qd2 (23. Be5 $6 Nb6 {/\ 24...Nc8}) 23... Bxb2 (23...
Nb6 24. Re6 $1 Bc8 (24... Bxb2 25. Qxb2 Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Nxd5 27. Nxg6 $1 Rf6 28.
Ne7+ $18) 25. Bxf6 Rxf6 26. Rae1 Bxe6 27. dxe6 Nxc4 28. bxc4 $18 {Kramnik}) 24.
Qxb2 Qf6 25. Qf2 Nb6 (25... Qxd6 26. Re6 Qb8 27. d6 $18) (25... Rfe8 {Kramnik}
26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Rxa7) 26. Rad1 (26. Qxc5 $2 {Kramnik} Rac8 $132) 26... Rfe8
(26... Nxc4 27. bxc4 Qxd6 28. Re6 Qd7 (28... Qc7 29. Qe3 Rf7 30. Nf3 $1 $18)
29. Qxc5 {[%cal Re6e7,Rc5b4] /\Qb4,Re7-+}) 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxc5 $18 Qc3 (
28... Rd8 {Kramnik} 29. Qxb4 $1 Qxd6 30. Qxd6 Rxd6 31. Ng2 $1 Kg7 32. Ne3 $18)
29. Ng2 Re2 (29... Rc8 30. d7 $1 Nxd7 31. Qe7 $18) (29... Qc2 30. Re1 Rxe1+ 31.
Nxe1 Qd2 32. Nf3 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 $18) 30. d7 $1 {smoothly deals with Black's
counterplay.} Nxd7 31. Qb5 {Attacking three pieces at once.} Rxg2+ 32. Kxg2
Qc2+ 33. Be2 Nb6 34. Kf2 Kg7 (34... Qxb3 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qe7+ $18) 35. d6 {
[%cal Rd6d7] /\d7} Bc6 36. Qxb4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Xie, Jun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O Be6 8. Nbd2
a6 9. h3 Ba7 10. Re1 Nh5 11. d4 Bxb3 12. Nxb3 Qf6 13. g3 Rfe8 14. Kg2 Qd8 15.
Bg5 Nf6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nh4 Rd7 20. Rad1 Red8
21. Rxd7 Rxd7 22. Kf3 Bb6 23. Ke2 Kf8 24. Rf1 Ne7 25. Nd2 c6 26. Nc4 Ba7 27. a4
b5 28. Nd2 Bb6 29. Nhf3 Nc8 30. Ra1 Ra7 31. Ne1 Nd6 32. Nd3 a5 33. g4 Nc4 34.
Nxc4 bxc4 35. Ne1 Bc5 36. Nf3 Rb7 37. Ra2 Rd7 38. Nd2 Rd3 39. Nxc4 Rxh3 40.
Nxa5 Rh2 41. Kd3 Rxf2 42. Nxc6 Rg2 43. a5 Rxg4 44. b4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nde2 e6 8.
O-O Be7 9. Bb3 a6 10. Qd3 Qc7 11. Qg3 b5 12. a3 Bb7 13. Qxg7 Rg8 14. Qh6 O-O-O
15. f3 Ne5 16. Be3 Kb8 17. Kh1 Rg6 18. Qh3 Rdg8 19. Nf4 R6g7 20. Rf2 Nc4 21.
Bxc4 Qxc4 22. Nd3 e5 23. g4 Qc8 24. Qf1 Rxg4 25. fxg4 Nxe4 26. Nxe4 Bxe4+ 27.
Rf3 Qxg4 28. Ne1 Bh4 29. h3 Qh5 30. Kh2 Bxe1 31. Rxe1 Bxf3 32. Qf2 Rg2+ 33.
Qxg2 Bxg2 34. Kxg2 Qg6+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. e5 cxd4 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nd5 14. Nxd4 Nxe5
15. Qe4 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Bc5 17. Nf3 O-O 18. Bd2 Qb6 19. Rac1 Rfd8 20. Qe2 Rac8
21. b3 Qb5 22. Qxb5 axb5 23. a4 bxa4 24. bxa4 f6 25. Rfd1 Nb4 26. Ne1 Bxf2+ 27.
Kxf2 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Rxd2+ 29. Ke3 Ra2 30. Rc8+ Kf7 31. Rc7+ Kg6 32. Ra7 e5 33.
Nf3 Nd5+ 34. Kd3 Nf4+ 35. Kc4 Nxg2 36. a5 e4 37. Nd4 e3 38. Kd3 Rd2+ 39. Kc3
Nf4 40. a6 Nd5+ 41. Kc4 Rxd4+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 e5 7. Be3 b6 8. Nbd2
Ne7 9. a3 O-O 10. b4 f5 11. Nc4 Ba6 12. Nb2 Nd5 13. c4 Nxe3 14. fxe3 fxe4 15.
dxe4 Qe7 16. O-O Bc8 17. Nd3 Be6 18. Qc2 cxb4 19. axb4 Kh8 20. c5 b5 21. Ra6
Rac8 22. Ndxe5 Bg8 23. Ng4 h5 24. Ngh2 Bc4 25. Re1 Bd3 26. Qxd3 Rcd8 27. Qc2
Qe6 28. Rxa7 Ra8 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. e5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Rb8 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Qxd6
Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Ke7 16. Rd1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 e5 18. Kb2 Be6 19. Bd3 Rhc8 20. Ra1 Rc5
21. Rhb1 Bd7 22. Bf1 Rbc8 23. c4 Be6 24. cxb5 Rxc2+ 25. Ka3 axb5 26. Rxb5 Bxa2
27. Rxe5+ Be6 28. Ra5 Rb8 29. Ra7+ Kf6 30. Ka4 g5 31. g3 Rxh2 32. Ra3 Rf2 33.
Bb5 h5 34. Ra6 Kg7 35. Ka5 h4 36. gxh4 gxh4 37. Rb6 Ra8+ 38. Ra6 Rxa6+ 39. Bxa6
h3 40. Ra1 Kf6 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. a3
g6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Qf4 11. Qe2 Bg7 12. g3 Qc7 13. Bg2 O-O 14. O-O e5 15.
Rad1 exd4 16. Nxd4 Qb6 17. Qd2 Nc5 18. b4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bh3 20. Rfe1 Rad8 21.
c5 Qc7 22. Qe3 Qd7 23. Nxc6 Qxd1 24. Nxd8 Rxd8 25. Bxb7 Qc2 26. Bg2 Bxg2 27.
Kxg2 Rd2 28. Qf4 Bd4 29. Rf1 Kg7 30. h4 h5 31. Qf3 Rd3 32. Qf4 Qb3 33. Re1 Qxa3
34. c6 Qxb4 35. Re4 Qc5 36. c7 Bf6 37. Rc4 Qd5+ 38. Kh2 Rd1 39. f3 Be5 40. c8=Q
Bxf4 41. Rxf4 Qd2+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 b5 11. Qe3 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qxe5 Qb8 14. Qxb8+
Rxb8 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Ne4 Bc6 17. Nxf6+ Ke7 18. Nh5 Rg8 19. f3 Rg5 20. Nf4 h5
21. h4 Re5 22. Nd3 Bh6+ 23. Kb1 Re3 24. Re1 Rg8 25. Rxe3 Bxe3 26. c3 f5 27. Kc2
Kf6 28. Rh3 f4 29. Kd1 e5 30. Ke2 Bd7 31. Rh1 Bf5 32. Kd1 Rd8 33. Kc2 e4 34.
fxe4 Bxe4 35. b3 a5 36. a3 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. cxb4 Rc8+ 39. Kb2 Bd4+ 40. Kb1
Ra8 41. Kc1 Ra1+ 42. Kd2 Ra2+ 43. Kc1 Be3+ 44. Kb1 Rd2 45. b5 Rd1+ 46. Kc2 Rc1+
47. Kb2 Bxd3 48. b6 Rxf1 49. b7 Bd4+ 50. Ka3 Be5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Xie, Jun"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. a4 a6 8. Na3
Bg4 9. f3 Be6 10. Bc4 Rc8 11. O-O Nb4 12. Nd5 Nbxd5 13. exd5 Bd7 14. c3 Be7 15.
Kh1 O-O 16. Be3 Nh5 17. Bd3 Bg5 18. Bf2 Nf4 19. Nc4 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qf6 21. Be3
Bf5 22. Qe2 Qg6 23. Rfd1 Rxc4 24. Bxg5 Rcc8 25. Be3 e4 26. Rg1 Rfe8 27. f4 h5
28. Qf2 f6 29. Rgc1 Qf7 30. c4 Rc7 31. a5 Qd7 32. b3 Bg6 33. Ra2 Rcc8 34. b4
Bf7 35. Qd2 Qf5 36. Rac2 Rcd8 37. Qd4 Rd7 38. Rd2 Rc8 39. h3 h4 40. Rdc2 Rdc7
41. Qd2 Qh5 42. Qd4 Bxd5 43. Rc3 Bf7 44. Qxd6 Bxc4 45. Qd4 Qf7 46. Qxe4 Rc6 47.
Qd4 Bd5 48. Rxc6 Bxc6 49. f5 Re8 50. Re1 Re4 51. Qd8+ Kh7 52. Qd2 Qb3 53. Kh2
Rxb4 54. Qf2 Qd5 55. Re2 Qe5+ 56. Kg1 Re4 57. Re1 Qxa5 58. Bd2 Qd5 59. Rxe4
Qxe4 60. Bf4 Kg8 61. Bd2 b5 62. Ba5 b4 63. Qb2 Qe1+ 64. Kh2 Qg3+ 65. Kg1 Qe3+
66. Kh2 b3 67. Bc7 Bd5 68. Bd6 a5 69. Bc7 a4 70. Bd6 Kh7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B39"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e4 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. O-O Bc6 12. f3 Nd7 13. b4 b6 14. Rac1 Bb7
15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. Bg5 f6 17. Bh4 Ne5 18. Nb5 Nc6 19. Qd5+ Kh8 20. Nxa7 Nxb4 21.
Qd2 Ra8 22. Qxb4 Rxa7 23. Rc2 Bc6 24. Rb1 Qa8 25. Qd2 g5 26. Bf2 g4 27. Rxb6
gxf3 28. gxf3 Rg8 29. Kf1 Ra3 30. Rb3 Ra5 31. c5 d5 32. Rb6 Ba4 33. Rcb2 dxe4
34. Qc3 Rd8 35. c6 f5 36. Qb4 Bxc6 37. Rxc6 Qxc6 38. Qxa5 Qc1+ 39. Be1 Rg8 40.
Rd2 exf3 41. Bxf3 Qc4+ 42. Re2 Qf4 43. Qd5 e6 44. Rxe6 Qxh2 45. Re2 Qf4 46. Bd2
Qa4 47. Rg2 Qa3 48. Qb3 Qa6+ 49. Be2 Qc6 50. Qc4 Qb6 51. Rxg7 Kxg7 52. Bc3+ Kf8
53. Bb4+ Kg7 54. Bc3+ Kf8 55. Qc8+ Ke7 56. Qxg8 Qb1+ 57. Be1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Be2 (12. Bd3 {
Kasparov-Kramnik (Amsterdam 1996)}) 12... Qa5 13. e5 fxe5 14. fxe5 d5 15. Nxd5
$5 exd5 16. e6 O-O $8 17. Rd3 Bg5+ $2 (17... Bd6 $1 18. e7 (18. exf7+ Rxf7 19.
Bh5 (19. Qxd5 Bf4+ 20. Kb1 Bb7 21. Qe6 Bc8 22. Qd5 Bb7 $10) 19... Rf5 20. Bg4 (
20. Bf3 Qxa2) 20... Qxa2 21. Bxf5 Bxf5 22. Qxd5+ Qxd5 23. Rxd5 Bf4+ 24. Kb1 Bg6
$15) (18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Rh3 (19. Rxd5 $2 Qb4) 19... Bxe6 (19... Qxa2 $2 20. Bd3
f5 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 22. Qxf5 Ra7 $16) (19... f6 20. Rxh7+ $10) 20. Qh4 Bxh3 21.
Qf6+ Kg8 22. gxh3 Bf4+ (22... Rfd8 $2 23. Bh5 Qc7 24. Rg1+ Kf8 25. Rg7 $18) (
22... Qb6 $10) 23. Qxf4 Qb6 $13) (18. Rg3+ Bxg3 19. Qg4+ Kh8 20. hxg3 f6 21.
Rxh7+ $10) 18... Re8 19. Qf6 Qc7 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Qf6+ $10) 18. Kb1 Bxe6 (18...
fxe6 $6 19. Rg3 h6 20. h4 Qc7 21. Qd3 Rf5 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Bg4 Rf6 24. Rgh3
$18) 19. Rg3 $2 (19. h4 $1 Qc7 (19... Bf5 20. Rg3 Bg6 21. Rxg5 Rae8 22. Bd1 f6
23. h5 $1 fxg5 24. hxg6 $18) 20. hxg5 Bf5 21. Qf6 $1 $18) 19... h6 (19... f6 $6
20. h4 Qc7 21. Qd3 h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rh6 $40) 20. h4 Qc7 21. hxg5 $4 (21.
Qf2 $1 f6 22. Bd3 $44) (21. Qd3 $6 Bf5 $1 22. Rxg5+ hxg5 23. Qxf5 Qf4 24. Qxd5
Rad8 25. Qxg5+ Qxg5 26. hxg5 Rd5 $15) 21... Qxg3 22. Rxh6 f6 23. Rg6+ Kh7 24.
Rh6+ Kg7 25. Rxf6 Qe1+ 26. Bd1 Rxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. Qf6+ Ke8 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4
cxd4 9. exf5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Bxc4 dxc3 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.
bxc3 Nd5 15. Bd2 Bd6 16. O-O-O Kd7 17. Kc2 h5 18. h4 Kc7 19. Rde1 Rhe8 20. Bg5
Rb8 21. Bd3 Nf4 22. Bc4 Nxg2 23. Reg1 Nf4 24. Bxf4 Bxf4 25. Rxg7+ Kb6 26. Re1
e5 27. Bd3 Rg8 28. Rb1+ Kc5 29. Rbg1 Rxg7 30. Rxg7 a5 31. Rh7 Rg8 32. Rxh5 Rg3
33. Be2 Rh3 34. Rh8 e4 35. Rh5+ Kd6 36. fxe4 Be5 37. Bd3 c5 38. Rh6+ Kd7 39.
Rh5 Kd6 40. Rh6+ Kd7 41. Bb5+ Ke7 42. c4 Bf6 43. Rh7+ Kd6 44. Rh5 Bd4 45. Rd5+
Ke7 46. h5 Rh4 47. Bc6 Kf6 48. Rf5+ Kg7 49. e5 Rh3 50. e6 Bf6 51. Bd5 Re3 52.
h6+ Kg6 53. Rf2 Bg5 54. Rf7 Kxh6 55. Ra7 Re2+ 56. Kd1 Rd2+ 57. Ke1 Rd3 58. Rxa5
Kh5 59. Ra8 Kg4 60. Rg8 Kf4 61. Rxg5 Kxg5 62. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.27"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nd2 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Ngf3 Qe8 7. Be2 e5 8. O-O
h6 9. Bh4 Bf5 10. a4 Nc6 11. a5 e4 12. Ne1 g5 13. Bg3 Ne7 14. a6 b6 15. Nc2 Bg6
16. Nb4 c5 17. Nc2 Nf5 18. Na3 Rd8 19. Qb3 Qe7 20. Nb5 h5 21. h3 g4 22. Bf4
gxh3 23. gxh3 Nh7 24. Kh2 Qh4 25. Nxe4 Nxd4 26. cxd4 Bxe4 27. Bg3 Qe7 28. Bxh5
Kh8 29. Rad1 d5 30. Nc3 c4 31. Qa3 Qg5 32. Be2 Bf5 33. Rh1 Qh6 34. Kg2 Rg8 35.
Bg4 Qg6 36. Qe7 Be6 37. Bxe6 fxe6 38. h4 Rde8 39. Qxa7 Bh6 40. h5 Qc2 41. Rh3
Bxe3 42. Kh1 Bh6 43. Qf7 Ng5 44. Be5+ Bg7 45. Qf4 Nxh3 0-1

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. a3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. Rfe1 Nb6 14. Ba2 c5
15. Ne5 cxd4 16. exd4 Qc7 17. h4 Nd7 18. h5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 g5 20. Bb1 Rd8 21.
Qh7+ Kf8 22. Ne4 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Qxe5 24. Rd8+ Ke7 25. Qg8 Qb5 26. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Bd3 b4 13. Na4 Rb8 14. e5 dxe5
15. Bxe5 Bd7 16. b3 Bxa4 17. bxa4 O-O 18. Bxb8 Qxb8 19. Bc4 Ne4 20. Qe3 Nc3 21.
Rd7 Bf6 22. Bb3 Qc8 23. Rd6 Kh8 24. Re1 Be7 25. Rd3 Qc7 26. Qd4 Rc8 27. Qf2 Qc6
28. Qf3 Qc5 29. Rd2 Bf6 30. Qe3 Qa5 31. Rd7 Rc7 32. Rxc7 Qxc7 33. g3 Qc6 34. a5
Qg2 35. Qd2 Qc6 36. Qd3 g6 37. Qc4 Qd6 38. Qd3 Qc6 39. Qc4 Qd6 40. Qd3 Qc5 41.
Qxa6 Qf2 42. Qf1 Qxh2 43. a6 Bd4 44. Qf3 Kg7 45. Bc4 Qh3 46. Bd3 Nxa2+ 47. Kb1
Nc3+ 48. Kb2 e5 49. Rxe5 Qd7 50. Ra5 Qc7 51. a7 Qxa5 52. a8=Q Nd5+ 53. Kc1 Qxa8
54. Kd2 Qd8 55. Qe4 Nf6 56. Qc6 Bc3+ 57. Ke2 Qd4 58. Kf3 h5 59. f5 Qd5+ 60.
Qxd5 Nxd5 61. fxg6 fxg6 62. Ke4 Ne7 63. Bc4 Nf5 64. Kf3 Be5 65. Bd3 Nd4+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.30"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Nf3 a6 11. Be2 Be6 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Qe7 14. Bb2 Rfe8
15. Nd4 Be5 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Na4 Bxb2 18. Nxb2 c5 19. bxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd3 Qd6
21. Nf4 Bf5 22. Bf3 Rad8 23. Qd4 Be4 24. Be2 Bf5 25. Bf3 Be4 26. Be2 Bf5 27.
Qb4 d4 28. Qxd6 Rxd6 29. Rfd1 g5 30. Nh5 Nxh5 31. Bxh5 d3 32. Rd2 g4 33. f3
gxf3 34. Bxf3 Rxe3 35. Rc1 Re5 36. Kf2 Kg7 37. Rc4 Ra5 38. Rc3 Rb5 39. h4 h6
40. Ke3 a5 41. Kf2 Rd4 42. g3 Re5 43. Rc7 Ra4 44. Rc3 Bg6 45. Rb3 Rc4 46. g4
Rc2 47. Rb2 Rxd2+ 48. Rxd2 f6 49. Kg3 Rc5 50. Kf4 Rc3 51. Rb2 Rxa3 52. Rb7+ Kf8
53. Rd7 Ra4+ 54. Ke3 f5 55. h5 Be8 56. Rxd3 fxg4 57. Be4 Bxh5 58. Rd6 Kg7 59.
Rd7+ Kf6 60. Rd6+ Kg5 61. Bc2 Ra3+ 62. Kf2 g3+ 63. Kg1 Bf3 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "201"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3
Nc6 15. d5 Na5 (15... Ne5 $5) 16. Bc5 Bf6 17. e5 Bxe5 18. Rb4 (18. h3 Rfd8 $5
19. hxg4 Rxd5 20. Bd4 $1 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Rad8 $1 22. Qc2 $1 Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Rd2 24.
Rfd1 Nc4 $44 {Strelbin-Nadanian,A/URS/1991/}) 18... Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rae8 20. Be3
Nc4 {Novelty. The first who is getting out from there previos game is Anand.
May be he thought that he'll have enough compensation for the exchange. Anyway
he looked very confident in this moment and was playing very fast.} (20... Bc3
21. Ra4 Qb2 22. Qd3 b5 23. Bc1 bxa4 $1 24. Bxb2 Bxb2 25. d6 $4 (25. Qd2 Nc4 26.
Qc2 Rc8 27. Be2 Ne3 28. Qxb2 Nxf1 29. Kxf1 $18 {Kramnik}) 25... Bf6 26. Qb5 Nb3
27. d7 Rd8 28. Rd1 Nd4 29. Qxa4 Nxf3+ 30. gxf3 e6 $10 {Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Riga
Tal.1995}) 21. Bxh6 Nd6 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. h4 $1 {It is important for White to
create new weaknesses on the kingside what will be useful in some eventual
endings.} (23. Ra4 Qb2 24. Rxa7 Qd4 25. Qxd4 Bxd4 26. Ra4 $16) 23... Rc8 24.
Be4 Qa5 (24... Rc4 25. Bb1 Qa5 26. Rxc4 Nxc4 27. h5 $40) (24... b5 $5) 25. Ra4
Qb5 (25... Qc7 26. Bd3 b5 27. Rg4 $16) 26. Bb1 Rc5 27. Bd3 Qd7 28. Rxa7 $16
Rxd5 29. Ra8+ Kg7 30. h5 Rd4 (30... Nf5 31. hxg6 fxg6 32. Qe2 $16) 31. Qe2 Bf6
32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Bb1 Qg4 34. Qa2 Nc4 35. Qb3 b5 36. Re1 Rd2 37. Ra2 Rd5 38.
Be4 Re5 39. Rae2 Qh4 40. g3 Qh6 41. Qd3 $18 {Vladimir managed to improve the
position of all his pieces that means that there are not so many practical
chances left for Vishy.} Nd6 42. Bd5 Rxe2 43. Qxe2 Qh3 44. Be6 Qh8 45. Qf3 Qb8
46. Kg2 b4 47. Rh1 Qb7 48. Bd5 Qb5 49. g4 Nf7 50. Bb3 Nh6 51. Re1 Qg5 52. Re4
Nf5 53. Qd1 Nh4+ 54. Kh3 Qc5 55. Qe2 g5 56. Qc4 Qxc4 57. Rxc4 Bc3 58. Rc5 Nf3
59. Kg3 Ne5 60. Rb5 Bd2 61. f3 Bc3 62. f4 gxf4+ 63. Kxf4 Nf7 64. Rd5 Bb2 65.
Kf5 Bf6 66. Rd1 Ng5 67. Rd3 Nf7 68. Rd7 Nd6+ 69. Kf4 Nf7 70. Rb7 Be5+ 71. Ke3
Bd6 72. Ke4 Ng5+ 73. Kf5 Nf3 74. Bd5 Nh4+ 75. Kg5 Ng6 76. Ra7 Nf8 77. Kf5 Bc5
78. Rb7 Bd6 79. g5 Ng6 80. Ra7 Nf8 81. Bb3 Ng6 82. Ra8 Nf8 83. Kg4 Bc7 84. Kh5
Bd6 85. Rc8 Be5 86. Rc5 Ng6 87. Rc8 Nf8 88. Rc1 Bc3 89. Rf1 e6 90. Rd1 Kf7 91.
Rd8 Ng6 92. Rd7+ Ke8 93. Ba4 Ne5 94. Rb7+ Kf8 95. g6 Nd3 96. Kh6 Nc5 97. Rb8+
Ke7 98. Bc2 Nd7 99. Rb7 Kd6 100. g7 Bxg7+ 101. Kxg7 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Stohl: A crucial game between the two highest rated players in the world.
Their score in decided normal games is now 2:2, with Kramnik being the first
one to win with Black. In den vergangenen Jahren haben Viswanathan Anand und
Wladimir Kramnik sich als die Nummer 2 und 3 der Welt hinter Kasparow
etabliert. Wдhrend jedoch Anand in den persцnlichen Begegnungen gegen Kasparow
befangen wirkt und hдufig nicht seine Chancen wahrnimmt, geht Kramnik ohne
groЯen Respekt in die Partien gegen den Weltmeister. Als Ergebnis entstanden
bisher zahlreiche bemerkenswerte Schlachten zwischen den beiden. Die
nachfolgende Partie ist eine der schцnsten Siege fьr Kramnik: Kasparow bringt
eine Neuerung, aber Kramnik widerlegt diese am Brett und kann mit einem
intuitiven Turmopfer die Partie fьr sich entscheiden. Ich stьtze mich auf die
Kommentare von Wladimir Kramnik im Informator 66/382 sowie auf verschiedene
Kommentatoren im ChessBaseMagazin 53. Ich habe hier nur einen kleinen Teil der
taktischen Varianten angegeben. Der Leser mцge sich ermutigt fьhlen, selbst in
die Komplikationen einzusteigen und eigene Forschungen zu betreiben.} 1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 {Die Semi-Slawische Verteidigung war lange Zeit
Kramniks Haupterцffnung gegen 1.d4, ehe er sich in den letzten Jahren dem
Nimzo-Inder und dem Abglehntem Damengambit zuwandte.} 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7.
Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 {Mit diesem Zug beginnt das
sogenannte Reynolds-System, eines der kompliziertesten Abspiele im Semi-Slawen.
Kasparow hatte natьrlich einen Grund fьr seine Variantenwahl.} c4 12. Bc2 Qc7 {
Der Pd5 ist natьrlich ein Keil in der schwarzen Stellung, gelingt es Schwarz,
diesen Bauern zu einer Entscheidung zu zwingen, kann er mit einem guten Spiel
dank seiner Mehrheit am Damenflьgel rechnen.} 13. Nd4 Nc5 14. b4 {This move
was close to become popular in the beginning of 90th.} cxb3 15. axb3 b4 {
Der Kampf spitzt sich zu: Schwarz will das weiЯe Zentrum zerstцren, WeiЯ pocht
auf seinen Entwicklungsvorsprung und die sich цffnenden Linien.} 16. Na4 Ncxe4
17. Bxe4 {Stohl: Kasparov's novelty is designed to make use of Black's K stuck
on e8. Dies war Kasparows vorbereitete Neuerung.} (17. dxe6 {wurde in Yakovich,
Y-Sorokin,M (Calcutta op 1991) probiert, aber nach} Rd8 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Be3
Bd6 20. h3 Rhe8 {spielten alle schwarzen Figuren mit.}) 17... Nxe4 18. dxe6 {
Bis hier hin hatte Kasparow gerade mal 6 Minuten verbraucht, erst nach der
Antwort Kramniks (der schon eine halbe Stunde verbraucht hatte) begann er
selbst zu denken.} Bd6 {Das schwarze Lдuferpaar wird im weiteren Verlauf eine
verheerende Wirkung entfalten.} 19. exf7+ Qxf7 {Stohl: An exciting, if
probably not fully correct concept. Now Black will be forced to sacrifice a
piece to get his K out of the center. Kramnik nimmt die Herausforderung an.
Sein Zug beinhaltet das Opfer einer Figur.} 20. f3 {Wenn Schwarz noch einen
Zug fьr die kurze Rochade hдtte, stдnde er klar besser, da seine Figuren
wesentlich wirksamer sind.} Qh5 {Zieht der Ne4, dann ist Re1+ sehr unangenehm.}
(20... O-O $2 21. fxe4 Bxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Qxf1 23. Qxf1 Rxf1 24. Nc5 $16 {(Kramnik)
ist hier nicht ausreichend.}) 21. g3 (21. fxe4 $2 Qxh2+ 22. Kf2 O-O+ 23. Nf3
Bxe4 {oder}) (21. h3 $2 Qe5 {geben Schwarz krдftigen Angriff.}) 21... O-O $5 {
Nach einem Rьckzug des Ne4 wьrde 22.Re1+ den schwarzen Kцnig ins Gedrдnge
bringen. Das Figurenopfer wird durch den schlafenden weiЯen Damenflьgel und
die geschwдchte weiЯe Kцnigsstellung motiviert. Ob es restlos korrekt ist,
bezweifele ich allerdings. Es gab zwei andere Mцglichkeiten, die Figur zu
geben, davon ist die eine wahrscheinlich besser als der Partiezug.} ({I)} 21...
Bxg3 $2 22. hxg3 O-O (22... Nxg3 23. Qe1+) 23. Ra2 Nxg3 24. Rh2 $16 {(Kramnik)
ist falsch.}) ({II)} 21... Nxg3 $1 {ist dagegen gut fьr Schwarz, wie Kramnik
analysiert:} 22. hxg3 (22. Qe1+ Ne4 23. Ra2 O-O $40) (22. Re1+ Kf7 23. Nc6 Nf5
24. Qd5+ Kf8 $17) 22... O-O 23. Ra2 Bxg3 24. Rg2 Be5 {und Schwarz hat genьgend
Kompensation fьr die Minusfigur: zwei Bauern, ein starkes Lдuferpaar, Spiel
gegen den weiЯen Kцnig und den Pf3, der Na4 steht abseits ...}) 22. fxe4 {
Kasparow nahm die Figur sicherlioh nicht gern, aber andernfalls steht er
einfach schlechter.} Qh3 {Stohl: Black doesn't have even a single pawn for the
piece, but his attack is unexpectedly dangerous. Kasparov surprisingly cracks
under the pressure.} 23. Nf3 $2 {In den nдchsten Zьgen greift Kasparow
mehrmals fehl - ein Trost fьr den Normal-"Schдcher", dass selbst der
Weltmeister gelegentlich vor der Komplexitдt des Schachspiels in die Knie geht.
Es gibt zwei Fortsetzungen, die WeiЯ Aussicht auf Vorteil einrдumen.} ({I)} 23.
Ra2 $5 {wird von Kramnik angegeben:} Bxe4 (23... Bxg3 24. Nf5 $1 Rxf5 25. Rxf5
Bxe4 26. Rg5 Bh4 27. Qg4 $18) 24. Re1 (24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Rf2 Rxf2 26. Kxf2
Qxh2+ 27. Ke3 Bg6 $15 {Black will gain a third pawn for the piece with a
continuing initiative.}) 24... Bb7 (24... Rae8 25. Re3 Bb7 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27.
Qf1 Qg4 28. Nf5 Qe4 29. Qc4+ Qxc4 30. bxc4 $16) 25. Qd3 $14) ({II)} 23. Qe2 $1
Bxg3 (23... Bxe4 $2 24. Bf4 Bxf4 25. Qxe4 Bxg3 26. Qe6+ Qxe6 27. Nxe6 Rxf1+ 28.
Rxf1 $16) (23... Rxf1+ 24. Qxf1 Qg4 25. Qf3 $16) (23... Be5 24. Bb2 Bxg3 25.
hxg3 Qxg3+ 26. Qg2 Qe3+ 27. Kh2 Bxe4 28. Qxg7+ $1 $18) (23... Rfe8 24. Nc5 $5
Bxc5 25. Qc4+ Kh8 26. Qxc5 Bxe4 27. Ra2 $16) 24. Nf5 Be5 25. Bb2 Bxb2 (25...
Bxe4 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Bxe5) (25... Rae8 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. Qc4+ Kh8 28. Qxb4 $16
) 26. Qxb2 Qg4+ 27. Ng3 $16) 23... Bxg3 {[#]} 24. Nc5 $2 {Hier hatte Kasparow
zwei bessere Mцglichkeiten.} ({I)} 24. hxg3 $2 Qxg3+ 25. Kh1 Bxe4 $19) ({II)} 
24. Ra2 $5 Bxe4 25. hxg3 Rad8 26. Qe1 Rxf3 27. Rxf3 Bxf3 28. Rh2 Qg4 29. Rd2
$13) ({III)} 24. Qe2 $5 Rxf3 25. Rxf3 Bxh2+ 26. Qxh2 Qxf3 27. Qg2 Qxg2+ (27...
Qd1+ 28. Kh2 $10) (27... Qxb3 $6 28. Bh6 {und WeiЯ ьbernimmt die Initiative})
28. Kxg2 Bxe4+ 29. Kg1 {, und das Endspiel sollte mit einem Unentschieden
enden.}) 24... Rxf3 $1 25. Rxf3 $2 {Und hier verpasst Kasparow die letzte
Mцglichkeit, in ein schlechtes Endspiel einzulenken.} (25. Ra2 $1 Rxf1+ 26.
Qxf1 Qxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Rc8 28. Be3 Bf4 $1 29. Nxb7 Bxe3 30. Rxa6 Bf4 $17 {
(Kramnik). WeiЯ kann noch Hoffnung schцpfen.}) 25... Qxh2+ 26. Kf1 Bc6 $1 {
White now has an extra R, but his K is so exposed that he has no defense in
the long run. Spдtestens hier wird Kasparow begriffen haben, dass heute nicht
sein Tag ist. Kramnik spielt glдnzend, trotz Minusturm erlaubt er sich einen
stillen Zug von entscheidender Kraft, die Drohung ist ...Bb5+ und ...Rd8.
Lediglich von akademischen Interesse ist, dass 24...Qh1+ Dauerschach erzwingt.}
(26... Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Qh2+ 28. Ke3 Qh6+ 29. Kd3 $2 (29. Ke2 Qh2+ $10) 29... Qd6+
30. Ke2 Qxc5 31. Rxg3 Qh5+ 32. Ke1 (32. Rf3 Bxe4 $17) 32... Qe5 $19) 27. Bg5 {
Kontrolliert das Feld d8. Es gibt aber keine Rettung mehr.} ({I)} 27. Be3 Bb5+
28. Nd3 Rd8 29. Bg1 Qh3+ 30. Ke2 Qg2+ 31. Bf2 Bxf2 32. Rxf2 Qxe4+ $19) ({II)} 
27. Qd3 Qh1+ 28. Ke2 Qe1#) ({III)} 27. Ra5 $5 {ist mit einem ьberraschendem
Turm-Rьckopfer verbunden.} Bc7 28. Qd4 $5 (28. Ra1 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Qg2+ 30. Ke3
Qg5+ 31. Kf2 Qxc5+ $19) 28... Bxa5 29. Bb2 Qh6 (29... Bb5+ 30. Nd3 Bxd3+ 31.
Qxd3 Qh1+ 32. Kf2 Bb6+ 33. Kg3 {, und die Situation bleibt unklar}) 30. Rg3 Ra7
{WeiЯ hat zwar kurzfristig die Initative ьbernommen, aber letztlich sollte
sich das schwarze Extramaterial durchsetzen, z.B.} 31. Ne6 Rf7+ 32. Kg1 Qxe6
33. Rxg7+ Kf8 34. Qc5+ Ke8 35. Rg8+ Kd7 36. Qxa5 Qxe4 37. Qd8+ Ke6 38. Qc8+ Kd6
39. Qb8+ Rc7 40. Qf8+ Re7 41. Qb8+ Kc5 42. Rg5+ Bd5 43. Qc8+ Kb6 44. Qb8+ Bb7
45. Qd6+ Bc6 46. Bd4+ Kb7 47. Qxb4+ Kc8 48. Rg8+ Kd7 {, und WeiЯ gehen die
Schachgebote aus. Auch wenn dieser Verteidigungsversuch knapp scheitert, zeigt
er doch, dass der Verteidiger immer ein Rьckopfer des Materials in Betracht
ziehen sollte.}) 27... Bb5+ (27... Qh1+ $2 28. Ke2 Qg2+ 29. Ke3 {fьhrt zu
nichts}) 28. Nd3 Re8 $1 {Mit der Aktivierung der letzten passiven Figur ist
das weiЯe Schicksal endgьltig besiegelt.} 29. Ra2 (29. Be3 Rd8 $19) (29. Qd2
Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Rxe4+ 31. Re3 Qh5+ 32. Kf1 Qxg5 $19) (29. Rc1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Rxe4+
31. Kd2 Qg2+ $19) (29. Rb1 Rxe4 30. Rf8+ Kxf8 31. Qf3+ Kg8 32. Qxe4 Qf2#) 29...
Qh1+ $6 {Schwarz konnte hier sofort mattsetzen, aber das ist nur ein kleiner
Schцnheitsfehler.} (29... Bxd3+ $1 30. Rxd3 (30. Qxd3 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Qe1#) 30...
Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Qg2+ 32. Ke3 Rxe4#) 30. Ke2 Rxe4+ (30... Bxd3+ $2 31. Kd2 $1) 31.
Kd2 (31. Be3 Qg2+ 32. Rf2 Qxf2#) 31... Qg2+ 32. Kc1 (32. Nf2 Rd4+) 32... Qxa2
33. Rxg3 (33. Rf8+ Kxf8 34. Qf3+ Bf4+ 35. Bxf4 Qa1+ 36. Kd2 Qc3+ $19) 33...
Qa1+ 34. Kc2 Qc3+ 35. Kb1 Rd4 {Hier hatte Kasparow genug gesehen und gab auf.
Sicherlich eine der beeindruckendsten Partien der 90er Jahre.} ({Es kцnnte so
weitergehen:} 35... Rd4 36. Bf6 Bxd3+ 37. Ka2 Bb1+ 38. Qxb1 Rd2+ {nebst Matt.})
0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Qe3 Qc7 {0.02} 13. e5
dxe5 14. Bxe5 (14. fxe5 Nd7 15. Ne4 Bb7 (15... O-O 16. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 17. exf6
Bxf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 {Klovans-Makarycev SSSR 1983 36/261} 19. Rd4 $5 h5 20. Be2
Qe5 21. Qf2 Bb7 22. Rh4 $40 {Gipslis}) 16. Nd6+ (16. Bd3 Nxe5 $17) 16... Qxd6
17. exd6 Bg5 18. Qxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg7 Rh4 20. Bd4 (20. Bc3 Bd5 21. h3 Nc5 22. Be5
Rc8 23. b3 Kd7 24. Rh2 Re4 25. Bf6 Rf4 $1 26. Bxg5 Rf2 27. Bd2 (27. Be3 Nxb3+ (
27... Bxb3 $1 28. Kb2 Ba4 $19 {Klovans,J-Vekshenkov,N/Novosibirsk/1987/0:1/33/}
) 28. Kb1 (28. axb3 Rcxc2+ 29. Kb1 Rb2+ 30. Ka1 Ra2+ 31. Kb1 Rfb2+ 32. Kc1 Rxb3
{/\33...Be4-+/}) 28... Be4 29. Bxf2 Bxc2+ 30. Kb2 Bxd1 31. axb3 Rc2+ $17))
20... Rc8 21. Rd2 (21. Bf2 Rh6 22. h4 e5 23. Be2 Bxg2 24. Rhg1 Be4 25. Rd2 Rc6
$13 {Wahls,M-Lagunov,A 1995}) 21... Bd5 22. Be3 (22. Kb1 Nc5) 22... f6 23. Bd3
Ne5 24. b3 Kd7 25. Rf1 (25. h3 Kxd6 26. Rf1 Ke7 $17) 25... Rxh2 26. Rxf6 Rxg2
27. Rxg2 Bxg2 28. Kb2 Rg8 $1 29. Be2 Kxd6 $17 {1/2-1/2 Varavin,V-Makarov,M/
RUS-ch Elista (02)/1994/ (53)}) 14... Ng4 $5 {a new move,and a very
interesting idea,black sacrifises an exchange inorder to get a strong
initiative,when white losses many tempi with is queen} (14... Qb7 15. Be2 Bd7
16. f5 O-O 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Ne4 Bd8 19. f6 Bc6 20. fxg7 Kxg7 21. Qc3+ Kh7 22.
Nf6+ Bxf6 23. Qxf6 Be4 24. Rd2 Rac8 25. Bf3 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rg8 27. Rhd1 Rg6 {
1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Hracek,Z/BL 9495/1995/ (56)}) (14... Qa7 15. Bd4 Qb8 16. Be5 $2
Ng4 17. Qg3 Nxe5 18. fxe5 O-O $17 {Erneste,I-Serper,G Helsinki 1992}) 15. Qf3 (
15. Bxc7 {Ftacnik} Nxe3 16. Rd3 Nf5 $10) 15... Nxe5 16. Qxa8 (16. fxe5 {Ftacnik
} Bb7 $15) 16... Nd7 {0.05} (16... Nc6 $2 {Ftacnik} 17. Nxb5 $1 Qxf4+ 18. Kb1
O-O 19. Qxc6 axb5 20. Qxb5 $18) 17. g3 {0.34} (17. Qf3 {Ftacnik} Bb7 18. Qg3
$14) (17. f5 {Ftacnik} Nb6 18. Qf3 O-O 19. Bd3 $14) 17... Nb6 (17... O-O $2 {
and white gained the control over the h1-a8 diagonal,when black compensation
is not enough} 18. Bg2) 18. Qf3 {0.34} Bb7 19. Ne4 {0.34} f5 {0.30} 20. Qh5+ {
0.35} (20. Bd3 {Ftacnik} O-O $15) 20... Kf8 {0.32} 21. Nf2 {0.35} (21. Bg2 {
Ftacnik} Bxe4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. Rhe1 Nd5 $17) 21... Bf6 $1 {the best move,
black is not satisfied witha draw which results after 21...Bc5, and also
better than 21...Bxh1 with about equal position} (21... Bc5 22. Nh3 $3 $8 Bxh1
23. Ng5 hxg5 (23... g6 $2 24. Qxg6 Bd5 25. Rxd5) 24. Qxh8+ Kf7 25. Qh5+ {
with a draw}) 22. Bd3 {0.46} (22. Rg1 {Ftacnik} Na4 (22... Qc5 23. Bg2 $1 Qxf2
(23... Bxb2+ 24. Kxb2 Na4+ 25. Kc1 Qe3+ 26. Rd2 $18) 24. Bxb7 Nc4 25. Kb1 Bxb2
26. Qf3 $16) 23. Nd3 Be4 24. Rg2 Bxd3 (24... Nxb2 25. Nxb2 Qc3 26. Nd3 Qa1+ 27.
Kd2 Qc3+ 28. Kc1 $10) 25. Rxd3 Bxb2+ 26. Kb1 Bf6 $40) 22... Na4 23. Rhe1 {0.46}
(23. b3 {Ftacnik} Bxh1 (23... Bb2+ 24. Kb1 (24. Kd2 Qa5+ 25. Ke2 Nc3+ 26. Ke1
Nxd1+ 27. Kxd1 Bxh1 28. Nxh1 Qxa2 $19) 24... Ba3 25. Rdf1 Bxh1 26. bxa4 (26.
Rxh1 Qc3 27. Nd1 Qd2 $19) 26... Qc3 27. Nd1 Qd2 $19) 24. bxa4 (24. Rxh1 Nc3 $17
) 24... Bd5 $17) 23... Bxb2+ 24. Kb1 {0.47} (24. Kd2 {Ftacnik} Qa5+ 25. Ke2 Bg2
$19) 24... Bd5 $3 {on his last 4 moves Kramnik thought little more than 1 and
16 minutes while Ivanchuk spent less than 15 minutes the result was the same!!}
25. Bxb5 (25. Bxf5 {Ftacnik} Bxa2+ $1 26. Kxa2 Qc4+ 27. Kb1 Nc3+ 28. Kxb2 Qb4+
29. Kc1 Na2#) 25... Bxa2+ $1 {Kramnik simply sees everything} (25... Nc3+ {
Ftacnik} 26. Kxb2 Nxd1+ (26... Nxb5 27. Rd3 Qb6 28. Nd1 $14) 27. Nxd1 axb5 28.
Nc3 $13) 26. Kxa2 axb5 27. Kb1 {0.49} (27. Rxe6 $2 {Ftacnik} Qc4+ 28. Kb1 Nc3+
29. Kxb2 Qb4+ 30. Kc1 Na2#) 27... Qa5 $3 {the winning move,Kramnik is left
with only 5 minutes to reach the 40 move but he does not need to worry about
this since the game is about to end,the threat now is Nc3-Qb4 and in the end
Na2 mate} 28. Nd3 {1.01} Ba3 {1.57} (28... Bd4 {Ftacnik} 29. Rxe6 Nc3+ 30. Kc1
g6 31. Qf3 (31. Qxg6 Qa1+ 32. Kd2 Qxd1#) 31... Na2+ 32. Kb1 Nb4 33. Kc1 Bc3 $19
) 29. Ka2 (29. Rxe6 {Ftacnik} Nc3+ 30. Ka1 Bc1#) (29. c3 {Ftacnik} Nxc3+ 30.
Kc2 Nxd1 $19) 29... Nc3+ 30. Kb3 {1.02} Nd5 {1.58} (30... Ne4 {Ftacnik} 31.
Rxe4 fxe4 $19) 31. Ka2 (31. Rxe6 {Ftacnik} Qa4+ 32. Ka2 Nc3+ 33. Ka1 Bc1#)
31... Bb4+ {and there is no wasy to prevent mate after 32.Kb1 Bc3 so Ivanchuk
resigned.one of the best games this year} 32. Kb1 Bc3 {Times: 1.02/1.58} (32...
Bc3 {Ftacnik} 33. Nb2 Qa3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8.
Bf4 Ne5 9. Be2 Bd7 10. Be3 (10. O-O Be7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Nd2 Bc6 13. a4 Ned7 14.
f4 O-O 15. Bf3 Rfd8 $13 {Smirin,I-Ruban,V/Tilburg/1994/0:1/46/}) 10... Qc7 11.
Nb5 (11. f4 Nc4 12. Bxc4 Qxc4 13. Qf3 Bc6 14. Nd4 Be7 15. O-O-O d5 16. e5 Ne4
17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qg3 Qxa2 19. Qxg7 Rf8 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Qxh7 Bb4 22. c4 Bc3 {
0-1 Saulin,D-Dragomarezkij,E/Moscow op2 (05) ;EXP 50 1995}) 11... Bxb5 (11...
Qb8 12. f4 Neg4 (12... Ng6 13. f5 $5 exf5 14. exf5 Ne5 15. Qd4 a6 16. Nc3 Bxf5
17. O-O Be6 18. Rxf6 $1 (18. Rad1 Be7 $17) 18... gxf6 19. Nd5 $44 {Sokolov,
A-Nevednichy,V/JUG-chT Tivat (01) ;EXP 48 1995/1-0 (57)}) 13. Bxg4 Bxb5 14. Bf3
Be7 (14... e5 15. a4 Bc6 16. Qd3 Be7 17. c4 O-O 18. f5 $14 {Lastin,
A-Dragomarezkij,E/Moscow/1995/1:0/55/}) 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. Qd3 Qc7 17. O-O a6 18.
c4 O-O 19. b4 $1 $14 {1-0 Sokolov,A-Khasin,Al/RUS-ch Elista (07) ;CBM 44 1994 
(48)}) 12. Bxb5+ Nc6 13. Qf3 $146 (13. Bd3 Be7 14. O-O O-O 15. f4 Nb4 16. Nd4
Rfe8 17. Qf3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Qa5 19. a3 Qa6 20. Rad1 Bd8 21. g4 Nd7 22. Kh1 Bb6
23. Nc2 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qb6 25. Qxb6 Nxb6 $10 {Zontakh,A-Kozul,Z/Portoroz op ;
EXP 46 1995/0-1 (72)}) (13. Nd2 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Qf3 Be7 16. Bxc6+ Qxc6 17.
c4 Nb4 18. Qxc6+ Nxc6 19. Ke2 O-O-O 20. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Sokolov,A-Belikov,V/
RUS-ch Elista (01) ;CBM 50 1995}) 13... a6 14. Bd3 d5 $1 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Be4
Ne5 17. Qe2 (17. Qg3 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 (18. fxe3 O-O-O $15) 18... Bd6 $15) 17...
Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Bd6 19. Qc3 (19. O-O-O Nc4 20. Qf3 O-O-O $15) 19... Qxc3+ 20.
bxc3 Rb8 $15 {[%csl Ga2,Gc2,Gc3]} 21. g3 Ke7 22. f4 Nc4 23. a4 Rhc8 24. Nd4 Bc7
25. Nb3 (25. Rb1 Nd6 26. Bd3 Ba5 27. Ne2 Bxc3+ 28. Nxc3 Rxc3 29. Bxa6 Rxc2 $17)
25... Bb6 26. Bd3 Nd6 27. Kd2 Rc7 28. a5 Ba7 29. Rhe1 g6 30. Nd4 Rbc8 31. Ne2
Rc5 $17 32. Reb1 Rh5 (32... Bb8 $19 {/\ Bc7}) 33. h4 Rcc5 34. Rb4 Rxa5 $19 35.
Rab1 Bc5 36. Rxb7+ Nxb7 37. Rxb7+ Kf8 38. Nd4 Ra1 (38... Rd5 $6 39. Nc6 (39.
Nb3 $2 Ra4 $19) 39... Rb5 40. Rc7 Rb1 41. c4 Rd6 42. Ne5 Bb4+ 43. Ke2 $15) 39.
Nf3 Be7 (39... Bf2 $6 40. g4 Rd5 41. c4 $15) 40. Ne5 Rg1 (40... f6 $2 41. Nc6
Ba3 42. Nd4 $13) 41. Rb8+ Kg7 42. Rb7 Rxe5 43. fxe5 Bf8 44. c4 $2 (44. Bxa6
Rxg3 45. Bb5 $132 {/\ Be8}) 44... Rxg3 45. Rc7 Bb4+ 46. Ke2 Rg1 47. Ke3 (47. c5
Re1+ 48. Kf3 Rxe5 $19) 47... Bc3 48. c5 Ra1 49. Rc6 (49. Bc4 Bxe5 50. Ra7 Kf6
51. c6 Ra3+ 52. Bd3 Rc3 53. Rxa6 h5 $19) (49. Ra7 Ra5 50. c6 Rc5 51. Rxa6 Bxe5
$19) 49... Ra4 50. Bxa6 Rxh4 51. Rc8 Bxe5 52. c4 (52. c6 Kf6 53. Bd3 (53. c7
Rh3+ 54. Ke4 Rc3 $19) 53... Rb4 54. c4 (54. c7 Rb7 $19) 54... Rb8 $19) 52...
Rh3+ 53. Ke4 Bb2 54. Rc7 (54. c6 f5+ 55. Kf4 e5+ 56. Kg5 h6#) 54... Kf8 55.
Rc8+ (55. Kf4 h6 56. Rd7 (56. Rb7 Bd4 57. Rd7 (57. c6 f5 $19) 57... Bxc5 $19)
56... f5 $19) 55... Ke7 56. Rc7+ Kf8 57. Rc8+ Kg7 58. Rc7 Rh5 59. Rb7 (59. c6
Re5+ 60. Kd3 Rc5 61. Bb5 h5 $19) 59... Rh4+ 60. Kd3 Rh3+ 61. Kc2 Be5 62. Bb5 (
62. c6 Ra3 63. Bb5 Ra8 $19) 62... g5 63. Be8 (63. c6 g4 64. c7 Bxc7 65. Rxc7 g3
66. Bc6 g2 67. Bxg2 Rh2 $19) 63... Rf3 64. Kd2 (64. c6 Kf8 65. Bd7 Rc3+ $19)
64... g4 65. Bc6 Rf4 66. Ke2 g3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. g3 (5. a3 $5 Ba5 6. g3 (
6. g3 {Dolmatov} Nc6 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O a6)) 5... Nc6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 (7...
Na5 $2 8. Qc2 Nxc4 9. Na4 d5 10. a3 Ba5 11. d3 Nb6 12. Nxc5 $14 {Garcia
Ilundain,D-Psakhis,L/Benasque/1995/CBM50/}) (7... d5 8. d3 h6 (8... Bxc3 9.
Qxc3 d4 10. Qa3 Qb6 11. Bf4 Re8 12. Ne5 $14 {Ehlvest,J-Korschnoj,V/Horgen/1995/
CBM50/INF65,14/}) 9. e3 Re8 10. a3 dxc4 11. dxc4 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 e5 13. b4 e4 14.
Nd2 Qe7 $14 {Kasparov,G-Anand,V/PCA-Wch/1995/CBM49/INF64,15/}) 8. d3 h6 (8...
Qe7 9. e3 e5 10. Nd2) (8... Rb8 {Dolmatov} 9. Nh4 Bd7 10. Bd2 a6 11. a3 Ba5 12.
Qd1 b5 13. b4 Bc7 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Rb1 cxb4 $10 {Kavalek,L-Ree,H/NED/1969/})
9. e3 e5 (9... Rb8 $5 {Dolmatov} 10. Bd2 Bd7) 10. Nd2 Bxc3 {Der schwarze
Lдufer steht nicht besonders gut auf b4, mit der Partiefortsetzung spielt
Schwarz auf sofortigen Ausgleich.} (10... Be6 {Dolmatov} 11. Nde4 Nxe4 $10) 11.
Qxc3 d5 $6 (11... Be6 12. e4 (12. f4 Qd7 13. fxe5 $6 dxe5 14. Rxf6 $2 gxf6 15.
Ne4 Qe7) 12... Nd4) 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Qxc5 Ndb4 14. b3 {Zum einen verteidigt
WeiЯ seine Bauern gegen den spдteren Be6, andererseits droht er Ba3.} (14. d4
exd4 15. e4 Be6) 14... Nxd3 15. Qc3 Nxc1 16. Raxc1 Be6 17. Ne4 $14 {WeiЯ hat
einen typischen "Katalaner"-Vorteil: er hat einen "Roentgen"-Lдufer auf g2,
der ist immer stдrker als sein Kollege und sein aktiver Springer zielt nach c5
oder d6.} (17. Bxc6 $2 bxc6 18. e4 a5 19. Rfd1 $10) 17... Qe7 18. Qc5 $1 (18.
Nc5 Rac8 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 20. Qxe5 Rfc8 21. Nd3 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 23. Nxc1 Qb4
$132) 18... Rad8 19. Qxe7 Nxe7 20. Nc5 Bd5 21. Bxd5 (21. Nxb7 Bxg2 (21... Bxb7
$2 22. Bxb7 Rd2 23. Rc7 $16) 22. Kxg2 Rd2 {Eine дhnliche Stellung wie in der
Partie, aber Schwarz hat mit Nd5 oder Nf5 Gegenspiel.} (22... Rd2 {Dolmatov}
23. a4 Nd5 24. Kf3 f5)) 21... Rxd5 22. Nxb7 {Schwarz ist in einem schlechten
Endspiel gelandet.} Rd2 23. a4 (23. Rc7 $5 Nd5 24. Rd7 Rb8 (24... Rc8 {Dolmatov
} 25. Na5) 25. e4 Ne3 26. Rxd2 Nxf1 27. Rd7 $1 (27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Nxd8 Nd2 29.
Nc6 {ist chancenreich fьr WeiЯ.})) 23... Rb8 24. Rc7 Nd5 25. Rd7 Nxe3 {Schwarz
gewinnt den Bauern zurьck, aber WeiЯ erhдlt dauerhafte Initiative.} 26. Rxd2
Nxf1 27. Rd7 (27. Kxf1 $2 {Dolmatov} Rxb7 $10) 27... Nd2 28. b4 Nc4 29. a5 Kf8
30. Rc7 (30. a6 {Dolmatov} Nb6 31. Rc7 Nd5 32. Rc4 Ke7 33. b5) 30... a6 (30...
Ke8 {Dolmatov} 31. a6 $18) 31. b5 $1 {WeiЯ opfert einen Bauern, Schwarz hat
kein Gegenspiel- er kann nur warten.} axb5 32. a6 Ra8 33. Nc5 Ke8 34. Rb7 (34.
a7 {Dolmatov} Nd6 35. Rd7 Nc8 $10) 34... Nd6 35. Rb6 Ke7 36. Kg2 f5 37. h4 {
WeiЯ droht mit 38.h5 weiteren Raumgewinn.} h5 (37... g5 {Dolmatov} 38. h5) 38.
Kf1 Rc8 $5 {Das ist der richtige Moment fьr aktives Spiel.} 39. Nb7 $1 (39. a7
Ra8 40. Ra6 Nc8) 39... Rc1+ 40. Kg2 Nc8 41. Rxb5 Kf6 42. Na5 {WeiЯ hat einen
starken Freibauern, aber es geht nicht so einfach weiter.} (42. Rc5 $5 {
Dolmatov} Rxc5 43. Nxc5 $16 Ke7 44. f3 Kd6 45. Nd3) 42... e4 43. Nb3 Rc4 44.
Kf1 Ra4 45. Ra5 Rb4 (45... Rxa5 {Dolmatov} 46. Nxa5 Na7 47. Ke2 Ke5 48. Ke3 $18
) 46. Nc5 Na7 47. Ke2 g5 (47... Rd4 $5 {Dolmatov} 48. Ke3 Rd1 49. Kf4 Rd2) 48.
Ke3 gxh4 (48... f4+ {Dolmatov} 49. gxf4 gxh4 50. Nxe4+ Kg6 51. f5+ $18) 49.
gxh4 Rb2 50. Nd7+ Ke6 51. Nf8+ Kf6 52. Nh7+ Kg6 53. Ng5 {Der weiЯe Plan ist
klar: da er jetzt mit seinem a-Bauern nichts machen kann und Schwarz zumindest
einen Springer dort halten sollte, hat WeiЯ freie Hand am Kцnigsflьgel,
besonders wegen der schwachen schwarzen Bauern.} Kf6 (53... Rb3+ $5 54. Kf4 Rb2
55. Nh3 Rb3 56. Ng5 Rb2 57. f3 exf3 $14) 54. Rd5 Rb6 55. Kf4 Rxa6 56. Rxf5+ Kg6
57. Nxe4 $18 {Die schwarze Stellung ist verloren. In einigen Stellungen im
Turmendspiel mit f- und h-Bauern hat Schwarz Remischancen.} Nc8 58. Rg5+ Kh6
59. Re5 Kg6 60. Re8 Rc6 61. Ke5 Nb6 62. Re7 Nc4+ (62... Nc8 63. Re6+ Rxe6+ 64.
Kxe6 Na7 65. f4) 63. Kd5 Rc8 64. Re6+ Kg7 65. Ng3 Kf7 66. Rh6 Nd2 67. Rxh5 Ra8
68. Rf5+ Kg7 69. Rf4 Ra5+ 70. Ke6 Ra6+ 71. Kf5 Rc6 72. Kg5 Nc4 73. Nf5+ Kh7 74.
Ne7 Rc5+ 75. Rf5 Ne5 76. Kh5 Kg7 77. Rg5+ (77. f4) 77... Kf6 78. Ng8+ Ke6 79.
f4 Nd3 80. Rxc5 Nxc5 81. Kg6 Nd3 82. f5+ Ke5 83. f6 Nf4+ 84. Kf7 Kf5 85. Ne7+
Kg4 86. Ng6 Nh5 87. Ke7 {Ribli} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Petursson Boensch HarZvi Dolmatov Gutman,L} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11.
Bxd4 b5 12. Bd3 (12. Kb1 {Har Zvi,R} b4 13. Na4 Nxe4 14. Qxb4 d5 15. Qe1 Bf6
16. Bd3 $1 Bd7 17. Bxe4 Bxa4 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qb4 $16 {Kolev,At-Tukmakov,V
Elenite 64/208}) (12. Bxf6 {Har Zvi,R} Bxf6 $1 (12... gxf6 13. Bd3 $14) 13.
Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Bb7 15. e5 Be7 16. Rd1 (16. Rb6 O-O-O 17. a4 Bc5 18. Rxb7
Kxb7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Be3+ 21. Kb1 Bxf4 22. Rf1 Bxe5 23. Rxf7+ Kb6 $17)
16... g5 $1 $15 17. Bd3 Bxg2 18. Rhg1 Bc6 19. Be4 (19. f5 O-O-O $1 20. Rgf1 (
20. fxe6 fxe6 21. a4 bxa4 $15 {Makarycev}) 20... g4 21. f6 Bc5 22. Rde1 Bd4 23.
Be4 Be8 {with a big advantage for black,who won quite easily Shirov,A-Lobron,E
Dortmund 1996 it is very strange to understand why Shirov played this bad line?
}) 19... Rc8 20. Kb1 $15 {Dolmatov-Makarycev SSSR (ch) 1980 30/398}) (12. Qe3 {
Boensch} Qc7 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Ng4 15. Qf3 Nxe5 16. Qxa8 Nd7 17. g3 Nb6 18.
Qf3 Bb7 19. Ne4 f5 20. Qh5+ Kf8 21. Nf2 Bf6 22. Bd3 Na4 23. Rhe1 Bxb2+ 24. Kb1
Bd5 $19 {Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/Dos Hermanas/1996/0:1/32/}) 12... b4 (12... Bb7 {
Dolmatov} 13. Rhe1 O-O 14. Kb1 $13) 13. Ne2 {Wieder eine gesunde Strategie -
der Springer steht im Zentrum besser.} (13. Na4 {Dolmatov} Rb8 14. e5 dxe5 (
14... Nd5 {Har Zvi,R and the knight on a4 is out of the game}) 15. Bxe5 Bd7 16.
f5 (16. b3 {Boensch} Bxa4 17. bxa4 O-O 18. Bxb8 Qxb8 $44 {Polgar,J-Kramnik,V/
Moscow PCA-GP (3.1) 25' ;EXP 52 1996/0-1 (65)}) 16... Bxa4 17. fxe6 O-O 18.
exf7+ Rxf7 19. Bxb8 Qxb8 20. Bc4 {Dvoirys,S-Khalifman,A/Simferopol/1988/})
13... Qa5 (13... e5 14. Be3 (14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Bxe5 Qa5) 14... Qa5 (14... Rb8 {
Boensch} 15. Rhf1 (15. h3 O-O 16. fxe5 (16. g4 d5 17. fxe5 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 dxe4
$13) 16... dxe5 17. g4 Qa5 18. Kb1 Rd8 19. Ng3 Ne8 $5 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Qe2 Be6
22. Bc4 Bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qb5 $1 $10 {0-1 Luther,T-Khalifman,A/Hastings9596 (04) ;
CBM 51 1996 (48)}) 15... O-O 16. Kb1 Qa5 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Ng3 Be6 19. b3 Ng4
20. Bg1 Bc5 $10 {Dvoirys,S-Serper,G/Novgorod op (07) ;EXP 49 1995/1/2-1/2 (64)}
)) 14. Kb1 (14. Bxf6 $6 {sicher nicht (,,eine antipositionelle Idee" W.
Gavrikow)} Bxf6 15. Bc4 O-O 16. Qxd6 Bb7 {mit gutem Spiel fьr Schwarz,
Short-Salow, Madrid 1995}) (14. a3 {Har Zvi,R} e5 15. Be3 Rb8) 14... e5 15. Be3
{[#]} (15. Bf2 Be6 16. Nc1 exf4 17. Qxf4 Qe5 $10 {1/2-1/2 Shmuter,L-Kiselev,S/
Pula op (8/13) 1990 (33)}) 15... O-O {Gutman: W.Kramnik ist mit den Nuancen
dieses modernen Systems bestens bekannt. Wenn Schwarz in dieser Stellung nicht
rochieren kann, um Gegenspiel im Zentrum vorzubereiten, dann kann man diese
Variante vergessen.} (15... Be6 16. b3 Ng4 17. Bg1 (17. f5 {Gutman,L} Bd7 18.
Ng3 Nf6 19. Qe2 Bb5 20. Bc1 O-O 21. Nh5 Nxh5 22. Qxh5 Rfc8 23. Rhf1 Qc7 {
Verspricht weniger, Dwoiris-Makarow, Budapest 1992}) 17... exf4 18. Nxf4 Ne5
19. Bd4 O-O {Dwoiris-Makarow, Tscheljabinsk 1990} 20. Bb2 {Ergibt eine
gьnstigere Stellung fьr WeiЯ und kommt fьr W.Kramnik nicht in Frage.}) (15...
Ng4 16. Bc4 O-O 17. h3 Nf6 18. Ng3 Qc7 19. b3 Be6 $10 {1/2-1/2 Brodskij,
M-Makarov,M/URS-ch58 (08) 1991 (45)}) 16. Rhe1 $6 {Gutman: Laut W.Kramnik ist
die zentrale Strategie von Huebner hier weniger sinnvoll, aber mit 16.Thf1
oder mit 16.h3 konnte WeiЯ auch nichts erreichen.} (16. Rhf1 Rb8 17. fxe5 dxe5
18. Ng3 $10 {Dwoiris-Serper, Novgorod 1995}) (16. Ng3) (16. h3 Rb8 (16... Rd8 {
Har Zvi,R} 17. g4 d5 $13) (16... Bb7 17. Ng3 $13) (16... Be6 17. Nc1 d5 (17...
exf4 18. Bxf4 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Dimitrov,V-Zontakh,A/Pozarevac (06) ;EXP 49 1995}))
17. fxe5 dxe5 18. g4 $10 {Luther-Khalifman, Hastings 1995/96}) (16. Nc1 $5 Bb7
17. Nb3 Qa4 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Bc5) (16. Bc4 Bb7 (16... Nxe4 17. Qd5 Qxd5 18.
Bxd5 Bf5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8)) 16... Rb8 (16... Rd8 17. c4 $1 bxc3 (17... Bb7 18. Ng3
Ng4 19. Bg1 exf4 20. Qxf4 Ne5 21. Nf5 Bg5 22. Qg3 {Und der weiЯe Turm steht
"goldrichtig" auf e1.}) 18. Qxc3 (18. Nxc3 Qc7 $13 (18... Qc7 19. h3 {Und WeiЯ
hat mehr vom Spiel.})) 18... Qxc3 (18... Qa4 $5 19. Bb6 Rd7 20. b3 Qa3) 19.
Nxc3 Bb7 $10) 17. Nc1 (17. Ng3 Rd8 $132) (17. c4 bxc3 18. Nxc3 Rb4 {Mit
Gegenspiel}) (17. h3 $5 {Har Zvi,R white lost the game because of this square
once black played Bg4 and after Ng4, I think this is the correct move.} Rd8)
17... Rd8 {Keine Zeit verlieren!} (17... Qc7 $5 18. h3 Rd8 19. Qf2 (19. g4 d5
$1) (19. Bg1 $1 {WeiЯ verhindert den sofortigen GegenstoЯ im Zentrum d6-d5 und
behдlt bessere Aussichten.}) 19... d5 20. fxe5 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Rxd8+
Bxd8 $13 23. Bf4 Be6 24. Rxe4 a5 $44) (17... Bg4 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Rc1 exf4 20.
Bxf4 $14) 18. Ba7 (18. h3 exf4 {Boensch} (18... d5 19. exd5 (19. Nb3 Qc7 20.
fxe5 Nxe4) 19... Nxd5 (19... e4 20. Bc4) 20. Nb3 Qc7 21. fxe5 $13) 19. Bxf4 Be6
20. Nb3 Qa4 $10) 18... Rb7 {Hier steht der Turm aktiver!} (18... Ra8 $5 19. Bg1
Bg4 (19... Qc7 $13) (19... Qc7 20. h3) 20. Nb3 Qc7 21. Rc1 a5 22. c3 bxc3 23.
Rxc3 (23. Qxc3 Qxc3 24. Rxc3 exf4 25. Nd4 Bf8) 23... Qb7 $13 24. Qc1 $1 {Gutman
} Rdc8 25. f5 {Mit zwei Drohungen: 26. Sxa5 oder 26.h3}) 19. Bg1 Bg4 20. Nb3 (
20. Ne2 $2 d5 $1 21. fxe5 (21. exd5 Nxd5 22. fxe5 Nc3+ $19) 21... dxe4 22. exf6
Bxf6 23. Qf4 exd3 24. Qxg4 dxc2+ 25. Kxc2 Qa4+ 26. Kc1 Rc7+ $19) 20... Qa4 (
20... Qc7 21. Rc1 d5 (21... a5 22. c3 $36) 22. exd5 (22. fxe5 Nxe4 23. Qf4 Be6
24. Rcd1 {Die zentrale Position der weiЯen Figuren verspricht Schwarz keinen
Ausgleich.}) 22... Nxd5 23. Rxe5 Bf6 24. Rxd5 Rxd5 25. Bh7+ Kxh7 26. Qxd5 Rb5
27. Qd2 $13 (27. Nc5 Qxf4 28. Qxf7 Rxc5 29. Bxc5 Qe5)) 21. Rc1 exf4 {Eine
kritische Stellung in dieser von beiden GroЯmeistern "optimal" gespielten
Partie.} (21... d5) (21... Rb5 $6 22. h3 (22. f5 d5) 22... Be6 23. f5 Ra5 24.
a3) 22. Qxf4 {Eine schablonenhafte Entscheidung. Hьbner unterschдtzt die
schwarzen Mцglichkeiten,} (22. Nd4 $5 Nh5 $1 (22... d5 23. e5 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4
25. Qxf4 $16 Be6 (25... Bh5 26. Qxe4) 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qg4 (27. Qxe4) (27.
Qxe4 {Mit weiЯem Vorteil, W.Kramnik}) 27... Qc6 28. Rxe4 (28. Qxe4 Qxe4 29.
Rxe4 Rd2)) 23. h3 (23. Bc4 $5 Bg5 $5 (23... Bg5 $5 {(Mit unklarer Stellung, W.
Kramnik)} 24. Bb3 $1 Qe8 25. Qd3 {Mit weiЯem Druckspiel fьr den Bauern})) 23...
Be6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Bc4 Qd7 $13 26. Bxa6 Rbb8) 22... Be6 23. Bd4 $2 (23. Rcd1
$1 Ng4 24. Bd4 $10) (23. Qf1 Rc8 24. e5 Nd5 $40) 23... Rb5 $1 {Har Zvi: /\Ra5
at first I thought this move is !! and black is winning by force or something
like this, and indeed the game ended in 4 moves! but that is all because of
white's terrible next move. Petursson: It is most unusual to see such a brutal
measure actually work in all variations. Mit eindeutiger Drohung 24....Ta5,
und 24.Lxb5 axb5 25.Tcd1 Ta8 kommt fьr WeiЯ nicht in Frage} (23... Ng4 24. e5
$5) 24. Qd2 $2 {Har Zvi: White failed to find the only move and now he is
losing by force the only move was 24.Rcd1 after which I can not see something
forced for black Robert Hьbner war mit dem Partieverlauf bislang sehr
zufrieden. Dieser "Dekorationswechsel" kommt fьr ihn unerwartet und er
verliert die Fassung.} (24. Rcd1 $8 {now Ra5 is not so strong} Ng4 $1 (24...
Ra5 25. Nxa5 Qxa2+ 26. Kc1 Qa1+ (26... Qxa5 27. b3 $1 (27. h4 {Petursson} d5
28. e5 Ne4 $17 {the idea is} 29. Kb1 Nc3+ $1 30. bxc3 bxc3 $19)) 27. Kd2 Qxa5
28. Ra1 Qh5 29. Kc1 Ng4 (29... Nd5 30. Qf3) 30. Kb1 $13) (24... Rg5) 25. Bxb5 (
25. Nc1 Bg5 26. Qg3 Bxc1 27. b3 Qa3) 25... axb5 26. Nc1 Bg5 27. Qg3 Bxc1 28.
Kxc1 (28. b3 Qa3 $1 29. h3 (29. Rxc1 Ra8 30. Rcd1 Qxa2+ 31. Kc1 Rc8 32. Rd2
Bxb3) 29... Ra8 30. hxg4 Bg5 $1 31. Be3 Bf6 $19) 28... Rc8 29. Re2 Ne5 $5 (
29... Qxa2 30. Kd2) 30. Bxe5 (30. a3 Bb3) 30... dxe5 31. Qxe5 Bg4 (31... Qxa2
$40) (31... Qxa2 {Mit schwarzer Inintiative, W.Kramnik.}) 32. Rdd2 Bxe2 33.
Rxe2 Qxa2 $15 (33... Qxa2 34. Kd2 Qb1 35. Ke3 {Und WeiЯ kann sich erfolgreich
verteidigen.})) (24. Bxb5 axb5 (24... axb5 {Har Zvi,R} 25. Rcd1 Ra8 26. Nc1 (
26. Kc1 Ng4 $1 {and black is winning} (26... Ng4 27. Nd2 b3 $19)) 26... Bxa2+
27. Nxa2 Nd5 $1 28. exd5 Qxa2+ 29. Kc1 Bg5)) 24... Ng4 $1 {threatening Bg5,
really with out any defence for white} (24... Ra5 25. a3 (25. a3 bxa3 26. Qxa5
$16)) 25. c4 $2 (25. Bxb5 axb5 26. a3 (26. h3 Ra8 27. a3 bxa3 28. hxg4 axb2 29.
Kxb2 Qa3+ 30. Kc3 Rc8+ 31. Kd3 Bc4+ 32. Ke3 Bg5+ $19) 26... bxa3 27. bxa3 (27.
Qa5 $2 axb2 28. Bxb2 Bxb3) 27... Bg5 (27... Qxa3 28. Qa5) 28. Qb4 Qxb4 29. axb4
Bxc1 30. Rxc1 Nxh2 $17) (25. Rcd1 Bg5 26. Qe2 Ra5 27. a3 bxa3 28. Nxa5 (28. Bb6
axb2 $1 29. Bxa5 Bxb3 30. cxb3 Qa1+ 31. Kc2 Rc8+ 32. Bc4 Ne3+ 33. Qxe3 Qa2 {
finish}) 28... Qxd4 {with a winning attack}) 25... bxc3 26. bxc3 (26. Bxb5 Qxb3
$1 $19) (26. Qxc3 Rxb3 27. axb3 Bxb3 $19) (26. Rxc3 Bxb3 27. axb3 Qxd4 $19) (
26. Bxc3 {Har Zvi,R} Bg5) 26... Rxb3+ $1 (26... Bxb3 27. Bxb5 Qxb5 28. axb3
Qxb3+ 29. Qb2 $15) 27. axb3 Bxb3 (27... Bxb3 28. Qb2 (28. c4 Rb8) (28. Ba7 Rd7
29. Bb6 Rb7 $19) 28... Rb8 29. Re2 Ba2+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lobron, Eric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. a3 Bxc3 $6 {5...Ba5!?
ist auch spielbar, dann kann Schwarz spдter - in einem guten Moment - Bxc3
spielen. In unserer Partie haben wir eine дhnliche Stellung wie in der
Nimzoindischen Verteidigung, aber WeiЯ hat den "kompromittierenden" Zug d4
nocht nicht gespielt.} (5... Ba5 {Dolmatov} 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Qe7 9.
d3 d6 10. Rb1 $14) 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 (7. g3 Bb7 8. Bg2 d6 9. O-O O-O 10. b4 Nbd7
11. d3 e5 $13 {Ehlvest,J-Hracek,Z/Parnu-A/CBM52/}) (7. e3 {Dolmatov}) 7... Na6
$6 {Schwarz provoziert den Zug b5, aber spдter steht sein Springer auf c7
nicht gut.} (7... Qe7 $5 8. e3 O-O 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Be2 d6 11. d3 (11. O-O Nbd7
12. d3 $14 {Taimanov,M-Balashov,Y/URS/1971/}) 11... Nbd7 12. O-O Rac8 $5 13. b5
Rfe8 $5 14. a4 a5 $13 {Kasparov,G-Hjartarson,J/Reykjavik/1995/EXP46/}) 8. e3
Qe7 9. b5 Nc7 10. Be2 Bb7 (10... a6 {Dolmatov} 11. a4 O-O 12. O-O) 11. O-O O-O
12. Bb2 d6 13. a4 a5 $146 (13... a6 14. d4 Ne4 15. Qc2 axb5 16. axb5 f5 17. Nd2
Qg5 18. f4 Qg6 19. Bf3 $14 {Eingorn,V-Stefansson,H/Reykjavik/1989/CBM13/}) 14.
Rae1 Rae8 (14... e5 $5 {Dolmatov} 15. d4 Ne4 16. Qc2 Ng5 17. dxe5 Nxf3+ 18.
Bxf3 Bxf3 19. exd6 $2 Qg5) (14... Nce8 $5 {Dolmatov} 15. d4 (15. d3 Nd7 $14)
15... Ne4 16. Qc2 N8f6) 15. d4 {Wenn Schwarz seinen Springer statt c7 nach d7
gestellt hдtte, dann kцnnte er zufrieden sein, WeiЯ kann jetzt ohne Risiko ein
schцnes Zentrum aufbauen.} Ne4 16. Qc1 f5 (16... Rd8 $5 {Dolmatov} 17. Qa1 (17.
Nd2 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 e5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qc3 f6 $132) 17... Ne8) 17. Nd2 Ng5 (
17... Qh4 {/\ eventuell Rf6-h6, und vielleicht kann die schwarze Dame am
Kцnigsflьgel stцren.}) (17... Nxd2 {Dolmatov} 18. Qxd2 e5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qc3
$16) 18. f4 Ne4 (18... Nf7 19. Bf3) 19. Bf3 Nxd2 (19... d5 20. Ba3 {Und
Schwarz befindet sich im groЯer Not.}) 20. Qxd2 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 Rd8 {Schwarz
will d5 oder Ne8-f6 spielen.} 22. Qc2 Rf7 (22... Ne8 23. e4 fxe4 (23... Qf7 24.
d5 (24. exf5 exf5 (24... Qxf5 25. Qxf5 exf5 26. d5) 25. d5) 24... fxe4 25. dxe6
Qxe6 26. Rxe4 Qf5) (23... Qd7 {Dolmatov} 24. exf5 exf5 25. d5 Nf6 26. Bxf6 Rxf6
27. Rfe3 $16) 24. Qxe4 $16) 23. e4 $16 Qh4 24. Re2 fxe4 25. Qxe4 {Jetzt droht
auch Rh3.} h6 26. dxc5 d5 $2 {Schwarz versucht, im Trьben zu fischen.} (26...
dxc5 {Dolmatov} 27. g3 Qh3 28. Rd3) 27. cxd5 Nxd5 28. g3 $18 Qh5 29. cxb6 Nxb6
30. Kg2 Rd1 31. Qxe6 Qc5 32. Qe8+ Rf8 33. Qg6 Rd7 (33... Rg1+ 34. Kh3 {bringt
nichts.}) 34. Ba3 Qc4 35. Rc2 {Ribli} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Har Zvi: This game is very important for estimating this line, both players
players played a very important line after 4...dxc4 which lately was
considered to be OK for black, but Kramnik with his fantastic preperation
proves it to be wrong!} 1. Nf3 {Petursson HarZvi Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4
11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14. Kc2 {Another move in this
position is 14.Kc3.} Na6 15. Nxc4 {Kramnik has a huge knowledge in this
position, not speaking on his results, which are not very far from 100% in
this line!!} O-O-O (15... Ke7 {HarZvi} 16. Qe5 Rhd8 17. Be2 f6 18. Qe3 $1 (18.
Qxd5 cxd5 19. Na5 Rac8+ 20. Kb1 Nc5 21. Ra3 b6 22. Nb3 e5 {Fedorov,M-Majorovas,
V Yalta op 1995}) 18... Nb4+ $2 (18... Qf5+ 19. Kc3 Nc7 20. Qg3 Nd5+ 21. Kb3
$14) 19. Kb3 a5 20. Rad1 Qf5 21. Qc3 $1 $16 {Kramnik,V-Hodgson,J Groningen
1993 59/407 [Kramnik,V]}) (15... Qf5+ {HarZvi} 16. Kc3 $1 O-O 17. Qe5 Qf2 18.
Bd3 Rad8 19. Rhf1 Qh4 20. Qe4 $16 {Karpov,A-Tukmakov,V Gijon Active 1988}) (
15... O-O {HarZvi} 16. Qe5 Rfd8 17. Be2 f6 18. Qxd5 cxd5 19. Na5 Rdc8+ (19...
Rac8+ 20. Kb1 Nc5 (20... Nb4 21. Nxb7 Rd7 22. Na5 d4 23. Bc4 Kf7 24. Re1 $16 {
Chekov,V-Lastin,A Moscow op2 1995}) 21. Rc1 {with the idea Rxc5!} b6 22. b4
bxa5 23. bxc5 $18 {Kasparov,G-Galliamova,A Rome 1990}) 20. Kb1 Nb4 $2 (20...
Nc5 $16) 21. Nxb7 Rab8 22. Na5 $1 $18 {Kramnik,V-Haba,P Duetschland 1993 57/374
} (22. Nd6 $2 $13 {51/(389)})) 16. Qe3 {The main line is 16.Qe5, which was
played by Kramnik few times, but after this game black's main problem will be
facing this line since after 16.Qe5 these days black seems to be OK.} (16. Qe5
{Ftacnik} f6 17. Qe3 {xe6}) (16. Qe5 {HarZvi}) 16... Nc5 (16... Kb8 {HarZvi}
17. Be2 Ka8 (17... Qxg2 18. Rhg1 (18. Qe5+ Ka8 19. Rhg1 Qd5 20. Rxg7 $16) 18...
Qxh2 19. Rxg7) 18. g4 {Xf5} f6 (18... Nc7 $142 19. Rad1 Qg2 20. Qf3 Qxf3 21.
Bxf3 $16) 19. Rhd1 Qg2 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Qxe6 Qxh2 22. Rd1 Rb8 23. a5 Nc7 24.
Nb6+ $3 $18 {Kramnik,V-Georgiev,Ki Moscow olm 1994 62/421 [Kramnik ]}) 17. Be2
Qxg2 (17... Qf5+ {Ftacnik} 18. Kc3 Qf6+ 19. Kb4 Rd5 20. Ka3 Rhd8 21. Rad1 Qg5
$6 (21... Qe7 22. b4 Na6 23. Qc3 f6 24. Ne3 $14) 22. Qxg5 Rxg5 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8
24. Bf3 Kc7 25. Rd1 Nd7 26. h4 Rg6 27. a5 {Agdestein,S-Hansen,Cu/Reykjavik zt 
(07)/1995/0-1 (67)}) 18. Rhg1 (18. Rag1 {Ftacnik} Qd5) 18... Qxh2 19. Rxg7 $1
$146 {This simple as natural move is Kramnik's big novelty, because Chernin in
his analyse in Informator 52 writes, that after 19...Rd3! black is winning,
well life is little bit more complicated!!} (19. Kc3) (19. Rh1 {Ftacnik} Qg2
20. Rag1 Qe4+ 21. Qxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxg7 Rd4 23. a5 h5 24. Rh4 f5 25. a6 bxa6 26.
Rxa7 Rh6 {1/2-1/2 Hergott,D-Marjanovic,S/Belgrade GMA/1988/ (32)}) (19. Kc3 {
Ftacnik} Rd5 $2 (19... Nd7 $1 20. Rxg7 Nf6 21. Qxa7 Qxe2 22. Nb6+ $1 Kc7 23.
Rxf7+ Rd7 $8 24. Nxd7 Nxd7 25. Qa5+ Kd6 26. Qb4+ c5 $13) (19... g6 $5 20. Qxc5
Qxe2 21. Qxa7 Rd3+ 22. Kb4 Qc2 23. Qa8+ Kc7 24. Qa5+ Kb8 25. Qe5+ Ka7 $10) 20.
b4 $1 (20. Rxg7 {HarZvi} Rhd8 {Rd3}) 20... Nd7 21. Bf3 (21. Rxg7 Ne5 22. Rag1
Rhd8 23. R1g2 (23. Rg8 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Qe5+ 25. Qxe5 Rxe5 $10) 23... Qh1 (23...
Nxc4 $5) 24. Rg1 Qh2 25. R1g2 Qh1 26. Rg1 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E-Salov,V/Belgrade 
(05)/1996/}) (21. Rh1 Qb8) 21... Kb8 $2 (21... Rf5) 22. Rxg7 $2 (22. Bxd5 cxd5
23. Nd2 $16) 22... Rf5 23. Rh1 (23. Be4 {HarZvi} Nf6 $1 $15) 23... Qa2 (23...
Qf4 $15) (23... Qf4 $15 {HarZvi}) 24. Be4 Ne5 (24... Nf6 25. Qg3+) 25. Qd4 Nxc4
26. Bxf5 b5 27. axb5 cxb5 28. Qf4+ e5 29. Qc1 {0-1 Muse,M-Chernin,A/Altensteig
(10)/1991/ (50)}) (19. b4 Nd3 (19... Na6 20. Kb3 Rd5 21. Rxg7 Rf5 22. Bd3 Rf2
23. b5 Nb8 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Rxh7 Qf4 26. Qxa7 Rf3 {1/2-1/2 Ward,C-Jelling,E/
Copenhagen op (08)/1995/ (31)}) 20. Rh1 Qf2 21. Qxf2 Nxf2 22. Rhf1 Ne4 23. Rxf7
Rd7 24. Rf4 Nf6 25. Kb3 Kc7 26. Re1 {1-0 Kalantarian,N-Kinsman,A/Cannes op (07)
/1995/ (49)}) 19... Rd4 $2 {Forcing a position with 5 pawns for the rook, but
really black's position is very unpleasent, since he has 3 islands of pawns,
and the white king will not be checkmated!} (19... Rd3 20. Rh1 $1 $8 {This
move is not very easy to see, but in the given position it is the only one and
should not be too difficult for such a strong player as Chernin, who probably
missed it!} (20. Qe5 Qxe5 21. Nxe5 Re3 22. Nxf7 Rxe2+ $19) (20. Qxc5 Qxe2+ 21.
Kb1 Qd1+ 22. Ka2 Qb3+ $19) 20... Qxh1 (20... Rxe3 21. Rxh2 $18) 21. Bxd3 Qd5 (
21... Qh2+ 22. Be2) (21... Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qh2+ (22... Rd8 23. Nd6+ Kb8 24. Qg3
$1 $18 Ka8 25. Rg8) 23. Kb3 $16 (23. Qd2 $5)) (21... Qh2+ $13 {Ftacnik}) 22.
Rxf7 $16 b5 (22... Rd8 23. Be2) 23. axb5 cxb5 24. Nd2) (19... f5 $5) 20. Qxd4
Qxe2+ 21. Nd2 $1 (21. Kb1 $2 Qf1+ 22. Ka2 Qxa1+ 23. Kxa1 Nb3+ 24. Ka2 Nxd4) (
21. Kc3 Qf3+ (21... Rd8 $2 22. Qxc5) 22. Ne3 (22. Qe3 Qf6+ 23. Qe5 Qf3+ (23...
Qf3+ {Petursson} 24. Qe3 $10)) (22. Kb4 $2 Nb3 $1 23. Qxa7 c5+ 24. Kb5 Qc6#) (
22. Kc2 $2 Nb3 $19) 22... Rd8 (22... Ne4+ $2 23. Kb3 Rd8 24. Qxa7) 23. Qxc5 (
23. Rf1 $2 Ne4+ 24. Kb3 (24. Kc2 Qe2+) 24... Rxd4 25. Rxf3 Nd2+ 26. Kc3 Nxf3
27. Rxf7 Rd3+) 23... Qf6+ 24. Kb3 Qxg7 25. Qxa7 Rd3+ 26. Ka2 (26. Kc2 Qg6)
26... Qd4 $1 $14) 21... Rd8 22. Qxc5 Rxd2+ (22... Qd3+ 23. Kc1 Qxd2+ 24. Kb1
Qd1+ (24... Qe1+ 25. Ka2 $18) 25. Qc1 $18 (25. Qc1 {Ftacnik} Qd4 26. Rxf7 Qe4+
27. Ka2 Qxa4+ $10) (25. Ka2 Qxa4+ 26. Qa3 Qc4+ 27. Qb3 Qa6+ 28. Kb1 Qf1+)) 23.
Kb3 Rxb2+ 24. Ka3 Rd2 $8 (24... Rc2 25. Qf8+ $18) 25. Rg3 (25. Rb1 {Ftacnik}
Rd3+ 26. Rb3 Rxb3+ 27. Kxb3 Qd1+ $13) 25... Qe4 $5 {Black does no have a
perpetual check after 25...Rd3.} (25... Rd3+ 26. Rxd3 Qxd3+ 27. Kb2 Qd2+ (27...
Qe2+ {Ftacnik} 28. Qc2 Qe5+ 29. Qc3 (29. Qc3 Qh2+ (29... Qe2+ {Petursson} 30.
Kb3 $16) 30. Kb3)) 28. Kb3 (28. Qc2 Qd4+ 29. Qc3 Qf2+ 30. Ka3) 28... Qd3+ 29.
Qc3 Qd5+ 30. Kb2 Qg2+ 31. Ka3 $18) 26. Rb3 $2 {Now white's king is very safe,
and the king with problems is black's one, Shirov can not avoid the change of
queens now.} (26. Qb4 $5 $18) 26... b6 $1 (26... Qd5 {Ftacnik} 27. Qf8+ Qd8 28.
Qxd8+ Rxd8 29. Rh1 $16) (26... Qd5) 27. Qf8+ Kb7 (27... Rd8 28. Qxf7 $16) 28.
Qxf7+ $6 (28. Rf1 $5 f5 29. Rg1 Rd7 30. Rg7 Qd4 31. Rxd7+ Qxd7 32. Rg3 Ka6 33.
Qb4 $18) 28... Ka6 29. Qf3 $1 (29. Rc1 Rd4) (29. Qf1+ $2 b5 $1 30. Rxb5 (30.
axb5+ $4 Ka5) 30... Re2 $3 31. Rb4 (31. Rb3 Ka5) 31... Qe3+ 32. Rb3 Qc5+ 33.
Rb4 Qc3+ 34. Rb3 Qc5+ $10) 29... Qxf3 $6 {Maybe 29...Qd4 keeping the queens
could have given some more chances, but really all this rook sacrifise is??!} (
29... Qd4 30. Qc3 Qd6+ 31. Qb4 Qd5 (31... c5 32. Qc4+ Kb7 33. Re1 $1 Rd4 34.
Qxe6) 32. Rc1 Rd4 33. Qc3 c5 34. Kb2 (34. a5 $2 c4) 34... Rxa4 35. Ra3 Rxa3 36.
Kxa3 $16) 30. Rxf3 Ka5 31. Rf4 $5 (31. Re1 Rd4 32. Rxe6 Rxa4+ 33. Kb2 $16)
31... Rd3+ 32. Kb2 Rh3 (32... Re3 $5) (32... Rd2+ {Ftacnik} 33. Kc3 Rh2 34. Re1
) 33. Re1 Rh2+ 34. Kb3 Rh3+ 35. Kc2 Rh2+ 36. Kd3 Rh6 (36... Rh3+ 37. Re3) 37.
Rfe4 c5 38. Rxe6 Rh3+ (38... Rxe6 {Ftacnik} 39. Rxe6 Kxa4 40. Kc4 $18) 39. R1e3
Rh1 (39... Rxe3+ 40. Rxe3 Kxa4 41. Kc4 $18) 40. R3e4 Rh3+ 41. Kc4 $1 $18 Rg3 (
41... Kxa4 42. Re1 Ra3 (42... Rh4+ 43. R6e4 $18) 43. Re7 a6 44. Rb1 Ka5 45. Rb7
$18) (41... Ra3 42. Kd5 Rxa4 43. Rxa4+ Kxa4 44. Kc4 $18) (41... h5 42. Rh6 $5)
42. Rh6 a6 43. Rxh7 Rg5 (43... Kxa4 {Ftacnik} 44. Rh1 Ra3 45. Ree1 b5+ 46. Kxc5
Rc3+ 47. Kb6 $18) 44. Rb7 Rh5 45. Re6 Rh4+ 46. Kd5 Rb4 47. Rc6 Rd4+ 48. Ke5 Rb4
49. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. Bg5 $6 {
WeiЯ versucht, das Schlagen auf c4 zu erzwingen, bevor der Bf1 gezogen hat, um
mit Bf1xc4 ein Tempo zu sparen.} O-O $1 (7... dxc4 8. Bxc4 $14) 8. cxd5 h6 $1 {
Die Bedeutung dieses Zwischenzuges wird gleich ersichtlich.} (8... Qb6 9. Bxf6
Qxb2 10. Qc1 Qxc1+ (10... Ba3 $2 11. Bg5 $18) 11. Rxc1 gxf6 12. Be2 $10 cxd5 $6
13. Nxd5 Be6 $6 14. Nxf6+ Kg7 15. d5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Teske,H-Knaak,R/DDR-ch
Stralsund 1988 (33)}) 9. Bh4 (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 {Schwarz hat auf jeden Fall genug
Kompensation fьr den Bauern, welchen WeiЯ zudem kaum verteidigen kann.} 10.
dxc6 Nxc6 11. Be2 Rd8 12. O-O Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Be5 $15) 9... Qb6 $1 {WeiЯ muЯ um
Ausgleich kдmpfen.} 10. Qd2 (10. Bxf6 $2 Qxb2 11. Qc1 Ba3 $1 $19 {Da sieht man
den Sinn von 8...h6!, denn 12.Bg5 ist verhindert!}) 10... Nxd5 11. Bg3 {
Die schwarze Stellung ist scheinbar so gut, daЯ man nur nach Varianten sucht,
die klaren Vorteil bringen.} Bxg3 {Solche Zьge sind schnell gemacht, weil
Schwarz den Entwicklungsvorsprung nicht einbьЯen will.} (11... Bb4 {war eher
geeignet, auf Vorteil zu spielen.} 12. Be2 Re8 (12... Qa5 13. Rc1 Nd7 (13...
Nf6 $5) 14. O-O N7f6 15. Bd3 $13) 13. Rc1 (13. O-O Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxc3 15. Qxc3
Rxe2 16. Rae1 Rxe1 17. Rxe1 Be6 18. d5 cxd5 19. Be5 f6 $17) 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3
Ba3 15. Rd1 Qb2 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. O-O $13) 12. hxg3 $10 Bg4 $6 {Es war hцchste
Zeit fьr das Schach auf e8.} (12... Re8+ 13. Be2) 13. Bd3 $1 Re8+ 14. Kf1 $1
Nd7 $6 (14... Nf6) (14... Nb4) 15. Nxd5 $1 cxd5 {WeiЯ hat in dem Moment
genommen, wo der schwarze Springer nicht mehr nach c6 kann.} 16. Rh4 Bxf3 $6 {
Ohne Not wird die weiЯe Bauernstruktur verbesert und aus schwarzer Sicht eine
ungьnstige Figurenkonstellation geschaffen.} (16... Be6) 17. gxf3 Nf8 18. Kg2
Ng6 19. Rh5 Qxd4 $6 (19... Rad8 $14) 20. Rd1 Rad8 (20... Qb6 21. Rxd5 {+/=/+/-
Der Lдufer ist klar besser als der Springer.}) 21. Bxg6 Qxd2 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.
Rxd2 $16 {Der Pd5 ist nicht zu retten.} d4 (23... Ke6 24. f4) 24. Rh4 d3 25.
Rf4+ Kg6 26. Re4 h5 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Rxd3 Re2 29. Rb3 b6 30. Rb5 Kh6 31. g4 g6
32. g5+ Kg7 33. f4 Rc2 34. Kg3 Rd2 35. f3 Rc2 36. Rb3 Kf7 37. Ra3 Rxb2 38.
Rxa7+ Kg8 39. f5 Rb5 40. Ra8+ Kf7 41. fxg6+ Kxg6 42. f4 Rb1 43. Rg8+ Kf5 44.
Rf8+ Ke4 45. Re8+ Kf5 46. Re5+ Kg6 47. Re6+ Kf5 48. Rf6+ Ke4 49. g6 b5 50. Kh4
Rh1+ 51. Kg5 h4 52. Re6+ Kf3 53. g7 Rg1+ 54. Kf6 h3 55. Re8 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Agzamov HarZvi Shirov} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6.
e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 {Har Zvi: white
playes this move if he wants to avoid the variation with Bh6 which can follow
after 11.exf6 Bb7 12.g3 c5 13.d5 Bh6,but here black has a critical move 11...
Rg8 which leads to great complications} Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 c5 14. d5
O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Na4 {Har Zvi: Kramnik is the leading GM in the world
playing this position with Black,and it maybe not a very good idea to play
this against him even for Ivanchuk this game showes it was not a very good
opening choice.} (16. Rb1 {HarZvi this is another very interesting move in
which kramnik had some evry interesting games lately} Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7
Bxf1 19. Qd5 {Har Zvi: Kamsky played 19.Kxf1 against Kramnik and got the
advantage but 2 monthes later Kramnik played again this position against
Topalov it means he has something} (19. Kxf1 Bxe7 (19... Qc6 20. exd8=Q+ Kxd8
21. Nd5 Rxh2 22. Kg1 Rh8 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Bxd6 Qxd6 25. Qf3 $16 {Kramnik,
V-Shirov,A Monaco blind 1996}) 20. fxe7 Rdg8 21. Ne4 (21. Qd5 Rxg5 $1 22. Qxg5
bxc3) 21... Qc6 22. Nd6+ Kb8 23. Bf4 $40 {Kamsky,G-Kramnik,V Dos Hermanas 1996}
) 19... Bxe7 20. fxe7 Bd3 (20... Rdg8 21. Ne4 Rg6 {Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V
New-York PCA 1994} 22. Qa8+ $1 Nb8 23. Rxf1 Qc6 24. Rd1 $3 Qxa8 25. Rd8+ Kc7
26. Bf4+ Kb6 27. Rxh8 Re6 28. e8=Q Rxe8 29. Rxe8 Qd5 30. Rxb8+ Ka6 (30... Ka5
31. Re8 f5 32. Nxc5 $1) 31. Nd2 $1 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Nb3 c4 34. Nc1 c2 35.
h4 $18 {Kasparov,G}) 21. Ne4 Bxb1 22. Nd6+ Kc7 23. Bf4 Kb6 24. Nxc4+ Kb5 25.
Nd6+ Kb6 26. exd8=B+ Rxd8 27. Nc4+ Kb5 28. Nd6+ Kb6 29. Nc4+ Kb5 {1-2/1-2
Topalov,V-Kramnik,V Dortmund 1996}) 16... Qd6 {Har Zvi: The main line is 16...
Qb5 and there is also another interesting move 16...Qa6. The game move was
played few times, Kramnik's continuation seems to be very strong and better
than the moves played before.} (16... Qb5) (16... Qa6) 17. Bf4 $5 $146 (17.
dxe6 {HarZvi} Qxe6 18. Re1 Ne5 $1 (18... Qf5 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Bf4 {with the
idea Qf3} Qxf6 $8 21. Re8 $1 $16 {Agzamov,G-Timoscenko,G SSSR 1982 34/510}) 19.
Qxd8+ (19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Qe2 (20. Qxd8 Nf3+ 21. Kg2 Qc6 $1 {Har Zvi: and not
21...Nxe1 as Agzamov analyses in informator 34} (21... Nxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Qxe1 (
22... Qh3+ 23. Kf3 Qh5+ 24. Kf4) 23. Qd7+ Ka6 24. Qc6+ Ka5 25. Bf4 Rxh2+ 26.
Kxh2 Qxf2+ 27. Kh3 Qf1+ 28. Kh4 $18 {Agzamov,G}) 22. Re7+ Bxe7 23. Qxh8 (23.
Qxe7+ Ka8 $19) 23... Nxg5+ {with Bxf6 with a strong initiative}) 20... Qh3 21.
Qxe5 Qxh2+ 22. Kf1 Qh3+ 23. Ke2 Qg4+ 24. Kf1 $10 {Shirov}) 19... Kxd8 20. Bxb7
Kc7 $4 (20... Qf5 21. Rxe5 (21. Rad1+ Nd3 22. Bf4 Bd6 $1 23. Be4 Qh3 24. Rxd3
cxd3 25. Bxd6 Qxh2+ 26. Kf1 Qh1+ 27. Bxh1 Rxh1+ 28. Kg2 Rxe1 29. Bf4 Re2 30.
Kf3 c4 $1 $17) 21... Qxe5 22. Rd1+ Kc7 23. Bf4 Qxf4 24. gxf4 Kxb7 25. Rc1 Rh6
26. Rxc4 Kc6 $10 {Shirov}) 21. Bg2 Qd7 22. Bf4 $1 $16 {+- Shirov,A-Piket,J
Aruba (m/4) 1995 63/379 [Shirov,A]}) 17... e5 (17... Qa6 $5) (17... Ne5 $4 {
HarZvi} 18. Re1 $18) 18. Be3 Bh6 19. Qc1 $1 (19. Qc2 $5) 19... Bxe3 (19... Qxf6
$2 20. Nxc5 Nxc5 (20... Bxe3 21. fxe3 $1 Qh6 22. Nxb7 Kxb7 (22... Qxh2+ 23. Kf2
Kxb7 24. Rh1) 23. Qxc4 Qxe3+ 24. Rf2 $18) 21. Qxc4 Bxe3 22. fxe3 Qd6 (22... Qb6
23. Rac1 $18) 23. Rac1 $18) 20. Qxe3 $16 (20. fxe3 $5) 20... Ba6 $6 {a
completely unexplained move,the natural move and the best one is simply to
take on d5,after this strange move black has no play at all white is winning} (
20... Bxd5 21. Rfd1 Nxf6 22. Rac1 Qc6 (22... Ng4 23. Qe2) (22... Rxh2 23. Bxd5
Nxd5 24. Kxh2) 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Qxc5 Qxc5 25. Nxc5 Nb6 26. Nd3 $16 (26. Na6
Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 c3 28. Nxb4 cxb2 29. Nd3 Nc4 (29... Na4 30. Rb1) 30. Rb1 $16 Kc7
31. Nxb2 Rb8 32. Rc1)) (20... Kb8) (20... Bxd5) 21. a3 $1 Kb8 (21... b3 22.
Rfd1) (21... c3 22. Rfc1 $16) 22. h4 $1 (22. Nxc5 $2 Nxc5 23. axb4 Nb3 24. b5
Nxa1 25. Rxa1 Bb7 26. Qxa7+ Kc7) 22... Rdg8 (22... Rc8 23. Bh3 $1 $16) 23. Nxc5
$1 Nxc5 (23... Qxc5 24. Qxc5 Nxc5 25. axb4 c3 26. bxc5 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 cxb2 28.
Rb1 $18) 24. axb4 Nb7 (24... Nb3 25. b5 (25. Rxa6 $1 {HarZvi} Qxa6 26. Qxe5+
Kc8 (26... Kb7 27. d6+) 27. d6 $1 {Har Zvi: and white is probably winning the
threats are Qd5,Qe7}) 25... Nxa1 26. Rxa1 Bb7 (26... Bxb5 27. Qxa7+ Kc8 28.
Bh3+ Bd7 (28... Kd8 29. Qa5+ (29. Qa8+)) 29. Qa8+ Qb8 (29... Kc7 30. Ra7+ $18)
30. Qc6+ $18) 27. Qxa7+ Kc8 (27... Kc7 28. Ra6 Ra8 29. Qxb7+ Kxb7 30. Rxd6 $18)
28. Bh3+ Kc7 29. Ra6 Ra8 (29... Qxd5 30. Rc6+ $18) 30. Qxb7+ Kxb7 31. Rxd6 $18)
(24... Nd3 25. b5) 25. b3 $1 {/\bc} (25. b3 $1 cxb3 (25... c3 26. Rfc1) (25...
Rg4 26. b5 Bxb5 27. Qxa7+ Kc7 28. Rfc1 {Har Zvi: and black is losing since he
can not play Qb6/Qc5 because of d6}) (25... Rc8 {HarZvi} 26. b5) 26. b5 Bxb5
27. Qxa7+ Kc7 28. Rfc1+ $18) (25. b5 Bxb5 26. Qxa7+ Kc7) 1-0

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.30"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 cxd4 8.
Rd1 Be7 9. exd4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bd7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5
Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bf6 16. Be3 Qe7 17. Rd2 Rfd8 18. Rad1 Nd4 19. Qg4 Nc6 20. g3 Ne5
21. Qe4 b6 22. Kg2 h6 23. h3 Re8 24. b3 Qc7 25. Qf5 Rcd8 26. Bxh6 Qc8 27. Qxc8
Rxc8 28. Be3 Kf8 29. Bb7 Rc7 30. Ba6 Rb8 31. Rd5 Re8 32. Bb5 Rec8 33. Ba6 Rb8
34. Bf4 Re7 35. Re1 Rbe8 36. Re4 g5 37. Bc1 Re6 38. Bb5 Ng6 39. Rxe6 Rxe6 40.
Bxg5 Bxg5 41. Rxg5 Rd6 42. Bc4 Rd2 43. Rf5 Nh8 44. a4 Ke7 45. h4 f6 46. Rh5 1-0

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik HarZvi} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3
c5 7. b4 (7. e3 {HarZvi} b6 8. b4 Qe7 9. Be2 d6 10. d4 cxd4 11. exd4 Nbd7 12.
O-O Bb7 13. Re1 Rfc8 14. Qb3 $14 {Kramnik,V-Aseev,K Moskva (open) 1992 57/532 
[Aseev,K]}) 7... b6 8. g3 Nc6 (8... Bb7 {Ftacnik} 9. Bg2 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11.
Bb2 Qc7 12. d3 $14 {Illescas Cordoba,M -Karpov,A/Wijk m/1993/}) 9. Bg2 Bb7 10.
O-O d6 11. Bb2 {HarZvi: two rounds later Ehlvest played this position another
time this time against Gelfand who played 11.d3 and the ended in a quick draw}
(11. d3 {HarZvi} h6 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Rad1 a6 14. e3 Qe7 15. Nd2 Rfd8 16. Ne4 Ne8
17. bxc5 bxc5 18. Qc2 Nb8 19. f4 d5 20. Nd2 dxc4 21. dxc4 {1-2/1-2 Grlfand,
B-Ehlvest,J Vienna 1996}) 11... e5 (11... Qc7 {HarZvi} 12. d3 e5 13. e3 Rfe8
14. Nh4 Ne7 15. e4 (15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. e4 Nd7 $1 17. f4 f6 $10) 15... Nc6 $6 (
15... Nd7 16. f4 f6 17. Bh3 Nf8 $10) 16. Qd2 $14 {Illesecas Cordoba,M-Kamsky,G
Dos Hermanas 1995 63/11 [Illescas Cordoba,M]} (16. Qd2 {Ftacnik} Nd4 17. Bxd4
cxd4 18. Bh3 (18. f4 $2 Ng4 $13) 18... Bc8 19. Bxc8 Raxc8 20. f4 Nd7 (20... Ng4
$2 21. Ng2 $14) 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Nf5 {Illescas Cordoba,M-Kamsky,G/Dos
Hermanas (04)/1995/1-0 (73)})) (11... Rc8 {Ftacnik} 12. d3 e5 (12... Qe7 13. b5
Nb8 14. e4 d5 15. exd5 exd5 16. Rfe1 Qd8 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Re5 Re8 19. Rae1
Rxe5 20. Rxe5 Qf8 21. Nd2 {1/2-1/2 Belov,I-Shneider,A/Cappelle op (03) 1995})
13. bxc5 bxc5 14. e3 Rb8 15. Rab1 Qe7 16. Ba1 Nd8 17. d4 cxd4 18. exd4 e4 19.
Nh4 d5 20. cxd5 Nxd5 21. Qa5 Qe6 22. Rfe1 f5 23. Qxa7 {1-0 Hjartarson,
J-Plaskett,J/Esbjerg (09)/1985/ (38)}) (11... Re8 {Ftacnik} 12. b5 Ne7 13. a4
a5 14. d3 d5 15. Qc2 $14 {Petrosian,T-Larsen,B/Vinkovci/1970/}) 12. e3 {
of course not allowing black to play Nd4} Rc8 13. d3 (13. d4 $5 exd4 (13...
cxd4 14. exd4 e4 15. Nd2 $14 d5 16. b5 Ne7 17. c5) 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 cxd4
16. Qxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 $14 d5 $5) 13... Re8 $2 (13... Ne7 14. Qb3 $5 (14. Nxe5
$2 Bxg2 15. Ng4 Ne8 $1 16. Kxg2 (16. Nh6+ Kh8 17. Kxg2 f6 18. Ng4 h5) 16... h5
17. Nh6+ Kh7) 14... Rc7 15. d4) (13... a6 $1 $14 14. Nh4 $5) (13... a5 {Ftacnik
} 14. b5 Ne7 15. e4 $6 (15. Nxe5 $3 Bxg2 16. Ng4 $16) 15... Ne8 16. Nd2 Nc7 17.
Bh3 Rb8 18. f4 f6 19. Rf2 Bc8 20. Bxc8 {1/2-1/2 Kustar,S-Lavrov,A/
Balatonbereny op (08) ;EXT 93op 1993}) 14. b5 $1 $16 Ne7 {HarZvi: a terrible
mistake,probably black just missed white's combination} (14... Nb8 15. a4 (15.
Rad1 {Ftacnik} Qe7) 15... a5 16. e4 $16 Nbd7 17. Nh4) 15. Nxe5 $5 (15. e4 Ng6
16. Nd2 $16) 15... Bxg2 (15... dxe5 {Ftacnik} 16. Bxb7 $18) 16. Ng4 {a
suddenly there is a very big problem over the a1-h8 diagonal,and black is
forced to give back material} Ned5 $8 (16... Bxf1 17. Nxf6+ gxf6 (17... Kf8 {
HarZvi} 18. Nxh7+ {with mate}) (17... Kh8 {HarZvi} 18. Nxe8 f6 19. Nxf6) 18.
Qxf6 $18 {with mate on the next move}) (16... Nh5 17. Kxg2 f5 18. Nh6+ Kf8 19.
g4 $5 fxg4 20. f3 $1 g3 21. hxg3 gxh6 22. Rh1 $18) 17. Nxf6+ (17. cxd5 Bxf1 18.
Rxf1 Nh5) 17... gxf6 (17... Nxf6 {HarZvi} 18. Kxg2 $18) (17... Qxf6 {HarZvi}
18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. Kxg2 $18) 18. cxd5 {HarZvi: black can take both on d5 and f1,
he took on on d5 then the material is equal but white has a winning advantage
but also taking on f1 is no big difference} Bxd5 $5 (18... Bxf1 19. Rxf1 $16
Qe7 (19... c4 {HarZvi} 20. dxc4 Re4 21. Rc1 Rexc4 22. Qxc4 Rxc4 23. Rxc4 $16 {
/+-}) (19... Kg7 {Ftacnik} 20. Qc4 (20. e4 Qe7 21. f4 $16) 20... Rg8 21. Qh4 h6
22. Rc1 $40) 20. Qc4 $1 f5 21. Qf4) 19. Rfe1 $5 (19. Qxf6 Qxf6 20. Bxf6 Bf3 $14
) 19... Re6 (19... Bb7 20. f4 d5 21. Qxf6 Qxf6 22. Bxf6 $16) (19... c4 $5 {
Ftacnik} 20. Qd4 (20. Rac1 cxd3 21. Qxd3 Be4 22. Qd4 Rc5 $14) (20. e4 cxd3 21.
Qxd3 Bc4 22. Qf3 Re6 23. Rac1 $14) 20... Rc5 21. Qg4+ (21. dxc4 Bxc4 (21... Re4
22. Qxf6 Qxf6 23. Bxf6 Bxc4 24. a4 $14) 22. a4) 21... Kh8 22. Bd4 Rxb5 23. Qf4
Re6 24. e4 Bb7 25. dxc4 $14) 20. f4 Kg7 $6 (20... c4 $2 21. Qd4 $1 Bb7 22. f5)
(20... Bb7 21. f5 Re8 (21... Re5 22. Qc4 $1 Rxf5 23. Rf1 $1) 22. Qxf6 Qxf6 23.
Bxf6 $16) 21. f5 Re8 (21... Re5 22. Qd2 Re8 23. e4 Bb7 24. Qg5+ $18) 22. Qd2
Bb7 23. e4 h6 $8 (23... d5 $2 {Ftacnik} 24. Qg5+ $18) 24. Qf4 {HarZvi: black's
position is simply hopeless} d5 (24... c4 25. Rad1 $5) 25. Qg4+ Kh7 26. Qh4 (
26. Qh5 $5) 26... Kg7 (26... d4 27. Bc1 $18 (27. Bc1 {Ftacnik} Rh8 28. Bxh6 $18
)) (26... dxe4 27. dxe4 $18) 27. exd5 $1 Kh7 {HarZvi: well Kg7-Kh7 what a
manoeuvre!} (27... Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Bxd5 29. Bc1 {with g5 and black is hopeless}
(29. Re8 $2 Qxe8 30. Qxf6+ Kf8) (29. g4 $1 {HarZvi  with g5 and black is
hopeless} Qd6 30. g5 hxg5 31. Qxg5+ Kh7 32. Qh4+ Kg7 33. Re3 $18) 29... Qh8 30.
Re7 $5 $18) (27... Rg8 28. d6 $1 $18 Qxd6 29. Re6 $1 fxe6 30. Qxf6+ Kh7 31.
Qf7+) (27... Bxd5 $2 {Ftacnik} 28. Rxe8 Qxe8 29. Qxf6+ Kf8 30. Qxh6+ $18) 28.
Re4 $1 (28. Bxf6 $2 Qxd5) 28... Bxd5 (28... Qxd5 29. Qxf6 Rg8 30. Bc1 Rg7 31.
Bxh6 $18) (28... Rxe4 29. dxe4 $18) (28... Rg8 29. Bxf6 Qxd5 30. Qxh6+ Kxh6 31.
Rh4#) (28... Qd6 29. Bxf6 Qf8 30. Rg4 Bxd5 31. Rg7+ Qxg7 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. f6+
$18) 29. Bxf6 {HarZvi: and black resigned after a queen move Qxh6! followed by
Rh4 seems good enough} (29. Bxf6 Rxe4 (29... Qd6 30. Qxh6+) (29... Qd7 {Ftacnik
} 30. Qxh6+ $1 Kxh6 31. Rh4#) 30. dxe4 (30. dxe4 Qd6 31. Rd1 $18)) 1-0

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. e3 {3.Lb2? f6!=+ Petrosyan-Fisher,Buenos-Aires 1971} Nf6
4. Bb2 e6 5. c4 dxc4 $6 (5... Nc6) (5... Be7) 6. bxc4 $14 (6. Bxc4 $14) 6...
Nc6 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2 b6 10. a3 Bb7 11. Ng5 (11. Nc3 Rc8 12. Ng5 h6
13. Nge4 $14) 11... h6 12. Nh3 (12. Bxf6 hxg5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 $10) 12... Rc8 13.
d3 Rc7 (13... Ne8 $5 14. Nf4 Bd6) 14. f4 $6 (14. Nc3 $14) 14... Ne8 $1 15. f5 (
15. Nc3 f5 $13 (15... Nd6 $5)) 15... Bg5 $5 (15... Bf6 16. Nc3 $14) (15... e5
$2 16. Nc3 $16) 16. Nxg5 (16. Rf3 $142) 16... Qxg5 17. Rf3 (17. e4 $6 Qe3+ 18.
Kh1 Nd4 19. Bxd4 cxd4 20. Rf3 Qg5 21. Nd2 $15) 17... Ne7 (17... Ne5 $6 18. Rg3
Qxf5 19. Nc3 Nc6 20. Rf1 Qh7 21. Bh5 $44) (17... exf5 $1 18. Nd2 (18. Nc3 Ne5
19. Rg3 Ng4 $17) 18... Qe7 19. Nf1 Nd6 20. Rg3 f6 21. Bh5 f4 22. exf4 Nf5 $15)
18. e4 exf5 19. Rg3 Qh4 (19... Qf4 20. Nc3 fxe4 21. dxe4 (21. Rf1 $2 exd3 22.
Bxd3 Qd4+ 23. Kh1 Qd8 $17) 21... Rd7 22. Nd5 $44) 20. Nc3 (20. Nd2 Nc6 21. Nf3
Qf4 (21... Qe7 22. exf5 $14) 22. Rf1 fxe4 23. dxe4 Qd6 24. e5 $44) 20... fxe4
21. dxe4 (21. Rg4 exd3 22. Qd2 Qf6 23. Nb5 Qe6 24. Nxc7 Qxe2 25. Qxe2 dxe2 26.
Nxe8 Rxe8 27. Rxg7+ Kf8 28. Rh7 Ng6 29. Re1 Re4 $15) 21... Ng6 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23.
exd5 $44 Nd6 24. Rf1 (24. Bd3 Re7 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6 Nf5 27. Rf3 Re1+ 28.
Rf1 Rxa1 29. Bxa1 Qxc4 30. Rxf5 Qc1+ 31. Kf2 Rxf5+ 32. Qxf5 Qxa1 33. Qe6+ Kf8
$10) 24... Re8 25. Bd3 Ne5 26. a4 Rce7 (26... a6 $5) 27. Rh3 Qg4 28. Rg3 $10
Qh4 29. Rh3 Qg4 30. Rg3 Qd7 31. Qd2 Ng6 32. Qc3 Ne5 33. Qc1 f6 $6 34. Bxe5 $4 (
34. Bb1 $1 f5 $1 $8 (34... Ndf7 $2 35. Qc2 Ng5 36. h4 $18) (34... Kf7 35. Qd1
$1 $40) (34... Kh8 $2 35. Rxf6 Nf3+ 36. Rgxf3 Re1+ 37. Rf1 Rxc1 38. Rxh6+ Kg8
39. Bh7+ Kh8 40. Rxc1 Qd8 41. Bf5+ Kg8 42. Be6+ $16) 35. Qxh6 Nexc4 36. Bf6 Rf7
37. h3 Nd2 $1 (37... Re2 $6 38. Rxf5 Re1+ 39. Kh2 Nd2 40. Bxg7 Rxg7 41. Rxg7+
Qxg7 42. Qxd2 $16) 38. Bxg7 Rxg7 39. Rxg7+ Qxg7 40. Qxd2 $14) 34... fxe5 35.
Qxh6 e4 $19 36. Qh5 (36. Qg6 exd3 37. Rh3 Qxh3 $1 38. gxh3 d2 $19) 36... Re5 (
36... exd3 $1 37. Rh3 Qxh3 38. Qxh3 d2 $19) 37. Qg6 exd3 38. Rh3 Rf5 $6 (38...
Qxh3 $19) 39. Qh7+ Kf8 40. Rxf5+ $2 (40. Rhf3 $142) 40... Nxf5 41. Rf3 Re5 42.
g4 d2 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {HarZvi} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6
8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {HarZvi: this line becomes very popular lately,probably
because it has not been analysed as much as all other lines 9.Ne1,9.Nd2, but
still it is a very interesting line which goes direct for the c5 break} Nh5 (
9... a5 {HarZvi}) 10. Re1 {HarZvi: this is a very new move played first in 95
according to my data but here too the main line was 10.g3 which was analysed
very deeply} f5 (10... h6 {HarZvi} 11. Nd2 Nf4 12. Bf1 f5 (12... c6 13. dxc6 (
13. a4 $5 Kh8 14. a5 cxd5 15. cxd5 f5 16. Nc4 g5 17. b5 Rf6 18. b6 a6 19. Qb3
Rg6 20. Ba3 $16 {Piket,J-Xie Jun Monaco rapid 1996}) 13... Nxc6 (13... bxc6 14.
Ba3 $14) 14. a3 a5 15. Rb1 axb4 16. axb4 Nd4 17. Nb3 Nfe6 18. Nb5 Bd7 (18...
Nxb5 $6 19. cxb5 b6 20. Rb2 $1 $16) 19. N3xd4 Nxd4 $1 (19... exd4 $6 20. Na3 $1
Ba4 21. Qd2 $16) 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. Bf4 g5 $6 (21... Be5 22. Bg3 Qf6 $10) 22.
Bg3 $14 {Lalic,B-Atalik,S Hastings 1995 65/(579) [Lalic,B]}) 13. c5 g5 (13...
fxe4 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. Ndxe4 Nf5 16. g3 Nh5 $13 {/+/= Tunik,G-Fedorov,V
Vladivostok 1995}) 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. Nc4 g4 16. b5 Rf6 17. Qb3 Kh7 $6 (17...
Kh8 $14) 18. b6 a6 19. Ba3 $16 {Sokolov,I-Van Wely,L Nederland (ch) 1995 64/
552 [Sokolov,I]}) (10... Nf4 {HarZvi} 11. Bf1 Bg4 (11... h6 12. Nd2 {
transposes to 10...h6}) (11... f5 $6 12. Bxf4 $1 exf4 13. e5 dxe5 (13... g5 14.
Nxg5 dxe5 15. c5 $1 h6 16. Bc4 $1 hxg5 17. d6+ Kh8 18. dxe7 Qxe7 19. Nd5 $16 {
Lalic,B-Gicev,B Skopje 1995 65/(579)}) 14. Nxe5 a5 {Komarov,D-Oral,T
Leeuwarden 1995 65/(579)} 15. c5 $1 axb4 16. Bc4 $16) 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 f5
14. Qd1 $1 fxe4 (14... Qe8 15. exf5) 15. Nxe4 h6 (15... Nf5 $2 16. g3 Nh5 17.
g4) 16. Rb1 $1 Qd7 17. Qg4 $1 $16 {Tukmakov,V-Cvitan,O Zurich 1995 65/579 
[Tukmakov,V]}) 11. Ng5 Nf6 (11... Nf4 {HarZvi} 12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Rc1 Kh8 {
Sokolov,I-Wiersma,E Nederland (ch) 1995 64/551 [Sokolov,I]} (13... a5 14. b5
Bf6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 fxe4 18. Bg4 $14 {/+/- Tukmakov,V-Rupp,
M Portoroz 1996}) 14. Bf3 $1 a5 (14... Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxg5 16. Nxc7 Rb8 17. Qxd6
Rd8 18. Ne6 $16) 15. b5 {with Ne6}) 12. Bf3 {This is a new plan here with the
idea of Ne6 after which the bishop on f3 is rather well-placed. The
traditional 12.f3 leads to a complicated struggle with temporarily pawn
sacrifice after Ne6. Black has no standard attack on the kingside, White gets
the initiative, and Black has to make some ugly defensive moves.
Psychologically this is not very easy for most of the attacking Kings Indian
players.} (12. f3 {HarZvi} c6 $1 {HarZvi: this is white's problem after 12.f3
that is way in recent games we only see 12.Bf3} (12... Kh8 $6 13. Be3 Neg8 (
13... Bh6 14. Nf7+ Rxf7 15. Bxh6) 14. c5 Bh6 15. exf5 $1 gxf5 16. f4 $16 {
Piket,J-Polgar,J Aruba (m/3) 1995 65/578 [Piket,J]}) 13. Kh1 (13. Be3 Bh6 $1
14. Bd2 cxd5 15. cxd5 fxe4 16. fxe4 Qb6+ {1-2/1-2 Panno,O-Ricardi,P Boenos
Aires Najdorf 1995}) 13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Ne8 16. Qb3 Nc7 17. Be3 Kh7
18. c5 d5 19. exd5 cxd5 20. Rad1 d4 $13 {Degraeve,JM-Howell,J/ Groningen (open)
1995/ 1/2-1/2 (42)}) 12... Kh8 (12... fxe4 {HarZvii: Two rounds before Keamnik
played this variation against Gelfand who played 12...fxe4 although the game
ended in a draw Kramnik got a nice position out of the opening}) (12... c6 13.
Bb2 $1 {White is preparing for an open struggle in the centre, which is a bit
unusual here.} (13. Qb3 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4
Rf6 18. Bb2 (18. b5 Qc8 $1 $15 {Dautov}) 18... Rxe6 19. Rad1 Qc7 20. Qh3 Rf6
21. f4 Rxf4 22. Qe6+ Kh7 23. Qxd6 Rc8 $10 {Astrom-Relange, Yerevan (ol) 1996})
13... h6 (13... cxd5 14. exd5 (14. cxd5 fxe4 15. Ngxe4 (15. Ncxe4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4
{-> 15.Nge4} (16. Bxe4 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 d5 19. Bc2 Qd6)) 15... Nxe4 16.
Nxe4 Nf5 17. a4 Nh4 18. Be2 Bf5 19. Bd3 Rc8 20. a5 a6 21. Rc1 $14 {I.
Sokolov-Temirbaev, Yerevan (ol) 1996}) 14... e4 15. Be2 {is better for White
according to Dautov.}) (13... Kh8 {-> 12...Kh8}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16.
Bxe4 $1 (16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 {Dautov,R-Kindermann,S Nussloch 1996} (17. Bxe4
$6 d5 $1) 17... Nf5 18. b5 Rc8 19. Re2 Re8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. c5 d5 22. Bxe5
Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qf6 {1/2 Dautov-Kindermann, Nussloch 1996}) 16... d5 (16... Nxe4
17. Nxe4 d5 18. Nc5 $1 $16) 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Bc2 Qd6 19. Bb3 Qxe6 20. Na4 e4
21. Nc5 Qf5 22. f3 Kh7 23. fxe4 Nxe4 24. Bxg7 Qf2+ 25. Kh1 Kxg7 26. Ne6+ $16 {
Tukmakov-Hulak, Yerevan (ol) 1996}) (12... fxe4 {HarZvi} 13. Ngxe4 Nf5 14. Bg5
Nd4 15. Nb5 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Bf5 17. Qb3 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Qd7 19. Bxf6 Rxf6 20. Rae1
$14 {/+/- Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B Vienna 1996}) 13. Bb2 a5 (13... c6 14. Qb3 cxd5
15. cxd5 fxe4 16. Ncxe4 Nfxd5 (16... Nxe4 17. Bxe4) 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Rad1 Rxf3
19. Qxf3 Be6 20. Qf7 $1 $16) 14. b5 $1 Rb8 (14... b6 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Ne6 Bxe6
17. dxe6 e4 18. Bh5 Nxh5 19. Qxh5 Qc8 20. Nxe4 $1 $16) 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6
Ne8 (16... f4 17. c5 dxc5 18. Na4 $16) (16... Qc8 {HarZvi} 17. Nd5) 17. Qb3 c5
(17... Qc8 18. c5 dxc5 19. Na4 (19. Rad1 {HarZvi} Nd6 20. b6 {HarZvi: with
more than a very good compensation for the pawn}) 19... b6 20. exf5 Nxf5 21.
Bxe5 $16) 18. exf5 gxf5 (18... Nxf5 19. Nd5 Nc7 20. Nxc7 Qxc7 21. b6 Qe7 22.
Bd5 $16) (18... Nxf5 {HarZvi}) 19. Bh5 {HarZvi: with more than a very good
compensation for the pawn} Nc7 20. Bf7 Qc8 21. Nd5 Ncxd5 22. cxd5 $16 f4 (22...
b6 23. f4) 23. Bh5 $1 (23. Rad1 Rxf7 24. exf7 Qf5) 23... b6 24. Rad1 Rf5 25.
Bf3 Qg8 26. Be4 Rg5 {HarZvi: white advantage is very big,now he should put a
rook on h3 put preasure on h7 and then try to break with g3,it is very simple
plan} 27. Rd3 Bf6 28. Rh3 Ng6 29. Qf3 Rb7 30. Rh5 {HarZvi: h5 will be
afantastic place for the queen} Rxh5 31. Qxh5 Rg7 32. g3 $18 Ne7 33. Kh1 Qf8
34. Rg1 {HarZvi: the threat gxf4 then Rxg7 and Bxf6} Ng8 {defending f6} 35. Qf3
Bg5 36. h4 Bf6 37. Rg2 Qe7 38. Qh5 fxg3 39. fxg3 Qf8 40. Rf2 Qd8 41. g4 Be7 42.
g5 c4 43. Rf7 Qe8 44. Qxh7+ (44. Qxh7+ {HarZvi} Rxh7 45. Rxh7#) 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 12th Group4"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "1996.09.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1996.09.06"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Prague SK Dum armady "]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 {Ribli. Kramniks Lieblingsvariante.} c5 (
4... Nc6 5. a3 Be7 6. d4 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bf4 O-O 9. e3 {Kramnik,V-Anand,V,
Monaco 25',1996,EXP52.}) 5. g3 {Ribli .Die fruehere Thoerie empfehlt hier 5.a3
Ba5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 o-o 8.o-o.Kramnik spart den Zug a3.} Nc6 6. Bg2 O-O (6...
Na5 7. Qc2 Nxc4 8. Na4 $1) 7. O-O d6 (7... Na5 $2 8. Qc2 Nxc4 9. Na4 d5 10. a3
Ba5 11. d3 Nb6 12. Nxc5 $36 {Garcia Ilundain,D-Psakhis,L,Benasque,1995,CBM50.})
(7... d5 8. d3 h6 9. e3 Re8 10. a3 $5 {Kasparov,G-Anand,V,PCA-Wch,1995,New
York,CBM49.}) 8. d3 h6 (8... a6 {Ribli.Mit der Idee, eventuell Rb8,b5 zu
spielen.}) 9. e3 e5 10. a3 {Ribli.Kramnik verbessert seine fruehere Partie
gegen Adams Dortmund 1996. Dort kam 10.Nd2 Bc3 -10...Be6-11.Qc3 d5?! und Weiss
hat bessere Moeglichkeiten.} Ba5 (10... Bxc3 $5 11. Qxc3 a5 {Ribli. Weiss hat
zwar das Laeuferpaar, aber die Stellung ist ziemlich geschlossen, und der
Durchbruch b4 oder d4 droht noch nicht.}) 11. Nd2 Qe7 $6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. cxd5
Bxd2 (13... Nb8 14. Nc4 $14) 14. Bxd2 (14. dxc6 $2 Bxc1 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. Bxb7
Rab8) 14... Nb8 15. d4 Nd7 $6 (15... cxd4 16. exd4 exd4 17. Rfe1 Qf6 $14 {
Ribli. Weiss hat grossen Entwicklungsvorteil und ein starkes Laeuferpaar, aber
es kostet Zeit, den d4-Bauern zurueckzugewinnen. Ich denke, es waere viel
besser als die Partiefortsetzung.}) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 $16 {Ribli.Jetzt
haben wir eine typische Benoni-Stellung, in der Weiss stets mit dem Vorstoss
e4-e5 droht, und noch dazu beide Laeufer die grossen Diagonalen einnehmen.} Nd7
18. e4 b6 19. Rfe1 Ba6 20. Bc3 c4 {Ribli.Der schwarze Springer zielt nach d3,
aber Weiss kann das leicht umgehen.} 21. Qd1 Nc5 22. Qg4 $36 f6 (22... g6 23.
e5) 23. e5 Bc8 24. Qh4 (24. e6 $6) 24... Nd3 25. exf6 Qc7 26. h3 $1 {Ribli.
Weiss hat positionell gewonnen. Er hat viel Zeit. Auf 26...Qc5 ist er mit 27.
Kh2 vorbereitet.} gxf6 27. Bxf6 $1 {Ribli.Dieser schwarzfeldrige Laeufer ist
mehr wert als ein Turm.} Nxe1 28. Rxe1 Qf7 29. Bc3 Qg6 30. Re7 Rf7 31. Re8+ Rf8
32. Be4 {Ribli.Schwarz gab auf. Nach 32...Bf5 kommt 33.Re6 und nach 32...Qe8
33.Qh6.} 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 12th Group4"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "1996.09.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.09.06"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[BlackTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 {Petursson} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4
Bb4 $5 {Diese Idee wurde bislang noch wenig erprobt. W�hrend im "normalen"
Semi-Slawen der Zug ...Bb4 wenig Effekt hat, macht er hier in der
Schabalow-Variante mehr Sinn. Schwarz plant mit nachfolgendem ...b6 ein Spiel
auf den wei�en Felder, die durch g2-g4 geschw�cht wurden.} 8. Bd2 Qe7 (8...
a5 $6 {erscheint wenig sinnvoll.} 9. g5 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Ne4 11. Rg1 Qe7 12. Bd3
Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Qb4 14. Ke2 Qxc3 15. bxc3 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Ke7 17. a4 $14 {
Krasenkov, M-Pekarek,A/BL 9293}) 9. a3 $6 {Wei� sollte seinem Gegner nicht
in die H�nde spielen. Der Abtausch ...Bxc3 ist sowieso Bestandteil des
schwarzen Planes. In einer anderen Partie wurde 9.g5 versucht. Vielleicht ist
9.Rg1!? interesant.} (9. g5 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Ne4 11. Rg1 b6 12. O-O-O Bb7 13. Be1
c5 14. Kb1 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Nd6 16. Nd2 cxd4 17. exd4 Rc8 $36 {Lindemann,
C-Kadimova,I/Berliner Sommer 1994}) (9. Rg1 $5 {Bereitet g5 vor.} b6 10. cxd5
cxd5 $13 (10... exd5 $2 11. g5 Bxc3 12. Qxc3)) 9... Bxc3 10. Bxc3 b6 $1 11. Bd3
(11. cxd5 exd5 $10 {Kramnik}) 11... Ba6 12. Qa4 dxc4 $1 13. Qxa6 (13. Qxc6 Rc8
14. Qa4 Bb7 15. Be2 a5 $17 {Kramnik}) 13... cxd3 14. Qxd3 $6 {Da die Partie
strategisch bereits schlecht um Wei� bestellt ist, sollte er Verwicklungen
suchen. Kramnik schl�gt 14.Qb7 vor:} (14. Qb7 O-O 15. Ne5 $1 Qe8 16. Nxd3 Rc8
17. Qxa7 Nxg4 $15 {Kramnik}) 14... O-O {Petursson: White's problem herer is
that he has weakend his King side without obtaining any attacking chances.} 15.
g5 Nd5 16. Bd2 f5 $1 $17 {Angesichts seiner wei�feldrigen Schw�chen und
seines kr�nklichen Bd2 hat Wei� klaren Nachteil.} 17. O-O-O c5 18. Kb1 b5
$1 19. Qxb5 Rab8 20. Qa5 Rb3 21. Ka2 Rfb8 22. Rb1 e5 $1 {Mit Gewinnstellung
gem�� Kramnik.} 23. Rhc1 (23. dxe5 {Petursson} Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. Bc3
Nxc3+ 26. bxc3 Qe4 $19) 23... Qe6 24. Ka1 exd4 {Mit dem g-Bauern auf g2 statt
auf g5 k�nnte Wei� nun einfach 25.exd4 spielen ...} 25. Rxc5 Nxc5 26. Qxc5
Nc3 $1 27. Nxd4 {Petursson: Now we see a grand finale. Black has only one move
to win here!} Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Qa2+ 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 12th Group4"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "1996.09.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Glek, Igor Vladimirovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1996.09.06"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Eupen-Kelmis Rochade"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BEL"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Nxc6 {This move is only good for a slight
advantage.} (11. Qd2 Nf4 12. Rfd1 $1 {This new move will have a bright future.
White gives up the pair of bishops, but gains control over the centre, and it
is not easy for Black to find an adequate plan.} Nxe2+ 13. Ncxe2 Ne5 14. b3 c6
15. Rac1 Qc7 16. Nc3 b6 17. Nde2 Bf8 18. Bg5 Nd7 19. Bh6 $16 {Ivanchuk-Shirov,
Yerevan (ol) 1996}) 11... bxc6 12. Qd2 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Bd4 Nf6 15. Rfe1 c5
16. Bf2 Qd7 $1 (16... Qb8 {See Khuzman-P.Svidler, Haifa 1996 CBM 54.}) 17. Rad1
(17. g4 Be6) 17... Qf7 18. b3 a6 19. Bf1 Bd7 20. Rxe8+ Bxe8 21. a3 Rb8 22. Rb1
Bc6 23. b4 Nd7 24. bxc5 Rxb1 25. Nxb1 Nxc5 $10 26. Nc3 h6 27. Nd5 g5 28. Qb4
Bxd5 29. cxd5 Be5 30. Bxc5 dxc5 31. Qe4 {White has some slight advantage in
the endgame, but in case of precise defence it is hard to believe that he can
convert it into a win.} Bd4+ 32. Kh1 a5 33. g3 Kf8 34. Kg2 Qf6 35. Bc4 Qe5 36.
Qh7 Qd6 37. a4 Bg7 38. Qf5+ Ke7 39. Bb5 c4 40. Bxc4 Qe5 41. Qc8 Qd6 42. Bb5 Kf6
43. Qa8 Bf8 44. Qxa5 Qxd5 45. Qxc7 Qa2+ 46. Kh3 Qe6+ 47. Kg2 Qa2+ 48. Kh3 Qe6+
49. g4 Bd6 50. Qh7 Bf8 51. Bd3 Qd5 52. Qg6+ Ke7 53. Qf5 Qd6 54. a5 Bg7 55. a6
Bd4 56. Qe4+ Kd8 57. Qa8+ Kc7 58. Qb7+ Kd8 59. Kg2 Bb6 60. Qa8+ Ke7 61. a7 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 12th final"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1996.11.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V/Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1996.11.21"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Beer-Sheva Chess Club"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5
Nb6 {Ftacnik: Ein sehr popul�rer Zug in der modernen Praxis, Schwarz will
den Pc4 unterst�tzen.} (8... Bb4 9. Qc2 $14) 9. Be3 $5 (9. bxa6 Rxa6 10. Rxa6
Nxa6 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Be7 13. Be3 (13. Na4 Qd5 14. Ne1 Qc6 $1 15. Nxb6 cxb6
16. Bf3 Qd7 17. b3 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Nb4 20. Ba3 Nd5 21. Bxe7 Qxe7
22. Qa4+ Qd7 23. Qa8+ Qd8 24. Qc6+ Qd7 25. Qa8+ {1/2-1/2 van Wely,L-Miles,A/
Matanzas 1995}) 13... O-O 14. Nd2 Qd7 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Qc6 17. Qf3 Qxc4
18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qf3 Rxb2 20. Ne4 Qd3 21. h3 h6 22. Qg4 h5 23. Qf3 Nb4 {
1/2-1/2 Sulava,N-Estrada Nieto,J/ Candas op 1996 (28)}) (9. Ng5 {Ftacnik} h6
10. Nge4 (10. Qh5 $2 g6 $17 (10... hxg5 $2 11. Qxh8 Qxd4 12. Be2 Qxe5 13. O-O
$44 axb5 14. Rxa8 Nxa8 15. f4 $1 gxf4 16. Bxf4 Qc5+ 17. Kh1 Nd7 18. Ne4 Qd4 19.
Ng5 Nf6 20. Bf3 $1 Nb6 21. Bxc7 Qc5 22. Bxb6 Qxg5 23. Bd4 $1 {1-0 Kramnik,
V-Miles,A/ London PCA-Intel GP 1995 (40)}) 11. Qh3 $140 Qxd4 12. Nf3 Qd8 13.
Bg5 Be7 14. Rd1 N8d7 15. Ne4 Bxg5 16. Nfxg5 axb5 17. Nh7 $1 Rxh7 18. Nf6+ Nxf6
19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. exf6 Nd5 $17) 10... Bb7 11. Qg4 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxb5
Qd7 14. Nbc3 Nc6 15. Be3 Nb4 16. Be2 Nc2+ 17. Kf1 Nd5 18. Bc1 Nxd4 19. Bxc4 Nb6
20. Ba2 Nf5 21. h4 Be7 22. Kg1 Qd4 $1 {0-1 Krasenkow,M-Grabarczyk,M/ POL-ch
1996 (40)}) (9. Bg5 Be7 (9... Qd7 10. bxa6 Rxa6 11. Rxa6 Nxa6 12. Be2 h6 13.
Bh4 Bb7 14. O-O g5 15. Bg3 Be7 16. b3 g4 17. Ne1 c5 18. bxc4 cxd4 19. Nb5 h5
20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. exd6 Qc6 22. Qxd4 Rg8 23. Qf6 Nc8 24. Bh4 Qxd6 25. c5 {
1-0 Krallmann, M-Juergeleit,A/ NRW-II 9596/1996}) 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. bxa6 Rxa6
12. Rxa6 Bxa6 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Nc6 15. Qb1 Rd8 16. Rd1 Bb7 17. Ne4 h6 $10 {
Tukmakov, V-Miles,A/ Biel (rapid) 1995}) (9. Qc2 Bb7 $13 10. Be2 Be7 11. O-O
axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxb5 O-O 14. Rd1 Na6 15. Nc3 Nb4 16. Qb1 Qd7 17. Ne4 Qa4
18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Nexg5 Qc2 20. Qxc2 Nxc2 21. Rc1 Nb4 22. Nd2 Rd8 23. Nxc4 {
Kramnik, V-Miles,A/ London PCA-Intel GP 1995/1/2-1/2 (66)}) (9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O
(10. bxa6 Rxa6 11. Rxa6 Nxa6 12. O-O Be7 13. Be3 O-O 14. Nd2 c5 (14... Qd7 $10
{Ftacnik}) 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 cxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. Bxd4 Nb4 19. Bb6 Rc8
20. Be2 Bc5 21. Bxc5 Rxc5 22. f4 Kf8 23. Ra1 Nd5 {Van Wely,L-Miles,A/ London
PCA-Intel GP 1995/0-1 (55)}) 10... axb5 (10... Be7 11. Be3 O-O 12. bxa6 Rxa6
13. Rc1 Nc6 14. b3 cxb3 15. Qxb3 Ra3 16. Qb1 Nb4 17. Nb5 Ra2 18. Rfe1 Rxe2 19.
Rxe2 Ba6 20. Rb2 Bxb5 21. Rxb4 Bxb4 22. Ng5 Re8 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Ne4 {Landa,
K-Sulava,N/ Oberwart op 1996/1-0 (45)}) 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Be7 (12... Qd7
13. Na3 Bd5 14. Qc2 Bxa3 15. bxa3 Nc6 16. Rd1 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nxd4 18. Qe4 Nxf3+
19. Qxf3 Qa4 20. Rd4 O-O 21. h3 Qa5 {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,PH-Kumaran,D/ Copenhagen
KS 1996 (34)}) 13. b3 cxb3 14. Qxb3 O-O 15. Ba3 Nc6 16. Rc1 Nd5 17. g3 Qd7 18.
Bxe7 Ncxe7 19. Ng5 Rb8 20. Qd3 Ng6 21. Rc5 {0-1 Rasmussen,P-Pedersen,D/ DEN-ch
qual 1996 (39)}) 9... Bb4 $6 (9... Bb7 $1 $10) (9... Be7 $2 10. Nd2 axb5 11.
Rxa8 Nxa8 12. Nxb5 $16 {Chernin,A-Miles,A/ Biel (rapid) 1995}) 10. Nd2 axb5 $6
(10... Bxc3 {Ftacnik} 11. bxc3 axb5 12. Rxa8 Nxa8 13. Nxc4 bxc4 14. Qa4+ Bd7
15. Qxa8 $16) (10... Bb7 $5 {Ftacnik}) 11. Rxa8 Nxa8 12. Qg4 Kf8 (12... O-O {
Ftacnik} 13. Bh6 g6 14. Bxf8 $16) 13. Nxb5 Nb6 14. Nc3 {Ftacnik: Die
Schw�che von Pc4 ist unangenehmer als der exponierte Pd4.} Nc6 15. Be2 $14 (
15. Nxc4 Nd5 16. Bd2 Nde7 $44 (16... f5 $1 {Ftacnik} 17. exf6 Nxf6)) 15... h5
16. Qe4 (16. Qf4 $6 Nd5 $10) 16... Bb7 17. O-O g6 18. Bf3 (18. Rd1 Nd5 $10 19.
Qc2 $2 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Qg5 $17) 18... Kg7 19. Qf4 Be7 (19... Na5 {Ftacnik} 20.
Nde4 Nd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. e6 $40) 20. Rd1 Ba8 $4 (20... Nd5 $8 21. Bxd5 exd5
22. Qf3 Nb4 23. Nxc4 $4 (23. b3 Bc8 24. h3 $13) 23... Bc8 $17) 21. d5 $1 $16 {
Ftacnik Important moment, white breaks through on the strongest square in
black's possesion! Ftacnik Ein wichtiger Moment, Weiss bricht auf dem
st�rksten Feld von Schwarz durch!} g5 (21... Nxd5 22. Nxd5 exd5 23. Nxc4 $16
(23. Nxc4 {Ftacnik} Nb4 24. e6 $40)) (21... exd5 {Ftacnik} 22. Bxb6 cxb6 23.
Bxd5 Rf8 24. Nxc4 $18) 22. Qg3 h4 23. Qg4 (23. Qh3 $142) 23... Nxe5 24. Bd4 Bf6
(24... f6 {Ftacnik} 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. dxe6 $18) 25. Bxe5 Bxe5 26. dxe6 f5 (
26... Bxc3 $142 27. bxc3 (27. Ne4 Qe7 28. Nxg5 f5 29. Qxf5 Bf6 30. Nf7 Bxf3 31.
gxf3 Re8 32. Re1 Qxf7 $17) 27... Bxf3 28. Qxf3 Qf6 $14 (28... Qe7 {Ftacnik} 29.
Ne4 fxe6 30. Qg4 Kg6 31. Re1 e5 32. Nd2 Rf8 33. Nf3 Rf4 34. Rxe5 Rxg4 35. Rxe7
$16)) 27. Qxf5 Qf6 28. Qh3 (28. Qxf6+ {Ftacnik} Bxf6 (28... Kxf6 29. Bg4 $16)
29. h3 $16) 28... Bxc3 29. bxc3 Qxc3 30. Qf5 Qf6 31. Qc5 $1 Kh6 (31... Rc8 {
Ftacnik} 32. Bxa8 Nxa8 33. Ne4 $18) 32. Qxc7 $18 {Ftacnik Despite exchange of
many pieces black's king remains dangerously exposed. Ftacnik Trotz des
Abtausches vieler Figuren bleibt der schwarze K�nig gef�hrlich exponiert.}
Nd5 (32... Qxe6 33. Ne4 Nd5 34. Qxc4 g4 (34... Rc8 35. Nxg5 Kxg5 36. Bxd5 $18)
(34... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 35. Nc5 $16) 35. Qc1+ $18) 33. Qxc4 Nf4 34. Ne4 Bxe4 35.
Qxe4 Re8 (35... Qxe6 36. Qxe6+ Nxe6 37. Rd6 Re8 38. Bg4 $18) (35... Nxe6 {
Ftacnik} 36. Rd6 Re8 (36... Qa1+ 37. Bd1) 37. h3 $18) 36. Bg4 Nxe6 37. Qc6 (37.
Rd6 Qa1+ 38. Bd1 Kg7 39. Rd7+) 37... Qg6 (37... Re7 38. Re1 $18) 38. Bf5 Qxf5 (
38... Qf7 {Ftacnik} 39. Re1 $18) 39. Qxe8 {Hecht #K Kleinkunst: Pattwitz wird
mit Generalabtausch gekontert} g4 40. Re1 Ng5 41. Qh8+ Nh7 (41... Kg6 {Ftacnik}
42. Qxh4 $18) 42. Qe5 Qg6 43. Qf4+ Kh5 44. h3 gxh3 45. Re5+ Ng5 46. gxh3 Qf6
47. Qg4+ (47. Qxf6 $4 {-stalemate}) 47... Kg6 48. Rxg5+ Qxg5 49. f4 (49. f4 {
Ftacnik} Qxg4+ 50. hxg4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik Stohl Psakhis Dolmatov Yudasin,L} Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2
e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 {Psakhis Very fashionable variation, mostly
because of Kramnik,s efforts. This move is known for quite some time, but has
been considered rather tame. However, lately in Kramnik's hands it became a
mighty weapon and of course others followed his example.} ({It's also rather
logical White looks for other means to gain an opening advantage, as the
mainline Queen's Indian (E18-19) after} 7. d4 {Stohl} Ne4 {currently has a
reputation of drawish sterility.}) 7... d5 {As the game started formally as a
Queen's Indian, Black is already devoid of an important possibility to
transpose into Hedgehog pawn structures.} (7... Ne4 8. d4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be4 {
Kramnik,V-Yudasin,L/Erevan olm/1996/}) ({For example, after} 7... c5 {Stohl} 8.
e4 d6 (8... Nc6 9. d4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Qxd4 d6 12. b3 a6 13. Ba3 $1 {
is rather passive for Black. White gradually builds up his position with moves
like} Z0 14. Rad1 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6] -d2,Red1,Qe3,h3,f4,Kh2,Bb4,a4 etc. and puts
Black d6 and b6 pawns under heavy pressure.}) 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 {the threat}
Z0 11. e5 {makes it difficult for Black to end his development harmoniously
and achieve the desired pawn structre. For this he would need 2 moves (a6,Qc7).
}) 8. cxd5 {An important theoretical junction in the opening. By the way Black
recaptures on d5 he decides the strategic picture of the whole game.} Nxd5 (
8... exd5 9. d4 {leads to an altogether different type of position. Black
wants to have more influence in the center and for this he is willing to play
with hanging pawns c5,d5 or even with an isolated Pd5. Practice indicates this
is probably better, than giving White a pawn center.} c5 {E15} (9... c5 {Stohl}
10. Bf4 Na6 {Ljubojevic,L (2615)-Karpov,A (2690) Moscow EUchT (2) 1977 0-1
When 7.Re1 first appeared on top level, this was due to Karpov considered the
best method against it. But of course Ljubojevic's 11-th move is rather
artificial and better methods have been found in the past 20 years.} 11. dxc5
Nxc5 (11... bxc5 $6 12. Ne5 Nc7 13. Nc4 $1 {[%cal Rf4c7,Rc4a5] /\Na5,Bc7} (13.
Qa4 Ne6 14. Red1 Qb6 15. Nd7 Nxd7 16. Qxd7 Bf6 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxb2 19.
Rab1 Qxa2 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bh6 Rfd8 22. Qc6 Qxe2 23. Re1 Qh5 $17 {Wyss,
T-Jurek,J/Biel Credis/1995/}) 13... Ne6 14. Be5 {and Black's pawns are under
unbearable pressure.}) 12. Rc1 (12. Nd4 Nfe4 (12... Qd7 $5 13. Rc1 Rac8 14. Rc2
Rfe8 15. Nf3 Nce4 16. Ne5 Qf5 17. Nxe4 Rxc2 18. Qxc2 dxe4 19. Nc4 Qe6 20. b3
Rc8 21. Qb1 b5 22. Nd2 Bc5 23. Nf1 Ng4 24. e3 Bb4 25. Rc1 Bc3 26. b4 Ne5 27.
Bxe5 Qxe5 28. Rc2 Rd8 29. a3 a5 $11 {Sanchez,G-Browne,W/US-op/1995/}) 13. Qc2
Bg5 14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. e3 Rfc8 17. Qe2 Rc5 18. Nb3 Rc7 19. Rac1
Rac8 20. Rxc7 Rxc7 21. Rd1 g6 22. Nd4 h5 23. Qf3 Ba6 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. gxf4 Kg7
26. Bf1 Bxf1 27. Kxf1 a6 28. Ke2 Kf6 29. Rg1 Rc5 $11 {Gulko,B-Browne,W/San
Francisco/1995/}) 12... Nfe4 $142 $5 {A more active and better move.} (12... a6
13. a3 Re8 (13... Nfe4 $5) 14. Nd4 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Qd2 Rad8 17. Red1 g6
18. Qf4 Qxf4 19. gxf4 Kf8 20. e3 Rd6 21. b4 Ne6 22. Nce2 Re7 23. a4 Nd8 24. a5
Bc6 25. Nc3 Be8 26. Bf1 bxa5 27. bxa5 Rb7 28. Ra1 $1 $16 {is a model game from
White's point of view, he went on to convert his advantage in a fine endgame-
Gelfand,B-Karpov,A/Vienna/1996/}) 13. Nb5 Ne6 14. Be5 Qd7 15. Nbd4 Rac8 16.
Rxc8 Rxc8 17. Bh3 Bc5 18. a3 a5 19. e3 Re8 $132 20. Bg4 {1/2,Kramnik,V-Huebner,
R/Jerevan olm/1996/}) (9... Ne4 $5 10. Qc2 Nd7 11. Bf4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 c5 (12...
Nf6 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Bg5 Re8 15. c4 c5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. e4 Bb7
19. e5 Bd8 20. d5 c4 21. d6 Qc5 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Bxb7 Rab8 24. Bd5 g6 25. Qxc4
$18 {Kramnik,V-Nikolic,P/Monaco bl/1995/}) 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Bh3 Qe8 15. c4 cxd4
16. Nxd4 Nf6 17. Nf5 Bb4 18. Bd2 Bc5 19. Bg2 Ne4 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Bc8 22.
Rxd5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 Nd6 24. Rd5 Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 Nb7 26. Rh5 {1/2,Kramnik,V-Karpov,
A/Monte Carlo bl/1996/})) 9. e4 (9. d4 {Stohl} c5 (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be4 $5)
10. e4 {is only a transposition of moves.}) 9... Nxc3 (9... Nb4 10. d4 $14 (10.
d4 {Stohl} c5 11. d5 $1 exd5 12. exd5 $16 {/\} Nxd5 $2 13. Ne5 $18)) 10. bxc3
c5 11. d4 Nd7 {Currently tha main move. Other alternatives don't seem to give
complete equality:} (11... cxd4 {Psakhis} 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. Bb2 Rc8 (13... Bf6 {
Stohl} 14. Rb1 (14. Qd2 Na5 15. Qe2 Rc8 16. Rad1 Re8 17. h4 Qd7 18. d5 Bxb2 19.
Qxb2 exd5 20. Ne5 Qd6 21. exd5 Re7 22. Ng4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Rd8 24. Ne3 Bc8 25.
Rc1 Nb7 26. Nc4 Qf8 27. Ne5 $36 {Cvitan,O-Hansen,L/Warszawa LEG/1990/}) 14...
Rc8 15. d5 exd5 16. exd5 Na5 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Ne5 Rfd8 19. Rb4 Qd6 20. Rh4 h6
{Ftacnik,L-Yudasin,L/Biel izt/1993/} 21. Rf4 $1 Rc7 22. Ng4 {[%cal Yg4e3,Ye3f5]
/\Ne3-f5|^}) 14. Bh3 Rc7 15. Rc1 Na5 16. Qd3 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 {1-0 Buturin,
V-Kaunas,K/Frydek-Mistek op 1996 (29)}) (11... Bf6 $5) (11... Nc6 {Stohl} 12.
d5 Na5 (12... exd5 13. exd5 Na5 14. Ne5 Bd6 15. Qg4 Qc7 16. Bf4 Rad8 17. Rad1
Bc8 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qh6 Rde8 20. Nd3 Bf5 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Nf4 Nb7 23. h4 Bg4
24. f3 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Bd7 26. Qg5 f6 {1/2,Smirin,I-Makarov,M/Novosibirsk/1995/}
) 13. Bf4 exd5 14. exd5 Bd6 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Qh5 $5 (16. Qg4 {Ftacnik} Rad8 17.
Re3 Bc8 18. Qh5 b5 19. Rae1 Bb7 20. g4 $40 {Dokhoian,Y-Dolmatov,S/Klaipeda/
1988/}) 16... Rae8 17. Re3 f6 18. Nc4 $1 g6 19. Bxd6 Qd7 20. Bh3 f5 21. Rxe8
Rxe8 22. Bxf5 Qxf5 23. Qxf5 gxf5 24. Ne3 Kf7 25. Rd1 Kf6 26. Bc7 Ke7 27. Be5
Kd7 28. f4 $16 {Akhmetov,A-Totsky,L/Ekaterinburg RUS-ch sf/1996/}) 12. Bf4 (12.
h4 {More aggressive is} Nf6 13. Qd3 h6 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qe4 $1 Rb8 16. Qg4 (16.
Qg4 {Stohl} Kh7 17. Bd2 cxd4 18. Nxd4 f5 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Qxe6 Bxg2 21. Kxg2
Qd5+ 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23. Re5 Rfd8 24. Nc6 Bf6 25. Ree1 Nxc3 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 27.
Bxc3 Bxc3 28. Rad1 $18 {Akopian,V-Gulko,B/Jerevan olm/1996/})) (12. e5 cxd4 13.
cxd4 b5 14. Qd3 Rb8 15. Rd1 Bd5) (12. a4 {Stohl Less logical. White's chances
are on the other side of the board.} cxd4 13. cxd4 Nf6 14. Qd3 Rc8 15. Bb2 Rc7
16. a5 bxa5 17. Re2 Rc6 18. Ne5 Rb6 19. Rc2 Qa8 20. Nc4 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22.
Nxb6 axb6 23. Qb5 Nf6 24. Qxb6 Qe4 25. Qc6 Nd5 26. Qc4 Bb4 $44 {Hjartarson,
J-Rozentalis,E/Tilburg rapid20/1994/}) 12... cxd4 ({Psakhis Anand himself got
nice position with white after} 12... Nf6 13. Qd3 (13. Ne5 Rc8 14. Qd3 (14. Qd2
b5 15. Rad1 cxd4 16. cxd4 a5 17. Re3 Nh5 18. Rb3 b4 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Qe2 Nf6 21.
Bf4 Bd6 22. g4 Qc2 $36 {Mukhtarov,L-Brodsky,M/Katowice op/1992/} (22... Qc2 {
Ftacnik} 23. Bd2 Nxe4 24. Rh3 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Rfe8 26. Bxe4 Bxe4 27. Rc1 Qxc1+ {
0-1 Muhtarov,L-Brodsky,M/Katowice op (01)/1992/})) (14. Re3 b5 $1 {[%cal Rb5b4]
/\b4<=>}) 14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Bb4 (15... Nd7 $5 {Ftacnik} 16. Nf3 Nc5 17. Qb1
Na4 $40) 16. Red1 (16. Rec1 Rxc1+ 17. Rxc1 Qa8 $13) 16... Rc3 17. Qe2 Qa8 (
17... Qa8 18. Qb2 Ba5 19. f3 Rfc8 20. Rac1 Rxc1 (20... Nh5 $6 21. Bd2 Rxc1 22.
Bxc1 Rc7 23. g4 Nf6 24. g5 Ne8 25. Bd2 Bxd2 26. Qxd2 Qd8 27. h4 $14 {Beliavsky,
A-Tiviakov,S/Belgrade/1993/}) 21. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 22. Qxc1 b5 {[%cal Ra5b6] /\Bb6=})
) (13. Ne5) 13... cxd4 14. cxd4 Bb4 15. Nd2 (15. Re2 a5 $1) 15... Rc8 16. Rec1
Rxc1+ (16... Qd7 $5) 17. Rxc1 Qa8 18. f3 Rc8 19. Nc4 Ba6 20. Bf1 $1 $14 {
in the game 1-0 Anand,V-Tiviakov,S/Wijk aan Zee 65/34 1996 (106)} (20. Bf1 {
Stohl} Rd8 21. Qb3 Bf8 22. Be3 Rc8 23. Rc2 Qb7 24. Bd3 Qe7 25. Qa4 $14 {
[%csl Gd3,Gd4,Ge3,Ge4] [+],^^,Anand,V-Tiviakov,S/Wijk/1996/})) (12... Rc8) 13.
cxd4 {/\ d5} Nf6 (13... Rc8 {Psakhis} 14. d5 (14. Qd3 Nc5) 14... exd5 15. exd5
Bf6 16. Rc1 (16. Rb1 $5 {[%csl Gd5] o^d5}) 16... Rxc1 17. Bxc1 Qa8 18. Ng5 $14
{1/2-1/2 Stangl,M-Pichler,J/BL 1996 (68)} (18. Ng5 {Stohl} h6 19. Ne4 Be5 20.
Ba3 Rd8 21. f4 Bf6 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Be7 Rxd5 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Bd6 Qd8 26.
Be5 Qd7 $44 {Stangl,M-Pichler,J/BL/1996/})) 14. Ne5 {The position with it's
pawn strucure ressembles the Gruenfeld Indian, however there are significant
differences. Due to his B on g2 White has no realistic attacking chances on
the K-side, which also has not been weakened by g6. So White pins his hope to
his strong center. In this sense Black's next move is inaccurate.} (14. Qd3 {
Stohl leads to Anand-Tiviakov, Kramnik probably wasn't too interested what
improvement Anand had on his mind.} Rc8) 14... Bb4 (14... Rc8 {Nd7}) (14... Rc8
$142 $5 {Stohl} 15. Qd2 a5 16. a3 b5 $132) 15. Re3 Rc8 {/\ Bc3} 16. d5 $1 (16.
Bg5 Bc3) (16. Qb3 Bd2 (16... Qxd4 17. Rd1 Qc5 18. Nd3)) (16. Qa4 $6 {Ftacnik}
Bd2 $1) 16... exd5 (16... Qe7 17. d6 Qxd6 (17... Bxd6 18. Ng6 hxg6 19. Bxd6)
18. Nd3 Qe7 (18... e5 $5 {Psakhis} 19. Bxe5 Qe7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22.
Qd7 Qb2 23. Ree1 Rb8 $14) 19. Nxb4 Qxb4 20. Bd6) (16... Bc5 $6 17. Rd3 Ba6 18.
Rd2 Bb4 19. Nc6 Rxc6 20. dxc6 $16) (16... Bc3 17. Nc6 $1 (17. Rc1 {Stohl} Bxe5
18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Bxe5 $16) 17... Bxc6 (17... Rxc6 $2 18. dxc6 Bxa1 19. Qxd8
Rxd8 20. cxb7 e5 21. Re1) 18. Rxc3 exd5 19. exd5 $16 Bxd5 $2 (19... Nxd5 $2 20.
Rxc6) 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Bxd5 Rd8 22. Rc1 $1 $18) (16... Re8 $14) 17. exd5 Bd6 {
The pawn is invincible, as both ways op capturing it lose material.} (17...
Bxd5 $2 18. Rd3 Bxg2 (18... Rc5 {Stohl} 19. Be3 Rb5 (19... Ra5 {Ftacnik} 20.
Nc6 $18) 20. a4 Ra5 21. Nc4 $18) 19. Rxd8 Rfxd8 20. Qb3 Bc3 21. Qxf7+ Kh8 22.
Kxg2 (22. Bh6 $1 {Psakhis} Rg8 23. Qxf6 $3 Bd5 24. Bxg7+ (24. Ng6+ hxg6 25. Qh4
Rge8 26. Bd2+ Kg8 27. Bxc3 Rxc3 28. Qd4 $16) 24... Rxg7 25. Rd1 $18) (22. Bh6
$1 $18) 22... Bxa1 23. Bh6 gxh6 24. Qxf6+ Kg8 25. Qe6+ Kg7) (17... Nxd5 18. Rd3
Nxf4 (18... Rc5 19. Be3 Rb5 20. a4 Ra5 21. Nc4 $18) 19. Rxd8 $2 (19. gxf4 Bxg2
(19... Qe7 $2 20. Rd7) (19... Qc7 20. Rd7 Rfd8 21. Rxc7 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rxc7 23.
Rd8+ Bf8 24. Bxb7 Rxb7 25. Nd7 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 a5 27. Rb7 $18) 20. Rxd8 Rfxd8 (
20... Rcxd8 21. Qb3) 21. Qb3 Bc3 22. Kxg2 Bxa1 23. Nxf7 Kf8 (23... Rf8 24. Nh6+
Kh8 25. Qg8+ Rxg8 26. Nf7#) 24. Ng5 Rd7 25. Qe6) (19. gxf4 $1 $14 {Ftacnik})
19... Rcxd8 {Psakhis} (19... Rfxd8 20. Qb3) 20. Qg4 (20. Qb3 $18 {Stohl}) 20...
Bxg2 (20... Nxg2 21. Qxb4 Rfe8 $13) 21. Qxf4 Bc3) (17... Bc5 18. Rd3 Ba6 19.
Rd2 Bb4 20. Nc6 Rxc6 21. dxc6 Bxd2 22. Qxd2 Qxd2 23. Bxd2 $18) (17... Bc3 {
Stohl} 18. Rc1 Bxe5 19. Rxc8 Bxc8 20. Rxe5 $1 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Gf4,Gg2] ^^,o^d5})
18. Nc6 {[%csl Gc6]} (18. Rd3) 18... Bxc6 (18... Qd7 {Ftacnik} 19. Bxd6 Qxd6
20. Ne7+ $18) 19. Bxd6 (19. dxc6 Bxf4 20. gxf4 Qxd1+ (20... Qc7 $5) 21. Rxd1
Rc7 22. Bf3 (22. Rd6 {Stohl} Rfc8 {[%csl Rf2,Rf4] is not an ideal solution,
with the split pawns White can hardly make any progress in the endgame.}) 22...
Rfc8 23. Rd6 Kf8) 19... Ba4 $5 (19... Qxd6 {Psakhis} 20. dxc6 Qc7 (20... Qxd1+
21. Rxd1 Rc7 (21... Rfd8 $2 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Ra3 a5 24. Rb3 Rd1+ 25. Bf1 Nd5
26. Kg2 {/\Bc4}) 22. f4 {/\ Bg2-f3, g3-g4-g5+-} (22. Rd4 $36 {Stohl was better,
although the endgame is certainly unpleasant for Black. Although White can't
force his passed pawn further, he will gradually strengthen his position by
advancing his K-side pawns, gaining space for his pieces and centralizing his
K. This was hardly possible with the doubled f-pawns-see previous note.})) 21.
Qe2 $16 {[%cal Re1e8]} (21. Qf3 $14 {Ftacnik})) 20. Bxf8 (20. Qxa4 $5 Qxd6 21.
Qxa7 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 (22. Rd1 $4 Nxe3 $1 (22... Nxe3 23. Rxd6 Rc1+)) (22. Rd3 Qe5
(22... Qf6) (22... Qc7 $11)) 22... Qxd5 23. Qxb6 $16 (23. Qxb6 Ra8 (23... Ra8 {
Stohl} 24. a3 $14))) 20... Bxd1 21. Be7 Qc7 (21... Nxd5 $2 {Psakhis} 22. Bxd8 (
22. Rxd1 $2 Qxe7 $1) 22... Nxe3 23. Bg5 $1 Nxg2 24. Rxd1 h6 25. Bc1 Rc2 26. a3
$18) (21... Qd7 22. Rxd1 {d6-Bxf6-Re7} (22. Rxd1 {Stohl} Ne8 23. d6 $40 {
[%cal Rg2h3] /\Bh3!})) 22. Rxd1 {Kramnik said after the game his sacrifice was
intuitive and this is quite possible. However, his faith in the power of his
^^ and strong passed pawn was well founded, as it seems Black has no
satisfactory defence any more. He would gladly give an exchange for the d-pawn,
but how?} Nd7 (22... Qc2 {Psakhis} 23. Bf3 (23. Red3 Qxa2 24. Bxf6 $5 gxf6 25.
d6 Rd8 26. d7 $18) (23. Rde1) 23... Rc3 (23... Qxa2 24. d6 Nd7 25. Bd5 {
/\ Re3-f3}) 24. Bxf6 Rxe3 25. fxe3 Qf5 26. Kf2 (26. Bg2 Qc2 (26... Qxf6 27. d6)
) (26. Kg2 {Ftacnik} Qxf6 27. d6 $16) 26... Qxf6 27. d6 $18) 23. Bh3 h6 (23...
Qb7 $5) (23... Qc2 $5 {Ftacnik} 24. Rde1 f5 25. d6 $15) 24. Bf5 {A fine move.
By creating latent threats of back-rank mates White tries to force g6, which
would open f6 for his other Bishop and make Black's 8-th rank really
chronically weak.} (24. d6 Qc6) 24... b5 (24... Qb7 25. Bb4 (25. Ba3 Rd8 $5 26.
Re7 Qa6 $132) 25... Rd8 (25... a5 {Stohl} 26. Ba3 g6 $5 (26... Rd8 27. Re7 b5
28. Rde1 b4 (28... g6 29. Bxd7 Rxd7 30. Re8+ Kg7 31. d6 $40) 29. Re8+ Rxe8 30.
Rxe8+ Nf8 31. d6 $1 Qd5 32. d7 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qd5+ 34. f3 Qd2+ 35. Kh3 $18) 27.
Bh3 $16) 26. Re7 a5 27. Bd6 b5) (24... g6 25. d6 (25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Ba3 Rc2 27.
d6 Rxa2 28. Re7 Qf5 $19) 25... Qb7 (25... Qc6 {Ftacnik} 26. Be4 Qa4 $15) 26.
Bxd7 Qxd7 27. Bf6 Qg4 28. Ree1) (24... Qb7 $142) 25. Bb4 $18 {Re7} Rd8 (25...
g6 {Psakhis} 26. d6 Qb7 27. Bxd7 Qxd7 28. h3 $1 (28. Re7 Qg4 29. f3 $2 Qxf3 30.
Rf1 Qd5 31. d7 Rc2 $1 $19) (28. Bc3 {Ftacnik} Kf8 (28... Qc6 29. Bf6 $16) 29.
Re7 Qc6 30. Bb4 a5 31. Rc7 Rxc7 32. dxc7+ Kg7 33. Bxa5 $18) 28... Kg7 29. Re7
Qxh3 30. d7 Rd8 31. Bc3+ Kf8 32. Re8+ Rxe8 33. Bb4+ $18) (25... a5 26. d6 $1 (
26. Rc3 Qb7 27. Rxc8+ Qxc8 28. Bxa5 (28. Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Bxa5 Qd6 $16) 28... Qa6
$132) 26... Qa7 (26... Qc6 {Stohl} 27. Bxa5 $18) 27. Bxa5 $18) 26. Re7 Qc4 (
26... g6 27. Be6 $5 (27. d6) (27. Bh3) 27... fxe6 28. dxe6 Nf8 (28... Qc4 29.
exd7 (29. Rexd7) 29... Qxb4 30. Re8+ Qf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Rd6 $18) (28... Qc2
29. Rdxd7 Rxd7 30. exd7 Qd1+ 31. Kg2 Qd5+ 32. f3 Qxa2+ 33. Kh3 $18) 29. Rxc7
Rxd1+ 30. Kg2 Nxe6 31. Rxa7 $18) (26... a5 {Stohl} 27. d6 $18) (26... a6 {
Ftacnik} 27. d6 Qc6 (27... Qc4 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Bxd7 Qxb4 30. Bf5 $1 $18) 28.
Ba5 Qf3 29. Rde1 Qxf5 30. Bxd8 $16) 27. Rxd7 $1 (27. Re4 Qc7 $8) 27... Rxd7 28.
Bxd7 Qxb4 29. d6 {White's pieces cooperate finely and make the d-pawn
unstoppable.} Qa4 (29... Qe4 {Stohl} 30. Bxb5 Qc2 31. Re1 $1 Qd2 32. Re8+ Kh7
33. d7 Qd1+ 34. Kg2 Qd5+ 35. f3 Qd2+ 36. Kh3 $18) (29... a5 {Ftacnik} 30. Bf5
$18) 30. Rd3 ({Easy was to play} 30. Re1 $1 Kh7 (30... Qxa2 31. Bf5 g6 32. d7)
(30... Qd4 31. Bf5 (31. Re8+ Kh7 32. Bf5+ g6 33. d7 Qd1+ 34. Kg2 Qd5+ 35. f3
Qxa2+ 36. Kh3) 31... g6 32. d7 Kg7 33. Bg4) (30... Qb4 31. Re8+ Kh7 32. Bf5+ g6
33. d7 $18) 31. Bf5+ g6 32. d7 Qd4 33. Bg4 $18) (30. Re1 $5 {Stohl /\Bf5+- /\})
30... Qe4 (30... Qc4 31. Bf5 Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Qc6+ 33. Kh3 (33. f3 Qc2+ 34. Kh3 Qc5
35. Be4 (35. g4 $18 {Stohl}) 35... Qh5+ 36. Kg2 $18) (33. Kf1 {Ftacnik} Qc1+
34. Ke2 Qb2+ 35. Rd2 Qe5+ 36. Kf1 Qa1+ 37. Kg2 $18) 33... Qc5 34. g4 (34. g4 {
Psakhis} Qxf2 35. d7 Qf1+ 36. Kg3 Qg1+ (36... Qe1+ 37. Kf3 Qf1+ $13) 37. Kf3
Qf1+ 38. Ke4 Qe2+ 39. Kd4 Qf2+ (39... Qb2+ 40. Ke3 Qc1+ 41. Kf2 Qc2+ 42. Kf1
Qb1+ 43. Kg2 Qxa2+ 44. Kg3 $18) 40. Kc3 Qc5+ (40... Qe1+ 41. Kc2 Qe2+ 42. Kb3)
41. Kb2 Qb4+ 42. Kc1 Qc4+ 43. Kd1 Qa4+ 44. Ke2 Qc2+ 45. Kf1 Qb1+ 46. Kg2 $18))
(30... Qxa2 31. Bf5 Qa5 32. d7 Qd8 33. Rc3 $18) 31. Bxb5 Qe1+ 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33.
Kg1 (33. Kf1 $1 {Ftacnik}) 33... Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Qe4+ 35. Kf1 {Repeating moves is
the safest way to reach the time control. But you must not forget to repeat
only twice in a won position!} Qh1+ 36. Ke2 Qe4+ (36... Qxh2 37. d7 Qh5+ 38. f3
(38. Kd2 {Psakhis} Qg5+ 39. f4 Qd8 40. Re3 Qa5+ 41. Kd1 Kh7 42. Re8 Qxb5 43.
d8=Q $18) 38... Qe5+ (38... Qh2+ {Stohl} 39. Kd1 Qg1+ 40. Kc2 Qf2+ 41. Kb3 $18)
39. Kf1 Qa1+ 40. Kg2 Qb2+ 41. Kh3) 37. Kf1 (37. Kd1 $1 {Ftacnik}) 37... Qh1+
38. Ke2 Qe4+ 39. Kd1 Qg4+ (39... Qb4 40. d7 Qb1+ 41. Ke2 Qxa2+ 42. Kf3 $18) (
39... Qh1+ 40. Kc2 Qa1 (40... Qxh2 41. d7 Qxf2+ 42. Kb3 $18) 41. d7 Qxa2+ 42.
Kd1 Qb1+ 43. Ke2 $18 (43. Ke2 {Ftacnik} Qb2+ 44. Kf1 Qxb5 45. d8=Q+ $18)) (
39... Qa8 {Ftacnik} 40. d7 Qd8 41. Re3 $18) 40. f3 Qh3 (40... Qb4 41. a4 (41.
d7 Qb1+ 42. Ke2 Qb2+ 43. Kf1 Qb1+ (43... Qxb5 {Ftacnik} 44. d8=Q+ $18) 44. Kg2
$18) 41... Qb1+ 42. Ke2 Qg1 43. d7) 41. d7 (41. d7 Qf1+ 42. Kc2 Qe2+ 43. Rd2)
1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov Hecht} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4
Nxc3 7. dxc3 (7. Qd4 $5 f6 8. Qxc3 Nc6 9. e4 e5 10. a3 Qe7 11. Bc4 O-O-O 12.
O-O {with mutual chances, Rahman-Isaev, 32 Chess Ol, Yerevan 1996}) 7... e5 (
7... Nc6 {Dolmatov} 8. g3 e5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. O-O-O h6 11. Bh3 Bxg5+ 12. Nxg5
Qxg5+ 13. Qxg5 hxg5 14. Bxd7+ Ke7 15. Rd5 $14) 8. Bg5 Be7 9. e4 Nc6 10. Bc4 h6
11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qg3 (12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 {Endgame is even, Skomorokhin,R-Huzman,A,
1996}) (12. O-O-O {Dolmatov} Qxh4 13. Nxh4 Rd8 14. Bd5 Ke7 15. Nf3 Kf6 16. Rd3
Be8 17. Rhd1 b6 18. b4 Nb8 19. Kb2 Bb5 20. R3d2 Ba4 $10 {Kramnik,V-Yudasin,L/
Wijk aan Zee/1995/}) 12... O-O-O (12... O-O $4 13. Qxg6+) 13. O-O (13. Bd5 h5
14. h4 Rde8 15. O-O-O Nd8 16. Rd2 Qf6 17. Ng5 c6 18. Bb3 Ne6 19. Qe3 a6 20.
Rhd1 Rd8 21. Rd6 Qe7 22. Bxe6 Bxe6 23. Qc5 Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qf6 25. g3 {Vera,
R-Gonzalez Diaz,D/Aceimar op 1995/1-0 (64)}) 13... Qf6 (13... g5 {Dolmatov} 14.
Rfd1 f6 15. Nd2 Be6 16. Qf3 Rd6 17. b3 $14 a5 $6 18. Bxe6+ Qxe6 19. Nc4 Rxd1+
20. Rxd1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Kharitonov,A-Yandemirov,V/Kolontaevo/1994 (38) ><f5, a5})
(13... Be6 $2 {Dolmatov} 14. Bb5) (13... Rhe8 $5 {Dolmatov} 14. Rad1 Na5 15.
Be2 (15. Bd5 c6 16. Bb3 Nxb3 17. axb3 g5 18. Nd2 f6 19. Qe3 Kb8 20. Ra1 b6 21.
Nc4 Be6 $10) 15... f5 16. Qxg6 Rg8 17. Qxh6 fxe4 $132) (13... g5 $142 {/\
f7-f6, Bd7-e6}) (13... Rde8 $5 14. Rad1 Nd8 15. Rfe1 $14) (13... h5 14. b4 h4
15. Qg5 f6 16. Qe3 Kb8 17. Bd5 Rde8 18. Nd2 f5 19. exf5 gxf5 20. f4 Qg7 21. Nb3
Nd8 22. Nc5 Bc8 23. fxe5 Rxe5 24. Qd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Wilhelmi,C-Vogel,R/BL2-N
9596/1996/ (44)}) 14. Rad1 Rhe8 (14... Be6 $2 15. Bd5) 15. Bd5 $1 Re7 {/\ Qf4}
16. Nd2 Qf4 17. Nc4 (17. Qd3 Bg4 18. f3 Be6 19. Nb3 Bxd5 20. exd5 Red7) 17...
Bg4 (17... Qxg3 {Dolmatov} 18. fxg3 $5 (18. hxg3 h5 19. f4 $14) 18... Rf8 (
18... Be6 19. Rf6 Bxd5 20. exd5 e4 $1 $14) 19. Rf6 Nd8 20. Rdf1 $16) (17... Be6
$1 18. Bxe6+ (18. Rd2 Bxd5 19. Qxf4 exf4 20. exd5 Ne5 $10) 18... Rxe6 19. Rxd8+
Nxd8 20. Qd3 $14) 18. Rd2 (18. f3 Qxg3 19. hxg3 Be6 20. Bxe6+ Rxe6 21. Rxd8+ (
21. g4 Rh8 $5 {/\ h6-h5}) 21... Nxd8 22. g4 {><h6} f6 23. Kf2) 18... Red7 (
18... Kb8) 19. f3 Qxg3 (19... Be6 $2 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Rxd7 22. Qxg6 $18)
20. hxg3 Be6 {Trotz der symmetrischen Bauernstruktur steht WeiЯ besser.} 21.
Rfd1 (21. Bxe6 {Dolmatov} fxe6 22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. g4 (23. f4 $16) 23... b5 24.
Ne3 Rd2 25. Rf2 Rxf2 26. Kxf2 g5) 21... h5 (21... a5 22. a4 Bxd5 23. exd5 Ne7
24. Nxe5 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxd5 26. Rxd5 Nxd5 27. Nxf7 $16) (21... Bxd5 22. exd5
Ne7 23. Nxe5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxf7 $16) 22. a3 {White
stays better} (22. Bxc6 {Dolmatov} Rxd2 23. Rxd2 Rxd2 24. Bxb7+ Kxb7 25. Nxd2
Bxa2 26. b3 $2 a5 $10) 22... Kb8 23. Kf2 a6 {><a6} (23... Re7 {Dolmatov} 24.
Bxc6 Rxd2+ 25. Rxd2 $18 (25. Rxd2 bxc6 26. Na5)) (23... Kc8 $5 24. Bxc6 $140
Rxd2+ 25. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 26. Nxd2 bxc6 27. f4 exf4 28. gxf4 Kd7 $14) 24. Bxc6 (24.
Ke3 $6 {Dolmatov} Re7 25. Bxc6 Rxd2 26. Rxd2 Bxc4 27. Rd8+ Ka7 28. Bd5 $14) (
24. Bxe6 Rxd2+ 25. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 26. Nxd2 fxe6 27. f4 $16 Kc8 28. Nf3 Kd7 $1 29.
Nh4 Ne7) 24... Rxd2+ 25. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 26. Nxd2 bxc6 {[#] Hecht starker Springer
bei schlechter schwarzer Bauernstruktur.} 27. f4 $1 {Dolmatov: Black cannot
protect his King-side. It is obvious that White Knight is clearly better than
Black Bishop, and Kramnik demonstrates an excellent technique} exf4 (27... Kc8
{Dolmatov} 28. fxe5 Kd7 29. Ke3 Ke7 30. Kf4 $18) (27... f6 28. fxe5 fxe5 29.
Nf3 $16) 28. gxf4 Kc8 (28... f6 29. Kg3 g5 30. fxg5 fxg5 31. Nf3 g4 32. Nd4 $16
) (28... h4 29. Nf3 h3 30. gxh3 Bxh3 31. Ng5 Be6 32. Nxe6 fxe6 33. Kg3 $18) 29.
Kg3 (29. Ke3) 29... Kd7 30. Kh4 f6 (30... Kd6 31. Kg5 Ba2 32. Kf6 $16) 31. e5
$1 fxe5 (31... Ke7 $5 {Dolmatov} 32. g3 (32. Ne4 fxe5 33. fxe5 Bd5 34. Nc5 Bxg2
35. Nxa6 (35. Kg5 Bf1 (35... Bh3 36. Kxg6 Bg4 37. Kg5) 36. a4 Be2 (36... a5 37.
b4 axb4 38. cxb4 $18) 37. a5 Bf1 (37... Bg4 38. Nxa6 Ke6 39. Nc5+ $18) 38. b3
Be2 39. c4 Bd1 40. b4 Be2 41. Nxa6 Bxc4 42. Nc5 $18) 35... Ke6 $10) 32... Bd5
33. c4 Bg2 34. exf6+ Kxf6 35. Nb3 Bf1 36. Na5 Be2 37. b3 Bd1) (31... f5 32. Kg5
Bf7 33. Kf6 Be8 34. Nf3 $18) 32. fxe5 Bd5 (32... Bf5 33. Nb3 $1 (33. Kg5 Ke6
34. Kf4 c5 35. g3 Bc2 $14) 33... Ke6 34. Nc5+ Kxe5 35. Nxa6 $16) 33. g3 Ke6 34.
Kg5 Kxe5 (34... Kf7 $5 {Dolmatov} 35. Nf1 Be4 36. Kf4 Bf5 37. Nd2 Ke6 38. Nf3
Kd5 39. Nd4) (34... Kf7 $142) 35. Kxg6 h4 (35... c5 36. b3 a5 37. Kxh5 $18) 36.
gxh4 Kf4 37. h5 {White is winning} Ke3 38. c4 $1 Bg2 (38... Be6 39. h6 Kxd2 40.
h7 $18) (38... Bg8 39. h6 Kxd2 40. Kg7 $18) 39. Nb3 (39. h6 $4 Kxd2 40. h7 Be4+
) 39... Bf1 40. h6 (40. Na5 {Dolmatov} Bd3+ 41. Kg7 c5 42. h6 Kd2 43. Nc6 Kc2
44. Ne5 $18) 40... Bxc4 41. Nc5 (41. h7 $2 Bd3+ 42. Kg7 Bxh7 43. Kxh7 Kd3 44.
Nc5+ Kc2 45. b3 Kb2 46. a4 Ka3 $132) 41... Ba2 42. Kg7 Bb1 43. Nxa6 (43. Ne6 {
/\ Ne6-f8-g6+-}) 43... Kd4 (43... Kd2 44. a4 Kc1 45. a5 Kxb2 46. Nc5 $18) 44.
Nxc7 Kc4 45. Ne6 (45. a4 Kb4 46. b3 $18) 45... Kb3 46. Nd4+ (46. h7 {Dolmatov}
Bxh7 47. Kxh7 Kxb2 48. a4 $18) 46... Kxb2 47. Nxc6 (47. Nxc6 {Dolmatov} Kxa3
48. Ne5 Kb4 49. Ng6 Bxg6 50. Kxg6) (47. a4 c5 48. Nb5 Kb3 49. a5 Kb4 50. a6
Kxb5 51. a7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. e4 e5 12. d5 Nb6 13. Nd2 O-O 14. a4 Rd8 15. a5
Nxc4 16. Nxc4 Qg5 17. Qb3 Bh3 18. Ne3 Rab8 19. Rac1 Bf8 20. Kh1 Bd7 21. Ne2
cxd5 22. Nxd5 Be6 23. Rc7 Rdc8 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Nec3 Rc7 26. h3 Kg7 27. Qb5
Rd7 28. a6 bxa6 29. Qxa6 Bc5 30. Qc6 Bd4 31. Nb5 Qd8 32. Nxd4 Bxd5 33. Qc5 Qb6
34. Qxb6 axb6 35. Nf3 Bxe4 36. Nxe5 Rd5 37. Nc4 b5 38. Nb6 Rd2 39. b4 Bd3 40.
Re1 Rxf2 41. Re3 Bb1 42. Nc8 Rb2 43. Nd6 Rxb4 44. Re7 Ba2 45. Rb7 Rb1+ 46. Kh2
b4 47. Ne8+ Kf8 48. Nf6 h5 49. g4 h4 50. Kg2 Be6 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 192]} 1. d4 {Petursson Psakhis} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 {
Psakhis: Rare move. It doesn't promise advantage to White} Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7.
a4 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 (10. Nxe5 $6 {Psakhis} Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4
$36) 10... Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5 (11... g5 $5 {Psakhis} 12. Nxg5 Ndxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
14. f3 (14. h3 $5 Bc5) 14... Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Ne3 16. Bxe5 Nxg2 17. Bf6 Rd3 18.
Kxg2 Rd2+ 19. Kh1 h6 $13 {Ristic,N-Maksimovic,B/YUG/1989/0:1/48/}) 12. e6 (12.
Qe2 {Psakhis} Ndxe5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. Qxc4 Be6 $15) 12... fxe6 {
Psakhis: Difficult choice for White. Black got very comfortable positions if
White'll choose other moves. For instance} 13. Qe2 (13. Bh3 $6 {Psakhis} Nde5
14. Nd4 Rd8 15. Bxg4 $2 Nxg4 16. Nxc6 Qh5 $1 17. Nxe7+ Kf7 $19) (13. Bd6 {
Psakhis} Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Nde5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rab1 Rd8 17. Qe7 Ng6 18. Qa3 e5
$15 {Sosonko,G-Van der Wiel,J/Wijk aan Zee/1987/0,5/30/}) (13. e5 {Psakhis} Nb6
14. Qe2 Nd5 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. Rab1 Bd7 17. Qxc4 Rxf3 18. Qxg4 Rf5 19. a5 Qb3 {
1/2-1/2 Wirthensohn,H-Schlosser,P/Graz zt 1993}) 13... Nge5 14. Nd4 (14. Nxe5 {
Psakhis} Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16. Qxc4 Qc5 $1 $15) 14... Nd3 $1 $146 {Psakhis: A
natural and strong move. Kramnik can be very happy with the result of his
opening. After 14 moves he is a pawn up and got a knight on d3. I am afraid,
White will not play this variation in the future.} (14... Nb6 15. Bd2 Bb4 16.
Nc2 c5 17. Qh5 $1 {Psakhis} Nc6 18. Ne3 $6 Bd7 19. e5 Be8 $13 {0-1 Gelfand,
B-Timman,J/Tilburg 50/525 1990 (47)}) (14... Nf6 $6 {Psakhis} 15. Bh3 $16) 15.
Nxe6 (15. Bd2 {Psakhis} Bb4 16. Nxe6 Re8 17. Nd4 Nxb2 $17) 15... Rf6 (15...
Nxf4 $6 16. gxf4 Rf6 17. f5) 16. Bc7 (16. Nc7 $2 Nxf4 (16... Rxf4 {Psakhis} 17.
Nxa8 Rf8 18. f4 N7c5 19. e5 Qd8 $17 {[%csl Ra8]}) 17. Qxc4+ Kh8 (17... Rf7 18.
Nxa8 Nxg2 19. Kxg2 Qh5 20. f4 $14) 18. Nxa8 Ne5 19. Qb3 Nxg2 20. Kxg2 Nf3 $40 {
/\ Bh3+}) (16. Ng5 N7e5 $13 (16... Rxf4 17. gxf4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 Qxg5 {/\ N7e5}
19. f4 $1 Nxf4 20. Rxf4 (20. Qxc4+ $6 Kh8 21. Rxf4 Qxf4 22. Rf1 Qe3+) 20...
Qxf4 21. Rf1 Qd6 22. Qxc4+ Kh8 23. Qf7 $36) (16... h6 $13)) (16. Nd4 $13) 16...
Qb4 17. Nd4 $2 (17. Ng5 Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. f4 $44) (17. Nf4 $5) ({Psakhis:
Deserve attention} 17. Nf4 {Psakhis} Qxb2 (17... Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rad1
N7e5 $13) 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. e5 Rh6 20. Rab1 Nd3 21. Nxd3 cxd3 $15) 17... Bc5 $1
(17... Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. f4 Bc5 20. Nce2 $44) 18. Nc2 {Psakhis: Topalov
decided to start hunt un blacks queen, and he almost succeded!} (18. Nf3 $5 {
Psakhis} Qxb2 19. Qxb2 Nxb2 20. e5 Re6 21. Ne4 Bb6) 18... Qxb2 19. Nd1 Qb3 20.
Nde3 N7e5 21. h3 {/\ Kh2, f2-f4} ({Psakhis: Unfortunately, doesn't work} 21.
Rfb1 {Psakhis because of} Rxf2 $1 22. Qxf2 (22. Qh5 Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Rf5+) 22...
Nxf2 23. Rxb3 cxb3 24. Kxf2 (24. Bxe5 Nh3+ (24... Ng4 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4
Nxe3 $19) 25. Kf1 bxc2 26. Nxc2 Bg4 $19) 24... Ng4+ 25. Ke2 bxc2 26. Nxc2 Nxh2
$19) 21... Be6 (21... Rf7 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 23. Kh2 $44) 22. Kh2 (22. Rab1 {Psakhis
} Rxf2 $1 23. Qxf2 Nxf2 24. Rxb3 cxb3 25. Kxf2 (25. Bxe5 Nd3 $19) 25... Rf8+
26. Ke2 Rxf1 27. Nxf1 (27. Bxf1 b2 $1 $19) 27... bxc2 28. Kd2 Nd3 $19) (22.
Rfb1 {Psakhis} Rxf2 23. Qxf2 Nxf2 24. Rxb3 cxb3 25. Kxf2 Nc4 26. Ke2 bxc2 $19)
22... Rh6 $5 23. Rab1 $2 (23. f4 Ng4+ 24. Nxg4 Bxg4 25. Qxg4 Qxc2 26. h4 $15) (
23. Rfb1 {Psakhis} Qc3 $1 (23... Bg4 $2 24. f3 Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 Bxf3 (25... Bxh3
26. Bh5 $1) 26. Qxf3 Rf6 27. Qg2 (27. Qxf6 gxf6 28. Rxb3 cxb3 $17) (27. Bf4 Qc3
$44) 27... Rf2 28. Rxb3 cxb3 29. Ne1 $1 Bxe3 30. Nxd3 Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 $16) 24.
f4 $5 (24. Rxb7 Bxe3 $1 25. Bxe5 (25. fxe3 Bg4 $1 26. Bxe5 Nxe5 27. Qf2 Rf8 $19
) 25... Nxe5 26. Ra3 (26. fxe3 Bg4 $19) 26... Qd3 $3 27. Rxd3 cxd3 28. Qd1 dxc2
29. Qxc2 Ng4+ 30. Kg1 Bxf2+ 31. Kh1 Rd8 $19) 24... Bxe3 $1 25. Nxe3 (25. Bxe5
Nxe5 26. fxe5 Bb6 27. a5 Bc7 $19) 25... Nxf4 $1 26. gxf4 Qxe3 27. Qxe3 Ng4+ 28.
Kg1 Nxe3 29. f5 Nxg2 30. Kxg2 $17) 23... Bg4 $1 $19 24. Nxg4 (24. Rxb3 $2 Bxe2)
(24. Qd2 $2 Rxh3+ 25. Kg1 (25. Bxh3 Nf3+ (25... Nf3+ {Psakhis} 26. Kh1 (26. Kg2
{Petursson} Nxd2 27. Rxb3 Bxh3+ 28. Kxh3 cxb3 $19) 26... Nxd2 27. Rxb3 cxb3 $19
)) 25... Nf3+ 26. Bxf3 Bxf3 27. Ng2 Bxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Rh1+ 29. Kxh1 Nxf2+) (24. f3
Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 (25. Kh1 Bxh3 26. Bxh3 Rxh3+ 27. Kg2 Rh2+ 28. Kxf3 Rf8+ $19) (
25. Rxf3 Qxb1) 25... Bxh3 26. Ng2 (26. Bh5 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 g6 $19) (26. Qd1 Bxf1+
27. Kg1 Bxe3+ 28. Nxe3 Qxd1 29. Rxd1 Bh3 $19) 26... Qc3 $1 $19 {/\} (26... Bg4+
27. Nh4 Bxf3 28. Qd2 $1 (28. Qd2 $1 Qa2 29. Ra1 Qb2 30. Rxf3 Be7 $17)) 27. Rxb7
(27. Nce3 {Psakhis} Qd4 28. Bh5 g6 29. g4 (29. Nc2 Qg7 30. Rxb7 Bc8 $19) 29...
Bxg2 30. Nxg2 Bd6+ 31. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 32. Kh1 gxh5 $19) 27... Bc8+ $19) 24... Nxg4+
25. Qxg4 (25. Kg1 {Psakhis} Ndxf2 $1 (25... Ndxf2 $1 {Petursson} 26. Rxb3 Nxh3+
27. Kh1 Nf4+ 28. Bh3 Rxh3+ 29. Qh2 Rxh2#)) 25... Qxc2 {Suddenly Black is
winning!} 26. Qg5 (26. Rxb7 Nxf2 27. Z0 (27. Qd7 {Psakhis} Rxh3+ $1 28. Qxh3 (
28. Bxh3 Ng4+) (28. Kg1 Rh1+ $1 29. Bxh1 Nh3#) 28... Nxh3 29. Be5 Nf2 30. Rxg7+
Kf8 31. Rxh7 Re8 $19) 27... Rxh3+ 28. Bxh3 Nxg4+) (26. Qd1 {Petursson White's
best try is to go for a very gloomy ending:} Qxd1 27. Rfxd1 b6 $17) 26... Nxf2
27. Rxf2 (27. Qxc5 Rxh3+ $1 28. Kg1 (28. Bxh3 Ng4+) 28... Rh1+ 29. Bxh1 Nh3#) (
27. Rxb7 {Petursson} Rxh3+ 28. Bxh3 Ng4+ 29. Kh1 Qh2#) 27... Qxf2 28. Rf1 Qd4
29. Be5 Qd7 30. Qc1 (30. Bxg7 {Psakhis} Bg1+ 31. Rxg1 Rg6 32. Qc1 Qxg7 33.
Qxc4+ Kh8 $19) 30... Qe6 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32. Qg5+ Rg6 33. Qxc5 Qd6 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4 Qa5 {Favorite Kramnik's variation} 11. Bb5 {N}
Rd8 (11... a6 $6 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Bd3 $36) 12. e5
dxe5 13. Qxe5 h6 14. Bh4 (14. Rxd8+ Bxd8 15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Rd1 a6 17. Ba4 b5
$19 {0-1 Lopez,P-Rivera,D/Valencia 1989 (23)}) 14... Ng4 (14... a6 15. Be2 $14)
15. Qh5 (15. Bxe7 $2 Rxd1+ 16. Rxd1 Nxe5 17. fxe5 (17. Rd8+ Qxd8) 17... a6 $17)
15... Nf6 16. Qe5 (16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8 19. Rd1 Qc7 $15) (
16. Qf3 a6 17. Bd3 Bd7 $15) 16... Ng4 17. Rxd8+ Qxd8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Qe2 {N/}
(19. Qd4 b6 $1 20. Be2 Nf6 21. Rd1 Bb7 22. g3 Rc8 {Kamsky,G-Kramnik,V/
Groningen PCA 1993}) 19... Nf6 20. Rd1 a6 $11 21. Bd3 b5 22. g4 (22. f5 $5)
22... Bb7 23. g5 hxg5 24. fxg5 Nd7 25. Qh5 $6 (25. g6 $5 Nc5 (25... f6 $5 26.
Bf5 Nf8 (26... Re8 $2 27. Qxe6+ Qxe6 28. Bxe6+ Rxe6 29. Rxd7) 27. Re1 Re8 $13)
26. Qh5 (26. gxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rf1 Nxd3+ 28. Qxd3 Qe7 $11) 26... Nxd3+ 27. Rxd3
fxg6 28. Qxg6 Qf6 $11) 25... Nf8 26. h4 Qb4 $5 27. Rf1 (27. g6 Qf4+ 28. Kb1 f5
29. Ne2 Qf2 $17 {[%csl Rg6]}) 27... g6 28. Qh6 Qg4 29. Be2 Qh3 30. h5 (30. Nd1
Rd8) 30... Bg2 $1 31. Rd1 {Rook has to leave important f line.} (31. Rf6 Qe3+
32. Kb1 Qg1+ 33. Nd1 (33. Bd1 Rd8 34. b3 (34. Kc1 Qe3+ 35. Kb1 Qe1) 34... Rxd1+
35. Nxd1 Qxd1+ 36. Kb2 Be4 $19) 33... Rd8 34. Kc1 Rxd1+ $1 35. Bxd1 Qe3+ 36.
Kb1 Qd2 $19) 31... Qf5 (31... Qe3+ $5 32. Kb1 (32. Rd2 Rd8 33. Bd3 Bf3 $5 34.
hxg6 Nxg6 $17) 32... b4 33. hxg6 Nxg6 (33... fxg6 34. Qh2 Bc6 35. Rd3 Qxg5 36.
Nd1 $132) 34. Bd3 bxc3 35. Bxg6 fxg6 36. Qxg6+ Kh8 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Qg6+ $11)
32. Rd3 $2 {Weak move, in moment when Ivanchuk could take initiative into his
hands after} (32. hxg6 Qf4+ (32... Nxg6 33. Bd3 Qf4+ 34. Kb1) 33. Kb1 fxg6 34.
Bd3 $36) 32... b4 33. Nd1 Be4 34. Rd2 Qf4 $1 35. hxg6 Nxg6 36. Qh3 Qxg5 (36...
Bxc2 37. Kxc2 Rc8+ 38. Nc3 bxc3 39. bxc3 Ne5 $36) 37. Qe3 (37. Ne3 Kg7 {
[%cal Ya8h8]}) 37... Qxe3 38. Nxe3 a5 $19 39. Rd4 f5 40. Ng4 (40. Rd7 $5) 40...
Nf4 41. Bc4 Kg7 (41... Kg7 42. Nf2 Kf6 43. Nxe4+ Ke5 44. c3 fxe4 45. Kd1 Rh8
$19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Be3 $5 {[%cal Ye3a7] N/
Strong novelty in wellknown position. Kramnik preferes to increase preasure on
queen side, than to put bishop on b2, where Black,s defence is not so easy.
For example} (13. Bb2 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 (17.
Rxe4 Nf5 18. b5 $1 Rc8 $1 19. Re2 Re8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. c5 d5 22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23.
Rxe5 Qf6 $10 {1/2-1/2 Dautov,R-Kindermann,S/Nussloch 66/533 1996 (24)}) 17...
Nf5 18. b5 Qe8 19. Re2 Rc8 20. Qa4 Qxe6 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Bxc6 Kh7 23. Bd5 Qe7
24. Rd1 $16 {1-0 Ionov,S-Cvitan,O/EU-Cup Budapest 1996 (53)}) (13. b5 cxd5 14.
cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 (16... Rc8 $5 17. Qb3 d5 $5 18. Rd1 (18.
exd5 e4 19. d6 Qxd6 20. Ba3 Qc7) 18... d4 $13) 17. Nxe4 (17. Bxe4 $13 d5 $5)
17... Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 {1/2-1/2 Danielian,O-Golubev,M/Moscow 1996 (22)}) (13.
Qb3 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rf6 $13) 13... cxd5 (
13... f4 {Usually it is not good for Black to close king side.} 14. Bc1 (14.
Bd2 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8) 14... cxd5 15. cxd5 Qb6 16. Qb3 $36 {[%cal
Yg5e6,Yb3g8]}) (13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Ne8 16. Qb3 Qc8 17. c5 fxe4 $140
18. cxd6 exf3 $6 19. dxe7 Rf5 20. Rad1 $18) 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6
fxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bc2 (19. Bc5 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Bxe7
Re8 (21... Rd4 $2 22. Rac1 $16) 22. Bc5 $5 (22. Bh4 Rxe6 23. Rxe4 (23. Rac1 Ra6
) 23... Rc8 $11) 22... b6 23. Be3 Rxe6 24. a4 $44) 19... e4 ({After} 19... d4
20. Bd2 d3 21. Bb3 Qb6 22. Be3 (22. Re3 e4 23. Rc1 Bd4) 22... Qxb4 23. Rc1 Rfd8
(23... Rac8 24. Qxd3 $16) 24. Bc5 Qh4 (24... Qxe1+ 25. Qxe1 d2 26. Qd1 dxc1=Q
27. Qxc1 Rac8 28. Qa3 $16) 25. Re3 e4 26. Rc4 $16 {advantage also on the white
side.}) 20. Rc1 {[%cal Re4e3,Re3c5,Re3e4,Rc2b3]} (20. Bd4 $6 Qc8 $1 21. Bxg7
Kxg7 22. Qd4+ Rf6 $15) 20... d4 {Judit playing in her usual active stile, but ,
unfortunately, she could't give answer on question: how to protect her,s pawns
in the center.} 21. Bd2 e3 {Best chance.} (21... d3 22. Bb3 Bd4 23. Be3 Bxe3
24. Rxe3 Qd4 25. Qd2 Rac8 (25... Nd5 26. e7 $1 Rf7 27. Rc4 Qa1+ 28. Re1 $18)
26. Rce1 Rf4 27. g3 $18 {lose without any fight.}) 22. fxe3 d3 23. Bb3 Qd6 24.
Qg4 Be5 25. Rf1 $1 {h2 pawn is less important than possible Black,s activity
after} (25. Qh4 Rf5 $1) 25... Bxh2+ 26. Kh1 Qg3 (26... Be5 27. b5 $1 {[%cal
Rd2b4]} Qb6 28. Rf7 Rxf7 29. exf7+ Kg7 30. Rf1 Rf8 31. Bb4 $18) 27. Qd4 $1 (27.
Qxg3 Bxg3 28. Rf7 Rxf7 (28... Bd6 29. Rc3 Bxb4 30. Rxd3 Bxd2 31. Rxd2 Rxf7 32.
exf7+ Kg7) 29. exf7+ Kg7 $16 {is good for White, but move in the game is
stronger.}) 27... Qe5 (27... Qd6 28. Rf7) 28. Rf7 $1 Rxf7 {} (28... Nf5 29.
Rxf5 $1 (29. e7 $4 Rxf7 30. Qd8+ Kg7 31. Bxf7 Ng3+ 32. Kxh2 Ne2+ $19) 29...
Rxf5 (29... gxf5 30. Qd7 $18) 30. e7+ (30. Qd7 Qb8 31. e7+ Kh8 32. g4 $1 Re5
33. Bf7 $18) 30... Kh7 31. Qd7 Qg7 (31... Rf7 32. Bxf7 Bg3 33. Be6 $18)) (28...
Rae8 29. Rcf1 $18 (29. Bc3 $5)) 29. exf7+ Kh7 30. Qxe5 $1 {Simple ans strong.}
Bxe5 31. Rc5 Bd6 (31... Bg7 32. Rc7 $18) 32. Rc4 {[%cal Rc4d4,Rd4d7]} Nc6 (
32... Nf5 33. g4 Ng3+ 34. Kg2 Ne2 35. Re4 Rf8 36. Bc4 $18) 33. b5 Ne5 34. Rd4
$18 Bf8 35. Re4 Bg7 36. Bb4 {[%csl Re5][%cal Rf7f8]} d2 37. Rxe5 (37. Bxd2 Rf8
38. Bb4 Rxf7 39. Bxf7 Nxf7 40. Re7 $18) 37... Rd8 38. Re8 (38. Re8 d1=Q+ 39.
Bxd1 Rxd1+ 40. Kh2) 1-0

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
Qe7 9. c5 Bc7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nd5 12. Bd2 Rd8 13. Rae1 f6 14. Nd6 Nf8 15.
Nxc8 Raxc8 16. Re4 Qf7 17. Rfe1 Re8 18. b4 a6 19. a4 Ra8 20. g3 Qd7 21. Bc4
Reb8 22. Rb1 Rd8 23. Ree1 Ng6 24. Bd3 Nf8 25. Bf1 Ng6 26. b5 axb5 27. axb5 Ra3
28. Rb3 Rda8 29. Bc1 Ra1 30. Bb2 Rxe1 31. Nxe1 e5 32. Nf3 exd4 33. Nxd4 Be5 34.
Qf5 Qxf5 35. Nxf5 Nge7 36. Nxe7+ Nxe7 37. Bc4+ Kf8 38. Bxe5 fxe5 39. Rf3+ Ke8
40. Bf7+ Kf8 41. Ba2+ Ke8 42. Bf7+ Kf8 43. Be6+ Ke8 44. Rf7 cxb5 45. Rxg7 h6
46. Rh7 Ra1+ 47. Kg2 Kf8 48. Rf7+ Ke8 49. Rh7 Kf8 50. Rf7+ Ke8 51. Rf6 Ra6 52.
Rxh6 Ng8 53. Rg6 Ke7 54. Rxg8 Kxe6 55. Rb8 Ra7 56. Rd8 Ra6 57. Rb8 Ra7 58. h4
b4 59. Rd8 Ra6 60. h5 Rc6 61. h6 Rc7 62. Rd6+ Kf5 63. Rb6 Kg5 64. Kf3 b3 65.
Ke4 Re7 66. Kd5 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4
(7. g3 Bb7 8. Bg2 c5 9. b4 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. d3 Rfc8 13. b5 $5 {
Kramnik-Illescas/Dos Hermanas (5)/1997/CBM 59/}) 7... Bb7 8. Bb2 d6 9. e3 Nbd7
10. d4 (10. Be2) 10... Ne4 11. Qb3 $5 $146 (11. Qc2) 11... a5 (11... f5 12. Be2
Qe7 13. O-O Rae8 14. d5 $5) 12. Be2 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1 Ndf6 (14...
Ng5 15. d5 $1 Nxf3+ (15... exd5 16. cxd5 Qa8 17. Qc3 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 f6 19. O-O
c5 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. e4 d5 22. b5 Bb7 23. Qc7 Rf7 24. Bd4 {1-0 Wedberg,
T-Akesson,R/Gausdal Int (06)/1982 (35)}) 16. Bxf3 $14 (16. Bxf3 {Ftacnik} e5
17. e4 Qe7 18. O-O Bc8 19. Bb2 Nf6 20. Ra1 Bg4 21. Bxg4 Nxg4 22. h3 Nf6 23. Bc1
Ne8 24. Qd3 g6 25. Ra8 {1-0 Mohr,S-Barbero,G/Budapest Compack/1988 (41)})) (
14... b5 $6 {Ftacnik} 15. cxb5 Ng5 16. Qc3 $1 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 f5 18. d5 e5 19.
f4 $8 (19. e4 $2 f4 {/\ Nb6-/+ >< Ba1}) 19... Bxd5 20. Rg1 Rf7 21. Bb2 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Nogueiras,J-Georgiev,Ki/Leningrad/1987 (50) <-> g, /^ a1- h8}) 15. O-O
Qd7 16. b5 Ra8 17. Bb2 c6 $2 (17... Qd8 {/\18... Ra7, 19... Qa8}) (17... Qd8 {
Ftacnik} 18. Qc2 Ra2 19. Ne1 Nd7 20. f3 Qg5 21. fxe4 Qxe3+ 22. Rf2 Bxe4 23. Qc3
Qxc3 24. Bxc3 Ra3 {1/2-1/2 Chekhov,V-Garcia Gonzales,G/Potsdam (10)/1985 (30)})
18. bxc6 Qxc6 {/\19... Nd2} 19. Rc1 $1 Nd7 (19... Nd2 20. Qb4 $16 (20. Qd3 $14
{Ftacnik})) (19... Ng4 20. d5 $1 Qc7 (20... exd5 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Bc4 Qf5 23.
Qxb6 Bd5 24. Qd4 Ngf6 25. Bd3 $16) (20... Qc8 21. Rf1 $1 (21. dxe6 {Ftacnik}
fxe6 22. Rf1 $14) 21... Qc7 22. Nd4 $1 $16 Nd2 $2 23. Qc3 $1 Nxf1 24. Nb5 $18)
21. dxe6 fxe6 (21... Ngxf2 22. exf7+ Qxf7 23. Qxb6 $18) 22. c5 $1 Nxc5 (22...
Bd5 23. Qxb6 $16) 23. Rxc5 $1 dxc5 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Qxg4 Ra2 26. Qe6 $18) 20.
Ne1 Qa4 (20... d5 {Ftacnik} 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Bxd5 23. Nd3 $14) 21. Qxa4
Rxa4 22. f3 Nef6 (22... Ra2 {Ftacnik} 23. Rc2 Nef6 24. e4 $14) 23. Bd1 $1 (23.
Ra1 Rxa1 24. Bxa1 Ba6 $14) 23... Ra2 (23... Ra7 {Ftacnik} 24. Nd3 h6 25. e4 $14
) 24. Nd3 Kf8 25. Bb3 Ra8 26. e4 Nb8 (26... Ke7 {Ftacnik} 27. Kf2 $14) 27. c5
$5 {Instructive moment, black pieces are badly coordinated for the opening of
the position. Ein instruktiver Augenblick, schwarze Figuren sind schlecht
koordiniert fur die Stellungseroffnung.} (27. Kf2 Nc6 28. Ke3 Na5 29. Ba2 $16)
(27. e5 {Ftacnik} dxe5 28. Nxe5 Nc6 $14) 27... bxc5 (27... dxc5 {Ftacnik} 28.
dxc5 Nfd7 29. cxb6 Nxb6 30. Rc7 $16) 28. dxc5 dxc5 (28... d5 $2 {Ftacnik} 29.
Bxf6 gxf6 30. exd5 Bxd5 (30... exd5 31. Nb4 $18) 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. Nb4 $18) 29.
Nxc5 Bc8 (29... Bc6 30. g4 $5 $36 {/\g4-g5}) 30. e5 $1 Ne8 $2 {[#]} (30... Nd5
31. Bxd5 (31. Rd1 {Ftacnik} Nb6 $14) 31... exd5 32. Nd3 $5 $16) (30... Nfd7 {
Ftacnik} 31. Nxe6+ fxe6 32. Rxc8+ $18) 31. Ba4 $1 {/\32.Ba3; 32.Rd1} Nc7 (31...
f5 {Ftacnik} 32. Rd1 (32. exf6 Nxf6 33. Bb3 $16) 32... Na6 33. Bc6 Rb8 34. Ba3
Nxc5 35. Bxc5+ Kf7 36. Rd8 Nc7 37. Bd6 $18) (31... g6 {Ftacnik} 32. Rd1 Na6 33.
Bc6 Rb8 34. Ba3 $18) 32. Ba3 Kg8 33. Ne4 $1 Rxa4 (33... Nba6 34. Bd6 (34. Bc6 {
Ftacnik} Rb8 35. Rd1 $16) 34... Ra7 (34... Nd5 35. Bc6) (34... Bb7 35. Bxc7
Bxe4 (35... Rc8 36. Nd6) 36. fxe4 Rc8 37. Bb5 $1 Rxc7 (37... Nxc7 38. Bd7) 38.
Rd1 $1 $18) 35. Bb5 $1 $18 {/\36.B:a6+-}) (33... Ra7 {Ftacnik} 34. Bd6 Rxa4 35.
Rxc7 Ba6 36. Re7 $18) 34. Rxc7 Ba6 (34... Bd7 35. Bd6 {/\36.Rb7} Ra1+ 36. Kf2
Rb1 37. Nc5 $18) 35. Nc5 $1 (35. Nc5 Rc4 (35... Rxa3 36. Nxa6 $18) 36. Nxa6)
1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. g3 {Zwei
Runden zuvor spielte Kramnik 7.b4 gegen Karpov und gewann die Partie.Ribli.}
Bb7 8. Bg2 c5 {WeiЯ hat das Lдuferpaar; das garantiert ihm einen kleinen aber
dauerhaften Vorteil.Ribli.} 9. b4 d6 (9... d5 10. bxc5 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nxc5 12. d4
Ne4 13. O-O Nc6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf4 Rc8 16. Qd3 Na5 17. Rfc1 Qd7 18. Ne5 Qe6
{1-0 Rotstein,A-Kurajica,B/Bled op18th 1997 (28)}) 10. O-O Nbd7 (10... Nc6 11.
Bb2 Qc7 (11... Re8 12. b5 Ne7 13. a4 a5 14. d3 d5 15. Qc2 $14 {Petrosian,
T-Larsen,B/Vinkovci/1970/INF10,35/}) (11... e5 $6 12. e3 Rc8 13. d3 (13. d4 $5)
13... Re8 $2 14. b5 Ne7 15. Nxe5 $1 Bxg2 16. Ng4 $16 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Ehlvest,J
Vienna 1996 (29)}) 12. d3 e5 {Droht /\ Nd4} 13. e3 Rfe8 14. Nh4 Ne7 15. e4 $5
Nc6 16. Qd2 Nd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Bh3 (18. f4 $2 Ng4 $13) 18... Bc8 19. Bxc8
Raxc8 20. f4 Nd7 (20... Ng4 $2 21. Ng2 $14) 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Nf5 $14 {
Illescas Cordoba,M-Kamsky,G/Dos Hermanas 1995/1-0 (73)}) 11. Bb2 Qe7 (11... Rc8
12. d3 d5 (12... Re8 13. e4 a6 14. Qb3 b5 15. Nd2 Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. Qd1 $14
{Kasparov,G-Karpov,An Lyon-wch 1990 CBM/21}) 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Qd2 Qe7 15. Rfc1
h6 16. Bc3 Rfe8 17. Qb2 e5 18. e4 Bb7 19. Nd2 Qd6 20. Bf1 Qe6 21. b5 Nh7 22. a4
f6 23. Qa2 Ndf8 24. a5 $14 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Nikolic,P/Amber-rapid6th 1997 (35)})
(11... Qc7 12. d3 Rfc8 13. Rac1 (13. Rfc1 e5 14. Bh3 $1 Re8 15. e4 Nf8 16. Nh4
Ne6 17. Qd2 $14 Qd8 18. Bxe6 $2 fxe6 $10 {Illescas Cordoba,M-Karpov,An/Wijk
aan Zee (m/1)/1993/0.5 (41)}) 13... a6 14. Qd2 Bc6 15. Rfe1 Qb7 16. d4 (16. e4
b5 $5) 16... Qb8 {Bareev,E-Karpov,A/Dortmund 1995/0-1 (49)} (16... Ne4 $5) (
16... cxd4 {Ribli} 17. Qxd4 $14 {>< d6})) 12. d3 {Dank seiner starken
Kontrolle auf der Diagonale a1-h8 steht der Anziehende etwas besser. Das Feld
e4 ist kontrolliert, sodaЯ Schwarz dort keine Gegenchancen bekommt.Ribli.} Rfc8
(12... Rac8 $5 13. Rac1 Rfd8 14. Qb3 Ng4 15. e4 Nge5 16. Nd2 Nc6 17. f4 a5 18.
b5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 cxd4 20. Qb2 e5 21. Bh3 Rc7 22. Bxd7 Rdxd7 23. Rf2 f5 24. Re1
fxe4 25. Nxe4 h6 26. a4 {1/2-1/2 Alterman,B-Rozentalis,E/EU-chTM 1997}) 13. b5
{Die "Opposition" der Dame und des Turmes war unangenehm fьr WeiЯ. Er
entscheidet sich, den Damenflьgel geschlossen zu halten.Ribli.} (13. e4 Qf8 14.
Rfe1 a6 15. Nd2 Rab8 16. d4 cxd4 17. Qxd4 {Lobron,E-Adams,M/Brussels SWIFT 25'
(K:2) 1992/1-0 (55)}) (13. Rfc1 Rc7 14. Qd2 Rac8 15. e4 a6 16. Qe2 b5 17. Nd2
e5 18. Bh3 Rb8 19. Bc3 Bc8 20. Bg2 Nb6 21. bxc5 dxc5 22. f4 Nfd7 23. cxb5 axb5
24. Rab1 {1/2-1/2 Brodsky,M-Tunik,G/RUS-chT Azov 1996 (41)}) 13... a6 14. a4
axb5 15. axb5 Qf8 16. e4 $14 {Schrдnkt die Mцglichkeiten des Bb7 ein und
gewinnt Raum.Ribli.} Rxa1 17. Rxa1 Ra8 18. Qc1 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Qa8 {Diese
Abtauschorgie ist forciert, da die Herrschafft ьber die a-Linie nicht dem
Kontrahenten ьberlassen werden darf.Ribli.} 20. Qxa8+ Bxa8 21. Nd2 {[%csl Rb6]
[%cal Rb2g7] Die Bauernverteilung ist vцllig symmetrisch. Schwarz hat eine
Schwдche auf b6. Die Frage ist, ob es WeiЯ gelingt, die Stellung fьr sein
Lдuferpaar zu цffnen.Ribli.} Ne8 22. Nb1 {Der Springer zielt nach a4.} Bb7 23.
f4 f6 (23... Kf8 $5) 24. Nc3 Kf7 25. Na4 Ke7 (25... e5 26. Bh3 $16) 26. d4 Kd8
27. d5 exd5 (27... e5 $2 28. Bh3 $16) 28. exd5 Nc7 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6][%cal Rb2g7,
Rg2h3,Rh3d7]} 29. Bh3 Na8 $8 30. Be6 Nf8 31. f5 {[%csl Ge6] WeiЯ hat
ьberzeugenden Raumvorteil, aber die Stellung ist geschlossen, und es scheint,
als kцnne Schwarz seine Schwдchen gut verteidigen.Ribli.} Bc8 32. Kf2 Bd7 33.
g4 {[%cal Rg4g5]} Ke7 34. g5 {[%csl Rf6] WeiЯ bewдltigt eine weitere Etappe
auf dem Weg zum Sieg, er schwдcht den Pf6.Ribli.} Nxe6 35. fxe6 Be8 {[%csl Ge8]
Dieser Lдufer ist unangenehm fьr WeiЯ, da er praktisch alle seine Bauern auf
den weiЯen Feldern hat.Ribli.} 36. gxf6+ gxf6 37. Ke3 Bg6 38. Kd2 $1 {Zuerst
muЯ WeiЯ versuchen, seinen Pc4 mit dem Kцnig zu verteidigen. Auf diese Weise
wird der Na4 entlastet und auf das Idealfeld e3 ьberfьhrt. AnschlieЯend kann
der weiЯe Kцnig aktiv ins Spiel zurьckkehren.Ribli.} Be4 39. Bc1 Bg2 40. Kc3
Bf1 41. Bh6 Bg2 42. Bf4 Bf1 43. Nb2 {[%cal Yb2d1,Yd1e3]} Nc7 44. Nd1 Bg2 45.
Ne3 Be4 46. Bh6 Ne8 {[%csl Re8] Schwarz hat in diesem Endspiel groЯe Probleme,
ein gutes Feld fьr seinen Springer zu finden.Ribli.} 47. Kd2 Nc7 (47... f5 $2
48. Bg5+ Nf6 (48... Kf8 49. Bd8 {[%csl Rb6]}) 49. Nf1 {[%cal Yf1g3,Yg3h5]} Bf3
50. Ng3 Bg4 51. h3 $18) 48. Ke2 Ne8 49. Kf2 {[%cal Yf2g3,Yg3f4,Yg3g4]} Nc7 50.
Kg3 Bd3 51. Kg4 Ne8 52. Kf4 Bb1 53. Nf5+ Kd8 (53... Bxf5 54. Kxf5 {[%csl Re8]}
Nc7 (54... Kd8 55. Bf8 $18) 55. Bg7 Ne8 56. Bh8 $22) 54. Bf8 Bd3 {[%csl Rb5,
Rc4,Gd3,Rd5]} 55. Be7+ {[%csl Ge7]} (55. Nxd6 $2 Nxd6 56. Bxd6 Bxc4 57. Ke4
Bxb5 $11) 55... Kc7 56. Ne3 Kc8 57. Kg4 Kc7 58. Kh5 Ng7+ 59. Kh6 Ne8 60. h4 {
WeiЯ mobilisiert alle Reserven.} Kc8 61. h5 Kc7 62. Ng2 {Da jetzt alle weiЯen
Figuren gut postiert sind, beginnt WeiЯ nnit konkreten Aktionen.Ribli.} Kc8 (
62... Bxc4 $2 63. Kxh7 $18) 63. Nf4 Bc2 {[#]} 64. Bxf6 $5 {Ein schцnes
Figurenopfer. Auf diese Weise verschafft sich Kramnik sehr gute praktische
Gewinnchancen, sonst ist schwer zu sehen, wie er seine Stellung verbessern
kцnnte.Ribli.} Nxf6 65. Kg7 Ne8+ 66. Kf7 Nc7 (66... Kd8 67. e7+ Kd7 68. Ne6 Bd1
69. Nf8+ Kc8 70. h6 (70. Kxe8 $2 Bxh5+ $19) 70... Bh5+ 71. Kg8 (71. Ke6 Bg4+)
71... Nf6+ 72. Kg7) 67. e7 h6 68. Ne6 Bd1 $8 69. Kg6 Ne8 70. Nf8 Be2 71. Kxh6
Bxc4 72. Kg6 Bxd5 $2 (72... Bd3+ $1 73. Kf7 c4 74. Kxe8 c3 75. Kf7 Bxb5 76. h6
c2 77. h7 c1=Q 78. h8=Q Qf4+ 79. Qf6 Be8+ {Und Schwarz hat sehr gute
Remischancen.}) 73. h6 c4 74. h7 Be4+ 75. Kf7 Bxh7 76. Kxe8 Bg8 77. Nd7 $1 c3 {
In dieser Stellung ьberschritt Schwarz die Bedenkzeit, aber seine Stellung ist
ohnehin verloren. WeiЯ gewinnt einfach mit 78.Kf8. Ein sehr interessantes
Endspiel.Ribli.} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bd3 Bd6 (5... Bg4 6. Qe2+ (6. c3
Qd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4 O-O-O 10. Nbd2 h5 11. Qc2 Nge7 12. Rfe1 Bf5 13.
Nf1 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Nf5 15. Ne3 Nce7 16. Re2 g5 17. Bg3 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Nxe3 19.
Qxe3 Nf5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Gubanov,A-Lobach,P/St.Petersburg Chigorin 1995 (57)})
6... Qe7 7. Be3 Nb4 8. Bb5+ c6 9. Ba4 a5 10. c3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Na6 12. Nd2 Qe6
13. Bc2 Bd6 14. O-O-O Ne7 15. Rde1 Nc7 16. f4 O-O-O 17. Rhg1 g6 18. Nf3 Nf5 19.
Bd2 Qxe2 20. Rxe2 Ng7 21. f5 Nxf5 22. Bxf5+ gxf5 23. Rg5 Rde8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8
25. Rxf5 f6 26. Bf4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Iruzubieta,J-Romero Holmes,A/ESP-ch Canete
1994 (37)}) (5... Nb4 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Qe2+ Be7 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. Ne5 Qc8 10. a3
Na6 11. Nc3 c6 12. Bd2 Nf6 13. O-O O-O 14. Rab1 Bd8 15. Qd3 Nc7 16. f4 Nce8 17.
Ne2 a5 18. f5 Ne4 19. g4 N8d6 20. Bf4 $36 {1-0 Milov,V-Barsov,A/NRW-II 1996 
(38)}) 6. O-O (6. h3 h6 7. O-O Nge7 8. c4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bf5 10. Nc3 Qd7 11. d5
Ne5 12. Bb5 c6 13. dxc6 N5xc6 14. Nd4 Bxh3 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. gxh3 cxb5 17. Nxb5
Qxb5 18. Qxd6 Rd8 19. Qa3 Rd7 20. Re1 O-O $15 {Bakhtadze,G-Croonenborghs,T/
EU-chJM U20 Holon 1995/0-1 (60)}) 6... Nge7 7. c4 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. h3 Be6 $5
(9... Bf5 10. Nc3 Qd7 11. Re1 $14) 10. Bxe6 fxe6 {[%csl Gd4,Ge6] Although 9...
Be6 created a weakness on e6 it has many positive sides, such as:1.Eleminating
white's very active bishop 2.Openning the "f" file for his rooks 3.Preventing
white's isolated pawn (d4) from moving etc.} 11. Nc3 (11. Qb3 Qc8 12. Re1 Nd5
13. Nc3 $140 $2 Rxf3 $1 14. gxf3 Nxd4 15. Qd1 e5 $3 16. Nxd5 Qxh3 17. Re3 e4 $1
18. f4 Nf3+ 19. Rxf3 exf3 20. Qf1 Qg4+ 21. Kh2 Qh5+ 22. Qh3 Qxd5 $19) 11... Qe8
$1 {Moving the queen to g6 (or f5) where she is best placed for defence and
offence.} 12. Re1 Qg6 13. Re4 $5 {From here the rook presses on e6,defends on
d4 and can olso "jump" to the king side when needed.} (13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5
Nxd5 15. Qxd5+ Kh8 $13) 13... Rae8 14. Qe2 Nd5 15. Rg4 (15. Ne5 $2 Nxe5 16.
dxe5 Bc5 $17 {[%csl Gf2]}) 15... Qf5 16. Bh6 (16. Be3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 e5 18. d5 (
18. e4 Qf7 19. d5 Nd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. Nb5 Be5 $17) 18... e4 19. dxc6 exf3 20.
Qxf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 Rxf3 22. cxb7 Rxh3 $17 {[%csl Gb7,Ge3]}) 16... Rf7 {
Although her pieces seem to be well placed Polgar struggles to find a good
plan to continue with.} 17. Nh4 {Forces black to take on c3, but white's
pieces are in 'offside' and  Kramnik exploits it brilliantly.} (17. Ne4 Bf4 $1
$15) (17. Nd1 e5 $1 (17... Bf4 18. Ne3 Qh5 19. Nxd5 Bxh6 20. Ne5 $1 $16) 18.
Ne3 Nxd4 $1 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Nxf5 Rxe2 21. Rxg7+ (21. Nxd6 cxd6 22. Rxd4 Rfxf2
$19) 21... Rxg7 22. Bxg7 d3 23. Bd4 Be5 24. Rd1 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxb2 26. Rxd3
Rxa2 27. Ne6 Re2 (27... c6 28. Rf3 $1 h6 29. Rf8+ Kh7 30. Rf7+ Kg6 31. Rxb7 $13
) 28. Rxd5 Rxe6 $19) 17... Nxc3 (17... Qf6 $4 18. Bxg7 $1 Rxg7 19. Nxd5 $18)
18. bxc3 Qa5 19. Bd2 e5 $1 {White doesn't succeed in bringing all his pieces
back.} 20. Nf3 Ree7 {[%cal Ge5d4]} 21. d5 {Polgar prefers to give up a pawn
rather than open the position since black pieces are just too active.} (21.
dxe5 Nxe5 (21... Rxf3 22. Qxf3 Nxe5 23. Qxb7 Nxg4 24. Qc8+ Kf7 25. Qxg4 $16)
22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Re4 Bf6 $17 {[%csl Ga2,Gc3]}) 21... Qxd5 22. c4 Qc5 $17 23.
Ng5 (23. Rb1 b6 24. Rb5 Qa3 $17) 23... Rf5 24. Ne4 Nd4 25. Qf1 (25. Qd3 Qa3 26.
Qxa3 Bxa3 $19) 25... Qc6 26. c5 {Polgar sacrifises another pawn hoping to get
some compensation.} (26. Rc1 Ref7 $17) 26... Bxc5 27. Rc1 b6 28. Qa6 (28. Nxc5
bxc5 29. Qc4+ Ref7 30. Be3 Qb6 $19 {[%cal Gb6b2]}) 28... h5 29. Rh4 Qg6 $1 30.
Qc4+ (30. Rxc5 Nf3+ 31. Kh1 Nxh4 $19) 30... Ref7 31. Rc3 Nf3+ 32. Rxf3 Rxf3 $19
{Here white could stop the clock.} 33. Be1 Be7 34. Nd2 Bxh4 35. Nxf3 Bf6 36.
Nd2 Kh7 37. Ne4 Rd7 38. Bc3 c5 39. Qe2 Kg8 40. Qc4+ Qf7 41. Qe2 c4 42. f4 Rd3
43. f5 Be7 44. g4 Rxh3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. e4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nc6 11. d4 Na5 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Ne5 Qe7 14. Qg4 f6 15.
Nf3 Ba3 16. Bc1 Rae8 17. Nh4 Bxc1 18. Raxc1 Qa3 19. Qe2 c5 20. Bh3 Qa4 21. Rcd1
Bc6 22. d5 exd5 23. Qh5 Re5 24. Bf5 g6 25. Qg4 Be8 26. f4 Rxe4 27. Bxe4 dxe4
28. Qe6+ Bf7 29. Qxf6 e3 30. Rd8 Qe4 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Ng2 Nc4 33. f5 Kg8 34.
Qd8+ Be8 35. f6 Qe5 36. Qe7 Qxe7 37. fxe7 Kf7 38. Nxe3 Nd2 39. Re2 Nf3+ 40. Kf2
Ng5 41. Nc4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E22"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. dxc5 Nc6 8.
e3 O-O 9. Be2 Be6 10. Nd4 Bxc5 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. O-O Qe7 13. Bd2 Kh8 14. Rad1
a6 15. a3 Rad8 16. Bc1 Ba7 17. Qa2 Ne5 18. Nb1 Ne4 19. Qb3 Qh4 20. f3 Nd6 21.
g3 Qh3 22. Rf2 Ne4 23. fxe4 Rxf2 24. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 25. Ke1 Qxg3+ 26. Kd2 d4 27.
Kc2 Qg2 28. Nc3 d3+ 29. Kb1 Qg5 30. Bf1 Qe7 31. Bh3 Rd6 32. Bd2 b5 33. Na2 Qh4
34. Bxe6 Qxe4 35. Nc3 Qh4 36. Rf1 Rd8 37. e4 Qh2 38. Qd5 Re8 39. Bd7 Nc4 40.
Bxe8 Nxd2+ 41. Ka2 Nxf1 42. Qf7 Qf2 43. Qd7 Qd4 44. Qh3 Qc4+ 45. Ka1 Ne3 46.
Bg6 h6 47. Qd7 Nc2+ 48. Kb1 Nxa3+ 49. Ka1 Nc2+ 50. Kb1 Na3+ 51. Kc1 Be3+ 52.
Kd1 Qb3+ 53. Ke1 Nc2+ 54. Kf1 Qg8 55. Nd5 Qf8+ 56. Bf7 Bg5 57. e5 Nd4 58. e6 d2
59. Nc3 Qd8 60. Kg2 Qxd7 61. exd7 b4 62. Nd1 a5 63. b3 g6 64. Bxg6 Kg7 65. Bh5
Nxb3 66. Ne3 Nc5 67. Nc4 a4 68. Nxd2 a3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 O-O 8.
Be2 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qd3 Qd7 11. Bf4 Ba6 12. Qe3 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Nc6 14. Rad1 e6
15. h4 h6 16. Rfe1 Rad8 17. Qd2 Kh7 18. Qc2 f6 19. Bc1 Qf7 20. c4 e5 21. d5 Na5
22. c5 c6 23. cxb6 axb6 24. h5 g5 25. Bd2 cxd5 26. exd5+ Kh8 27. Bxa5 bxa5 28.
d6 Qxh5 29. Qf5 Qf7 30. d7 Qxa2 31. Nd2 a4 32. Ne4 Qg8 33. Nc5 Ra8 34. Ne6 Rfb8
35. Re3 a3 36. Rxa3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 axb4 11. Bxb4 Nd7 12. a4 Bh6 13. a5 f5 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. c5
Bxd2 16. Qxd2 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Bc3 Nf5 19. Ra4 Nh4 20. Rxe4 g5 21. Rb4
Ng6 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Rb6 Nf4 24. Bb4 Rf6 25. Rc1 Qe7 26. Bf1 Bf5 27. g3 Rg6
28. f3 Nh3+ 29. Kh1 h5 30. Qe3 g4 31. Bxh3 gxh3 32. Rc4 Rf8 33. Kg1 Rff6 34.
Rh4 Qf7 35. a6 Bc8 36. Rc4 Rxf3 37. Rxc8+ Kh7 38. Qe2 Rgf6 39. Rc1 Rf2 40. Qxf2
Rxf2 41. Rxb7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. Bb5 N5f6 16. Ne2 a6 17. Ba4 b5 18. Bc2 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Rac8 20. O-O-O g6 21.
e4 Rc7 22. Kb1 Rfc8 23. Rc1 Nh5 24. Be3 Kh7 25. g4 Nhf6 26. h4 e5 27. Nb3 Nxg4
28. Bd2 Ngf6 29. Ba5 Rxc2 30. Rxc2 Rxc2 31. Kxc2 Nxe4 32. Rd1 Nef6 33. Nd2 Nd5
34. Re1 f5 35. Bc3 f4 36. Ne4 Ne3+ 37. Kd3 Bxe4+ 38. Kxe4 Nc5+ 39. Kxe5 Nd3+
40. Ke6 Nxe1 41. Bxe1 g5 42. hxg5 hxg5 43. Ke5 Kg6 44. Ke4 Kf6 45. b3 Ke6 46.
a4 bxa4 47. bxa4 Nf5 48. Bb4 Ng3+ 49. Kd4 Ne2+ 50. Kd3 Ng3 51. Kd4 Kf5 52. Kc5
Nf1 53. Kb6 Nh2 54. Kxa6 Nxf3 55. Kb7 Ne5 56. a5 f3 57. Be1 Nd3 58. Bf2 Nxf2
59. a6 Ne4 60. a7 f2 61. a8=Q f1=Q 62. Qc8+ Ke5 63. Qe8+ Kd4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. g3 Bb7 8.
Bg2 c5 9. b4 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. d3 d5 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Qd2 Qe7
15. Rfc1 h6 16. Bc3 Rfe8 17. Qb2 e5 18. e4 Bb7 19. Nd2 Qd6 20. Bf1 Qe6 21. b5
Nh7 22. a4 f6 23. Qa2 Ndf8 24. a5 Rb8 25. Qxe6+ Nxe6 26. Nc4 Nc7 27. Rcb1 Bc8
28. axb6 axb6 29. Ra7 Re7 30. f4 exf4 31. gxf4 Kf8 32. Be1 f5 33. Bh4 g5 34.
Bg3 Rf7 35. fxg5 f4 36. g6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 h6 12. Bd2 Nf6 13. Be3 Qe7 14. Nd5 Qd8 15.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. c5 b6 17. Rc1 Rd8 18. Qa4 Nxc5 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. Rxc5 Qb6 21.
Qc2 Bb7 22. Rc1 Qd6 23. Rb5 Bc8 24. Rd1 Qe7 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Bc4 Bd7 27. Rc5
Be8 28. Nxe5 Qd6 29. Nf3 Rd8 30. Rd5 Qe7 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. e5 Kh7 33. Qe4 Qe7
34. b3 Bd7 35. Qd4 Bc6 36. Bd5 Qd7 37. Bxc6 Qxc6 38. Qc4 Qd7 39. g3 Bf8 40. Kg2
Kg8 41. Qd4 Qxd4 42. Nxd4 Bc5 43. Nc6 a6 44. b4 Bf8 45. a3 f5 46. Nb8 c5 47.
Nxa6 c4 48. Kf3 Bg7 49. b5 Bxe5 50. b6 c3 51. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Andersson, Ulf"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Be3 b6 10. Rfd1 Nc6 11. Rxd8+ Nxd8 12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Nd2 Ne6 14. e5
Nd7 15. f4 g5 16. fxg5 Nxe5 17. Nb3 a5 18. Na4 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. h3 Nc4 21.
Bc1 Nd6 22. h4 c4 23. Nd2 Nd4 24. Nc3 Nxc2 25. Nf3 Nb4 26. Nd5 Kf8 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bc1 (10. Bh4) 10... Kh8 (10... Qe8 11. h3 Nh6 12. dxe5 dxe5
13. b3 (13. Be3 c6 14. a3 Nf7 15. b4 Qe7 16. Qc1 Be6 17. Rd1 Rfc8 18. Nd2 Bh6
19. Bxh6 Nxh6 20. c5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Illescas Cordoba,M-Magem Badals,J/Pamplona
1991 (46)}) 13... Be6 14. Ba3 Rf7 15. Qc2 Bf8 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 17. a3 Rd7 18. b4
$5) (10... Nh6 11. dxe5 (11. Rb1 c6 (11... exd4 12. Nxd4 Nc5 13. Be3 Re8 14.
Nb3 Ne6 15. Qd2 Nf7 16. Rbd1 b6 17. f3 Bb7 18. Rfe1 $14 {1-0 Gausel,E-Sanden,S/
Rilton Cup96/97 1996 (30)}) 12. b4 Nc7 13. d5 Nf7 14. Qb3 cxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5
16. cxd5 f5 17. Nd2 f4 18. b5 g5 19. f3 h5 20. h3 Kh7 21. Nc4 Rh8 22. Qd1 Bd7
23. Ba3 Qe7 24. b6 $36 {1-0 Baigorri Navarro,F-Llanes Luno,P/Zaragoza open
1992 (40)}) (11. h3 Nf7 12. a3 c6 13. Be3 f5 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16.
Rad1 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 f4 18. Bc1 Be6 19. b4 Nc7 20. Bb2 Kf8 21. a4 b6 22. b5 cxb5
23. axb5 Ke8 24. Na4 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Nikolic,G-Schumi,M/Oberwart op 1991 (48)}
) 11... dxe5 12. Qxd8 (12. h3 c6 13. Be3 Nf7 14. c5 Nc7 (14... Be6 15. Qa4 Qc8
16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Nxd8 18. Rd1 Nf7 19. Nd2 Nc7 20. Nc4 $14 {1-0 Boensch,
U-Fecht,H/BL 1991 (34)}) 15. b4 Qe7 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Qe6 19.
Qxe6 Nxe6 20. Rfd1 Rfd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Arlandi,E-Timoshchenko,G/Mitropa Cup
ITA-SVK 1995 (23)}) 12... Rxd8 13. Nd5 Nf7 14. Be3 Kf8 15. Rfd1 c6 16. Nc3
Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Ke7 $11 {Tisdall,J-Timoshchenko,G/Cappelle op 1993/1/2-1/2 (72)}
) 11. h3 (11. c5 exd4 12. Nxd4 f5 13. exf5 Nxh2 14. Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Qxd4 16.
cxd6 Bxf5 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. dxc7 Qh4 19. Be3 Rae8 20. Qa4 $1 $16 {(time) 1-0
Hutters,T-Gofshtein,L/Groningen op 1993 (32)}) 11... Nh6 12. dxe5 dxe5 (12...
fxe5 13. Be3 Nf7 14. Qd2 Nc5 15. Ng5 (15. Bxc5 dxc5 $10) 15... Nxg5 16. Bxg5
Bf6 17. Be3 Ne6 18. Bg4 $1 $14 {Karpov-Kasparov,1990}) 13. Qxd8 (13. Be3 $143
Nf7 14. Qxd8 Nxd8 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Yd8e6]}) 13... Rxd8 14. Be3 Be6 15. a3 (15.
Rfd1 Nf7 16. a3 {[%cal Yb2b4]} Bh6 17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. b4 c6 $14 {/=}) 15... Nf7
16. b4 {[%cal Gc4c5]} c6 (16... Bh6 17. Nd5 $1 (17. c5 Bxe3 18. fxe3 c6) (17.
b5 Bxe3 18. bxa6 Bb6 19. axb7 Rab8 20. Rab1 Nd6) (17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. Nd5 Kg7 19.
b5 Bxd5 (19... Nc5 20. Nxc7 Rac8 21. Nxe6+ Nxe6 $44 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4]}) 20. cxd5
Nc5 21. Rfc1 b6 $11 {[%cal Yh6f7,Yf7d6]}) 17... Bxe3 18. fxe3 Kg7 (18... Nd6
19. Nxf6 (19. b5 Nc5 20. Nxc7 Rac8 $17) 19... Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Nxc4 21. b5 $16 {
[%cal Ga1c1,Gc1c7]}) (18... f5 19. b5 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Nc5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Rac1
b6 23. Nh4 $16) 19. c5 $1 Bxd5 20. exd5 Rxd5 21. Bc4 Rdd8 22. c6 $1 $16) 17.
Rfd1 Rxd1+ (17... Bh6 $5 $11 18. Rxd8+ $140 Rxd8 19. Bxa7 Ra8) 18. Rxd1 Nc7 19.
Nd2 {[%cal Gd2b3,Gb3a5]} Bf8 {[%cal Ya7a5]} (19... Bh6 20. Bxh6 Nxh6 21. Nb3 b6
22. Rd6) 20. Rb1 $1 {[%cal Ya3a5,Yd2b3,Yb3a5]} b6 $6 (20... f5 $142 $1 21. exf5
(21. Nb3 b6) 21... gxf5 22. f4 Bh6 23. g3 {[%cal Gg1f2]} Bg7 $132) 21. c5 $1 b5
22. a4 bxa4 (22... a6 23. Nb3 {[%cal Gb3a5]} Bxb3 24. Rxb3 $14 Bh6 $140 25.
Bxh6 Nxh6 26. Ra3 Kg7 (26... Nf7 27. Bg4) 27. axb5 axb5 28. Rxa8 Nxa8 29. Nxb5
cxb5 30. Bxb5 $16) 23. Nxa4 (23. Nc4 Nb5 24. Nxa4 Bxc4 25. Bxc4 Na3 26. Rc1
Nxc4 27. Rxc4 Rb8 $11) (23. Bc4 $5 Rb8 24. Bxe6 Nxe6 25. Nxa4 f5 26. f3 $14)
23... f5 24. exf5 (24. Nc4 fxe4 $132 {[%csl Rd5]}) (24. f3 $5) 24... gxf5 25.
Nc4 {[%cal Gc4a5]} Nd5 26. Bd2 e4 27. Na5 Rc8 (27... Ne5 $142 28. Ba6 {[%cal
Ga6b7]} Rb8 29. Bb7 $140 Nc4 30. Nxc4 Rxb7) 28. Ba6 Rc7 29. Nc3 Nxc3 (29... Bg7
30. Ne2 $1 {[%cal Ge2f4]} Bc8 31. Bxc8 Rxc8 32. Ng3 Ne7 33. Bf4 {[%cal Gb1d1]}
Rd8 34. Nh5 $36) 30. Bxc3+ Bg7 31. Bd2 Ba2 32. Rc1 (32. Rd1 $1 Rd7 33. Bc8 Rd3
34. Kf1 Bh6 35. Ke1 $16) 32... Be5 33. Nc4 (33. Bc4 Bxc4 34. Nxc4 Kg7 35. Nxe5
$140 Nxe5 36. Bf4 Nd3 $17) 33... Bxc4 34. Bxc4 Kg7 35. b5 cxb5 36. Bxb5 Bd4 $2
(36... Re7 $142 37. c6 Bc7 38. Bc3+ Kg6 39. Rd1 $16) 37. c6 Kf6 38. Rd1 Be5 (
38... Ke5 39. g3 $1 $18) (38... Rc8 $8 39. Ba5 Nd6 (39... Bb6 40. Bc3+ $16 {
[%cal Yd1d7]}) (39... Be5 40. Rd7 a6 41. Ba4 $16) 40. Rxd4 Nxb5 41. Rd5 a6 42.
c7 $1 $18) 39. Ba5 Re7 40. Bc4 $1 $18 {[%cal Gd1d7]} f4 (40... Nd6 41. Bd8 $1
Nxc4 42. Rd7 $18) 41. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 a6 3. Bg5 Bg4 4. e3 Nf6 5. c4 (5. Bxf6 {Fritz 5.00 (100s)} exf6
6. c4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Bd6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. a3 Qd7 11. Qc2 f5 12. Bd3 Ne7
13. b4 Rad8 14. Rfc1 g6 15. Ne1 c6 16. Bf1 Bb8 17. g3 g5 18. Nd3 Nd5 19. Nc5
Qc8 20. Re1 Rfe8 21. Nc4 Re7 22. Bg2 Rde8 23. Qd2 h6 24. f3 Bh5 25. e4 b5 26.
Na5 Nb6 27. Rac1 f4 28. g4 Bg6 29. Nd3 Re6 30. Qc2 Qd7 31. Qf2 Na4 32. Nb3 Rd6
33. Bf1 Rd8 34. Red1 Qe8 {Gelfand,B-Anand,V/Amsterdam VSB 1996/CBM 52/[Gelfand]
/1/2-1/2 (52)}) 5... dxc4 $146 (5... Bxf3 {Fritz 5.00 (100s)} 6. Qxf3 Ne4 7.
Bh4 c6 8. Bd3 Qa5+ 9. Kf1 Nf6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nc3 Qb4 12. Qe2 e6 13. g3 Nd7
14. Kg2 f5 15. Rac1 {Jailjan,M-Vorotnikov,V/URS-ch sf Aktjubinsk 1985/MCD-ch/
0-1 (40)}) 6. Bxc4 e6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. h3 Bh5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. g4 Bg6 11. h4 h6
12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nd7 14. O-O-O Qe7 15. g5 hxg5 16. hxg5 Rxh1 17. Rxh1 Bxg5
18. Rh8+ Nf8 19. Rxf8+ Qxf8 (19... Kxf8 $142 20. Qh7 Qf6 (20... Qd8 21. Nxg5
Qxg5 22. Qh8+ Ke7 23. Qxa8 $18) 21. Nxg5 Qh6 22. f4 $14) 20. Nxg5 $16 O-O-O {
[#] Hecht Leichter weiЯer Materialvorteil - vorsichtiges Lavieren.  Fьhlbare
Verbesserung der weiЯen Springerpositionen Mitte der 50-er Zьge bei drei
schwarzen Bauernschwдchen.} 21. f4 Qe7 22. Qh7 f6 23. Nge4 b6 24. a3 Kb8 25.
Kb1 Ka7 26. Nf2 Qd7 27. Qe4 Qd6 28. Qg2 Qd7 29. Na2 Rc8 30. Nb4 c5 31. dxc5
bxc5 32. Na2 Rb8 33. Qg4 Qd2 34. Nd1 Qd3+ 35. Kc1 Qc4+ 36. Nac3 g5 37. Qf3 gxf4
38. exf4 Rg8 39. Kc2 Rd8 40. Nf2 Qd4 41. Nd3 Kb6 42. Nc1 c4 43. Kb1 Kc7 44.
N3e2 Qd5 45. Qe3 Rd6 46. Qc3 e5 47. fxe5 fxe5 48. Ka1 Rf6 49. Qe1 Qe4 50. Ka2
Rb6 51. Qa5 Kb7 52. Qd2 Kc8 53. Nc3 Qd4 54. Qg5 Rc6 55. N1e2 Qc5 56. Ne4 Qb5
57. N2c3 Qb3+ 58. Kb1 Kb7 (58... Kb7 59. Qe7+ Kb8 (59... Kb6 60. Nd2 $18 {
[%csl Rb3]}) (59... Rc7 60. Nc5+ Kc6 61. Qxc7+ $18) (59... Ka8 60. Qe8+ Kb7 61.
Qd7+ $18) (59... Kc8 60. Qe8+ Kc7 61. Nd5+ $18) 60. Nc5 Qb6 61. Nd7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1 a5 12. bxa5 (12. Ba3 Bg4 13. bxa5 f5 14. c5
Rxa5 15. Bb4 Ra8 16. a4 Kh8 17. Ra3 dxc5 18. Bxc5 b6 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Nb5 Rad8
21. Qc2 fxe4 22. Qxe4 Rxd5 $17 {0-1 Sorokin,M-Sutovskij,E/Villa Martelli 1997 
(37)}) 12... Rxa5 (12... c5 13. Rb1 Rxa5 14. Qb3 Ra6 15. g3 Nh5 16. Bg2 h6 $132
{[%cal Yf7f5] 0-1 Shariyazdanov,A-Bologan,V/RUS-Cup6 1997 (46)}) 13. Nd2 (13.
a4 c5 (13... f5 14. Nd2 fxe4 15. Ndxe4 Nf5 16. Nb5 Nd4 $2 17. Nxd4 exd4 18.
Bxf4 Rxf4 19. Qd2 $18 {1-0 Xu Jun-Sutovskij,E/Bad Homburg 1997 (34)}) 14. Ra3
$146 (14. Rb1 h6 15. Nd2 Ra6 16. Nb3 g5 17. a5 f5 18. g3 Nfg6 19. exf5 Nxf5 20.
Bd3 e4 21. Nxe4 Ne5 22. f4 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Nh4 {Sokolov,I-Glek,I/Hoogovens 1997/
CBM 57/[Huzman]/1/2-1/2 (40)}) 14... Ra6 15. Nb5 Bd7 16. Nd2 Nh5 17. g3 Nf6 18.
Bb2 Nc8 19. Qc2 Bh6 20. Nf3 Ne8 21. Nh4 Ng7 22. Bd3 $14 {1-0 Gofshtein,L-David,
A/Czerniak-mem Bikurei Haitim 1997 (41)}) 13... c5 (13... f5 14. a4 Kh8 15. g3
Nh5 16. Nb3 Ra8 17. a5 f4 18. Ra2 Ng8 19. c5 Ngf6 20. cxd6 cxd6 21. Na4 $14 {
[%cal Ga4b6] 1-0 Lobron,Eric-Ahn,Martin/Eupen/1996 (37)}) 14. a4 (14. Rb1 Kh8
15. g3 Nh5 16. Be2 Nf6 17. Nb3 Ra6 18. Bg5 Ne8 19. Nc1 f6 20. Bd2 f5 21. Rb3
fxe4 22. Nxe4 Nf5 23. Be3 Nd4 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Bg4 $14 {0-1 Cmilyte,
V-Velikhanli,F/EU-chTW 1997 (52)}) 14... Ra6 (14... h6 15. Nb3 Ra6 16. a5 b6
17. Nb5 f5 18. g3 Nh5 19. Bd2 fxe4 20. axb6 Rxa1 21. Qxa1 Nf5 22. Bg2 Nf4 $1
$40 {0-1 Epishin,Vladimir-Pikula,Dejan/Biel 1996 (29)}) 15. Ra3 (15. Rb1 Kh8
16. g3 Nh5 17. Be2 Nf6 18. h4 h6 19. h5 gxh5 20. Bxh5 Nxh5 21. Qxh5 f5 22. Nf3
Qe8 23. Qxe8 Rxe8 24. Kg2 $14 {1-0 Savchenko,S-Relange,E/Cappelle la Grande op
1997 (38)}) 15... g5 $5 $146 (15... f5 16. g3 Nh5 17. exf5 Nxf5 $14 {[%csl Re4]
}) (15... Kh8 {Kramnik /\ Ne7-g8}) 16. g3 (16. Nb5 {K} Neg6 $132 {[%cal Yg5g4,
Yf7f5]}) 16... Nh3+ 17. Bxh3 Bxh3 18. Qh5 Qd7 $1 (18... g4 $2 19. Nf3 $1 {
[%cal Gf3g5]} f6 (19... gxf3 20. Qxh3 f5 21. Qh5 $16 (21. Re3 $16 {[%csl Rf3]})
) 20. Nh4 {[%csl Rh3]} (20. Kh1 $5 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Gf3g1]})) 19. Qxg5 (19. f3
$5 g4 20. Nd1 {[%cal Gd1f2]} f5 (20... gxf3 21. Nf2 Bg2 22. Nxf3 Bxf3 23. Rxf3
$40 {[%cal Gf2g4]} Rxa4 (23... f5 $140 24. Nh3 $1) 24. Ng4 f5 25. Nh6+ (25.
exf5 Rxc4 $1 $13 {[%cal Yc4g4,Yd7g4]} (25... Nxf5 26. Ref1 Rxc4 27. Bh6 $1 $18)
26. Ref1) 25... Bxh6 26. Bxh6 Rf7 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. exf5 Rxc4 $132) 21. Nf2 (21.
Ne3 $2 gxf3 22. Qxh3 (22. Nxf3 fxe4 23. Ng5 Bf5) 22... f2+ $3 23. Kxf2 fxe4+
24. Kg2 Rf2+ $1 $17 {Kramnik}) 21... Rxa4 22. Rxa4 Qxa4 23. exf5 $1 (23. fxg4
Bxg4 24. Nxg4 fxg4 25. Qxg4 $14) 23... Rxf5 24. Qh4 Bf6 25. Qh6 $16 {[%csl Rh3]
[%cal Gh6d6]}) 19... h6 (19... f5 $5 20. f3 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Gg5h5]} f4 $44 21.
Nd1 $140 Rf6 {[%csl Rg5]}) 20. Qe3 f5 21. Qe2 $1 {[%cal Ga3h3]} (21. f3 f4 $44)
21... f4 (21... fxe4 22. Ndxe4 Nf5 23. Nb5 (23. Be3 $5) 23... Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4
25. Qh5 $5 Bg4 26. Qh4 {Kramnik}) 22. Nb5 Kh7 (22... Ng6 23. Kh1 Kh7 24. Rg1
$16 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Gg1g7,Ga3h3]}) 23. gxf4 (23. Kh1 $5 Ng6 24. Rg1) 23...
exf4 (23... Rxf4 24. Rg3 Ng6 25. Kh1 {[%cal Ge1g1]} Rf7 26. Reg1 Nf4 27. Qd1
Bf6 28. Nf3 $16) 24. Kh1 Bg4 (24... Ng6 25. Rg1 {[%cal Ge2h5]} Ne5 26. Nf3 $1
$16 {[%cal Gf3e5]}) 25. Nf3 $1 (25. f3 Bh5 $44) 25... Ng6 26. Rg1 {[%cal Gf3g5]
} Bxf3+ $2 (26... Nh4 27. Ng5+ hxg5 28. Qxg4 Qxg4 29. Rxg4 $16 Kg6 $140 30. Nc7
Rb6 (30... Kh5 31. h3) 31. Ne6 $18) (26... Kh8 $1 27. Nc7 $1 (27. Bb2 Rg8 (
27... Bxb2 28. Qxb2+ Kh7 29. Nd2 (29. Nxd6 $2 Rxd6 30. e5 Bxf3+ 31. Rxf3 Qg7)
29... Ne5) (27... Nh4 28. Nxh4 Bxe2 29. Rxg7 Qxg7 30. Bxg7+ (30. Ng6+ Kh7 31.
Bxg7 Rf7) 30... Kxg7 31. Nc7 Bxc4) 28. Nc7 Rb6 $44) (27. Qc2 $5 Re8 28. Nd2 (
28. Ne1 $5)) 27... Rb6 $1 28. Ne6 Bxe6 29. Rxg6 Bg4 30. Qc2 $14 {[%cal Gf3h4]})
27. Qxf3 Ne5 28. Qh5 Qf7 (28... Nxc4 29. Qg6+ Kg8 30. Rh3 $1 $18) 29. Qh3 {
[%cal Gc1b2]} (29. Rh3 $5 Nxc4 (29... Qxh5 30. Rxh5 Nxc4 31. Nc7 Rxa4 32. Ne6
Rg8 33. Bxf4 $16) 30. Nc7 $1 $16) 29... Nxc4 30. Rf3 Be5 (30... Qe7 31. Qe6 $1
Qxe6 32. dxe6 Rxa4 33. Nc7 $1 Bf6 34. Rxf4 $18 {[%cal Gf4f6]}) 31. Nc7 $1 Rxa4
(31... Qxc7 32. Qxh6+ Kxh6 33. Rh3#) 32. Bxf4 $1 (32. Ne6 Rg8 33. Ng5+ Rxg5 34.
Rxg5 Ra1 35. Rg1 {[%cal Gh3e6]} b5 36. Qe6 Qxe6 37. dxe6 b4 38. Bxf4 $18) (32.
Bxf4 Bxf4 33. Ne6 Rg8 34. Rxg8 Qxg8 (34... Kxg8 35. Rxf4 $18) 35. Qf5+ Kh8 36.
Qf6+ Kh7 37. Nf8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik Kramnik} Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 {
Das ist Kramniks Lieblingsvariante, und er ist wirklich sehr erfolgreich mit
diesem Zug.Wenn Weiss jetzt 6.d4 spielt, dann haben wir eine Grundstellung der
Damenindischen Verteidigung.} O-O 7. Nc3 d5 (7... Bb4 8. Qc2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Nc6 {
Greenfeld,A-Kortschnoj,V Beersheba 1990 CBM/15}) (7... Ne4 $5 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9.
d3 Bb7 10. e4 (10. d4 Be4 11. d5 (11. Nh4 f5 (11... Bxg2 12. Nxg2 d5 (12... d6
13. e4 Nd7 14. d5 Bf6 15. Nf4 Qe7 16. a4 a5 17. Nh5 Rfe8 18. Ra3 Qf8 19. f4 Bd8
20. g4 g6 21. Ng3 {Vaganian,R-Dokhoian,Y/Tilburg 1994/1-0 (60)}) 13. Qa4 dxc4
14. Qxc4 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Be3 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Savchenko,S-Tiviakov,S/World
Cities 1997})) (11. Bf4 $5 Bf6 12. Qd2 d6 13. Rad1 Nd7 14. Qe3 d5 $6 (14... Bb7
15. Qd3 g6 $10) 15. b4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Hjartarson,J-Stefansson,H/ISL-ch plof 1995
(26)}) 11... Bf6 (11... exd5 12. cxd5 Bf6 13. Nd2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Re8 15. Rb1 {
1/2-1/2 Petrosian,T-Portisch,L/Palma de Mallorca cqf 1974 (21)}) 12. Nd2 Bxg2
13. Kxg2 d6 14. Ne4 Nd7 15. Qc2 Nc5 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. dxe6 {1/2-1/2 Portisch,
L-Karpov,A/Milano 1975}) 10... c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nc6 (12... d6 13. b3 a6
14. Bb2 Re8 15. Rc1 Nd7 16. Qe2 Rc8 {Spraggett,K-Arencibia,W/Capablanca Elite
1997/1/2-1/2 (75)}) 13. Bf4 Bc5 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd6 Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qb8 17.
Rad1 Qxd6 18. Rxd6 Rfd8 19. Red1 Kf8 {Ibragimov,I-Tiviakov,S/RUS-ch m1-2 1997/
1/2-1/2 (54)}) 8. cxd5 Nxd5 (8... exd5 9. d4 {-> E 17}) 9. e4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nc6
{Ivanchuk, V} (10... c5 11. d4 {siehe A30 auch} Nd7 $5 12. Bf4 $36 {Anand,
V-Tiviakov,S/Wijk/1996/CBM51/INF65,34/}) 11. d4 Na5 12. h4 $5 $146 {Das ist
-glaube ich- eine vorbereitete Neuerung von Kramnik. WeiЯ gewinnt Raum am
Kцnigsflьgel und schafft die Grundlage fьr einen Angriff.} (12. Bf4 Rc8 (12...
Bd6 13. Ne5 Qe8 (13... Qe7 14. Qg4 f6 15. Nf3 Ba3 16. Bc1 Rae8 17. Nh4 {
1-0 Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V/6th Amber Blind 1997 (40)}) 14. Nd3 Rd8 15. Qg4 Kh8
16. e5 Be7 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Qxg5 h6 20. Qg4 {Akopian,V-Salov,V/
Madrid 1997/1-0 (55)}) 13. h4 Bd6 14. Bg5 Qe8 15. a4 Kh8 16. Nd2 f6 17. Be3 e5
18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. Qxb3 a5 20. d5 Ba6 21. Bf1 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 f5 23. exf5 Rxf5 {
1/2-1/2 Jackelen,T-Pezerovic,E/BL9394 1994 (28)}) (12. Ne5 Bd6 13. f4 Qe8 14.
Be3 Rd8 15. Bf2 c5 16. Qe2 Qa4 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Karpov,A/6th Amber Rapid
1997 (36)}) (12. Qc2 c5 13. d5 exd5 14. exd5 Bf6 15. Rd1 Re8 16. Nd2 Be5 17.
Nf3 Bf6 18. Nd2 Be5 19. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Karpov,A/Credit Suisse 1997})
12... Re8 {/\ c7-c5} (12... c5 $5 {Nach meiner Meinung ist das die
prinzipielle Antwort. Die Regel lautet: Wenn der Gegner eine Aktion am
Kцnigsflьgel beginnt, muЯ man im Zentrum aktiv dagegen halten.} 13. d5 exd5 14.
exd5 Bxd5 $4 15. Rxe7 Qxe7 16. Qxd5 $16 (16. Qxd5 {Kramnik} Rad8 17. Bg5)) (
12... Rc8 $5) 13. h5 (13. Ng5 $5 {Kramnik} h6 14. Nh3) 13... h6 (13... c5 14.
h6 g6 (14... g6 {Kramnik} 15. Bf4 {>< g7})) 14. Ne5 $14 {WeiЯ hat ein starkes
Zentrum und Angriffsmцglichkeiten am Kцnigsflьgel.} Bd6 (14... c5 $6 {Kramnik}
15. d5 (15. Qg4 {Ftacnik} Bf6 16. Bxh6 cxd4 17. Bxg7 $1 Bxg7 18. h6 Qf6 19.
Qxg7+ Qxg7 20. hxg7 dxc3 21. Rac1 Rac8 22. Re3 $11) (15. Be3 Nc6)) (14... f6 $6
{Kramnik >< g6}) 15. Bf4 (15. Nd3) 15... Qe7 16. Qg4 $36 {Droht 17.Bxh6.Ribli.}
Kh8 17. Nd3 Rad8 (17... Bxf4 {Ftacnik} 18. gxf4 {xg7}) 18. Rad1 $5 {WeiЯ
bringt seine letzte Reserve ins Spiel.} (18. e5 Ba3 19. Bxb7 Nxb7 20. Qf3 c5
$11) 18... Bc6 $6 (18... Bxf4 19. Qxf4 $14 (19. Nxf4 e5 20. Nd5 Qd6 $11) (19.
gxf4 {Kramnik /\ Re1-e3-g3; /\ f4-f5})) (18... c5 {Kramnik} 19. Bxd6 (19. d5 $5
e5) 19... Qxd6 (19... Rxd6 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. Ne5 Red8 $2 22. Rxd6 Rxd6 23. Qf4
Kg8 24. Nxf7 $18) 20. Ne5 $14 (20. dxc5 $5 $14)) (18... c5 $1 $132 {Ftacnik})
19. e5 {WeiЯ hat alle prophilaktischen Zьge gemacht. Jetzt muЯ er etwas
Konkretes macheni.} Ba3 20. Bxc6 Nxc6 {WeiЯ hat positionellen Druck am
Kцnigsflьgel, aber er hat Schwдchen auf den weiЯen Felden. Schwarz hat
Probleme mit seinen Leichtfiguren, und er hat keine konkreten strategischen
Zielpunkten.} 21. Re4 {[%cal Ge4h4]} Qd7 (21... Na5 {Kramnik /\ c7-c5<=>}) (
21... f5 $2 {Ftacnik} 22. exf6 Qxf6 23. Rde1 $18) 22. Qf3 (22. Bc1 $6 {Es ist
nicht logisch, diesen Angriffs-Lдufer zu tauschen, solange WeiЯ am
Kцnigsflьgel Angriff hat.} Bxc1 23. Rxc1 Ne7) 22... Bf8 (22... Ne7 {Kramnik}
23. Bxh6 $1 (23. Bxh6 {Ftacnik} gxh6 24. Qf6+ Kh7 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Nf4 Rg8 27.
Nxe6 $16)) (22... Qd5 {Ftacnik} 23. Bxh6 f5 24. exf6 gxh6 25. f7 $18) 23. Be3 {
>< f7} (23. g4 $2 {Kramnik} Ne7 24. g5 Nf5 $1) 23... Na5 {[%cal Ga5c4] Der
schwarze Springer zielt nach c4. Aber was will er dort? Wenn er den Laeufer
auf e3 nimmt, dann hat Weiss ein superstarkes Bauernzentrum.} (23... Qd5 $5 {
[%csl Gd5] Schwarz hat noch keine Drohungen, aber seine Dame steht aktiv im
Zentrum.} 24. Rf4 Qxf3 25. Rxf3 Kg8) (23... Kg8 {Ftacnik} 24. Rg4 $16) 24. g4
Nc4 25. g5 Nxe3 (25... hxg5 {Ftacnik} 26. Bxg5 Be7 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. Rg4 $16)
26. fxe3 {<-> f} (26. Qxe3 {Kramnik} hxg5 27. Qxg5 $16) 26... hxg5 (26... c5
27. gxh6 gxh6 28. Rf4 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Rf4f7]}) 27. Rg4 {WeiЯ hat einen Bauern
geopfert, und Schwarz hat kein Gegenspiel. Ich erwдhne, daЯ alle weiЯen
Figuren am Angriff teilnehmen. Schwarz kann sich nicht verteidigen, weil zu
wenig Raum fьr seine Figuren hat.} (27. Rf1 $2 {Kramnik} Qc6 $1) 27... Qe7 (
27... Be7 28. Qxf7 $16 (28. Qxf7 {Ftacnik} Rf8 29. Qg6 Rf5 30. h6 $16)) 28. Rf1
{[%csl Rf7]} Rd7 (28... Kg8 {Ftacnik} 29. Qg3 (29. Nb4 Rd7 30. Nc6 Qa3 31. Rxg5
Qxc3) 29... f6 30. h6 c5 31. hxg7 Bxg7 32. exf6 Bxf6 33. Ne5 $16) 29. Qg3 {
[%csl Rg5]} (29. Nf2 $2 {Kramnik} f5 $1) 29... f6 (29... Qa3 30. Rxg5 Qxc3 31.
Nf4 $40 {[%csl Rh8]}) 30. e4 {Schwarz befindet sich praktisch in Zugzwang. Ich
kann keinen guten Plan fьr Schwarz empfehlen.} (30. h6 $5 {Kramnik} gxh6 (30...
Qd8 $1 {Ftacnik}) 31. exf6 Qh7 32. Ne5 Rd5 33. e4 Ra5 $40) 30... Qa3 (30... Qd8
{Kramnik} 31. h6 $1 (31. exf6 gxf6 32. e5 f5 (32... Be7 {Ftacnik} 33. exf6 Bxf6
34. Ne5 Rh7 35. Nc6 Qa8 36. Rxf6 Qxc6 37. Qe5 $1 $18) 33. Rxg5 Qxg5 $1 34. Qxg5
Rg7) 31... gxh6 (31... c5 32. hxg7+ Bxg7 33. exf6 Bxf6 34. e5 Bg7 35. Rxg5 $40
cxd4 36. Rh5+ Kg8 37. Qg6) 32. exf6 {/\ Nd3-e5-g6}) (30... c5 $5 {Kramnik} 31.
h6 (31. exf6 gxf6 32. Nf4 Kh7 33. Ng6 Qd8) 31... cxd4 (31... gxh6 32. exf6 Qh7
33. Ne5 {/\ f6-f7+-}) 32. hxg7+ Bxg7 33. Nf4 $1 gxf4 34. Qh4+ Kg8 (34... Bh6
35. Qxh6+ Qh7 36. Qxf6+ Rg7 37. Kf2 $1 $18 Qh2+ 38. Ke1) 35. exf6 Qc5 (35...
Qf8 36. fxg7 Rxg7 37. Rfxf4 $18) (35... Qd8 36. Qh6 Ree7 (36... Qc7 37. Kh1 $18
) 37. cxd4 (37. Rfxf4 dxc3 38. fxg7 Rxg7 39. Qxe6+ Kh7) (37. Kh1 $5 $16) 37...
Rf7 38. fxg7 (38. Rfxf4 $5 Rc7) 38... Rxg7 39. Qxe6+ Rdf7 40. Rxg7+ Kxg7 41.
Qe5+ Kg8 42. Rf2 $16) 36. Kh1 Rf8 (36... Ree7 37. fxe7 Rxe7 38. cxd4 $18) 37.
Rfxf4 $1 (37. fxg7 Rxg7 38. Rxg7+ Kxg7 39. Qg4+ (39. Rg1+ Kf7 40. Qxf4+ Ke8 41.
Qb8+ Ke7 $11) 39... Kh8 $8 40. Rg1 Qc7 41. Rg2 f3 $1 42. Rh2+ Qxh2+ 43. Kxh2 f2
$11) 37... dxc3 (37... Qxc3 38. fxg7 Qc1+ 39. Rg1 $18) (37... Rff7 38. fxg7
Rxg7 39. Rxg7+ Rxg7 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Rh4+ Kg6 42. Qe8+ Kf6 43. Rh6+ Ke5 44.
Qxe6+ Kf4 45. Qf6+ Kxe4 46. Qxg7 $18) (37... Rxf6 38. Qxf6 Qh5+ 39. Kg2 $18)
38. Rxg7+ Rxg7 39. fxg7 Kxg7 (39... Rxf4 40. Qh8+) 40. Qg3+ Kh6 41. Rh4+ $18)
31. exf6 Qxc3 (31... gxf6 32. Nf4 {[%cal Gf4g6]} (32. e5 {Kramnik} f5 (32...
Qxc3 $6 33. exf6) 33. Rxg5 Bh6 (33... Rg7 34. Nf4 Rxg5 35. Qxg5 $40 Qxc3 $6 36.
Kh1 $1 Qc6+ 37. d5 $1 exd5 38. Ng6+ Kh7 39. Nxf8+ Rxf8 40. Qe7+ Kg8 41. Rg1+)
34. Rg6 Rh7 35. Rf2 $1 Qf8 (35... Qxc3 36. Rg2 Qxd4+ 37. Kf1 Qd8 38. Rxh6 $18)
36. Rg2 $5 $40) (32. Rxf6 $5 Bg7 33. Ne5) 32... gxf4 $2 (32... Kh7 33. Nh3 $40)
(32... Bg7 {Ftacnik} 33. Ng6+ Kh7) 33. Rg8+ Kh7 34. Qg6#) 32. f7 (32. Ne5 {
Ftacnik} Qxg3+ 33. Rxg3 Rxd4 34. Nf7+ Kg8 35. Nxg5 $13) 32... Rc8 $6 (32...
Qxd4+ $5 {Das ist die einzige Gegenchance fьr Schwarz.} 33. Kh1 (33. Kg2 {
Ftacnik} Rc8 34. Ne5 $16) 33... Rc8 34. Ne5 Rd6 35. Ng6+ Kh7 {Und WeiЯ hat
gefдhrlichen Angriff, aber es ist nicht klar, wie er ihn vollenden soll. Etwas
Konkretes vermag ich nicht zu sehen.}) (32... Red8 {Kramnik} 33. Ne5 (33. d5 $5
) 33... Qxg3+ (33... Qxd4+ 34. Kh1 $18) 34. Rxg3 Rxd4 35. Nc6 $18) (32... Ree7
{Ftacnik} 33. Ne5 Qxd4+ 34. Kh1 $16) 33. d5 exd5 (33... Bd6 34. dxe6 Bxg3 35.
f8=Q+ (35. exd7 $2 Qd4+ (35... Rf8 $2 36. d8=Q Rxd8 37. f8=Q+ Rxf8 38. Rxf8+
Kh7 39. Rxg3) 36. Kg2 Rf8 37. Rxg3 Qxe4+ $17) 35... Rxf8 36. Rxf8+ Kh7 37. exd7
Qd4+ 38. Kg2 Qxd7 39. Rxg3 $18) (33... Re7 {Ftacnik} 34. Ne5 $16) 34. e5 $16 {
Das weiЯe Ьbergewicht am Kцnigsflьgel muЯ die Partie entscheiden.} c5 (34...
Qc6 {Ftacnik} 35. Rxg5 Qh6 36. Rf6 Qh7 (36... gxf6 37. Rg8+ Kh7 38. Rh8+ $1)
37. h6 $18) 35. Rf3 $138 (35. Rxg5 $142 {Kramnik} c4 (35... Qd4+ 36. Kh2 Qe4
37. h6 Qh7 38. Qh3 g6 39. Nf4) 36. h6 g6 37. Rxg6 Qxd3 38. Rg8+ Kh7 39. Rh8+
Kxh8 40. Qg8#) 35... c4 36. Nf2 Qe1+ (36... Qc1+ {Kramnik} 37. Kg2 c3 (37...
Be7 38. e6 Rd6 39. Qe5 $18 {/\h5-h6}) 38. Rxg5 c2 39. h6 Qxg5 40. Qxg5 c1=Q 41.
hxg7+ Bxg7 42. Rh3+ Bh6 43. Rxh6#) 37. Kg2 Be7 (37... c3 {Kramnik} 38. Rxg5 c2
39. h6 c1=Q (39... g6 40. Rxg6 $18) 40. hxg7+ Bxg7 41. Qh3+ Bh6 42. Qxh6#) (
37... Re7 {Ftacnik} 38. Rxg5 Kh7 39. Rxg7+ $1 Bxg7 40. Qg6+ Kh8 41. h6 $18) 38.
Rxg5 $1 Bxg5 39. f8=Q+ {Und Schwarz muЯ aufgeben. Er verliert Material, und
der weiЯe Angriff geht weiter. Eine gute Angriffspartie von Kramnik.} (39.
f8=Q+ {Kramnik} Rxf8 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 41. Qxg5 (41. Qxg5 {Ftacnik} Qb1 42. e6 $18)
) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik.} Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. Bd3 (
7. b3 {Ftacnik} Bb7 8. Bb2 Bd6 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Rc8 11. Rad1 h6 12. Qe2 Re8
13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qh4 Nd7 17. Qh5 c5 18. Ne5 Qe7 19.
Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 {1-0 Franco,Z-Rodriguez Lopez,R/Mondariz (09)/1995 (30)}) 7...
Bb7 8. O-O Be7 (8... Bd6 {Ftacnik} 9. a3 O-O 10. b4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 b5 12. Bd3 a5
13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Ng5 axb4 15. Nce4 h6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Nh7 Nxh7 18. Bxh7+ Kh8
19. axb4 g6 20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Qxg6 Rf6 {0-1 Kecskes,G-Payen,A/Budapest FS08
IM-B (02)/1995 (26)}) (8... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 9. Re1 (9. Bd2 Be7 10. Rac1 Rc8 11.
Rfe1 O-O 12. e4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 e5 14. Qb3 h6 15. Bf1 exd4 16. Nb5 Qd8 17. Nbxd4
c5 18. Nf5 Nxe4 19. Nxh6+ gxh6 20. Bxh6 Bf6 {1-0 Lehtivaara,P-Pinski,J/Geneva
op (05) 1997 (40)}) 9... Be7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Rd8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Nxe4
14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Bxe4 Rhe8 16. c5 Kf8 17. Rad1 Nf6 18. Ne5 {0-1 Pavlovic,
Ma-Guidez,Y/Cappelle op (03) 1995 (38)}) 9. b3 (9. Rd1 {Ftacnik} O-O 10. b3 Qc7
11. Bb2 Rac8 12. Rac1 c5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Bf5 g6 15. Bh3 Rcd8 16. Ba3 Rfe8 17.
dxc5 bxc5 18. Na4 {1-0 Petkevich,J-Stromer,A/Cappelle op (03) 1995 (42)}) (9.
Ne5 {Ftacnik} O-O 10. e4 dxc4 11. Nxc4 b5 12. Ne3 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Be2 Qb6
15. Nf5 Bc5 16. Qd2 Ng6 17. e5 Ne8 18. Ne4 Bc8 19. Nxg7 Be3 20. Qxe3 Qxe3 21.
Bxe3 Kxg7 22. f4 {1-0 Burmakin,V-Strutinskaya,G/Omsk Russian Cup (01) 1996})
9... Rc8 (9... dxc4 $5 10. bxc4 c5 11. d5 $6 exd5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5
14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Bb2 Bc6 16. Be4 (16. Bxg7 Rg8 {/\ ...Bxf3}) 16... Bf6 {0-1
Zvjaginsev,V-Dreev,A/RUS-ch m5-8 1997 (45) WeiЯ hat nicht genьgend
Kompensation fьr den Bauern.}) (9... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Rad1 c5 12.
Ne5 cxd4 13. exd4 Rfd8 14. Qe2 dxc4 15. bxc4 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. Nb5 Qc6 18.
Qg4 Nc5 19. Nd6 Bxd6 20. exd6 g6 21. Bc2 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 Qxd6 {0-1 Luft,
A-Beikert,G/BL2-S 9596/1996 (41)}) (9... O-O {Ftacnik} 10. Ne5 Rc8 11. Bb2 Qc7
12. Rad1 Rfd8 13. f4 Nf8 14. f5 Bd6 15. e4 dxc4 16. Nxc4 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 b5 18.
e5 bxc4 19. Bxc4 Ng4 20. Qe2 h5 21. Ne4 c5 {1-0 Adla,D-Rodriguez Lopez,R/
Aceimar op 1995 (37)}) 10. Bb2 c5 (10... Qc7 11. Rac1 h6 12. Qe2 (12. e4 $5)
12... O-O 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 dxc4 15. bxc4 Qxe5 16. Nd5 Qd6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6
18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. c5 Qe7 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Qh4 Kg7 22. Qg3+ Kh8 23. Qh4 Kg7 24.
Qg4+ Kh8 25. Qh4 {1/2-1/2 Dao,T-Waitzkin,J/Budapest FS06 GM 1997}) 11. cxd5
cxd4 $2 $146 {'?' Ftacnik. Eine miЯglьckte Neuerung, die auf einer
Fehlkalkulation beruht.} (11... exd5 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Rac1 Re8 14. Bf5 g6 15.
Bh3 $14 Bf8 16. Qb1 Qe7 17. Rc2 a6 18. Na4 c4 19. Ne5 b5 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,
A-Dreev,A/EUCup f 1996/CBM 56 WeiЯ kann nun die Qualitдt gewinnen : Ftacnik:
'1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Dreev,A/EUCup f Budapest (03)/1996/'} 20. Nxd7 Nxd7 21.
Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Nb6 Qe6 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 {Schwarz hat wegen des schlechten Bb2 und
seines gedeckten Freibauern (den er mittels ...b4 und ...c3 weiter vorzurьcken
gedenkt) etwas Kompensation, trotzdem hдtte WeiЯ weiterspielen sollen.}) 12.
dxe6 {'!' Ftacnik.} (12. Nxd4 {Ftacnik} Nxd5 13. a3 h6 $11) 12... dxc3 13.
exd7+ Nxd7 (13... Qxd7 {Ftacnik} 14. Bf5 Qc6 15. Bxc8 cxb2 16. Qxc6+ Bxc6 17.
Rab1 $18) 14. Bxc3 Bb4 {Scheinbar hat WeiЯ nun Probleme auf der c-Linie.} (
14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 Bb4 16. Bc4 Bxc3 (16... Qg5+ {Ftacnik} 17. Kh1 Qh5 18. Qe4+
$18) 17. Qxc3 {fьhrt zur Partie.}) (14... Bf6 {Ftacnik} 15. Nd4 $16) 15. Bc4
Bxf3 16. gxf3 (16. Bxb4 $2 Qg5 17. g3 b5 $19) 16... Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qg5+ (17...
b5 {Ftacnik} 18. Qxg7 $18) 18. Kh1 b5 {Darauf hat Schwarz gehofft, aber ...} (
18... Qh5 19. Qxg7 Qxf3+ 20. Qg2 $18 (20. Kg1 $18 {Ftacnik})) 19. Qa5 $1 (19.
Qa5 Qf5 (19... Qh5 {Ftacnik} 20. Be2 $18) 20. Be2 $18 {erschien Ivanchuk gegen
einen Spieler wie Kramnik hoffnungslos, daher die frьhe Aufgabe.}) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Jussupow,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik Stohl} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 ({Stohl: Two
years ago in Dortmund Kramnik was successfull with} 5. Qc2 $5 {(wins against
Beliavsky and Short).} O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. Rd1 c5 $1 (8... g6 9. e3
c6 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nd7 12. h4 Bg7 13. a3 Qe7 14. Ba2 b6 15. Bb1 h5 16.
O-O Bb7 17. Ng5 Rfd8 18. Ba2 Nf6 19. e4 Ng4 20. e5 Rd7 21. Ne2 Rad8 22. Bxe6
fxe6 23. Qxg6 Nxe5 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Nf4 {1-0,Kramnik,V-Short,N/Dortmund/1995/})
9. dxc5 Qa5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qd2 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. bxc3 Na6 14. e3 Nxc5
15. Rxd5 b6 16. Rd4 Bb7 17. Bc4 Rac8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Rg1 Bh3 20. Ng6 Rfe8 21.
Nf4 Be6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Bxe6 Rxe6 $17 {San Segundo,P-Van der Sterren,P/
Linares zt/1995/}) 5... O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 {Stohl: The main move.
} (8. a3 {Stohl} Nc6 {Earlier Kramnik experimented with} 9. Rc1 (9. Be2 dxc4
10. Bxc4 Nh5 $1 (10... Qxd1+ $6 11. Rxd1 b6 12. e4 Bb7 13. e5 Ng4 14. Ne4 Rfd8
15. O-O Na5 16. Nxc5 Bxf3 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Nxe6 $1 Re8 19. Nc7 Rc8 20. e6
Nxc4 21. e7 Bc6 22. Rd1 Re8 23. Nxe8 Bxe8 24. Rd8 Nf6 25. Bg5 {1-0,Kramnik,
V-Yusupov,A/Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25'/1995/}) 11. Bg5 Be7 $11 {equalizes
reliably.}) 9... d4 $1 10. Nxd4 e5 11. Nb3 Bxa3 $1 12. bxa3 exf4 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
14. exf4 Be6 15. f3 b6 16. Kf2 Nd4 17. Nxd4 Rxd4 18. Ke3 Rd7 19. Be2 Re8 20.
Kf2 Rc8 $44 {Kramnik,V-Beliavsky,A/Belgrade/1993/}) 8... Nc6 9. a3 Bd7 {
Stohl: Yusupov's specialty, but it's dubious if this move is better than the
ordinary} (9... Qa5 {Stohl} {once he already played} 10. Nd2 ({Kramnik is no
fan of the sharp lines after} 10. O-O-O Be7 11. g4 (11. h4 $5)) 10... Bb4 (
10... Be7 $5) 11. cxd5 Nxd5 (11... exd5 $142) 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 h6 14. Rc1
Be7 15. O-O Be6 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Nc5 Rac8 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qe2 Bf6 20. Qh5 Ne7
21. b4 $36 {Kramnik,V-Huebner,R/BL/1993/}) 10. Rd1 (10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 (11.
Rd1 Be6 12. Be2 h6 (12... Rc8 $5 13. O-O Qe7 {-10.Rd1}) 13. O-O Qe7 14. Na4 $14
) 11... d4 $1 $10) 10... Rc8 11. Be2 {Stohl: The exchange on d5 gives Black
space and eases the defence:} (11. Bg5 Be7 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Rxd5
Qe7 (14... Ne7 15. Rd2 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qc7 17. Bd3 g6 18. O-O Qxc3 19. Bxg6 $1
Qg7 20. Qb1 Bh3 21. gxh3 Nxg6 22. Kh1 $16 {1-0 Forintos,G-Averkin,O/Hungary
1969 (37)}) 15. Bd3 g6 $44 16. O-O Be6 17. Rb5 Rfd8 18. Be4 a6 19. Rb6 Na5 20.
Qa4 Qc5 21. Rb4 Qc7 22. Nd4 Bc4 $17 {0-1 Browne,W-Christiansen,L/Jacksonville
ch-US m 1990 (37)}) (11. cxd5 exd5 12. Be2 (12. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 13. Rxd5 (13. Qxc5
Ncb4 $40) 13... Nb4 $1 $17) 12... Qe7 (12... Be7 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qb1 Be6 15.
Bd3 Na5 16. Be5 g6 17. Bd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yrjola,J-Dutreeuw,M/Debrecen EU-tch
FIN-BEL 1992 (42)}) (12... Be6 13. O-O Be7 (13... h6 14. Nxd5 $16 Nxd5 15. Qxc5
Nxf4 16. exf4 Qf6 17. Qb5) 14. Ng5 $14) 13. O-O Be6 14. Rd2 (14. Ne5 Bd6 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Rd2 Qe5 18. Qa4 Rc7 19. Rc1 Rb8 20. Bf3 $14 {
Van Der Sterren,P-Martens,M/Nederland ch 1993/1-0 (73)}) (14. Bg5 $5 Rfd8 15.
Qa4 {/\ Rd1-d2,Rf1-d1; Qa4-h4-> d5} (15. Rd2 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Rfd1 Ne7 $13)
15... h6 16. Bh4 a6 (16... g5 $5 17. Bg3 Bf5 $5) 17. Rd2 g5 $8 18. Bg3 (18.
Nxg5 $6 hxg5 19. Bxg5 Kg7 $17) 18... Bf5 19. Rfd1 Be4 (19... Qe6 $5 20. b4 Ba7
21. b5 $1 $14) 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Nd2 $5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Banguiev,
A-Jussupow,A/BL 1993 (31)} (22. Nd2 {Stohl} Bd6 $11 {Bangiev,A-Yusupov,A/BL/
1993/})) 14... Rfd8 15. Rfd1 h6 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bxd6 Rxd6 19. Bf3
Rcd8 20. Ne2 Ne4 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Nd4 Qg5 23. Nxe6 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Rxd2 25. Qxd2
fxe6 $14 {Martin-Dutreeuw/Haringey 1988/0-1 (68)}) 11... dxc4 (11... Be7 $5 {
Stohl}) (11... Be7 {Ftacnik} 12. cxd5 (12. O-O Na5 $6 13. Ne5 $16) 12... Nxd5
$5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qb3 Qa5+ $13) 12. O-O $5 {Stohl: Black's main problem in
this line is to escape from the dangerous X-ray on the d-file and find a good
square for his Q.} (12. Bxc4 Qa5 13. O-O Rfd8 14. e4 $5 (14. Ne4 Be7 15. Nd6
Bxd6 16. Bxd6 b5 17. Ba2 Nd4 18. Qd2 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Bc6 $10 {
Gelfand, Kapengut}) (14. Qb3 Bb6) (14. b4 Nxb4 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Ne4 b5) 14...
Nh5 15. Bc1 (15. Bg5 Be7 $1 $10 {/\} 16. Nd5 $2 exd5 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Bxe7 Rxc4
19. Bxd8 Qxd8 20. Qe2 Nxf3+ $17 {Gelfand, Kapengut}) 15... Qc7 $6 (15... Be7
$142 16. Qe2 $14 {Gelfand, Kapengut} (16. Qe2 {Stohl} Ne5 $5 $132)) 16. Nb5 Qb8
17. Bxe6 $1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Jussupow,A/Linares 1991 (59)} (17. Bxe6 $1 {
Ftacnik} Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 Bxe6 19. Rxd8+ Nxd8 20. Nxa7 {Gelfand,B-Yusupov,A/
Linares (11)/1991/1/2-1/2 (60)})) 12... a6 $2 {Stohl: Now Black gets under
strong pressure, which Kramnik will relentlessly increase.} (12... Be7 $142 13.
Bxc4 Qb6 (13... Qa5 14. Qb3 Rfd8 15. Qxb7 e5 16. Bg3 Rb8 17. Qa6 Qxa6 18. Bxa6
e4 19. Ne5 Rxb2 20. Rxd7 Rxd7 21. Nxc6 $16 {1/2-1/2 Portisch,L-Westerinen,H/
Nice ol 1974 (34)} (21. Nxc6 {Ftacnik} Bxa3 22. Ne5 Re7 23. Rd1 h5 {1/2-1/2
Portisch,L-Westerinen,H/Nice olm/1974 (35)})) (13... Nh5 14. Bd3 $5 g6 15. Bh6
$16) 14. Ng5 (14. Ba2 $5 Rfd8 15. Nd2 {/\ Nc4+/=}) 14... h6 (14... Rfd8 $6 15.
Nce4 $16) 15. Nge4 (15. Rxd7 $2 hxg5 $19) 15... Na5 (15... Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Na5 $5
17. Rxd7 $1 Rxc4 18. Qf3 Bf6 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Bb4 $14) 16. Nxf6+
Bxf6 17. Ba2 Bb5 (17... Bxc3 $5 18. Bb1 f5 $1 19. bxc3 Bb5 20. Rd6 $13) 18. Bb1
g6 19. Rd6 Qc5 20. Rxe6 Qc4 21. Nxb5 Qxc2 22. Bxc2 fxe6 23. Bxg6 Kg7 {1/2-1/2
Ruban,V-Geller,E/Sochi 1989}) (12... h6 $5 {Kramnik}) (12... Na5 $6 {Stohl} 13.
Ne5 (13. Bg5 Qc7 $5) 13... Qe7 14. Ne4 $40) 13. Bxc4 Nh5 {Stohl: Confirms,
that 12...a6?! was a loss of time.} (13... b5 {Stohl} 14. Bd3 Be7 15. Ne5 $36 (
15. Ne4 $5 $36)) (13... Be7 {Ftacnik} 14. Bd3 $14) 14. Ng5 (14. Bg5 {Ftacnik}
Be7) 14... g6 15. Nge4 $1 Be7 (15... Nxf4 $4 16. Rxd7 $1 $18 (16. Rxd7 $1 {
Ftacnik} Nh3+ 17. gxh3 Qh4 18. Nxc5 $18)) 16. Bd6 $6 {Stohl: White avoids all
the other tempting continuations} (16. Bh6 $142 Ng7 (16... Re8 $143 17. Nd6 $16
) 17. Be2 (17. Rd2 {Stohl} Ne5 18. Ba2 Qc7 $132 {[%cal Rf8d8] /\Rfd8}) 17...
Qc7 18. Bf4 $16 {Kramnik}) (16. Nd6 {Stohl} Rc7 17. Bh6 Ng7 $13 {and follows a
clear strategical plan, typical for this variation-play on the d-file,
utilizing the d6 outpost (all White's pieces, except the Q, will find their
way here!)}) 16... Bxd6 (16... f5 {Ftacnik} 17. Nc5 $18) 17. Rxd6 (17. Nxd6 {
Ftacnik} Rc7 18. Rd2 $14) 17... Nb8 $1 (17... Ne5 $5 18. Be2 f5 19. Bxh5 gxh5
20. Ng3 $14) (17... Qe7 $143 $6 {Stohl} 18. Be2 (18. Rxd7 $2 Qxd7 19. g4 Ne5
20. gxh5 f5 $1 $15) 18... f5 19. Bxh5 gxh5 20. Rfd1 $16 {[%csl Rf5,Rg8,Rh5,Rh7]
׻}) 18. Be2 Ng7 (18... Nf6 $143 {Stohl} 19. Rfd1 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Qc7 21. Qd4 {
[%csl Rf6,Rg7,Rh6][%cal Gd1d7] <->d,׻}) 19. Rd3 (19. Rd2 $14 {/\b4, Qb2
Kramnik}) (19. Rfd1 {Stohl} Ne8 20. R6d3 $36 {is similar to the game.}) 19...
Qe7 (19... f5 $2 {Ftacnik} 20. Nd6 $16) 20. Qd2 Bc6 (20... Rfd8 $2 {Stohl} 21.
Rd1 $18 {with a deadly pin, so Black must cede the d-file.}) 21. Rd1 Rc7 (21...
Bxe4 $5 {Stohl} 22. Nxe4 Rc7 23. Nd6 Nc6 24. f4 $5 $36) (21... Nf5 {Ftacnik}
22. Bg4 $14) 22. Nd6 Nd7 {/\Ne5,Nc5,Nf5} (22... Rd8 $2 {Stohl} 23. Nf5 $18) (
22... Rd7 $5 {Stohl} 23. e4 e5 {/\} 24. Bg4 f5) 23. e4 $1 Ne8 (23... Ne5 24.
Rh3 {/\Qh6} (24. Rd4 {[%cal Rf2f4,Re4e5] Stohl /\f4,e5()}) (24. Rd4 $14 {
Ftacnik})) (23... Nc5 {Stohl} 24. Rh3 {[%cal Rd2h6,Ye4e5] /\Qh6,e5}) (23... e5
$142 $5 {Stohl} 24. Nc4 Nf6 $14) 24. Nxe8 Rxe8 25. Rd6 Rec8 $2 $138 (25... Nf6
$142 {/\Rd7} 26. e5 (26. Qf4 Rd7 27. e5 Nd5 $11) 26... Ne4 $11) (25... Ne5 {
Ftacnik} 26. f4 $14) 26. Qf4 $1 $14 (26. f4 $5 $36 {Stohl}) 26... Qf6 $6 {
Stohl: Black to his own disadvantage consistently ignores the e6-e5 advance.
Now it was his last chance:} (26... Nf6 $142 {Kramnik}) (26... Nf8 $142 {
Kramnik}) (26... e5 $1 {Stohl} 27. Qe3 Nf6 {with a playable position.}) 27. Qg3
$16 Nf8 {Stohl: Passive, but Black must take care of tactics:} (27... Qe5 $4
28. Rxd7 Qxg3 29. Rd8+ $18) (27... Qg7 $2 {Stohl} 28. Rxc6 $1 bxc6 29. Bxa6 {
costs a pawn.}) 28. h4 $1 Rd7 $6 (28... b5 $142 $16) 29. e5 {Stohl: Crowns
White's strategy.} Qg7 30. Bf3 $1 {[%csl Ge4]} Rxd6 $6 (30... Bxf3 $142 31.
Qxf3 Rdc7 $16 (31... Rcc7 {Stohl} 32. Ne4 $16) (31... Rdc7 {Ftacnik} 32. Qe4
Rc6 33. g3 $14)) (30... Rdc7 {Stohl} 31. Bxc6 Rxc6 32. Rd8 $1 {[%cal Rc3e4,
Re4f6] /\Ne4-f6-> paralyzes Black completely.} (32. Ne4 $143 Rxd6 33. exd6 Nd7)
) 31. exd6 Nd7 32. Bxc6 Rxc6 (32... bxc6 {Ftacnik} 33. Qd3 $16) 33. Qg5 $1 Qf8
(33... f6 34. Qe3 $1 Qf7 (34... e5 {Ftacnik} 35. Ne4 $14) 35. Qa7 $18 (35. Ne4
$16 {Stohl}) (35. Qa7 Nb6 $2 36. Qxb6 $1 Rxb6 37. d7 $18)) 34. Qe7 $18 {
Stohl: The decisive penetration. Kramnik now prepares an invasion by his R.}
Qc8 (34... Qxe7 {Ftacnik} 35. dxe7 Nf6 36. Ne4 $18) 35. Rd4 {/\Ne4,Qd7!} (35.
h5 $1 $18) (35. Ne4 $143 $2 {Stohl} Rc1 $132) 35... Rc5 (35... h6 {Ftacnik} 36.
h5 $40) 36. Ne4 Rf5 (36... Rc1+ {Ftacnik} 37. Kh2 e5 38. Rb4 Kh8 39. Ng5 $18)
37. Kh2 h5 $6 (37... Qc6 $142 $16) 38. f3 {Stohl: Useful prophylaxis before
taking the R to the c-file.} Qc6 (38... Kg7 {Ftacnik} 39. b3 b5 40. Rd3 $16)
39. Rd3 $1 Kg7 (39... Qb5 $142 40. Rc3 $40) (39... Rd5 {Ftacnik} 40. Rc3 Qb5
41. Rc8+ (41. Qxd7 Qxd7 42. Nf6+ Kg7 43. Nxd7 Rxd6 44. Rc7 $18) 41... Kg7 42.
Qd8 $18) 40. Rc3 Qb5 41. Rc8 $18 {/\Qd8-h8# /\Qe8(d8)->} Qxb2 (41... Qe5+ {
Stohl} 42. Kh1 (42. Kh3 {Ftacnik} Rf4 43. Qd8 Kh6 44. Ng5 $18) 42... Rf4 (42...
Qf4 43. Qd8) 43. Rd8 $18) 42. Qxd7 (42. Qd8 {Stohl} Kh6 43. Nc3 $1 Nf6 44. Qf8+
$18) 42... Rxf3 43. Qd8 Qe5+ 44. g3 (44. Kg1 {Ftacnik} Qd4+) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Nbxd2 Nf6 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Qe7 (
7... Nbd7 $5 8. O-O c5 (8... Qe7 9. Qc2 b6 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. e4 Nb4 12. Qc3 (
12. Qxc7 Ba6 13. Rfc1 Rfc8 14. Qf4 Rxc1+ 15. Rxc1 Nd3 $17) 12... c5 13. a3 Na6
14. dxc5 bxc5 (14... Naxc5 15. b4 $14) 15. Nc4 $14 {1-0 Capablanca,J-Marshall,
F/New York exh 1927 (34)}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne4 Qb6 11. Rc1 Qxb2 12. Rc2 Qb4
13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. dxc5 Bd7 $10 {Nikolic,P-Yudasin,L/Tilburg/1993/0,5/25/}) 8.
O-O b6 (8... Rd8 9. Qc2 c6 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Rac1 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5
14. Nf3 Qh5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Nd4 Bh3 17. Bxh3 Qxh3 18. Qf5 {1/2-1/2
Todorcevic,M-Garcia Padron,J/Las Palmas-B 1993}) (8... c6) 9. Rc1 Bb7 10. Ne5
$1 $14 (10. Qb3 Rd8 11. Rfe1 (11. c5 c6 12. Ne5 (12. cxb6 axb6 13. Qxb6 Rxa2
14. Ra1 Ra6 15. Rxa6 Bxa6 16. Re1 Nfd7 17. Qa5 c5 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 cxd4 20.
Nxd4 Nf6 $11) 12... Nfd7 13. Ndf3 Ba6 $11) 11... Nbd7 12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. Qc2 c5
$11 {0-1 Voiska,M-Ashlanian,L/EU-chTW Debrecen BLG-ARM 1992 (40)}) (10. cxd5 $5
exd5 (10... Nxd5 11. e4 Nb4 12. Qb3 $14) (10... Bxd5 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. e4 Bb7 13.
e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Nd7 15. Neg5 Nf8 16. Rfd1 c5 $11 {Tsesarsky}) 11. Qa4 a5 (11...
c5 $5 $132) (11... Qxe2 $2 12. Rxc7 Qa6 13. Qxa6 Bxa6 14. Rfc1 $16) (11... c6
12. Rfe1 Nbd7) 12. Rfe1 $5 c6 (12... Na6 13. Ne5 c5 14. Qb5 $16) 13. e4 $5 Nxe4
(13... dxe4 14. Ne5 Qb4 15. Qxb4 axb4 16. Ra1 c5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Nec4 Rd8 19.
Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Nc6 $10) 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Ne5 f6 $2 {1-0
Salov,V-Sokolov,I/Amsterdam Donner mem 1996 (27)} (15... Qb4 $5 $8 16. Qc2 f5
17. a3 $140 Qxd4 18. Qb3+ Qd5 19. Qxb6 Nd7 $1 $15)) 10... Nbd7 $6 {It is
easier for Black play c7-c5 without change Ne5} (10... Rd8 $142 $5 11. Qc2 (11.
cxd5 exd5 12. Qa4 c5 13. e3) (11. Nd3 c6 12. c5 (12. cxd5 exd5 13. e3 Nbd7 $11)
12... Nbd7 13. b4 Ba6 14. Nf3 bxc5 15. bxc5 (15. Nxc5 Nxc5 16. Rxc5 Ne4 17.
Rxc6 Bb7 18. Rc1 Qxb4 19. Rb1 Qe7 20. Qb3 Ba6 $11) 15... Rab8 16. Nde5 Nxe5 17.
Nxe5 Qc7 $11) (11. Qa4 c5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e3 a6 (13... Nbd7 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15.
Qxc6 $14 Rdc8 16. Qa4 (16. Qb7 Rcb8 17. Qa6 Re8 18. Nb3 (18. Rfd1 cxd4 19. exd4
Qb4 20. Nb3 $14) 18... c4 19. Nd2 Qb4 20. Rc2 Rac8 21. a3 $14) 16... a6 17.
dxc5 bxc5 18. Rfd1 $14) (13... Nfd7 14. Nd3 a6 $2 (14... c4 $2 15. Nxc4 dxc4
16. Bxb7 cxd3 17. Bxa8 $18) (14... a5 15. Rfd1 Na6 16. dxc5 Naxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5
(17... bxc5 18. Nb3 $16) 18. Qd4 $14) (14... Na6 15. Rfd1 $14 (15. Bxd5 Bxd5
16. Qxa6 cxd4 17. exd4 Qe2 18. Nb4 Qxd2 19. Nxd5 Qxb2 (19... Qxd4 20. Ne7+ Kh8
21. Nc6 Nb8 22. Nxb8 Rdxb8 23. Rc7 Qxb2 24. Rxf7 $14) 20. Rfd1 $14)) 15. Qa3
$16) 14. Qb3 $1 $14) 11... c5 12. cxd5 exd5 $132) (10... c5 11. cxd5 exd5 (
11... Bxd5 12. e4 Bb7 (12... Bxa2 13. Qa4 $18) 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Qc2 $14) 12.
e3 Rc8 (12... Nbd7 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 (13... Qxd7 14. dxc5 $16) 14. dxc5 bxc5 15.
Nb3 Rfd8 16. Na5 (16. Bxd5 Nb6 17. e4 Nxd5 18. exd5 Rxd5 $11) 16... Rab8 17.
Nxb7 Rxb7 18. Qxd5 Rxb2 19. Rfd1 $16) 13. Qa4 Nc6 14. Ndf3 Ne4 (14... Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 Qe6 16. Rfd1 a6 17. dxc5 $1 Qxe5 (17... bxc5 18. Nd3 $14) 18. c6 Bxc6 19.
Rxc6 Qxb2 20. Rxc8+ Rxc8 21. Qxa6 Qc2 22. Rf1 $14) 15. Rfd1 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 a6
17. Qb3 Qe6 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. dxc5 $14) 11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. Qc2 (
12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nf3 c6 $14 {(=)}) 12... Rac8 (12... Rad8 13. c5 Ba6 14. c6
Qd6 15. Rfe1 $14) 13. c5 c6 $6 (13... bxc5 $1 14. dxc5 $1 (14. Qxc5 Qa4 $1 15.
Rfd1 (15. Nc4 $6 Ba6 (15... Qxa2 16. Ra1 Qxc4 17. Qxc4 dxc4 18. Bxb7 Rcd8 19.
Rfd1 $14) 16. b3 (16. Ne5 Bxe2 17. Rfe1 Bh5 $15) 16... Qxa2 17. Ra1 Qxb3 18.
Rxa6 Nd7 19. Qc6 Nb8 20. Qa4 dxc4 21. Rxa7 c5 $15) (15. a3 Nd7 16. Qb4 (16. Qc3
c5) 16... Qxb4 17. axb4 c6 (17... Ba6 18. Ra1 (18. Rfe1 Bb5 19. Nb3 c6 20. Na5
(20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. bxc5 Rb8 $11) 20... e5 $2 (20... Rc7 21. e4 (21. Rc2 Nb8 22.
Rec1 Rfc8 23. e4 Bd3 $1) 21... dxe4 22. Bxe4 Nb8 23. d5 exd5 24. Bxd5 Rd8 25.
Bf3 $11) 21. e3 Rfe8 22. Bh3 Rc7 23. Bxd7 Rxd7 24. dxe5 Rc7 (24... Re6 25. f4
$16 (25. Rc5 Rxe5 26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27. Rxc6 $16)) 25. f4 Re6 26. Rc5 Rce7 27. Rec1
f6 28. Nxc6 Bxc6 29. Rxc6 fxe5 30. Rxe6 Rxe6 31. Rc8+ Kf7 32. Rc7+ Kf6 (32...
Re7 33. Rxe7+ Kxe7 34. Kf2 Kd6 35. Ke2 $18) 33. Rxa7 Rb6 34. fxe5+ $16) 18...
Bxe2 19. Rfe1 Bb5 20. Rxa7 Nb6 $132)) 15... Nd7 16. Qc3 c5 $11) 14... c6 (14...
Ba6 15. Nf3 (15. Rfe1 Rb8 16. e4 d4 (16... dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 $14) 17.
e5 (17. c6 Qc8 18. e5 d3 19. Qc5 (19. Qc3 Nd5 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Nb3 Rb6 (21...
Qe6 22. Nd4 Qh6 23. Re3 Rfe8 24. Rce1 $14) 22. Nd4 Re8 23. Re3 Qh3 24. Rce1
Reb8 25. b3 $14) 19... Rb5 20. Qxa7 Rxb2 21. exf6 Rxd2 22. fxg7 Rd8 $15) 17...
d3) 15... Rb8 16. Rfd1 Qb5 17. Rd2 Qa5 (17... Ne4 18. Nd4 $1) 18. b3 Ne4 19.
Rdd1 Rb5 $15) 15. e4 $14) 14. Qa4 Ba8 (14... b5 15. Qa5 $16) 15. e4 $1 $16 dxe4
16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rfd8 (17... b5 $5 18. Qc2 (18. Qd1 Rfd8) 18... f5 (18...
Qxd4 19. Bxh7+ $16 {[%csl Ra8]}) 19. Bg2 Qxd4 20. Rfd1 Qf6 21. Rd6 $16) 18.
Rfd1 Qc7 19. b4 g6 {[%csl Rf6,Rh6]} (19... e5 20. Bf5 (20. cxb6 axb6 21. d5 c5
22. d6 $1 Qb8 (22... Rxd6 23. Bxa8 $18) (22... Qd7 23. Qxd7 Rxd7 24. Bf5 $18)
23. d7 Bxe4 (23... Rc7 24. Qxa8 $18) 24. dxc8=Q $18) 20... Rb8 21. cxb6 axb6
22. d5 g6 23. Be4 f5 24. Bg2 e4 25. dxc6 $1 $16) (19... h6 $5) 20. Qa3 Qe7 21.
Qf3 b5 (21... Kg7 22. h4 $16) 22. a4 $1 bxa4 (22... a6 23. Ra1 $16) 23. Ra1 a6
24. Rxa4 Bb7 25. Ra2 Rc7 26. Rad2 Kg7 27. Qf4 Rcd7 28. Qe5+ Qf6 (28... f6 29.
Qf4 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6,Re6]} Rxd4 $140 $2 30. Rxd4 Rxd4 31. Rxd4 e5 32. Bxc6 $3
exf4 (32... Bxc6 33. Qe3 $18) 33. Rd7 Qxd7 34. Bxd7 $18) 29. f4 h5 (29... Qxe5
30. fxe5 f6 31. exf6+ Kxf6 32. Kf2 $16) 30. Kf2 h4 $6 (30... Rh8 $142 31. h3
Rh7 32. Kg2 Rh8 33. g4 hxg4 34. hxg4 Rdd8 35. Qxf6+ Kxf6 36. g5+ Ke7 37. Rh1 (
37. Ra1 Rh4 38. Kg3 Rdh8 39. Bg2 f6 $132) 37... Rxh1 38. Kxh1 Rb8 (38... Rh8+
39. Kg2 $16 (39. Rh2 Rd8 40. Rd2)) 39. Kg2 Ba8 40. Ra2 (40. Rb2 a5 41. b5 cxb5
42. Bxa8 Rxa8 43. Rxb5 a4 $15) 40... Rxb4 41. Rxa6 Rb8 42. Ra7+ $16) 31. Ke3
hxg3 32. hxg3 Ba8 $6 (32... Rh8 $142) 33. Rh2 Qxe5 34. fxe5 Kf8 35. Rf1 $1 $18
(35. Rh8+ Kg7 36. Rxd8 Rxd8 37. Ra1 Bb7 38. Bd3 Ra8 $16) 35... Rxd4 (35... Kg7
36. Rfh1 Rxd4 37. Rh7+ Kf8 38. Bxg6 Rxb4 39. Rxf7+ Kg8 40. Rc7 Rb3+ 41. Kf4
Rd4+ 42. Be4 Bb7 (42... Rbb4 43. Rc8+ Kg7 44. Rh7#) 43. Rch7 $18) 36. Rh7 R8d7
(36... Rxb4 37. Rfxf7+ Kg8 38. Rhg7+ Kh8 39. Rxg6 Rb3+ 40. Kf4 Re8 41. Rh6+ Kg8
42. Rfh7 $18) 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Rxa8 Rxb4 39. Bxc6 Rb3+ 40. Kf2 Rd2+ 41. Ke1 1-0

[Event "WDR Match TV g/60"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1997.08.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Kh1 Nbd7 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. Nb3 a5 13. Qd2 a4 14. Be3 c5 15. Nc1
Ne5 16. Rb1 Be6 17. b3 axb3 18. axb3 Qa5 19. Rd1 Red8 20. Nb5 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 Ne8
22. Na2 f5 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. Rbd1 Nc6 25. g4 Be6 26. Nac3 Na5 27. Rb1 b6 28.
Kg2 h6 29. Bd3 g5 30. Be4 Bxc3 31. Nxc3 Rac8 32. h4 gxh4 33. Bxh6 Nc7 34. Bg5
Rd7 35. Bxh4 b5 36. Nd5 Nxd5 37. cxd5 Bf7 38. Bf5 Rcc7 39. Bf6 Kf8 40. Ra2 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.09.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shaked, Tal"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Winants,L"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. g3
(8. Qc2) 8... Nxc3 9. Nxc3 (9. bxc3 $2 Qd5 10. Rg1 c5 {Antoshin,W-Polugaevsky,
L/Moscow 1960}) 9... c5 10. d5 (10. dxc5 Bxc5 (10... Qxd1+ 11. Nxd1 Bxc5 12.
Bg2 (12. b4 Be7 13. Bb2 Bd7 14. Bg2 Bc6 15. Rg1 Bxg2 16. Rxg2 Rc8 {Partos,
C-Stean,M/Biel 1981}) 12... Be7 13. Bd2 (13. b4 a5 14. b5 {1/2-1/2 Szabo,
L-Taimanov,M/Reykjavik 1968}) 13... Nd7 14. b4 Rb8 15. Nb2 b6 16. O-O Bf6 17.
Rab1 Ba6 18. Rfc1 Rbc8 19. Nd1 Bd3 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Rc1 Rc2 22. Rxc2 Bxc2 23.
Nc3 Ne5 24. Nb5 Nc4 25. Bc1 a6 26. Nd4 Bd3 27. Nb3 Kf8 28. Bf1 Bxf1 29. Kxf1
Ke7 30. Ke2 Kd6 31. e4 Kc6 32. a4 b5 33. Nd2 Nxd2 34. axb5+ Kxb5 35. Bxd2 Kc4
36. Kd1 Bc3 37. Bc1 Kb3 38. Bf4 Bxb4 39. Kc1 Bc3 40. Bd6 a5 {0-1 Bagirov,
V-Krogius,N/URS-ch27 Leningrad 1960}) 11. b4 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Be7 13. Bb2 Nc6 14.
Kc2 b6 15. Rd1 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Nxd8 17. Bg2 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. Kb3 Nd6 20. Rc1
Rc8 21. a4 a6 22. b5 axb5 23. Nxb5 Rxc1 24. Bxc1 Ne4 25. Ba3 Kf8 26. Na7 Nd2+
27. Kc2 Nc4 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Tal,M/tr 1980}) 10... Bf6 $146 {[#]} (10...
exd5 11. Nxd5 Be6 12. Bg2 Nc6 (12... Qd7 13. O-O Rd8 14. e4 Nc6 15. Be3 {
Guliev,S-Balashov,Y/St.Petersburg op 1994/1/2-1/2 (65)}) 13. O-O Qd7 14. e4
Bxd5 15. exd5 Nd4 16. b4 {1/2-1/2 Dzindzichashvili,R-Polugaevsky,L/Reykjavik
Summit 1990}) 11. Bg2 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 exd5 13. Qxd5 (13. Bxd5 $142 Bh3 $5 (13...
Qe7) 14. Bxb7 (14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Qxh3 Qd3 $44) 14... Nd7 15. Qh5
$1 (15. Bxa8 Qxa8 16. f3 Ne5 17. Kf2 Rd8 18. Qe2 Ng4+ (18... Bg4 19. Rd1 Bxf3
20. Rxd8+ Qxd8) 19. Ke1 Ne5 20. Kf2 Ng4+ $11) 15... Rb8 (15... Qf6 16. Bd2 Rab8
17. Be4 $16) 16. Qxh3 (16. Be4 Nf6 17. Bxh7+ Nxh7 18. Qxh3 Qd3) (16. Bf3 Qf6
17. Bd2 $13) 16... Rxb7 17. O-O Qf6 $44) 13... Qe7 14. Rb1 $2 (14. O-O Nc6)
14... Nc6 (14... Rd8 15. Qh5 (15. Rxb7 Bxb7 16. Qxb7 Nd7)) 15. O-O Be6 16. Qh5
Rad8 $17 {[%csl Ra3,Yb3,Rc3,Yc4,Yd3][%cal Gd8d1] >< <<} 17. e4 Ba2 $1 {[%csl
Gc4,Gd3][%cal Yc6e5]} 18. Ra1 (18. Rb2 Bc4 19. Re1 Ne5) 18... Bc4 19. Re1 Ne5
20. Be3 g6 21. Qh4 (21. Qh6 Ng4 22. Qg5 Qxg5 23. Bxg5 f6 24. Bf4 g5 25. Bc1 Ne5
) 21... Qxh4 22. gxh4 b6 {[%csl Ga7,Gb6,Gc5,Ye3]} 23. Bh6 Rfe8 24. h3 $2 (24.
Bg5 $142 Rd3 25. Re3 (25. Bf6 Ng4 26. Bg5 f6) 25... Kg7 26. Rxd3 Nxd3 27. Be3
$17) 24... f6 25. Rad1 (25. f4 $2 Nf7 $19) 25... Bb5 {[%csl Ra3][%cal Ye5c4]}
26. Rxd8 $6 {<-> -d-} (26. Bc1 Nd3) 26... Rxd8 27. Kh2 Bc6 28. Kg3 Rd3+ 29. Re3
Rd1 $19 30. Re2 Ra1 31. Rd2 Nf7 {[%csl Ra3,Rc3,Gd6,Gd7,Gd8]} 32. Be3 Rxa3 33.
Rc2 Ne5 34. f3 Ba4 35. Rc1 Nd3 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.09.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Winants Ftacnik Huzman} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6.
Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 (10... Nf4 $6 {Ftacnik} 11.
Bf1) 11. Ng5 Nf4 (11... Nf6 {Huzman} 12. Bf3 (12. f3 $14 {Ftacnik}) 12... Kh8 (
12... c6 13. Be3 h6 (13... cxd5 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bc2 e4 20. Rc1 d4 21. Bd2 e3 22. fxe3 d3 23. Bb3 Qd6 24.
Qg4 Be5 25. Rf1 Bxh2+ 26. Kh1 Qg3 27. Qd4 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/Linares/1997/
(37)}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 g5 16. h3 f4 17. Bc1 Ng6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Qe7
20. Rb1 Rfe8 21. Qb3 Rab8 22. Ba3 Nh4 23. Be2 f3 24. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qxe6
26. Qxe6+ Rxe6 27. Rb3 {Kramnik,V-Piket,J/Amber-blind6th 1997/EXP 57/1/2-1/2 
(66)}) 13. Bb2 a5 14. b5 Rb8 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Ne8 17. Qb3 c5 18. exf5 gxf5
19. Bh5 Nc7 20. Bf7 Qc8 21. Nd5 Ncxd5 22. cxd5 f4 23. Bh5 b6 24. Rad1 Rf5 25.
Bf3 Qg8 26. Be4 {Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/Vienna Millenium 1996/CBM 55/[Hazai]/1-0 
(44)}) 12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Rc1 Bf6 (13... fxe4 {Huzman} 14. Ncxe4 Nf5 (14... Re8
{Ftacnik}) (14... a5 {Ftacnik} 15. bxa5 h6 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 Rxa5 18. Qb3
b6 19. Nc3 f3 20. Bxf3 Rxf3 21. gxf3 Rg5+ 22. Kh1 Be5 23. Ne4 Rh5 24. Ng3 Rh4
25. Re4 {1-0 Kuemin,S-Pilaj,H/EU-chJM U16 Tallinn 1997 (39)}) 15. c5 (15. Bg4 {
Ftacnik}) 15... Nd4 (15... h6 {Ftacnik} 16. cxd6 $1 Nxd6 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Ne4
Qb6 19. Bg4 $14) 16. cxd6 cxd6 17. Bg4 (17. Bc4 {Ftacnik} f3 $1 $13) 17... Bxg4
(17... f3 $13 {Ftacnik}) 18. Qxg4 Rf5 19. Ne6 Nxe6 20. dxe6 Qe7 21. h4 d5 22.
Ng5 Qxb4 23. e7 Re8 24. Rb1 Qc3 25. Re6 Bf6 26. Rxb7 Bxg5 27. Rxa7 Kf7 28. Raa6
Rxe7 {0-1 Dumitrache,D-Kupreichik,V/Erevan olm 1996/EXT 96ch2}) (13... c6 {
Huzman} 14. exf5 Nxf5 15. Nce4 h6 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 Qe7 18. Bg4 Nd4 19. Nd2
a5 20. b5 cxb5 21. cxb5 Nxb5 22. Nc4 Ra6 23. Qd3 Kh7 24. h4 Qxh4 25. e7 Qxg4
26. exf8=Q Bxf8 27. Rb1 f3 28. Ne3 {Malakhatko,V-Ho,A/WchJM U20 1997/EXP 59/
1-0 (39)}) (13... a5 {Huzman} 14. b5 Bf6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Bxc3 17. Rxc3
fxe4 18. Bg4 Nf5 19. Rxe4 Qf6 20. Rc1 Ne7 21. b6 h5 22. Bf3 cxb6 23. Qxd6 Nc6
24. Rce1 Rac8 25. h3 Kh7 26. Qd2 Rcd8 27. Qc1 Rd4 28. R4e2 Qe7 29. Qb1 Rd6 30.
Bxh5 Rf6 31. Bg4 Nd4 32. Rb2 f3 33. Rxb6 fxg2 34. Rxb7 {1-0 Tukmakov,V-Rupp,M/
Portoroz 1996/EXP 51}) (13... Kh8 {Huzman} 14. Bf3 (14. Ne6 $6 {Ftacnik} Bxe6
15. dxe6 Be5 (15... c6 16. Bf3 Be5 {- 15...Be5}) 16. Bf3 c6 17. Qb3 $6 (17. b5
$13) 17... fxe4 $1 18. Nxe4 {/\ Ng5} Nf5 19. Nc5 Nd4 (19... Qc7) 20. Qd3 Re8 $2
(20... Qc7 $1 $15 21. Nd7 Rfe8) 21. Nxb7 $16 {1-0 Sokolov,I-Wiersma,E/
Nederland (ch) 1995 (42)}) 14... Be5 (14... a5 15. b5 {/\ Ne6}) 15. c5 h6 (
15... dxc5 16. bxc5 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 Nxd5 18. exd5 Qxg5 19. d6 $16) (15... Rb8 16.
Nb5 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Nf5 18. Nf3 Bg7 19. cxd6 cxd6 20. Nc7 Qf6 21. Bxf5 Bxf5 22.
Ne6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 Qe7 24. h4 {1-0 Shariyazdanov,A-Varitski,I/Pardubice op/1996
(29)}) 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 fxe4 (17... dxc5 18. bxc5 Qxd1 19. Rexd1 $14) 18.
Nxe4 Nf5 (18... d5 19. Nc3 Bxc3 20. Rxc3 $16) 19. cxd6 cxd6 (19... Nxd6 20.
Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Qe2 $16) 20. Nc5 dxc5 21. Qxd8 Raxd8 22. Rxe5 Rfe8 23. bxc5 Re7
24. Kf1 Nd4 25. Rd1 Kg7 26. Bxb7 Kf6 27. Rd5 Rxd5 28. Bxd5 Nxe6 29. Bxe6 Rxe6
30. Rc1 Rc6 31. Ke2 Ke5 32. Kf3 Kf5 33. Rc4 g5 34. g3 fxg3 35. hxg3 h5 36. g4+
hxg4+ 37. Kg3 a5 38. a4 {1-0 Vera,R-Diaz,J/CUB-ch 1996/EXT 96ch2}) (13... Nc6 {
Ftacnik} 14. dxc6 Qxg5 15. exf5 bxc6 16. Bf3 $16) (13... Bh6 {Ftacnik} 14. Ne6
Bxe6 15. dxe6 f3 16. Bxf3 Bxc1 17. Qxc1 $44 {|^ Kupreichik,V}) (13... h6 {
Ftacnik} 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nc6 17. b5 (17. Bf1 Qe7 18. b5 Nd4
19. Nc3 c6 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Re4 Qf6 22. Ne2 Nxe2+ 23. Bxe2 Qe7 24. Bf3 {
Mikanovic,G-Ibrahim,A/Quebec op 1997/1-0 (53)}) 17... Nd4 18. Bf3 Re8 19. Nc3
c6 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Qd3 Qf6 22. Re4 Rxe6 23. Rxd4 Qxd4 24. Qxd4 Bxd4 25. Bxc6
Rb8 26. Bd5 Bxc3 27. Bxe6+ Kg7 28. Kf1 Ba5 29. Rc2 Rb1+ {0-1 Gulko,B-Comp
Ferret/Internet m rapid 1996}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 fxe4 17. Bf1
(17. Bg4 {Huzman} Nc6 (17... d5 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. e7 $1 Nxe7 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.
Rxc7 Nd5 22. Rxb7 $16) 18. Rxe4 Ne5 19. c5 Qe7 {[%csl Ye5,Re6][%cal Yf8f6]}) (
17. Qd4 $14 {Ftacnik |^}) 17... e3 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Rxe4 $36 {/\h2-h4-h5}) (
17... d5 {Winants} 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. Bc4 $1 $16) 18. fxe3 fxe3 (18... c6 {
Huzman} 19. exf4 (19. Qd2 f3) 19... Rxf4 20. Qd2 Qb6+ 21. c5 $1 Qxb4 22. cxd6
Nd5 23. e7 $1 Nxc3 24. d7 Qc5+ 25. Re3 $18) (18... a5 {Ftacnik} 19. b5 c6 20.
bxc6 bxc6 21. Kh1 Qc7 22. Rd3 Rad8 23. exf4 Rxf4 24. Rd4 d5 25. cxd5 Rxd5 26.
Rxd5 cxd5 27. Qd2 {1/2-1/2 Browne,W-Fedorowicz,J/USA-ch Chandler G1 1997 (36)})
19. Rcxe3 c6 {/\20... a5 21.b5 c:b5 22.c:b5 Qb6<=>/^f} (19... Rf6) (19... a5 {
Ftacnik} 20. b5 c6 $14) 20. Qd2 $1 {/\Rh3,Qh6} d5 (20... a5 21. Rh3 Qc7 (21...
Qb6+ $2 22. c5 Qxb4 23. Qh6) 22. g4 $5 {/\Qd2-h6}) (20... Rf6 21. Rh3 Qf8 (
21... h5) 22. Qxd6 Rd8 23. Qc5 Rd2 24. Qxa7 $16) 21. cxd5 (21. Rh3 $6 dxc4 22.
Qh6 Qd4+ 23. Kh1 Qg7) 21... cxd5 {/\ ...Qd6, ...Rf4, ...Raf8} (21... Qd6 $5 {
Huzman} 22. Qd4 {[%cal Gd4c5]} Nf5 23. Qe5 Qxb4 (23... Qxd5 24. e7 Rfe8 25. Re4
$16) 24. Rb3 Qc5+ 25. Kh1 $14) (21... Qxd5 {Huzman} 22. Rd3 $16 {[%cal Gd3d7]})
22. Qd4 $3 {Ftacnik: Very important move in the attack, white queen controls
the whole board. Ftacnik: Ein sehr wichtiger Zug im Angriff, die Dame
kontroliert das ganze Brett.} (22. Rh3 $2 Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Qxe6 $1 24. Rhe3 Qf7)
22... Qd6 (22... Nf5 $2 23. Qe5 Qb6 (23... Qe7 $1 $16) (23... Qe7 {Huzman} 24.
Rd3 $16 (24. Rd3 {Ftacnik} d4 25. g4 Nh4 26. Bg2 $14)) (23... Nxe3 $2 24. e7
$18 (24. e7 {Winants} Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Qd7 26. Rf8+ $1 Rxf8 27. Qh8+ $3 $18)) 24.
e7 $1 Rfe8 25. Qxd5+ Kg7 26. Qe5+ $18) (22... Qb6 23. Qc5 $1 (23. Qxb6 {Huzman}
axb6 24. a3 Rac8 25. Bb5 $16) 23... Qxc5 24. bxc5) 23. Qc5 Qf4 $2 (23... Qxc5
24. bxc5 Rfc8 (24... b6 $5 25. cxb6 axb6 26. a3 $14) 25. Rb1 (25. Rb3 {Huzman}
b6 (25... Rab8 26. Reb1 Kg7 27. Rf3 (27. Rxb7 Rxb7 28. Rxb7 Kf6 29. Rxa7 Rxc5
$14 {/=}) 27... Nf5 (27... Rf8 28. Rxf8 Kxf8 29. Ba6 $16) 28. g4 Nd4 (28... Nh6
29. g5 Nf5 30. Rfb3 Rc7 {[%cal Yf5d4]} 31. Ba6 (31. Rb4 {[%cal Gf1g2,Gf1a6]}
Kf8 32. Bg2) (31. Bg2 Nd4 32. Re3 Rxc5 33. e7 Re8 34. Rxb7 Rc1+ 35. Kf2 Rc2+
36. Kf1 Nf5 37. Re6 Rc1+ 38. Kf2 Rc2+ $11) 31... Nd4 32. Rxb7 Rbxb7 33. Rxb7
Nxe6 34. Rxc7+ Nxc7 35. Bc8 Kf7 36. Kf2 $16 Ne6 $140 37. Bxe6+ Kxe6 38. Ke3 Ke5
39. Kd3 $22 $18) 29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. Rbxb7 Rxb7 31. Rxb7 Nxe6 32. Rxa7 $14) (25...
Rc7 {Winants} 26. Reb1 b6 (26... Rb8 27. Ba6) 27. cxb6 axb6 28. a3 $14 {
[%csl Rb6][%cal Yf1b5,Yb5d7] /\ Bb5-d7, a4 (>< Pb6)}) 26. cxb6 axb6 27. Rxb6
Rxa2 28. Rb7 Kf8 29. Re3 $14) 25... Rab8 $14 (25... Rab8 26. Ra3 Rxc5 27. Rxa7
Rc7)) 24. Rf3 (24. Qxe7 $4 {Winants} Qf2+ 25. Kh1 Qxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Rxf1#) 24...
Qg5 {[#]} (24... Qh4 {Huzman} 25. g3 $16) (24... Qd2 {Huzman} 25. Re2 Qg5 26.
Ref2 $16 {[%cal Gf3f7]}) 25. Rf7 $1 (25. Rxf8+ Rxf8 26. Qxa7 Qd2 $1 27. Qe3
Qxb4 $11) 25... Rxf7 (25... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 26. Rxb7 $18) 26. exf7+ Kxf7 27. Qc7
{/+- >< Kf7, קa7-b7} Qh4 (27... b6 {Huzman} 28. g3 $1 {[%cal Gf1g2,Gc7f7]
White has a big advantage, because black pieces are very passive. The pin of
Ne7 is very unpleasant and black can`t defence his weak pawns a7,b6,d5.} (28.
Qb7 {Ftacnik} Rf8 29. Qxa7 Qh4 30. Rd1 Qxb4 31. Rxd5 Qe1 $1) (28. Re5 Qh4 29.
Rxd5 Qxb4 30. Qb7 Rf8)) (27... b6 $142 {Winants}) 28. Re3 $1 {עg8} Qxb4 $2 (
28... Rf8 $142 29. g3 Qg5 (29... Qf6 30. Be2 $1 Kg8 31. Qxe7 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qe1+
33. Kg2 Qf2+ 34. Kh3 $18) 30. Re2 $1 $40 {/\31.h4+-}) (28... b6 {Ftacnik} 29.
Qe5 $1 $16 (29. Qd6 $18 {[%csl Ra8] Winants /\ 30.Rxe7, /\ 30.Qe6})) 29. a3 Qh4
30. Qxb7 Re8 (30... Rf8 31. Qxa7 Kg8 32. Rxe7 d4 33. Bc4+ Kh8 34. g3 $18) (
30... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 31. Qxa7 d4 32. Rh3 $1 Qe4 33. Rxh7+ $18) 31. Qxa7 d4 (
31... Rf8 {Huzman} 32. g3 (32. Rh3 Qe1) 32... Qf6 33. Be2 $16 {/+-}) (31... h6
{Ftacnik} 32. Bd3 $16) 32. Bc4+ (32. Rf3+ Kg7 33. Qd7 Rf8 34. g3 Qe4) 32... Kf8
(32... Kg7 {Ftacnik} 33. g3 Qf6 34. Re6 $18 (34. Re6 {Winants} Qg5 35. Qxd4+))
33. g3 $1 {קd4} (33. Rf3+ Kg7 34. Rf7+ Kh6) 33... Qg4 (33... Qf6 34. Re6 (34.
Re4 $1 {Ftacnik} Rd8 35. Rf4 Nf5 36. Qxh7 Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Kxg7 38. Bd3 $16) 34...
Qg7 (34... Qf3 {Huzman} 35. Qxd4 $18) 35. Qb6 $5) 34. Be2 Qc8 35. Qxd4 Qc1+ 36.
Kg2 (36. Kg2 Qc6+ 37. Bf3 (37. Kf2 $18 {Ftacnik}) 37... Qc2+ 38. Re2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E58"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Nh4 Qa5 12. Bb2 Re8 13. Re1 c4 14. Bc2 Ne4
15. Rc1 Qd8 16. g3 g5 17. Ng2 g4 18. f3 Ng5 19. fxg4 Nh3+ 20. Kf1 Qg5 21. Nf4
Bxg4 22. Qd2 Bf5 23. Qg2 Nxf4 24. gxf4 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Bxc2 26. Rxc2 f5 27. Kf3
Kf7 28. a4 Rg8 29. Ba3 Ke6 30. Rb1 b6 31. Bb4 Rab8 32. Rcb2 Rb7 33. Rg2 Rxg2
34. Kxg2 Rg7+ 35. Kf3 Rg8 36. Ra1 h5 37. Rb1 h4 38. a5 bxa5 39. Bc5 Rg7 40. Ba3
h3 41. Rb5 a4 42. Rc5 Nb8 43. Ra5 a6 44. Rxa4 Rg2 45. Bb4 Rxh2 46. Kg3 Re2 47.
Kxh3 Rxe3+ 48. Kg2 Nc6 49. Rxa6 Kd7 50. Kf2 Rd3 51. Bc5 Rxc3 52. Rb6 Rb3 53.
Ra6 Rd3 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 h6 12. Bd2 Nf6 13. Be3 Qe7 14. Nd5 Qd8 15.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. c5 Nb8 17. Qb3 Nc6 18. Rad1 a6 19. Rd2 Qe7 20. Rfd1 Kh7 21. Ne1
a5 22. Bc4 f5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. f4 exf4 25. Bf2 a4 26. Qa3 Ne5 27. Re2 Be6 28.
Bxe6 Qxe6 29. Nf3 Rad8 30. Rde1 Nxf3+ 31. Qxf3 Qxa2 32. Re7 Rf7 33. Qxf4 Rxe7
34. Rxe7 Qxb2 35. Bg3 Qf6 36. Qxc7 Rd1+ 37. Kh2 Qa1 38. Bf4 Rh1+ 39. Kg3 Qc3+
40. Re3 Qf6 41. Qxb7 h5 42. Qe7 h4+ 43. Kf2 Rc1 44. Qe8 Rc2+ 45. Kf1 Qa6+ 46.
Kg1 Qg6 47. Qxg6+ Kxg6 48. Re6+ Kf7 49. Ra6 Rc4 50. Bd6 Bd4+ 51. Kf1 Ke6 52. g3
Kd5 53. gxh4 Ke4 54. Ke2 Rc2+ 55. Kd1 Ra2 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.09"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Ne4 (10... c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 (11... bxc5 $6 12. Nh4 $1
Nb6 13. Nf5 $16 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Ribli,Z/Groningen PCA 1993/CBM 39/[Belov] (29)})
12. Rc1 a6 (12... Nfe4 $14) 13. a3 Re8 14. Nd4 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Qd2 Rad8
17. Red1 g6 18. Qf4 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Karpov,An/Wien 1996/ (68)}) 11. Qc2 (11. Rc1
$6) 11... c5 (11... Nxc3 $5 12. bxc3 c5 (12... Nf6 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Ne5 (14.
Bg5 Re8 15. c4 c5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. e4 Bb7 19. e5 Bd8 20. d5 c4
21. d6 Qc5 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Bxb7 Rab8 24. Bd5 g6 25. Qxc4 Qxc4 26. Bxc4 b5 27.
Bd5 a5 28. f4 Bd8 29. g4 a4 30. f5 Ba5 31. e6 fxe6 32. fxe6 Bxe1 33. e7+ Kg7
34. Rxe1 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Nikolic,P/Monaco blind 1995/EXP 46}) 14... c5 15. e3
Ne4 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. h4 Qe6 18. Nf3 Qe4 19. Qd2 Qa4 20. Nd4 Rfd8 21. Nf5 Bf8
22. Qe2 Qd7 23. Bh3 Qe8 24. h5 Bc8 25. g4 g6 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Ng3 Be6 28. Bg2
Bg7 29. Bg5 f6 30. Bf4 Rac8 31. Nf1 Bf7 32. g5 f5 33. Rd4 Ne4 34. Bxe4 dxe4 35.
Kg2 Rxc3 36. Rxd8 Qxd8 37. Rd1 {Kramnik,V-Vyzmanavin,A/Paris PCA\Intel-GP 1994/
EXP 43/1-0 (95)}) 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Bh3 Qe8 15. c4 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nf6 17. Nf5 Bb4
18. Bd2 Bc5 19. Bg2 Ne4 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Bc8 22. Rxd5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 Nd6
24. Rd5 Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 Nb7 26. Rh5 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Karpov,An/Monaco blind
1996/EXP 52}) 12. dxc5 $1 (12. Rad1 Rc8) (12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Nd2 f5 14. dxc5
Nxc5 15. Rad1 Qc8 16. Nc4 Qe6 17. Nd6 Bd5 18. Nb5 Bxa2 19. Nc7 {1-0 Rahman,
Z-Smith,J/Moscow olm 1994/EXP 44 (40)}) 12... Bxc5 (12... Nxc3 13. c6 $1) (
12... Ndxc5 13. Rad1 Rc8 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qb3) 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5 Nf6 (
14... Rc8 $5 {Kasparov} 15. Qb1 Nf6 16. b4 $1 Bxf2+ $5 (16... Bd4 17. Rd1) 17.
Kxf2 h6 $1 18. Rd1 $1 (18. Nh3 e3+ $1 19. Kg1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qd5+ 21. Kg1 Qe6
22. Kg2 Qd5+ $11) 18... Qe8 19. Kg1 $1 (19. Nh3 e3+ 20. Kg1 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qc6+
22. Kg1 Qe6 23. Kg2 Qc6+ $11) 19... hxg5 20. Bd6 Qe6 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Qb3 $14)
15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bxe4 Qd4 $6 (16... Rc8 17. Qd3 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Qd4 19. Qxd4
Bxd4 20. Rad1 $1 Bxb2 21. Rd7 $16) 17. Bf3 (17. Bxa8 $4 Qxf2+ 18. Kh1 Ng4 19.
Bg2 Qg1+ $1 20. Rxg1 Nf2#) 17... Qxf2+ 18. Kh1 Rac8 (18... Rad8 19. Rf1 Qd4 20.
Rad1 Qb4 21. a3 Qb5 22. b4 Be7 23. Qc7 $16) 19. Rf1 Qd4 20. Rad1 Qb4 21. a3 Qb5
22. Qf5 $1 {/\b2-b4} Qa4 $2 (22... Qxb2 $2 23. Be5 Qxa3 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Be4
$18) (22... Qb3 $1 23. Rd3 (23. e4 Qe6 $1 $14) 23... Qe6 24. Qxe6 fxe6 25. b4 (
25. Rfd1) 25... Be7 26. Re3 $16 Kf7 27. g4 $5 Nd5 $5) 23. e4 $1 (23. Be5 $6 Be7
24. Bxf6 $2 Bxf6 25. Be4 g6 $1) 23... Qc2 24. Rd2 Qc4 25. Rfd1 Qe6 (25... Be7
26. e5 g6 27. Qd3 Qxd3 28. Rxd3 Nh5 29. Bh6 Rfd8 30. Rd7 $18) (25... h5 26. e5
Ng4 27. Bd5 Qa6 28. e6 $36) 26. Qxe6 fxe6 27. e5 Ne8 $2 (27... Nd5 28. Bxd5
exd5 29. Rxd5 a5 $1) 28. Bg4 Nc7 29. b4 Be7 30. Rd7 Rf7 (30... Bd8 31. Rc1 $18)
31. Rc1 Bf8 (31... Bd8 32. Rcxc7 $1 $18) 32. Rxf7 Kxf7 33. Rc6 $1 (33. Bf3 Ke7
34. Bb7 Kd7 35. Bxc8+ Kxc8 36. Kg2) (33. Rc6 Ke7 34. Bxe6 Rb8 35. Bg5+) 1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kovacevic, Aleksandar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Borik} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O
Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Rc1 dxc4 (12... Nxc3 13.
bxc3 Nxa2 14. Rc2 Bxc2 15. Qxc2 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 $14 {Short,N - Timman,J,
Hilversum 1989.}) 13. Bxc4 c6 14. Ne5 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Qf3 (16. Qb3 $6 f6
$1 17. Nf3 (17. Qxb7 $2 fxe5 18. Qxc6 Be4 $19) 17... b5 (17... Qd7 $142 $5 18.
Rfe1 Kh8 19. Bd2 Bd6 20. Bf1 Nf4 21. Nh4 $13) 18. Be2 Kh8 19. Bd2 Nb6 $6 (19...
Bd6 $5 {/\ Nf4}) 20. Rfe1 Qd7 21. c4 bxc4 22. Bxc4 Nxc4 23. Qxc4 Rfc8 24. Nh4
Bf8 $10 {Georgiev,Ki-Ivanchuk,V/Debrecen/1992/0.5 (36)}) (16. Re1 $2 Ba3 17.
Qf3 Bxc1 18. Bxc1 Be6 19. Bd3 Qa5 20. Bd2 Qxa2 21. Bg5 Qa5 22. Qh5 f5 23. Bd2
Rae8 24. h3 Qd8 25. Rb1 $17 {Timman,J-Bareev,E/Linares (10)/1993/0-1 (52)} (25.
Rb1 Qc7 26. c4 Nf6 27. Qf3 Nd7 28. Bf4 Nxe5 29. Bxe5 Qd7 30. Qf4 a6 31. Rb6 Rf7
32. Be2 Qd8 33. Rb3 Rd7 34. Rg3 Rde7 35. Qh6 Qd7 36. Bd3 Rf7 37. d5 Ree7 38. d6
Re8 39. c5 a5 40. Bc2 a4 41. Bxa4 Bd5 42. Qf4 Re6 43. Re3 Qd8 44. h4 Rh6 45.
Rh3 Rg6 46. f3 Qa5 47. Kh2 Qxc5 48. h5 Re6 49. Rg3 h6 50. Bc2 Ba2 51. d7 Rxd7
52. Qxf5 Rxe5 {0-1 Timman,J-Bareev,E/Linares 1993})) 16... Be6 17. Bd2 (17. Bd3
Bd6 18. Bd2 Bxe5 (18... Qh4 19. Rfe1 Nf6 20. a4 Ng4 21. Bf4 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Bd5
23. Qf5 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 g6 25. Qd7 Rab8 26. Rb1 Rfd8 27. Qc7 Qg4 28. Bf1 Qd7 29.
Re7 $16 Qxc7 30. Rxc7 a5 {DIA In dieser ьberlegenen Stellung hдtte Dr.Hьbner
seine Stellung mit 31.f3 nebst Kf2 verstдrken sollen, spдter den Bb7 gewinnen
und dann den Mehrbauern verwerten. Wesentlich ist, das WeiЯ bei Kf2 ruhig
c3-c4 spielen kann, weil} 31. Rb6 $2 {der Bauer d4 mit Ke3 gedeckt werden kann.
} Re8 32. c4 Be6 33. Rbxb7 Rxb7 34. Rxb7 Rd8 35. d5 cxd5 36. c5 Rc8 37. Rb5 d4
38. Bd3 Bf5 39. Bxf5 gxf5 40. Kf1 Re8 41. c6 d3 42. Rd5 Rc8 43. Rxd3 Rxc6 {
Huebner,R-Timman,J/Sarajevo cm2 1991/1/2-1/2 (60)}) 19. dxe5 Ne7 20. Bg5 Qc7
21. Qh5 h6 22. Bxh6 gxh6 23. Qxh6 Nf5 24. Bxf5 Bxf5 25. Qg5+ Bg6 26. f4 Rfe8
27. Rf3 Qe7 28. Qh6 Qf8 29. Qh4 Qe7 30. Qg4 Rad8 31. f5 Qc5+ 32. Kh1 Qxe5 33.
fxg6 f6 34. Qh4 Rd7 35. Rcf1 f5 36. Qg5 Rf8 37. h4 Rd5 38. Rf4 Qf6 39. Qxf6
Rxf6 40. h5 Kg7 41. g4 {1-0 Xie Jianjun-Wu Xibin/Beijing Lee Cup 1996}) (17.
Rfe1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 (18. Bxe6 $2 fxe6 19. Qxe3 Bg5 20. Qh3 Bxc1 21. Qxe6+ Kh8
22. Rxc1 Qf6 $17) (18. fxe3 Bxc4 19. Nxc4 Qd5 20. Qxd5 cxd5 $10) 18... Bxc4 19.
Nxc4 Bf6 20. Rb1 b6 (20... Qd5 21. Ne5) 21. Qf3 Rc8 22. Ne3 (22. Rbd1 g6 23. d5
cxd5 24. Rxd5 Qc7) 22... g6 23. d5 Bg5 $1 (23... cxd5 24. Nxd5 Kg7 25. Red1 Rc6
26. Nxb6) 24. dxc6 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Qd6 26. Rd1 Qxc6 27. Qxc6 Rxc6 28. Rd7 Rfc8
29. Ree7 (29. Rxa7 Rxc3 $10) 29... Rxc3 30. h3 Rf8 31. Rxa7 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rc6
33. Reb7 Rf6 {1/2-1/2 Kamsky,G-Anand,V/FIDE-cm1 Sanghi Nagar 1994}) 17... f6 (
17... Bg5 18. Bxg5 {Khalifman,A-Christiansen,L/BL 9192/1992/0.5 (18)}) 18. Nd3
Qd7 19. Rfe1 Bd6 20. h3 Bf7 21. Bb3 Rae8 22. Qg4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Rd8 24. Qxd7
Rxd7 25. Nf4 (25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. dxe5 fxe5 27. Rxe5 Nf6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,
V-Ivanchuk,V/Novgorod 1996/CBM 54 (32)}) 25... Nc7 26. Ne6 Nxe6 27. Bxe6 Bxe6
28. Rxe6 Kf7 29. Re1 Be7 30. Be3 Rd5 31. Kf1 Ra5 32. Re2 Ra3 33. Rc2 Ke6 34.
Ke2 b5 35. Bc1 Ra4 36. Kd3 Kd5 37. Re2 Bd6 38. Rc2 h5 39. Be3 Bc7 40. Bc1 Bd6
41. Re2 c5 42. dxc5 Bxc5 43. f3 Bd6 44. Be3 Be5 45. Bc1 a6 46. Rc2 g6 47. Be3
g5 48. Bd2 g4 49. hxg4 hxg4 50. Be3 g3 51. Bc1 Rh4 52. Re2 Rh1 53. Be3 f5 54.
Bd2 Ra1 55. Be3 Rf1 56. Rc2 Rd1+ 57. Ke2 Ra1 58. Kd3 f4 59. Bb6 Bd6 60. Bd4 Re1
61. Kd2 Rh1 62. Kd3 Rb1 63. Re2 a5 64. Kc2 Rf1 65. Kd3 a4 66. Rb2 b4 67. Rd2
Rc1 68. Bf6 b3 69. axb3 axb3 70. Rb2 Rd1+ 71. Ke2 Rg1 72. Kd3 Bc5 73. Bd4 Bxd4
74. cxd4 Re1 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6
8. Qb3 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rd1 Re8 12. Bd3 c5 13. dxc5 Nd7 14.
c6 (14. cxb6 {Ftacnik} Nc5 15. Qc2 Nxd3+ 16. Rxd3 axb6 (16... Qxb6 $44)) 14...
Bxc6 15. O-O Nc5 16. Qc2 (16. Qa3 {Ftacnik} a5 17. Ne2 Qd6 18. Ned4 Bb7 19. Bb5
Red8 20. Qc3 Rac8 21. Qd2 Ne4 22. Qe2 Ng5 23. Rd2 g6 24. h3 {Bagirov,
V-Beliavsky,A/USSR/1981/1/2-1/2 (50)}) 16... Rc8 (16... Qe7 {Ftacnik} 17. Nd4 (
17. Bb5 Bxb5 18. Nxb5 Red8 19. Nbd4 Ne6 20. Qb3 Rac8 21. Rd2 Rc4 22. Qd1 Nxd4
23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Rxd4 25. Qxd4 Qe4 {1/2-1/2 Georgiev,K-Beliavsky,A/
Investbanka 1997 (42)}) 17... Bb7 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Bf5 Red8 20. Rfe1 Ne4 21.
Re2 g6 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Red2 Rac8 {1-0 Moskalenko,V-Shneider,A/UKR-ch 1986 
(45)}) (16... Nxd3 {Ftacnik} 17. Qxd3 Rc8 18. Nd4 Bb7 19. Rd2 Qe7 20. Rfd1 Red8
21. Nce2 g6 22. Qb3 {1-0 Barlov,D-Gomez Esteban,J/Mesa op 1992 (37)}) (16...
Bb7 {Ftacnik} 17. Bb5 (17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Bf5 Qd6 $5 $13 {/\ Rad8 /\ Rad8} 19. e4
$6 d4 20. Nb5 Qf4 21. Nfxd4 Nxe4 22. g3 Qe5 23. Rfe1 Qc5 $1 $15 24. Rxe4 $2
Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Rad8 $17) (17. Rd2 Rc8 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Bf5 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Rc7) (
17. Bc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rc8 $10) 17... Re7 (17... Re6 18. Nd4 $14) 18. Nxd5 (18.
Nd4 Rc8 $10) 18... Bxd5 19. Qf5 Bxb2 20. Rxd5 Qc8 21. Qc2 Bf6 22. Rfd1 {
[%cal Rd5d8]} (22. Nd4 a6 23. Be2 (23. Bc4 Ne4) 23... Qc7 24. Bf3 Rae8 (24...
Rc8 25. Nf5 Re5 26. Rd2) 25. Rd1 (25. Nf5 $5 Re5 26. Rd2) 25... g6 26. g3 {
1/2-1/2 Piket,J-Short,N/Amsterdam VSB 1996 (50)}) 22... a6 (22... Ne6 23. Qf5
Qc3 $10) 23. Bf1 (23. Bc4 Rc7 $10) (23. Rd8+ $6 Qxd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bc4
Red7 $15) 23... Re8 {/\ Ne4} (23... Qc7 24. Nd4 Ne4 $1 $10) (23... Ne4 24.
Qxc8+ Rxc8 25. Bxa6 $16) (23... Qc7 $5) 24. Bc4 $5 {1-0 Lautier,J-Beliavsky,A/
Dortmund 1995 (33)}) 17. Bh7+ (17. Bb5 Ne4 18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. Qa4 Nxc3 20. bxc3
Rc5 21. c4 {1/2-1/2 Gurevich,D-Portisch,L/New York op 1984/MCD-op}) (17. Nd4 {
Ftacnik} Bxd4 18. exd4 Ne6 19. Bf5 Bd7 20. Bxe6 Bxe6 21. Rfe1 Qd6 22. Re3 Rc4
23. Qe2 Rec8 24. Re5 Qd7 25. h3 b5 26. a3 a5 27. Qe3 b4 $15 {1/2-1/2 Kaunas,
K-Barsov,A/Bankia op 1989}) 17... Kh8 (17... Kf8 {Ftacnik} 18. Bf5 Ne6 19. Rd2)
18. Bf5 Ne6 (18... Rc7 {Ftacnik} 19. Nd4 $11) 19. Nd4 (19. Qb3 {Ftacnik} Bxc3
$1 20. bxc3 Qf6 $15) (19. Rd2 $5 {Ftacnik} Bb7 20. Rfd1 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qf6 22.
Nd4 $11) 19... Nxd4 20. exd4 Rc7 21. Qd3 (21. Bg4 $2 {Ftacnik} Bb5 22. Rfe1
Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bxd4 $17) 21... g6 22. Bg4 h5 23. Bf3 Rce7 $15 {Es ist
merkwьrdig, wie Kramnik seine Figuren harmonisch umgruppiert und Angriff am
Kцnigsflьgel erlangt!} 24. g3 h4 25. Qd2 (25. Bg2) (25. Qc2 {Ftacnik} Kg7 26.
Qb3 Rd7 $15) 25... Kg7 26. g4 $2 {Ftacnik: Very serious mistake, white is
forgetting about the fatal weakness of the b8-h2 diagonal. Schwдcht die
Diagonale h2-b8. Ftacnik: Eine sehr schwerer Fehler. WeiЯ hat einfach
vergessen, die fatale Schwдchung der Diagonale b8-h2 zu bedenken.} (26. Qc2
$142 {/\ Qb3}) (26. Rfe1 Bg5 $1 $19) (26. Qc2 {Ftacnik}) 26... Re6 27. h3 Bg5
28. Qc2 Qd6 $1 {[%cal Yg5d8,Yd8c7,Yd6h2] Jetzt erkennt man den Nachteil der
Schwдchung der Diagonale h2-b8. Die Umgruppierung Qf4 nebst Bd8 - Bc7 ist sehr
gefдhrlich fьr den weiЯen Monarchen.} 29. Qb3 Bd8 30. Bg2 (30. Bxd5 Qf4 $19 (
30... Qf4 $1 {Ftacnik} 31. Kg2 (31. Qc2 Bc7 32. f3 Re2 $19) 31... Rf6 (31...
Bc7 32. Rh1 Rf6 33. Rdf1 Re3 $1 $19) 32. Bxc6 Bc7 $19) (30... Bc7 31. f4 Re3
$40)) 30... Qf4 (30... Bc7 {Ftacnik} 31. f4 Re3 $17) 31. Rc1 Bc7 32. Rfd1 Rf6 {
Ftacnik: Not a nice picture for white, he could not even get a compensation
for his exposed king. Ftacnik: Kein schцnes Bild fur WeiЯ. Er hat keinerlei
Kompensation fьr die exponierte Stellung seines Kцnigs bekommen.} 33. Qc2 (33.
Rc2 {Ftacnik} Re3 34. Kf1 Qh2 $19) 33... Re3 34. Kf1 (34. g5 {Ftacnik} Qh2+ 35.
Kf1 Rf4 36. Rd3 Rg3 $19) 34... Rxc3 (34... Rxc3 $1 {Ftacnik} 35. bxc3 Bb5+ 36.
Ke1 Re6+) 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 13th final"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "1997.12.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Galliamova, Alisa"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1997.12.28"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Kazan Sberbank-Tatarstan II"]
[BlackTeam "Kazan Sberbank-Tatarstan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4 {Diese - auf den ersten Blick - sonderbar
anmutende Fortsetzung ist in letzter Zeit sehr populдr.Ribli.} 4. e3 (4. g3 $5
{Meines Erachtens ist dies die beste Fortsetzung fьr WeiЯ.} Nxf3+ 5. exf3 e6 (
5... Nf6 6. d4 e6 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Nxc3 10. bxc3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bd6
12. Qb3 O-O 13. f4 Rb8 14. Bb2 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Emms,J/BL9596 1996 (31)}) 6. d4
cxd4 7. Qxd4 b6 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Nf6 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. fxe4 f6 12. Qd1 Bc5 13.
Qh5+ $14 g6 14. Qh6 Kf7 (14... Bf8 15. Qd2 Bg7 16. Rd1 Bc6 17. b3 O-O 18. Bb2
Qc7 19. Re1 Qb7 20. b4 $14 {+/= Gulko,B-Krasenkow,M/Polanica Zdroj 1996}) 15.
Rd1 Bc6 16. b3 $5 $146 (16. Be3 Qf8 17. Qf4 e5 18. Qf3 Qe7 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20.
Rd3 Rab8 21. b3 Rhd8 22. Rad1 d6 23. Qe3 Rb6 24. Qd2 $14 {Vaganian,R-Yudasin,L/
Moscow olm 1994/CBM 45/[Ribli]/1-0 (62)}) 16... Qf8 17. Qd2 $14 {Ribli,
Z-Ivanisevic,I/Maroczy mem 1997/1-0 (50)}) 4... Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 g6 6. b3 Bg7 7.
Bb2 d6 8. Qd1 (8. Bd3 Nf6 9. Rb1 O-O 10. Ne4 e5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. Qxf6 Bxf6
13. Bc3 Be6 14. Ke2 d5 15. cxd5 Bxd5 {1/2-1/2 Hauchard,A-Berebora,T/Andorra
1996/EXP 54 (37)}) 8... e5 $5 $146 {Schwarz verhindert 9.d4 und gibt die
Kontrolle ьber das Feld d5 auf. Dafьr kann er mit Ne7 und spдterem f7-f5 seine
Initiative am Kцnigsflьgel organisieren.} (8... Nf6 9. Be2 O-O 10. Bf3 Rb8 11.
O-O a6 12. d4 b5 13. dxc5 bxc4 14. cxd6 Qxd6 15. Qxd6 exd6 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17.
Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Bxd5 cxb3 19. axb3 Rb6 20. h3 Be6 {1/2-1/2 Andersson,U-Xu Jun/
Manila olm 1992/TD 92\02 (24)}) (8... Nh6 9. Be2 Nf5 10. Qc2 e5 11. Bf3 O-O 12.
Rd1 Rb8 13. Ne2 Qe7 14. Bd5 Be6 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. O-O b5 17. d3 a6 18. Nc3 Ne7
19. Ne2 Nc6 {1/2-1/2 Kleff,A-Bruchmann,S/Berliner Sommer 1994}) 9. Be2 (9. g3
Ne7 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O f5 12. f4 e4 13. d3 d5 $13) 9... Ne7 10. O-O O-O $11
11. Bf3 {WeiЯ verstдrkt zwar die Kontrolle ьber das Feld d5, aber der Lдufer
steht nicht gut auf f3.} (11. d3 f5 12. f4 $11) 11... f5 12. Nd5 Be6 {Schwarz
beendet in aller Ruhe seine Entwicklung. Die Schwдchung des Feldes d5 spielt
keine Rolle.} (12... e4 13. Bxg7 (13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Be2) 13...
Kxg7 14. Nxe7 Qxe7 (14... exf3 15. Nxc8 fxg2 16. Kxg2 Rxc8 $11) 15. Be2 $11)
13. d3 (13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. d3 (14. Bd5 $2 Bxd5 15. cxd5 Qf7 $17 {[%csl Rd5]})
14... g5 $15) 13... g5 $15 14. e4 (14. h3 $6) (14. g3 $6 g4 15. Bg2 h5) 14...
g4 (14... f4 $2 {Dieser Zug gewinnt zwar Raum am Kцnigsflьgel, dennoch wдre er
ein strategischer Fehler, weil er die weiЯen Felder schwдcht und den Bg7
einschlieЯt.} 15. Bg4 $11 {[%csl Rg7]}) 15. Be2 h5 16. f3 $8 {Sonst spielt
Schwarz 16...f4 nebst 17...g3, mit groЯem Ьbergewicht am Kцnigsflьgel.} Nxd5
17. cxd5 (17. exd5 $6 Bd7 $15 {Und Schwarz hat greifbares Ьbergewicht am
Kцnigsflьgel.}) 17... Bd7 18. Bc1 {[%cal Gc1h6] Der weiЯe Lдufer stamd
schlecht auf b2, auf c1 kontrolliert er die Diagonale c1-h6 und verhindert das
Erscheinen des schwarzen Lдufers auf h6.} g3 $1 {Schwarz opfert einen Bauern
fьr offene Linien. Das ist ein fьr die Kцnigsindische Verteidigung typisches
Motiv.} 19. hxg3 (19. h3 $6 {Nach diesem Zug kann WeiЯ nur warten. Schwarz hat
derweilen freie Hand am Kцnigsflьgel und am Damenflьgel.}) 19... f4 20. Qe1 (
20. g4 hxg4 21. fxg4 Rf6 $44 {[%cal Rf6g6,Rg6g1]}) (20. gxf4 $2 exf4 $17 {
[%csl Gg7][%cal Rg7a1]} 21. Rb1 Bd4+ {[%csl Rg1]}) 20... Qg5 $1 (20... fxg3 $2
21. Qxg3 $16) 21. Rb1 Qxg3 22. Qxg3 fxg3 23. b4 $6 {WeiЯ verliert die Geduld
und mцchte selbst zu aktivem Spiel am Damenflьgel kommen. Der Partiezug
beschleunigt jedoch nur die schwarzen Aktionen.} (23. Be3 $5 {Und WeiЯ
bereitet den Kцnigsmarsch mit Kf1-Ke1-Kd2 vor.}) 23... cxb4 24. Rxb4 b5 {
Jetzt hat Schwarz nicht nur groЯen Raumvorteil am Kцnigsflьgel, sondern auch
eine gesunde Bauernmehrheit am Damenflьgel.} 25. Bg5 Rac8 (25... Bf6 $6 {
Unter strategischem Gesichtspunkt wдre das eine gute Idee, aber WeiЯ kann zu
schnell die c-Linie besetzen.} 26. Bxf6 Rxf6 27. Rc1 $132 {[%csl Gc1][%cal
Gc1c8]}) 26. Rb2 (26. Rc1 Rxc1+ 27. Bxc1 Rc8 $17 {[%cal Rc8c1]}) 26... Bf6 27.
Bxf6 (27. Be3 Rc7 $15) 27... Rxf6 28. d4 {WeiЯ strebt nach Vereinfachung, aber
das kommt nur Schwarz zugute. Andererseits war guter Rat ohnehin schon teuer.
Schwarz hat positionellen Vorteil, Druck am Kцnigsflьgel und beherrscht die
c-Linie.} exd4 29. Bxb5 Rb8 30. Rfb1 Rxb5 (30... Bxb5 31. a4) 31. Rxb5 Bxb5 32.
Rxb5 Rf8 $17 {[%csl Gd4,Gg3][%cal Rf8c8,Rc8c1,Rc1g1] Das Erscheinen und
Eindringen des Turmes ist sehr gefдhrlich fьr WeiЯ. Sein Kцnig steht sehr
passiv.} 33. Kf1 Rc8 34. Ke2 (34. Rb2 d3 {[%csl Rf1][%cal Rc8c1,Rc1f1]} 35. Ke1
h4 {[%csl Gg3,Gh4]} 36. Kd2 Rc2+ 37. Rxc2 dxc2 38. Kxc2 h3 $19) 34... Rc2+ 35.
Kd3 Rxg2 36. e5 $5 {Dieser Zug kann die Partie nicht retten, aber lдЯt noch
einige theoretische Gegenchancen offen. Ein bedeutsames Prinzip in
Turmendspielen ist, daЯ die Qualitдt der Bauern immer wichtiger ist als ihre
Quantitдt.} (36. Kxd4 h4 37. e5 dxe5+ 38. Kxe5 h3 39. Kf6 Rf2 $19 {Da es kein
Dauerschach fьr WeiЯ gibt, entscheiden die schwarzen Freibauern die Partie.})
36... Rf2 $1 (36... dxe5 $2 37. d6 Kf7 38. Rxe5 {[%csl Gd6,Ge5,Rf7]} Rb2 $1 $11
) 37. exd6 Rxf3+ 38. Ke4 (38. Kxd4 {Nach diesem Zug kann der schwarze g-Bauer
auf g1 mit Schach umgewandelt werden.} g2 39. Rb1 Rf1 40. d7 g1=Q+ $19) 38...
Rf8 39. Rb1 h4 $19 {Die verbundenen Freibauern entscheiden zusammen die Partie.
} 40. d7 (40. Rg1 Kg7 {Schwarz mцchte Kg6-Kg5-Kg4 spielen, mit Gewinn.} (40...
Kh7 $1 41. Rh1) 41. Ke5 d3 $19) 40... g2 41. Rc1 Kg7 $1 {Und WeiЯ gab in
hoffnungsloser Stellung auf.Ribli.} (41... h3 $2 42. Rc8 g1=Q 43. Rxf8+ Kxf8
44. d8=Q+ Kg7 45. Qd7+ {[%cal Rd7h3]}) (41... Kg7 42. Rc8 g1=Q 43. Rxf8 Qe3+
44. Kf5 Qf3+ 45. Ke5 Qxf8 $19) 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Lutz} d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Qc2 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nc3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2 Qc7 (11... c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 (12...
Nxc5 $2 13. b4 $16) 13. Ne4 Be7 (13... Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Ra7 (14... Qc7 $2 15. b4
Bb6 16. Bb2 Bb7 17. Qg4 $16) 15. b4 Bb7 (15... Qf6 16. Rb1 Bb7 17. Qc2 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Be7 19. Bb2 $16) 16. Qf4 Bxf3 (16... Be7 $2 17. Ne5 Bd5 18. Rxd5 exd5 19.
Nc6 $16) 17. Bxf3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Dautov,R-Luther,T/Bad Zwesten 1997 (38)}) (13...
Qb6 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. b3 Bb7 16. Bb2 $14 {0-1 Bukic,E-Atalik,S/It, Ljubljana
SLO 1997 (57)}) 14. Ne5 Nd5 15. Nc6 Qe8 16. Nxe7+ (16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7
18. Qxc3 (18. bxc3 Nb6 19. a4 Nxa4 20. Ba3 Nc5 21. Bxb5 $1 Bb7 (21... axb5 22.
Bxc5 $18) 22. Rd7 $1 Qg5 (22... Be4 23. Rxe7 Bxc2 24. Be2 Bd3 (24... Rfc8 25.
Bxc5 Rxc5 26. Rxa6 $16) (24... Ne4 25. Bb4 $16) 25. Bf3 Rac8 26. Bb4 Nb3 27.
Ra3 a5 $11) 23. f4 Be4 $1 24. Qd2 Qh4 25. Bxc5 axb5 $11) 18... Bb7 19. Bd2 (19.
Qc7 Bd5 20. e4 Rfc8 21. Qf4 Bb7 22. b3 Qf6 $11) 19... Rfc8 20. Qd4 e5 21. Bb4 {
1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Anand,V/FIDE WCh KO 1997}) 16... Qxe7 17. Qc6 Rb8 18. Qd6
Qh4 19. Rd4 Rb6 20. Qa3 $14) 12. Ne4 (12. e4 e5 13. g3 Re8 14. a3 Bb7 15. Bg5 (
15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Bg5 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qe7 18. Rd3 Be5 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Rxd8
Rxd8 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Be3 a5 $132) 15... exd4 16. Nxd4 Be5 17. Nf5 c5 18. Nd5
Nxd5 19. exd5 f6 20. Be3 g6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Ng4 Bd6 $132 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,
A-Anand,V/FIDE WCh KO 1997 (35)}) 12... Nxe4 13. Qxe4 e5 (13... Bb7 14. Qh4 c5
15. Bd2 Rad8 $132 (15... Qd8 $4 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Ba5 $18 {1-0 Thorsteinsson,
T-Faldt,M/Stockholm GP 1992 (34)})) 14. Qh4 h6 $5 (14... Re8 $5 15. Bd3 (15.
Bd2 e4 16. Ne1 (16. Ng5 Nf6 $15) 16... Re6 $1 $132) 15... h6 16. Bc2 (16. Bd2
Bb7 17. Rac1 c5 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. b4 e4 20. bxc5 Be7 21. Qh5 exd3 (21... exf3
22. c6 Bc8 23. Qxf3 $16) 22. c6 Bc8 23. Bc3 Ba3 24. Be5 Rxe5 25. Nxe5 Bxc1 26.
Rxc1 d2 27. Rd1 Be6 28. Rxd2 Rd8 (28... f6 29. Nd7 (29. Ng6 Kh7 30. Nf4 Qxc6
31. h3 (31. Qd1 Rc8 32. h3 Bf5 $132) 31... Rc8 32. Qg6+ Kh8 $132) 29... Qxc6
30. Nxf6+ gxf6 31. Qg6+ Kf8 32. Qxf6+ Ke8 33. h3 Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Qxd2 35. Qxe6+
Kf8 36. Qf6+ (36. Qxh6+ Ke7 37. Qg7+ Kd6 38. Qf6+ Kc5 $17) 36... Kg8 37. Qg6+
Kf8 38. Qf6+ $11) 29. Nd7 $14) 16... exd4 17. Qxd4 Bf8 18. b3 Nf6 19. Qh4 g5
20. Qg3 (20. Nxg5 $2 Qe5 $1 21. Nxf7 Qxa1 22. Nxh6+ Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Ra7 $17)
20... Qxg3 21. hxg3 c5 22. Bb2 Bg7 23. Rd6 Be6 24. Rad1 Rec8 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26.
Be4 Ra7 27. Bd5 Bxd5 28. R1xd5 Kg7 29. Rd2 Be7 30. Rb6 $132 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,
A-Anand,V/FIDE WCh KO 1998 (55)}) (14... Re8 {Lutz Karpov,A-Anand,V (FIDE Wch
1998)}) 15. Bd2 Re8 $5 (15... Bb7 16. Rac1 exd4 $1 17. Nxd4 c5 18. Nf5 Be5 19.
Bc3 (19. Ba5 $2 Qxa5 20. Rxd7 Bc8 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Nc6 Qxa2 (22... Bf6 23. Nxa5
(23. Qxf6 gxf6 24. Nxa5 Bxd7 25. Rxc5 Rfc8 $17) 23... Bxh4 24. Rdd1 c4 25. Bf3
Ra7 $132) 23. Rd8 Be6 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Nxe5 Qxb2 $19) 19... Rad8 (19... Nf6
$6 20. Bd4 $1 c4 (20... Bxd4 21. exd4 c4 22. Nxh6+ $16) 21. b3 Bd5 22. f4 Bxd4
23. exd4 Rae8 24. bxc4 bxc4 25. Qg3 g6 26. Nxh6+ Kh8 (26... Kg7 27. Nf5+ Kg8
28. Ne3 $16) 27. Rc2 $16) 20. Bxe5 Qxe5 21. Qg4 Kh7 22. Nxh6 gxh6 23. Rxd7 Qxb2
24. Re1 (24. Bd3+ Kh8 25. Rb1 Qf6 26. Rxb7 Rxd3 $15) 24... Bc6 25. Rc7 Qf6 26.
Qh5 $14) (15... c5 $6 16. dxc5 (16. b4 $6 exd4 (16... c4 $1 17. Bc3 f6 (17...
Bb7 $2 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxd6 $18) 18. a4 Bb7 $132) (16... cxb4 17. Rac1 Qb8
18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxb4 (19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bxb4 Re8 21. Rd8 $16) 19... Bxb4 20.
Qxb4 Bg4 21. Nxe5 Bxe2 22. Nc6 (22. Nd7 Qa7 23. Nxf8 Bxd1 24. Ng6 Qd7 25. Ne5
Qd8 $132) 22... Qe8 23. Rd6 Bc4 $132) 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Nxd4 Re8 $132) 16...
Nxc5 17. Rac1 (17. b4 $2 Na4 18. Rac1 Qb8 19. e4 Be6 20. Qg3 Kh7 21. Rc6 Rd8
22. a3 Nb2 23. Rdc1 Nc4 $132) 17... e4 18. Nd4 $16) 16. dxe5 $5 (16. Rac1 e4
17. Ne1 Bb7 18. b4 Be7 19. Qh3 Nf6 $132) 16... Nxe5 (16... Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5
18. Bb4 $16) 17. Ba5 $5 Qb8 (17... Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 Qxa5 (18... Bxh2+ 19. Qxh2
Qxa5 20. Bxc6 $18) 19. Rxd6 $16) 18. Rac1 Be6 (18... Bb7 19. b4 $5 (19. Bb4
Nxf3+ (19... Bxb4 20. Qxb4 a5 21. Qc5 $16) 20. Bxf3 Be5 21. Rd2 $16) 19... Ng6
20. Qh5 $16) 19. Nxe5 (19. b3 $5 Bd5 20. Nxe5 (20. Nd4 Ba3 21. Rc2 Ng6 22. Qh3
$14 (22. Qh5 Re5 23. Qh3)) 20... Bxe5 21. Bc3 Ra7 $11) 19... Bxe5 20. Rxc6 Bxb2
(20... Bxa2 21. Bg4 $1 $16) 21. Bc7 $6 (21. Bf3 $1 Bf6 22. Qh5 (22. Qb4 Ra7 23.
Bb6 (23. a3 $1 Be5 (23... Bf5 24. h3 $14) (23... Rc8 24. Qc5 Be7 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8
26. Qc6 $18) 24. h3 $14) 23... Rd7 24. Rxd7 Bxd7 25. Bc7 Qc8 26. Rc1 Be6 27.
Qa3 Bc4 $132) 22... Ra7 23. Rdd6 Rc8 $132) 21... Qb7 $2 (21... Qa7 $1 22. Bf3 (
22. Qb4 Rac8 23. Qa5 $5 (23. Bb6 Qb7 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qxb2 Qxb6 $15) (23. Qxb2
Rxc7 24. Rcd6 Rd7 $11) 23... Be5 $1 (23... Qb7 24. Bf3 Bg4 25. Rb6 Qxc7 26.
Bxg4 Rcd8 27. Rxb5 $1 $16) 24. Bxb5 (24. Rdc1 Bd5 (24... Bxc7 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 26.
Rxc7 Qb8 27. Rc1 Qd6 28. Rd1 Qc6 29. Bf3 Qc8 $14) 25. R6c5 Bxc7 26. Rxc7 Qa8
$11) 24... Bxc7 25. Rxc7 Qxc7 26. Qxc7 Rxc7 27. Bxe8 Bxa2 $11) (22. a4 Bf6 23.
Qb4 Be7 (23... bxa4 24. Qxa4 a5 25. Bf3 Rac8 26. Rd2 $16) 24. Bd6 a5 25. Qd2 (
25. Qxb5 Bd7 26. Bc7 (26. Bf3 Bxd6 27. Rdxd6 Bxc6 28. Bxc6 Rad8 $17) 26... Bxc6
27. Qxc6 Bh4 $1 28. Bg4 Rac8 29. Rc1 (29. Rd7 Bxf2+ $19) 29... Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2
Qxe3+ 31. Kf1 Qd3+ 32. Kg1 Qd4+ $19) 25... Bxd6 26. Rxd6 bxa4 $11 (26... b4 27.
Bb5 $132)) 22... Rac8 (22... Bf6 23. Qg3 Rac8 24. Bb6 Qb8 $8 (24... Qe7 25. Bc5
$18) 25. Qxb8 Rxb8 26. Bd4 Bxd4 (26... a5 27. Bxf6 gxf6 28. Ra6 $14) 27. exd4
Bxa2 28. Rxa6 Bc4 $11) 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. Qf4 Bf6 $11) 22. Bf3 $16 Rac8 (22... Qa7
23. Bb6 Qe7 (23... Qb8 24. Rcd6 Bf6 25. Qg3 $18) 24. Qxe7 Rxe7 25. Rxe6 $5 (25.
Rc2 $1 Rb8 $8 26. Bd8 $1 $16 (26. Rxb2 Rxb6 27. Rd8+ Kh7 $132)) 25... Rxe6 26.
Bxa8 Rxb6 27. Rd7 Ba3 28. Bd5 Rd6 (28... Rf6 29. h4 h5 30. g3 g6 31. Kg2 Kg7
32. e4 Bc5 33. f4 $18) 29. Bxf7+ Kf8 30. Rxd6 Bxd6 31. Bg6 (31. Bd5 g5 32. g3
g4 33. Be6 h5 34. h3 gxh3 (34... Ke7 35. Bc8 gxh3 36. Bxa6 $18) 35. Bxh3 Kg7
36. f4 b4 37. Kf2 a5 38. Bd7 Kf6 39. e4 Ke7 40. Ba4 h4 41. e5 $18) 31... Ke7
32. f4 Kf6 33. Bd3 g5 34. g3 $16) 23. Qb4 Be5 $2 (23... Bf6 24. Rxe6 Qxc7 25.
Rxa6 Be5 26. g3 $16) 24. Rcc1 $18 Qxc7 $8 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 (25... Bxc7 26. Bb7 $18
) 26. Qa5 Rc2 27. Qxa6 Rb8 (27... Rb2 28. a3 $18) (27... Rxa2 $2 28. Qxb5 $18)
28. Be4 (28. a3 $18) 28... Rc4 (28... Rxa2 {Lutz} 29. Qxb5 $18) 29. Bd3 Ra4 30.
Qc6 g6 (30... Rxa2 31. Bxb5 Bf6 32. Bd3 $18) (30... Rxa2 $142 {Lutz}) 31. f4
Bf6 32. f5 $1 (32. Bxg6 $2 Rc4 33. Qa6 Ra4 34. Qd6 Rd8 35. Qxd8+ Bxd8 36. Rxd8+
Kg7 37. Bd3 (37. Bb1 Bxa2) 37... b4 38. Rd4 Bxa2 39. Bb5 Ra3 40. Rxb4 Rxe3 $14)
32... gxf5 33. Bxf5 Bxf5 34. Qxf6 Bg6 35. Rd2 Re4 36. h3 (36. Kf2 $18) 36...
Rbe8 37. Qb6 b4 (37... Rxe3 38. Qxb5 $18) 38. Rd4 Rxe3 39. Qxb4 h5 40. a4 Re1+
41. Kh2 Ra1 42. Qb2 Rb1 43. Qa3 Kh7 44. a5 Ree1 45. Qf8 Rh1+ 46. Kg3 Rb5 (46...
Rhd1 47. Rxd1 Rxd1 48. a6 Ra1 49. Qa8 $18) 47. Rd8 Rg5+ 48. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 {Ftacnik: This position
is very fashionable of late, but black is not without resources.} c6 (12...
fxe4 {Ftacnik} 13. Ncxe4 Nf5 14. Bb2 $1 $14) 13. Be3 (13. Ba3 {Ftacnik} h6 14.
Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 d5 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Rc1 Qd6 20.
Qb3 Rad8 21. b5 Qxe6 22. Rc7 Rf7 23. Rxb7 Nf5 24. Rxf7 Qxf7 25. Bc5 e4 26. Bg4
Rc8 27. Qa3 Rc7 {Nill,J-Kouvatsou,M/EU-chJW U18 1997/0-1 (50)}) 13... h6 (13...
cxd5 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bc2
e4 (19... d4 {Ftacnik} 20. Bd2 d3 21. Bb3 Qb6 22. Be3 Qxb4 23. Rc1 Rfd8 24. Bc5
Qh4 25. Re3 e4 26. Rc4 $16) (19... b6 $1 {Ftacnik}) 20. Rc1 d4 (20... b6 $8 {
Ftacnik}) 21. Bd2 e3 22. fxe3 d3 23. Bb3 Qd6 24. Qg4 Be5 25. Rf1 Bxh2+ 26. Kh1
$16 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/Linares14th 1997 (37)}) (13... f4 14. Bc1 (14. Bd2
h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8) 14... h6 (14... cxd5 {Ftacnik} 15. cxd5 Qb6 16.
Qb3) 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Nc8 17. b5 $1 (17. Qb3 Qe7 18. c5 Re8 19. Be2 Kh7
20. Ba3 (20. b5 Qxe6 21. Bc4 Qe7 22. Ba3 dxc5 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Na4 $44 {
1/2-1/2 Iskusnyh,S-Fedorov,A/RUS-Cup01 Chigorin mem 1997 (41) /=}) 20... Qxe6 (
20... b5 $6 21. cxb6 Nxb6 22. b5 $1 $36) 21. Bc4 Qe7 22. Rad1 (22. b5 $6 dxc5
23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Na4 Nd7 $15) 22... b5 (22... dxc5 23. bxc5 Qc7 24. Bf7 Rf8
25. Be6 Ne7 26. Rd6 $44) 23. cxb6 Nxb6 24. b5 Nxc4 25. Qxc4 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Krasenkow,M-Shulman,Y/Mikenas mem op 1997 (30)} (25... c5 26. Nd5 Nxd5 27. Rxd5
$11 {1/2-1/2 Krasenkow,M-Shulman,Y/Mikenas mem op 1997/ (30)})) 17... Qe8 18.
bxc6 bxc6 19. c5 Qxe6 20. Ba3 dxc5 21. Na4 Nb6 22. Nxc5 Qf7 23. Qc1 $44 {
[%cal Gf3d1,Gd1b3] Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B/Investbanka 1997/1/2-1/2 (66) /+/-}) 14.
Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 {The pawn e6 can be supported by the play along a8-h1} g5 (
15... Ne8 {Ftacnik} 16. Qb3 Qc8 17. c5 fxe4 $140 18. cxd6 exf3 $6 19. dxe7 Rf5
20. Rad1 $18) 16. exf5 $1 $146 (16. h3 f4 17. Bc1 Ng6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Qe7
20. Rb1 Rfe8 21. Qb3 Rab8 22. Ba3 Nh4 $132 {Kramnik,V-Piket,J/Amber-blind6th
1997/1/2-1/2 (66)} (22... Nh4 {Ftacnik} 23. Be2 f3 24. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qxe6
26. Qxe6+ Rxe6 27. Rb3 b5 28. cxb6 axb6 29. Bc5 Nd7 {Kramnik,V-Piket,J/
Amber-blind6th 1997/1/2-1/2 (66)})) 16... Nxf5 (16... e4 $2 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18.
Bxe4 Bxa1 (18... d5 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Bd3 Bxa1 21. Qxa1 Nxf5 22. Bc5 $16) 19.
Qxa1 Nxf5 20. Bxf5 Rxf5 21. Qb1 Qf8 22. Bd4 $1 $16) 17. Qd3 {[%cal Ga1d1,Gd1d6,
Gd3g6]} Nxe3 (17... e4 $2 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe3 (19... Bxa1 {Ftacnik} 20.
Bxf5 Bg7 $14) 20. Qxe3 $18 Bxa1 $140 (20... Qb6 21. e7 $16) 21. e7 Qxe7 22.
Bd5+) 18. Rxe3 Qe7 (18... e4 $2 {Ftacnik} 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 $16) 19. Rd1
Rad8 {Ftacnik: Black can become choosy, since also the opening of the position
was quite attractive.} (19... Qxe6 20. Qxd6 (20. b5 g4 21. Be4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4
cxb5 23. cxb5 $44) 20... Qxc4 21. b5 cxb5 (21... Rad8 22. Qxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8+
Bf8 (23... Kf7 24. Rb8 $16) 24. bxc6 bxc6 25. Rc8 e4 26. Bd1 Kg7 27. Bb3 $14) (
21... g4 22. Be2 Qf7 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Qxc6 $14) 22. Bxb7 (22. Qxe5 b4 23. Nd5
$13) 22... Rab8 (22... Rad8 23. Qxd8 Rxd8 24. Rxd8+ $16 (24. Rxd8+ Kh7 25. Bc8
Ng8 26. Bf5+ Kh8 27. Rc8 Qf7 28. g4 b4 29. Ne4 Qxa2 30. Nc5 $16)) 23. Bf3 $44 (
23. Bf3 {Ftacnik} Kh8 24. Be2 Qf7 25. Qa6 $13)) (19... g4 $2 20. Be4 $1 (20.
Be2 Rad8 (20... Qxe6 21. Qxd6 $16) 21. Qf5 Rde8 $132) 20... Nxe4 (20... Qxe6
21. Bf5 Qe7 22. Qxd6 $16) 21. Nxe4 Qxe6 22. Nxd6 $16) 20. Ne4 $1 (20. b5 g4 $1
21. Be4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 (22. Qxe4 Rf4 23. Qg6 Rxc4 $17) 22... d5 $17) 20... g4 $2
(20... Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Qxe6 22. b5 Qd7 (22... Qe8 23. Rf3 $5) 23. Qc2 $44 (23.
Re2 $44 {Ftacnik})) (20... Qxe6 {Ftacnik} 21. Nxd6 Ne8 22. c5 Qxa2 23. b5 $36)
(20... d5 {Ftacnik} 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. cxd5 g4 23. Be4 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 $14) 21.
Nxf6+ (21. Be2 {Ftacnik} d5 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Bxg4 dxc4 (23... Qxf2+ 24. Kh1
dxc4 25. Qxd8 Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Kh7 (26... Bf8 27. h3 Qxe3 28. e7 Qc1+ 29. Kh2
Qf4+ $11) 27. Rd1 Qxe3 28. e7 Qg5 29. e8=Q Qxg4 30. Rd8 $13) 24. Qc2 Rxd1+ 25.
Bxd1 Qxe6 $15) 21... Qxf6 (21... Rxf6 22. Bxg4 d5 23. Rxe5 $16) 22. Bxg4 Qxf2+
(22... d5 $142 $16) 23. Kh1 {[%cal Ge6e7] The dangerous passed pawn e6 and the
possibility of the attack of the white in the presents of opposite colour
bishops determine big advantage of the white.} Rf4 $2 {Ftacnik: Black is too
active, he had to take care about the edangerous e6 pawn.} (23... Rde8 24. Rf3
$1 (24. Ree1 $14 {Ftacnik}) 24... Rxf3 (24... Qh4 25. Qg6 $16) 25. gxf3 $16
Qxa2 $140 26. Qg6 Re7 27. Rxd6 $18) (23... Qf6 $142 24. Rf3 Qe7 $16) (23... Qh4
{Ftacnik} 24. Rf3 Rxf3 25. Bxf3 Qf6 26. b5 $1 Qxe6 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Bxc6 $14)
24. Rf3 $1 Qh4 (24... Rxf3 25. Bxf3 Qh4 26. b5 $18) 25. Rxf4 exf4 26. Bf3 $18
Qe7 (26... a6 {Ftacnik} 27. a4 Qg5 28. b5 $1 $16 {xc6}) 27. Re1 {[%cal Gd3g6]}
Be5 (27... Rf8 {Ftacnik} 28. b5 $1 $16) 28. Qg6+ Qg7 (28... Bg7 {Ftacnik} 29.
Be4 d5 30. cxd5 cxd5 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qf5+ Qf6 33. e7+ Kxe7 34. Bxd5+ Kf8 35.
Qe4 $18) (28... Kh8 {Ftacnik} 29. Qxh6+ Kg8 30. Bh5 $18) 29. e7 (29. e7 $1 {
Ftacnik} Qxg6 30. exd8=Q+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. g3 g6 7. Bg2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qb4 a5 11. Qb3 Be6 $1 (11... Rb8 12. a4 Nd7 13. Be3 b6
14. Rfd1 Bb7 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Rxd4 Nc5 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Short,N/FIDE-Wch k.o.
1997/CBM 63 (44)}) 12. Nd5 (12. Qxb7 Bc4 13. Re1 (13. Rd1 Nd7 14. Be3 Rb8 15.
Qc6 Ne5 16. Qa4 Rb4 {0-1 Jusic,Z-Jirovsky,M/Stockerau op-J 1991/EXT 91op2 (33)}
) 13... Nd7 14. Qc6 Nc5 15. e5 {1-0 Milos,G-Gaprindashvili,N/Palma de Mallorca
GMA 1989/TD 89\13 (45)}) 12... a4 13. Qxb7 (13. Qa3 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bf5 15. c3
Qd7 16. Re1 Bf6 17. Be3 Bh3 18. Bxh3 Qxh3 19. Rad1 Qd7 20. Bd4 {1/2-1/2
Schmidt Schaeffer,S-Werner,C/BL2-S9697 1996/BL2-S (34)}) 13... Nxd5 (13... Bxd5
14. exd5 a3 15. Rb1 Nd7 16. b3 Nc5 17. Qb5 Qc8 18. Bg5 Qf5 19. Bxe7 Rfb8 20.
Qc4 Rc8 {1/2-1/2 Schaefer,M-Kunze,M/FRG-ch qual 1990/GER 01}) 14. exd5 Bf5 15.
Bg5 $2 (15. c3 $142 $5 a3 16. Qb3 axb2 17. Qxb2 Qa5 18. Bd2 $13) 15... Qb8 16.
Qxb8 Rfxb8 17. Bxe7 Rxb2 18. a3 Rxc2 19. Rae1 (19. Rac1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Bb2 21.
Rc6 Re8 22. Rc7 (22. Bxd6 $4 Re1+ 23. Bf1 Bh3 $19) 22... Bxa3 $17) 19... Ra6
20. Be4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Bb2 22. Rfe1 $2 (22. Re3 $142 Bd4 $17 {/\23... Bc5})
22... Rc1 $1 $19 (22... Bxa3 $4 23. Bf6 $18) 23. Rxc1 Bxc1 24. Bf6 Ra8 25. Rc4
Bxa3 26. Bd4 Bc5 27. Bxc5 dxc5 28. Rxc5 a3 29. Rc1 a2 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. c5 Qc7 7. Bf4 Qc8 8. Nh4
Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. e4 Nf6 11. exd5 (11. Bd3 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Be7
14. O-O-O Nd7 15. Kb1 Nf6 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Be5 Bf6 18. Bd6 Be7 19. Be5 Bf6 20.
Bd6 Be7 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Qe3 Qd7 24. Rc1 f6 25. f4 {1/2-1/2
Kramnik,V-Short,N/Dos Hermanas 1997}) 11... Nxd5 (11... exd5 12. O-O-O {
sieht nicht befriedigend fьr Schwarz aus.}) 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bb5+ {Dies ist
ein neuer Versuch.} (13. Bxb8 Qxb8 14. Bb5+ Kd8 15. g3 {wurde in frьheren
Partien gespielt:} Be7 (15... Qc7 16. O-O b6 17. Rfe1 Be7 18. Re5 Rh5 19. Qf3
Bf6 20. Qxd5+ {1-0 Robatsch,K-Hertneck,G/AUT-chT9495 1995}) 16. O-O Bf6 17.
Rad1 Qc7 18. Rfe1 b6 {muЯte versucht werden:} (18... a6 $2 {, was in der unten
zitierten Partie gespielt wurde, ist fehlerhaft; die schwarzen Felder am
Damenflьgel werden geschwдcht, und Schwarz kann keine wirksame Blockade mehr
aufbauen.} 19. Bf1 Qc6 20. Qc2 b5 21. b4 Ke7 22. Rd2 Rhb8 (22... a5 23. a4 $18)
23. Ra1 g5 24. a4 Kd7 25. Qd1 Bd8 26. Rda2 $18 bxa4 27. Rxa4 a5 28. bxa5 (28.
b5 Rxb5 {gestattet dem Schwarzen lдngere Gegenwehr, obwohl seine Stellung nach}
29. Bxb5 Qxb5 30. Rb1 {ebenfalls unhaltbar sein dьrfte.}) 28... Rb2 29. a6 Bf6
30. R1a2 Rbb8 31. a7 Rc8 32. Ra6 Qb7 33. Rb6 Qc7 34. Qb3 Bxd4 35. Rb7 Bxc5 36.
Qb5+ Kd6 37. Ra6+ Ke5 38. Rxc7 Rxc7 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Salov,V/Donner mem 1995})
19. c6 (19. Qa4 bxc5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. b4 Qd6 (21... Qb6 22. Bc6 Rc8 23. Bxd5
Ke7 24. Bxe6 $18) 22. Bc6 Rc8 23. b5 Rc7 $13) (19. Qa3 bxc5 20. dxc5 Rb8 $13)
19... a6 20. Qa3 Be7 21. Qa4 Qa7 $13 {Es scheint, daЯ sowohl Kramnik wie
Gelfand die Stellung des Schwarzen in Abspielen dieser Art als befriedigend
eingeschдtzt haben.}) 13... Nc6 14. O-O-O {Der Plan des WeiЯen ist hier vцllig
anderer Art als nach 13.Lb8:; er will mit h2-h4-h5 die Initiative am
Kцnigsflьgel ergreifen. Die Hauptschwierigkeit fьr Schwarz liegt darin, daЯ er
nach keiner Seite rochieren kann, so daЯ er nicht zur Verbindung der Tьrme
kommt. Seine Stellung ist unbequem; es ist schwierig fьr ihn, einen sinnvollen
Aufbau zu finden.} Be7 15. h4 Kf8 16. Kb1 a6 {Nachdem WeiЯ lang rochiert hat,
eignet dem Zug nicht dieselben fatalen Konsequenzen wie in der oben
angefьhrten Partie van Wely-Salov. Jedoch fьhrt die von Schwarz mit diesem
Zuge eingeleitete Offensive nur zu einer fьr WeiЯ gьnstigen Цffnung der
Stellung.} (16... Kg8) ({oder} 16... Qd8 {scheint mir solider zu sein.}) 17.
Ba4 (17. Be2 {kam in Betracht.}) 17... Na5 18. Qf3 b6 $6 (18... Kg8 {war
besser.}) 19. cxb6 Qb7 20. Rc1 $2 (20. h5 g5 21. h6 {wird in der "Schachwoche"
4/1998, S.6, vorgeschlagen. Dieser Angriffsversuch ist in der Tat sehr
gefдhrlich. Die meisten der folgenden Varianten stammen aus der oben genannten
Quelle.} Qxb6 {, was in der "Schachwoche" nicht angegeben wird, dьrfte die
zдhesten Verteidigungsmцglichkeiten gewдhren. Nach} (21... gxf4 22. hxg7+ Kxg7
23. Qg4+ Kf6 24. Qxf4+ Kg6 (24... Kg7 25. Qg3+ Kf6 26. Qe5+ Kg6 27. Rxh8 {
und WeiЯ gewinnt.}) 25. Qg3+ Bg5 26. f4 Qe7 27. fxg5 {mit entscheidendem
Angriff fьr WeiЯ.}) (21... g6 22. Bc7 Rh7 (22... Nc4 23. Bc2 Kg8 24. h7+ Kg7
25. Qh3 {fьhrt sofort zum Verlust}) 23. Bd7 Kg8 24. Rc1 {und Schwarz kann sich
nicht mehr rьhren:} Nc4 {scheitert an} 25. Rxc4 g4 26. Bc6) (21... Rxh6 22.
Rxh6 gxh6 23. Qh3 Bf6 (23... Kg7 24. Be5+ f6 25. Bc7 f5 26. Re1 (26. Rh1 Rh8
27. Bd7 Nc6 28. Qc3 {ist ebenfalls gut genug.}) 26... Qc8 27. Rh1 {mit raschem
Sieg.}) 24. Qxh6+ Bg7 25. Bd6+ (25. Qxg5 Qxb6 {ist weniger klar.}) 25... Kg8
26. Qxg5 Nc4 27. Be7 Qxb6 28. Bb3 Nd6 29. Bf6 Ne8 30. Bxg7 Nxg7 31. Qg4 {
mit entscheidendem Vorteil fьr WeiЯ.}) 22. Be5 f6 23. Rh5 Nc4 24. Bb3 Nxe5 25.
dxe5 Rd8 (25... Qc7 {wird mit} 26. Rxd5 {beantwortet}) 26. Rdh1 Qd4 {bleibt
die Stellung des Schwarzen unbequem, jedoch ist sie nicht hoffnungslos. Nach
dem Textzug bekommt Schwarz Gegenspiel.}) 20... Qxb6 21. Rc7 Rb8 $2 {Schwarz
sollte alles daran setzen, seinen Springer nach c4 zu ьberfьhren. Zwei
Versuche standen ihm zur Verfьgung:} (21... Rd8 {wird in der "Schachwoche" 4/
1998, S.6, vorgeschlagen. Nach} 22. Qc3 ({Mit} 22. Rxe7 Kxe7 23. Qa3+ Rd6 {
kann WeiЯ keinen Vorteil erzielen.}) 22... Nc4 23. Rc6 Qb7 {ist die Lage nicht
klar.}) (21... Qb4 {ist viel schдrfer. Nach} 22. Rhc1 Rd8 23. Rxe7 (23. Bg5 f6
{fьhrt zu nichts.}) 23... Qxe7 24. Rc7 Qf6 25. Qa3+ Kg8 26. Bg5 Qf5+ 27. Bc2
Qxf2 {entsteht eine hцchst verwickelte Stellung:} 28. Qxa5 (28. Bxd8 Qe1+ 29.
Bd1 Nb7 {mit Rьckgewinn der Figur.}) (28. Bxg6 Nc4 {ist ungьnstig fьr WeiЯ.})
28... Qg1+ $13 29. Bc1 Rf8 {gefolgt von 30...Th4:, und Schwarz hat eine hцchst
gefдhrliche Initiative.}) (21... Qxd4 $2 {scheitert natьrlich an} 22. Bd6 $18)
22. Qc3 Nc4 {Andere Zьge sind nicht besser:} (22... Bf6 23. Rc5 (23. Rc8+ Rxc8
24. Qxc8+ Qd8 (24... Bd8 25. Qd7 Kg8 26. h5 Nc4 27. Bb3 {ьberlebt Schwarz
nicht.}) 25. Qxa6 Bxd4 {ist nicht ьberzeugend:} 26. Bc7 Qxc7 27. Qa8+ Ke7 28.
Qxh8 Nc4 {mit krдftigem Gegenspiel fьr Schwarz.}) 23... Qxb2+ 24. Qxb2 Rxb2+
25. Kxb2 Bxd4+ 26. Rc3 $18 {fьhrt dagegen leicht zum Gewinn.}) (22... Bd8 23.
Rd7 Ra8 24. Rd6 Qb7 (24... Qc7 25. Rxe6) 25. Rxd8+ {usw.}) 23. Rc6 Qxb2+ ({Nach
} 23... Rxh4 24. Rxh4 Qxb2+ 25. Qxb2 Rxb2+ 26. Ka1 Bxh4 27. Rxc4 Rxf2 (27...
Rxa2+ 28. Kxa2 dxc4 29. g3 {ist hoffnungslos fьr Schwarz.}) 28. Rc8+ Ke7 29. g3
{befindet sich der Kцnig des Schwarzen in einer Art Mattnetz.}) 24. Qxb2 Rxb2+
25. Ka1 Kg8 26. Rxc4 $18 Rxf2 27. Rc8+ Kh7 28. Rxh8+ Kxh8 29. g3 Ba3 30. Rd1
Kg8 31. Rd3 Be7 32. Bc7 g5 33. hxg5 Bxg5 34. Kb1 Be7 35. Bc2 g5 36. a4 f5 37.
a5 Bf6 38. Bb6 f4 39. gxf4 gxf4 40. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Khalifman,A"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht Baburin} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6
7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4
14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O g6 18. Kh1 (18. Qd3 Bd7 19. Raa1 f5
20. Rfd1 Bh6 21. Nde3 Rf6 22. f3 Ne7 23. Kh1 Bf4 {Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Monaco
blind 1995/EXP 46/1-0 (54)} (23... Bf4 {Baburin} 24. b4 a4 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26.
Bxd5 Qf8 27. g3 Bg5 28. c4 f4 29. g4 h5 30. gxh5 Qh6 31. b5 Qxh5 32. Rxa4 Bh4
33. Rda1)) 18... Bh6 19. Qe2 Bd7 {Baburin: With many pieces on the board it's
usually a lot easier for Black to deal with White's knight on d5 in the
Sicilian Defence. That knight is not doing much right now, while Black's
pieces are moving 'around' it.} 20. Raa1 (20. Ra2 f5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. f4 Bg7 {
1/2-1/2 Dani,P-Kocsis,G/Zalakaros op 1996/EXP 52 (43)}) 20... f5 {Challenging
White's control in the centre.} 21. exf5 gxf5 22. f4 Bg7 23. Rad1 Ne7 24. Nce3
Ng6 25. Qh5 Qe8 26. fxe5 Qxe5 27. Be2 f4 28. Nc4 Qxh5 29. Bxh5 Bb5 {Ich
vermute, daЯ sich beide Spieler hier schon in Zeitnot befinden. In Zeitnot
entscheiden die besseren Nerven, und die hatte hier Kramnik.} 30. Bxg6 hxg6 31.
Rf3 (31. Ne7 $5 Kh7 32. Rxd6 Bxc4 33. bxc4 g5 34. Rd5) (31. Rxf4 $2 {Baburin}
Rxf4 32. Nxf4 Bxc4 33. bxc4 Bxc3 $19) 31... Be5 (31... Bxc4 $5 32. bxc4 g5) 32.
Nxe5 dxe5 33. c4 Bc6 34. Re1 Rfe8 35. g3 g5 36. gxf4 exf4 37. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {
[#] Hecht: Hauptmotiv: Fesselung} 38. h4 (38. Kg1 $1 {Hecht}) 38... a4 39. bxa4
$2 {Erst danach kommt Schwarz in Vorteil.} (39. hxg5 $142 a3 {Baburin} 40. Rf2
f3 (40... Rb8 {Hecht} 41. Ra2 Rxb3 42. Ra1 $13) 41. Nb4 Re2 42. Kg1 Rb2 $19)
39... Re4 40. Kg1 (40. Rc3 {Hecht} Rxc4 41. Rxc4 Bxd5+ 42. Kg1 Bxc4 43. hxg5
Kg7 44. Kf2 Bd5 $19) 40... Rxc4 41. Rd3 g4 $19 42. a5 g3 43. Rd1 f3 44. Ne7 f2+
45. Kf1 Bb5 46. Kg2 Rc2 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Khalifman,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Hansen,Cu} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7.
bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rd1 {Hansen,Cu: A new
setup in this variantion, though whether it is actually better than the main
line 11.Bc4 is not yet clear. The idea is to overprotect d4, and make it
possible to place the Bf1 on d3. That would not be so good to do at this
moment:} (11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. O-O Ne7 14. Qb4 Qb6 15. a4 Nc6 16. Qc5
Qxc5 17. Rxc5 a6 18. Be2 Rac8 19. Rfc1 f6 $10 {Pomar Salamanca,A-Kortschnoj,V/
Palma de Mallorca/1969/}) (11. Bd3 $6 {Hansen,Cu} Nc6 {[%csl Rd4]}) 11... b6 {
Ich glaube dieser Aufbau ist nicht gut fьr Schwarz. Logischer sieht 11...Nc6
aus.} (11... Nc6 {0-1 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Jussupow,A/Groningen 1994/CBM 45/
[Ftacnik] (26)}) 12. h4 Bb7 (12... Ba6 13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. Qd3 Nb4 15. Qb1 Qe7
16. O-O h6 17. d5 exd5 18. exd5 Qc5 19. d6 Rad8 20. d7 Na6 21. Rfe1 Nb8 22. Ne5
a6 23. Qf5 Qa5 24. h5 $16 {Aleksandrov,A-Akhmadeev,V/Kstovo op/1994/}) 13. Bd3
Nc6 14. Bb1 Qd6 (14... Qe7 15. O-O Rad8 16. Qf4 Qf6 17. Qc7 Qe7 18. Qg3 Qd6 19.
e5 Qe7 20. Rfe1 Rfe8 21. Ng5 g6 22. d5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. e6 f6 25. Nh3 Qg7
26. Bd3 {1-0 Aleksandrov,A-Lima,D/New York op 1997/EXP 57}) 15. O-O {Hansen,Cu:
Whites setup is flexible. Depending on blacks response he could have played
something like h4-h5 and Rh1-h3-g3. But also in connection with 0-0 the move
h2-h4 is useful.} Rad8 16. Qg5 e5 {Hansen,Cu: Positionally it is normally not
such a bad idea to place your own Ps on black squares when you have a
whitesquared B. However in this game Bb7 is restricted seriously by the white
P-chain e4-d5.} (16... h6 $142 {Hansen,Cu}) 17. d5 $16 f6 18. Qg3 Ne7 {/\Ba6<=>
} 19. Bd3 {Hansen,Cu: This B does not do a lot of good on b1 after the center
has been blocked with e5-e5/d4-d5. In the /^ f1-a6 it stops blacks Bb7 from
finding a good place on a6. What white is basically doing now is shifting his
forces from the K-side to the Q-side.} Ng6 {Hansen,Cu: In the game this N is
quite useless at f4. It would have made some sense to try and put it on d6.
But then again black also has to think of a white manouvre like h4-h5 and
Nf3-h4-f5. That is prevented by the textmove.} (19... Bc8 $5 {Hansen,Cu /
\Bc8-d7,Ne7-c8,Qd6-e7,Nc8-d6}) 20. Rfe1 Nf4 21. Bf1 {Schwarz wird positionell
ьberspielt.} Rc8 (21... Qa3 $5 {Hansen,Cu /\Qxa2//\Ba6}) 22. Nd2 Kh8 23. Qb3
Rc5 24. g3 Ng6 25. Nc4 Qd7 26. Qa3 {Hansen,Cu: With this strong move white
ties one of blacks rooks to the defence of the a7-P. This means black will
have problems opposing white in the <->c} Ra8 27. Rc1 h6 28. Ne3 Ra5 (28...
Rxc1 {Hansen,Cu} 29. Rxc1 {[%cal Yg1h2,Yf1h3,Yc1c8,Yh3c8] /\Kh2 + Bh3}) 29. Qb2
Ne7 30. Kh2 Qd8 (30... Rc8 {Hansen,Cu} 31. Bh3 $16) 31. Nc4 Rc5 32. Nxe5 (32.
Nxe5 Bxd5 {Hansen,Cu} (32... Rxc1 33. Nf7+ Kg8 34. Nxd8 Rxe1 35. Nxb7 Rxf1 36.
Kg2 (36. d6 Nc6 37. Kg2 Re1 38. Qd2 $18) 36... Rd1 37. d6 Z0 38. Qb3+ $140) (
32... fxe5 33. Rxc5 bxc5 34. Qxb7 $18) 33. exd5 fxe5 (33... Rxc1 34. Nf7+ Kg8
35. Nxd8 Rxe1 36. d6 Rxd8 37. Qb4 $1 Re5 38. dxe7 Re8 39. Bc4+ $18) 34. Rxc5
bxc5 35. Qxe5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. O-O g6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 Nh6 10. f3 f5 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Kh1 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nf5 14. Nxf5
gxf5 15. Nc3 Qe6 16. Nd5 Rac8 17. Qd2 Qf7 18. Rae1 b6 19. Bh6 Rce8 20. Bxg7
Qxg7 21. Nc7 Kh8 22. Nxe8 Rxe8 23. Qxd6 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B05"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. c4 Nb6 7. exd6 cxd6 8.
Nbd2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. b3 Nc6 12. Bb2 d5 13. c5 Nc8 14. a3 Bf6 15.
b4 a6 16. Re1 h6 17. Nf1 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 N8e7 19. Ne3 g6 20. Qd2 Bg7 21. a4 h5
22. b5 Na5 23. Qb4 Nf5 24. Nxf5 exf5 25. Rac1 axb5 26. axb5 Nc4 27. Rxc4 dxc4
28. Bxb7 Rb8 29. Bf3 g5 30. Qxc4 g4 31. hxg4 hxg4 32. Bc6 f4 33. Qe2 f3 34.
gxf3 g3 35. fxg3 Bxd4+ 36. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 37. Qe3 Qf6 38. Qe5 Qxe5 39. Rxe5 Rfd8
40. b6 Kg7 41. Be4 Rd2 42. Rd5 Rb2 43. Rd1 Rb5 44. Rc1 Rd8 45. Rc2 Rd1+ 46. Kf2
1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C53"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Bg4 8.
O-O Nf6 9. d5 Bxf3 10. gxf3 Bxc3 11. dxc6 Ba5 12. cxb7 Rb8 13. Qa4+ c6 14.
Qxc6+ Ke7 15. e5 dxe5 16. Qc5+ Qd6 17. Qxa5 Rxb7 18. b3 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. Bd3 Qe7+ 7. Kf1 h6 8.
Bh4 Qd8 9. Qe2+ Be6 10. Ne5 Be7 11. Ng6 Rg8 12. Nf4 Qd7 13. Nxe6 Qxe6 14. Qxe6
fxe6 15. Bg6+ Kd7 16. Nd2 c5 17. Re1 Rf8 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Nf3 Nc6 20. Bg3 Bd6
21. Bd3 a6 22. c3 Rae8 23. Bg6 Rd8 24. Kg1 Bxg3 25. hxg3 Kd6 26. Bc2 b5 27. Nh4
b4 28. Ng6 Rfe8 29. Ba4 bxc3 30. bxc3 Rc8 31. Rh4 e5 32. c4 d4 33. c5+ Kxc5 34.
Bxc6 Rxc6 35. Nxe5 Kd5 36. Rxd4+ Kxd4 37. Nxc6+ Kc3 38. Rb1 Re6 39. Rb3+ Kd2
40. Rb2+ Kc1 41. Rc2+ Kd1 42. Rc4 h5 43. f3 Kd2 44. Nd4 Re1+ 45. Kh2 Kd3 46.
Ra4 Nd5 47. Nf5 Kc3 48. Rxa6 Re2 49. Nxg7 Ne3 50. Nxh5 Rxg2+ 51. Kh3 Rg1 52.
Kh4 1-0

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hansen,Cu Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4
O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 {WeiЯ besitzt
minimalen Stellungsvorteil , weil der schwache Bb7 vom Pd5 eingeschrдnkt ist.}
c6 12. O-O a5 13. b5 {Dieser Zug gefдllt mir nicht, weil er Schwarz starkes
Gegenspiel verschafft.} (13. a3 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nd7 16. Qb2 (16.
Rd1 Qc7 17. Qb1 Re8 18. b5 c5 19. Qf5 cxd4 $2 (19... Rd8 $1 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Qxd5 Ne5 $1 22. Qe4 Nxf3+ 23. Bxf3 cxd4 24. exd4 Bxd4 $1 $11) 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Qxd5 Nc5 22. Nxd4 $16 {1-0 Van der Sterren,P-Lutz,C/BL9495 1995/BL 90 (48)})
16... Qc7 17. Ra1 b5 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Be7 20. Rc1 Qf4 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5
Bf6 23. Qd2 Qc7 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Qe3 Bc8 26. h3 Be6 $15 {0-1 Tsvetkov,I-Donev,I/
Sofia-ch Student 1986 (45)}) (13. bxa5 {Ftacnik} Rxa5 14. a4 c5 (14... Bc8) 15.
Qb3 Na6 16. Rfb1 Nb4 17. Na2 Nxa2 18. Rxa2 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Qb5 Qa8 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. Qxc5 Rxa4 23. Rxa4 Qxa4 24. h3 {Lautier,J-Kramnik,V/Belgrad
Investbanka/1997/}) 13... c5 14. Re1 $146 {Ьblich ist 14.Rc1 mit leichtem
weiЯem Vorteil.} (14. Rc1 {Ftacnik} Nd7 (14... Qd6 $2 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Ne4 Qb6
17. Nxc5 {Ivanov,I-Horvitz,R/Midwest Masters 1985}) 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nd4 Rc8 (
16... Qd6 17. Bg4 Rad8 18. Nce2 {Nikolic,P-Beliavsky,A/Groningen PCA 1993}) 17.
Bg4 Rc7 18. Na4 (18. Nce2 Be5 19. g3 g6 20. Bh3 Qd6 21. Rc2 h5 {Lutz,C-Van der
Sterren,P/Munich SKA 1994}) 18... Ne4 19. Qd3 Rc4 20. Nb2 Rc5 21. Na4 Bxd4 22.
exd4 Rc4 23. Nc3 Qc7 {Gretarsson,H-Jussupow,A/Groningen FIDE Wch/1997 (33)})
14... Re8 15. Rc1 Nd7 16. g3 (16. dxc5 {Ftacnik} Nxc5 17. Nd4 Qd6 $11) 16...
Nf8 17. Na4 $6 (17. dxc5 $142 bxc5 18. Na4 c4 19. Nd4 (19. Nc5 {Ftacnik} Qe7 (
19... Rb8 20. Nxb7 Rxb7 21. a4 Ne6 $11) 20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21. a4 Ne6 22. Bf1 Nc5
$11) 19... Ne6 $11) 17... c4 $1 {Ftacnik: Fixing the structure, so the weak
spots b6,c6 will be less accessible. The bishops will enable black to spread
his pieces in such a way, as to enable activity on the kingside.} (17... cxd4
$6 {Ftacnik} 18. Nxd4 $14) 18. Bf1 Qd6 19. Bg2 Rad8 20. h4 Ne6 21. Nc3 g6 22.
Nd2 Ba8 (22... Ng7 $2 {Ftacnik} 23. Nxc4 $1 $16) 23. h5 $6 {Hansen,Cu: A
serious positional mistake. Whites Ns are too far away from the K-side (f5) to
make any use of the weaked square the textmove creates. However on the long
term the posibility f7-f5 might be useful for black Der Anfang eines
schlechten Planes.} (23. f4 $142 $5 {/\ Nf3, Ne5.} Ng7 24. Bh3 (24. Nf3 {
Ftacnik} Nf5 $15)) (23. a4 $11 {Ftacnik}) 23... g5 24. Nf1 Be7 {Hansen,Cu: The
first part of a regrouping of the black forces that improves his position
considerably} 25. g4 $6 {Noch eine bedenkliche Entscheidung, die zur
Schwдchung der Diagonale b8 - h2 fьhrt.} (25. e4 $142 dxe4 26. d5 Bxd5 27. Nxd5
Qxd5 28. Qxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxe4 $44) (25. a4 {Ftacnik} f5 $15) 25... Qd7 26. Ng3
Ng7 27. a4 Bb4 {Ftacnik: Kramnik would gladly use weakness of b8-h2 diagonal,
but the plan needs a bit more preparation. Hansen,Cu: It becomes clear that
white will have to perform a miracle to make any of is active possibilities
e3-e4 or f2-f4 work. While it seems much more likely that an evertual f7-f5
will have a positive effect on blacks position} (27... Bd6 $6 {Ftacnik} 28.
Bxd5 Bxg3 29. Bxa8 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rxa8 31. e4 $14) 28. Bh3 (28. Qf3 {Ftacnik}
Kf8 (28... Bb7 29. e4 $5 (29. Nf5 Nxf5 30. gxf5 Qd6 $15) 29... dxe4 30. Ngxe4
Qxd4 31. Red1 (31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Rxe8+ Nxe8 33. Qxb7 Qxf6 (33... Qf4 $2 34. Qxf7
$1) 34. Nd5 Qe6 35. Nxb6 Rd4 36. Qa8 $13) 31... Bxe4 32. Nxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxd4
Rexd4 34. Qc6 $14) 29. Rc2 $13) 28... Bb7 29. Qc2 Bd6 30. Nf5 (30. Nce2 {
Ftacnik} Rc8 $15) 30... Nxf5 31. gxf5 Bb4 {Hansen,Cu: Whites has made f7-f5
impossible. But now he can only sit and wait to see whether black can improve
his position by putting pressure on f5 or launch an attack on the K-side by
Bxc3, followed by Re4} 32. Kg2 Qd6 33. f3 (33. Bg4 {Ftacnik} Re7 $17) 33... Re7
{[%csl Re3,Rf5]} 34. Re2 Rde8 35. Rce1 Qf6 36. Bg4 (36. e4 $2 {Ftacnik} dxe4
37. fxe4 Qxd4 $19) 36... Bd6 37. Qd1 Bb4 38. Qc2 Rd8 {[%csl Gd5][%cal Yb7c8]}
39. Rd1 Bc8 {[%cal Rc8f5,Rb4c3] Ftacnik: Black has achieved maximum, now the
pawn f5 causes white lot of troubles.  Hansen,Cu: /\40..Bxc3 41.Qxc3 Bxf5
Schwarz gruppiert in Ruhe seine Figuren um, wдhrend WeiЯ nur abwarten kann.}
40. e4 $2 {Der letzte Zug vor der Zeitkontrolle kostet die Partie. Jetzt ist
alles vorbei.} ({Mit dem passiven:} 40. Na2 Rde8 41. Kf2 (41. e4 {Hansen,Cu}
Bxf5 $1 $19) 41... Qd6 42. Rh1 {hдtte WeiЯ die Schotten dicht machen kцnnen.})
(40. Rde1 {Ftacnik} Bxc3 41. Qxc3 Bxf5 42. Bxf5 Qxf5 $19) 40... Bxc3 41. e5 (
41. Qxc3 dxe4 42. fxe4 (42. Rxe4 {Ftacnik} Rxe4 43. fxe4 Bb7 44. Qe3 c3 45. d5
c2 46. Rc1 Rc8 $17) 42... Bb7 43. Bf3 g4 $1 44. Bxg4 Rxe4 45. Rxe4 Bxe4+ 46.
Kf2 Bd3 $19) 41... Rxe5 $3 {Eine auЯerordentliche Lцsung im Kramnik - Stil,
die das weiЯe Zentrum vernichtet. Das Lдuferpaar und die starken Freibauern
entscheiden die Partie.} 42. dxe5 (42. Rxe5 Bxd4 $1 43. Re2 Bc3 $19 {/\d5-d4})
42... Bxe5 {Ftacnik: The triumph of strategical concept, despite an exchange
sacrifice black controls the whole board and pawns c4-d5 will one day start
rolling.  Hansen,Cu: Blacks two passed pawns in the centre gives him a winning
advantage} 43. Rde1 Bc7 44. Re8+ Kg7 (44... Rxe8 $2 {Ftacnik} 45. Rxe8+ Kg7 46.
Rxc8 $18) 45. Rxd8 Bxd8 46. Rd1 Bb7 47. f4 (47. Bh3 {Ftacnik} Bc7 48. Kg1 Bd6
$19) 47... d4+ 48. Bf3 (48. Kg1 {Ftacnik} c3 49. Qf2 Be7 $19) 48... d3 (48...
d3 {Ftacnik} 49. Qf2 (49. Qxc4 Qb2+ 50. Kg3 Bxf3 51. Kxf3 Qe2+ $19) 49... Qxf5
50. Rxd3 (50. Qg3 Bxf3+ 51. Qxf3 g4 52. Qe3 Qxh5 $19) 50... cxd3 51. Bxb7 gxf4
$19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik Donev Das ist Kramniks Lieblingszug. Ribli.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
d5 4. d4 {Meines Erachtens bietet dieser Zug bessere Chancen auf
Erцffnungsvorteil als z.B. 4.Bg2, worauf Schwarz 4...dxc4 mit besseren
Ausgleichschancen antworten kann.} Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {Der sogenannte
klassische Aufbau. Schwarz цffnet das Spiel und nimmt den Bauern. Die
Zurьckeroberung des Bauern kostet WeiЯ Zeit, die Schwarz fьr die Beendigung
seiner Entwicklung nutzen mцchte.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 {In letzter Zeit ist die
andere Variante mit 8.a4 populдr.} b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bf4 (10. Bg5) (10. Bd2 {
[%cal Yd2a5,Ya5c7]}) 10... Nd5 {Mit dem Textzug verteidigt Schwarz seinen Pc7
und droht gleichzeitig, auf f4 zu nehmen. Der andere Springerzug ist jedoch
aussichtsreicher.} (10... Nc6 $5 11. Nc3 Nb4 {In dieser Variante besitzt
Schwarz gute Ausgleichschancen. Sein Plan ist klar: Er will nach Mцglichkeit
c7-c5 durchsetzen.}) 11. Nc3 Nxf4 12. gxf4 {[%csl Yc5,Ye5] WeiЯ hat einen
Doppelbauern auf der f-Linie, beherrscht aber das Feld e5. Das schwarze
Lдuferpaar ist nicht von groЯer Bedeutung. WeiЯ ьbt zudem starken Druck im
Zentrum aus.} Nd7 13. Rfd1 Bxf3 $6 {Ftacnik: Dubious exchange, the defender
hopes to exploit opposite colour bishops. His problem are connected with a6-b5
pawn structure and weakness of c6 square. Dieser Zug gefдllt mir nicht, weil
er die Kontrolle ьber die weiЯen Felder aufgibt. Nach diesem Abtausch wird der
schwarze Damenflьgel spьrbar schwach. Donev: Schwarz entscheidet sich fьr
diese theoretische Fortsetzung, weil WeiЯ im nдchsten Zug Ne5 oder e2-e4
spielen will. Doch nach dem Textzug hat WeiЯ klarenVorteil. Wahrscheinlich
wird die Variante mit 13...Bf3 nach dieser Partie in Vergessenheit geraten.} (
13... Qc8 $5 14. Ne4 (14. a4 bxa4 (14... b4 15. Ne4 Bd5 16. Rac1 Ra7 17. Ne5
Nxe5 18. fxe5 Qa8 19. Qd3 f5 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Bf3 Rd8 22. Qe3 Kh8 23. Kh1 Rg8
24. Rg1 c6 25. Nd2 {Sosonko,G-Dutreeuw,M/Brussels zt 1993/1-0 (53)}) 15. Nxa4
Rb8 16. Rac1 Bd6 17. e3 Nf6 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Qxc5 Bd5 20. Qxc7 $11 {1/2-1/2
Sosonko,G-Rausis,I/Viking op 1997} (20. Rc2 $2 Bb3 $17) (20. Qc2 $2 Bb3 $17) (
20. Rd2 $2 Ne4 {[%cal Re4d2,Re4c5]})) (14. Rac1 {Ftacnik} c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16.
Qb1 Rd8 17. b4 Na4 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8 19. Nxa4 bxa4 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rc8 {
1-0 Kurajica,B-Gavric,M/Banja Luka 1985/ (38)}) 14... c5 (14... f5 15. Ned2 (
15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Be4 17. Qb3 c6 18. Ne5 Bd5 19. Qe3 Bf6 20. Rd2 Qc7 $10 {
= Ricardi,P-Granda Zuniga,J/Buenos Aires 1991} (20... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 21. Nf3 {
0-1 Ricardi,P-Granda Zuniga,J/Buenos Aires Najdorf 1991/ (35)})) 15... Bd6 16.
Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Ndf3 Nf6 19. e3 g5 20. fxg5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Ne4 22.
Rd7 Nxg5 23. e4 Nxf3 24. Kxf3 Rad8 25. Rg1+ {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P-Hansen,S/
Copenhagen op 1995}) 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxc5 Qxc5 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Rac1 (18.
Ne5 {Ftacnik} Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfc8 20. Rd7 f6 21. Nd3 {1/2-1/2 Kirov,N-Guseinov,
A/Baku 1983/ (42)}) 18... Rfc8 19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 f6 21. Nf3 Bf8 (21... Kf8
{Ftacnik} 22. Rd7 Be7 23. Rcc7 Rxc7 24. Rxc7 Bd6 25. Rd7 Bxf4 26. e3 Be5 27.
Nxe5 fxe5 28. Rb7 {1/2-1/2 Novak,I-Prandstetter,E/Bohemians 1981}) 22. e3 g6
23. b3 Bb4 24. h3 Kf8 25. Nd4 Kf7 26. a4 $14 {1-0 Ribli,Z-Karpov,A/IBM 1980 
(54)}) (13... Nf6 {Ftacnik} 14. Ne5 (14. a3 Qd6 15. e3 c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Qb3
Qh5 18. Ne5 Ng4 19. h3 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Qxe5 {Biosvert,J-Barrios,R/
Erevan olm 1996/1/2-1/2 (54)}) 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Bd6 16. e3 (16. Rac1 Qc8 17.
Qd3 g6 18. Qf3 Nh5 19. Ne4 Qd8 20. e3 f6 21. Nc6 Qe8 22. Kh1 {Orseth,
D-Kristiansen,E/NOR-ch 1982/1-0 (69)}) 16... Qc8 17. Ne4 Nd5 18. Rac1 f6 19.
Nc6 Qe8 20. f5 Qh5 21. Ng3 Qg4 22. fxe6 Qxe6 23. Qf5 {Bohm,H-Luczak,A/
Rubinstein mem 1980/1-0 (56)}) (13... Qb8 $5 {Ftacnik}) 14. Bxf3 {[%csl Gf3]}
Rb8 15. e3 $14 {WeiЯ kontrolliert mehr Raum, sein Lдufer ist besonders stark.
Schwarz hat viele Schwдchen am Damenflьgel zu beklagen, zumal es kaum
Befreiungschancen mit c7-c5 oder e7-e5 gibt.} (15. Ne4 Bd6 16. e3 Qh4 17. Kh1
$14 Nf6 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Rg1 Qe7 20. Bc6 f5 21. Rg5 Rf7 22. Rag1 g6 23. h4
Kh8 24. h5 Rg7 25. R1g2 Qf6 26. Bf3 a5 27. Qc6 b4 28. Qa6 {Smyslov,V-Barczay,L/
EU-chT Kapfenberg 1970/1-0 (58)}) 15... Nf6 (15... c5 $2 16. dxc5 Bxc5 (16...
Qc7 {Ftacnik} 17. b4 $16) 17. Bc6 $18) 16. Rac1 {[%cal Yc1c7]} Qd6 {Ftacnik:
Queen's desire to cover all important weaknesses (a6,c6,c7) is quite
understandable, but at the same time she becomes exposed.} (16... h6 {Ftacnik}
17. Ne2 Ne8 18. d5 $14) 17. Ne2 {WeiЯ hat starken positionellen Druck auf der
c-Linie. Der Punkt c6 sowie der Pc7 sind schwach.} Rfc8 (17... Nd5 {Ftacnik}
18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxc7 Bf6 20. b3 $14) 18. e4 $5 {[%cal Re4e5,Re5f6,Re5d6]} Qd7
19. d5 $1 {Dieser Zentrumsdurchbruch bietet WeiЯ die besseren Perspektiven.
Donev: Das weiЯe Spiel lдuft mit der Prдzsion eines Uhrwerks.} (19. Qc6 Rb6 $14
(19... Qxc6 $6 20. Rxc6 $16 {[%csl Gc6][%cal Rc6a6]})) 19... exd5 {Ftacnik:
Svidler was already facing a very difficult choice. His solution with hope for
counterplay will be convincingly refuted.} (19... Bf8 $5 {Ftacnik} 20. Bg2 (20.
dxe6 Qxe6 21. e5 Ne8 22. Nd4 Qh6 23. Nc6 Qxf4 24. Be4 g6 25. Nxb8 Rxb8 $13)
20... exd5 21. e5 Ng4 22. Rxd5 Qe7 23. Nd4 $16) 20. e5 Ne8 {Donev: Der arme
Springer. Sein Schicksal ist es, die ganze Partie ьber am Rand zu bleiben.} (
20... Ng4 {Ftacnik} 21. Rxd5 Qe6 22. Nd4 $18) 21. Rxd5 {[%csl Gd5,Rd7] Die
schwarze Dame findet keinen guten Platz. WeiЯ erfreut sich nicht nur groЯen
Raumvorteils, sondern auch der besseren Figurenkoordination. Donev: WeiЯ hat
eine ьberlegene Stellung - er hat den besseren Bf3 (als Be7), den besseren Ne2
(als Ne8) und dazu noch Druck auf den schwachen Pc7.} Qh3 (21... Qe6 22. Nd4
$16 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5,Re6]}) 22. Bg2 Qh4 (22... Qg4 {Ftacnik} 23. h3 Qh4 24. Nd4
$1 $16) {[#]} 23. Nd4 $1 $16 {Ftacnik: Impressive manouver, white knight aims
for the best square on the board. Black's pieces will face enemy in top
coordination. WeiЯ stellt mit diesem Zug sehr unangenehme Drohungen auf, z.B.
24.Nf5 und 24.Nc6. Donev: Die vielseitigen Drohungen von Nc6 und Nf5 lassen
Schwarz keine groЯe Wahl. So findet Schwarz keine Zeit fьr den befreienden Zug
c7-c5.} (23. Qe4 {Ftacnik} c5 24. f5 Qxe4 25. Bxe4 Rd8 $1 $14) 23... Qxf4 (
23... c5 $2 {Ftacnik} 24. Nf5 $18) 24. Nc6 {[%csl Gc6,Gd5,Rf4][%cal Rc6e7,
Rc6b8]} Bh4 (24... Bg5 25. Rcd1 Rb6 26. R5d4 $18 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Rd4f4] Und
die schwarze Dame hat kein Feld!} (26. R1d4 {Ftacnik} Rxc6 27. Qxc6 Qc1+ 28.
Qxc1 Bxc1 29. Rd8 $18)) 25. Rcd1 $1 {Donev: Die schwarzen Figuren stehen sehr
schlecht, und Kramnik nьtzt dies in blendender Manier aus. Denn nun stehen
auch noch die schwarze Qf4 und der Bh4 schlecht.} (25. Rd4 $4 Bxf2+ 26. Qxf2
Qxc1+ $17) (25. Nxb8 {Ftacnik} Rxb8 26. Rcd1 $16) 25... Rb6 (25... Ra8 26. R5d4
Qh6 (26... Qg5 27. Qe4 $18 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Rd4h4]}) 27. Qe4 {[%csl Rh4][%cal
Rd4h4]} Bg5 28. h4 $18 {[%csl Rg5]}) 26. R5d4 Rxc6 {Ftacnik: Black was in
danger of beeing punished by the strong kingside attack.} (26... Qg5 27. Qe4 {
[%csl Rh4][%cal Rd4h4]} (27. Qe4 {Ftacnik} Qh6 28. e6 Bf6 29. exf7+ Kxf7 30.
Qd5+ Kf8 31. Qc5+ Nd6 32. Rxd6 cxd6 33. Qxd6+ $18)) (26... Qh6 27. Qf5 {
[%csl Rc8]} Ra8 28. Ne7+ (28. Rf4 $18 {[%cal Yf5f7] Donev}) (28. Rf4 $18 {
Ftacnik}) 28... Bxe7 29. Bxa8 $18) 27. Bxc6 (27. Qxc6 {Ftacnik} Bxf2+ 28. Kh1
Bxd4 29. Qd7 Bxe5 $19) 27... Qxe5 (27... Qg5+ {Ftacnik} 28. Kh1 $18) 28. Bd7
$18 (28. Rxh4 $4 Qg5+ $17 {[%cal Rg5h4,Rg5g1]} (28... Qg5+ {Ftacnik} 29. Bg2
Qxh4 $19)) 28... Rd8 (28... Qg5+ {Ftacnik} 29. Rg4 $18) 29. Rxh4 {Und Schwarz
gab in verlorener Stellung auf. Ribli.} (29. Rxh4 Rxd7 (29... Nf6 {Ftacnik} 30.
Bc6 Qg5+ 31. Kh1 Rxd1+ 32. Qxd1 Qxh4 33. Qd8+ $18) 30. Qxh7+ (30. Rxd7 Qg5+ 31.
Kf1 $16) 30... Kf8 31. Rxd7 Qg5+ 32. Kf1 Qc1+ 33. Kg2 Qg5+ 34. Kh3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Nxc3 8.
Qxc3 Nc6 9. a3 Bd7 10. Be2 Rc8 11. O-O Na5 12. Qd3 Ba4 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14. Be3
Nb3 15. Bd1 a6 16. Bxb3 Bxb3 17. Rac1 Bd6 18. Bb6 Ra8 19. Nd4 Ba4 20. Rc4 Bd7
21. Rd1 O-O 22. e5 Bb5 23. Nxb5 axb5 24. Re4 Be7 25. Rd7 Rfc8 26. g3 Bf8 27.
Rxb7 Rc2 28. b4 g5 29. Be3 h6 30. Rxb5 Rxa3 31. h4 Be7 32. Rb7 Kf8 33. b5 Raa2
34. b6 Bc5 35. Bxc5+ Rxc5 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. Re3 g4 38. Re4 Rc1+ 39. Kg2 Raa1
40. Rxg4 Rg1+ 41. Kf3 Ra3+ 42. Kf4 Rf1 43. Rb8+ Ke7 44. Rgg8 Rxf2+ 45. Kg4 Rb3
46. Rb7# 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 d6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bd2 Be6 8.
O-O-O Nd7 9. Ng5 Bxc4 10. e4 Bxf1 11. Rhxf1 Nh6 12. f4 c6 13. fxe5 Ke7 14. Nf3
Ng4 15. Bg5+ Ke8 16. e6 fxe6 17. Rd6 Nf8 18. Rfd1 Bf6 19. e5 Bxg5+ 20. Nxg5
Nxe5 21. Nxe6 Ke7 22. Nd8 Rb8 23. Ne4 Nfd7 24. Re6+ Kxd8 25. Rxe5 Rf8 26. Nc5
Rf7 27. Re3 b6 28. Rf3 Rxf3 29. Nxd7 Rf2 30. Nxb8+ Kc7 31. Na6+ Kb7 32. Nb4 c5
33. Nc2 Kc6 34. Rd2 Rf1+ 35. Rd1 Rf2 36. Rg1 g5 37. h3 h5 38. Ne1 c4 39. Nf3 c3
40. bxc3 Rxa2 41. Kb1 Rf2 42. Nxg5 Kd5 43. g4 h4 44. Rd1+ Kc4 45. Ne4 Rh2 46.
g5 Kb3 47. Rg1 a5 48. g6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 Bf5 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rab1 a5 12. a3 Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. b4 b5
15. Qc2 axb4 16. axb4 Nd6 17. Rb3 Nb6 18. Ne5 Rfc8 19. Nd3 Nbc4 20. Nc5 Re8 21.
h3 g6 22. Rc1 Ra7 23. Qd1 h5 24. Kh1 Qg5 25. Rbb1 Rae7 26. Ra1 Nf5 27. Ra2
Ncxe3 28. fxe3 Rxe3 29. Rf2 Qh4 30. Qd2 Nxd4 31. Rcf1 Nf5 32. Rxf5 gxf5 33. Nd1
Re1 34. Kg1 R8e2 35. Qc3 Rxd1 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Be3 a5 14. bxa5 Qxa5 15.
Qb3 cxd5 16. cxd5 h6 17. a4 b5 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 fxe4 20. Be2 bxa4 21. Rxa4
Qc7 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 Rfb8 24. Rb4 Rxb4 25. Qxb4 Qa5 26. Bd2 Qxb4 27. Bxb4
Rd8 28. Rd1 Nf5 29. g4 Nd4 30. Bc4 Kf8 31. Ra1 Bf6 32. Kg2 Be7 33. Bd5 Rb8 34.
Bd2 g5 35. Ra7 Rb5 36. Ba2 d5 37. Bc3 Nc6 38. Rc7 Rc5 39. Bxd5 Rxc3 40. Bxc6 e4
41. Kf1 e3 42. fxe3 Rxe3 43. Bd5 Rh3 44. Rc2 Bf6 45. Rc8+ Ke7 46. Rc7+ Kd6 47.
Rd7+ Ke5 48. e7 Bxe7 49. Bg2 Ke6 50. Rxe7+ Kxe7 51. Bxh3 Kf6 52. Bg2 h5 53. h3
Ke5 54. Bf3 Kf4 55. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 e6 4. d4 d5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
O-O Nge7 9. Nbd2 Bg4 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. Qh4 O-O 13. Bd3 Bf5 14. Bxf5
Nxf5 15. Qh5 g6 16. Qh3 Re8 17. Bd2 h5 18. Rad1 Qd6 19. Nh4 Nxh4 20. Qxh4 Re4
21. Qg3 Qe6 22. Rfe1 Re8 23. h3 h4 24. Qg5 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 26. Bxe1 Rxe1+
27. Kh2 Bxf2 28. g4 hxg3+ 29. Kg2 Ne5 30. h4 Rg1+ 31. Kh3 Rh1+ 32. Kg2 Rh2+ 33.
Kf1 g2+ 34. Kxf2 g1=Q+ 35. Kxg1 Nf3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nde2 e6 8.
Bb3 Be7 9. Qd3 a6 10. Qg3 Qc7 11. O-O g6 12. Bh6 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. Qh3 Na5 15.
Bg7 Nxb3 16. Bxh8 Nxa1 17. Rxa1 h5 18. Qf3 Ng4 19. h3 Ne5 20. Qe3 O-O-O 21. Qh6
Qd7 22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Qg7 Bd6 24. Rd1 Qe7 25. Rd3 g5 26. Qh6 h4 27. Qh5 Bc7 28.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Nc1 f6 30. Qe2 Bb6 31. Kf1 Bd4 32. Nd1 f5 33. f3 fxe4 34. fxe4
Qf6+ 35. Qf3 Qf4 36. Ne2 Qxe4 37. Qxe4 Bxe4 38. c3 Bb6 39. Nf2 Bf5 40. Ng4 e4
41. Ke1 Kd7 42. Kd2 Kd6 43. Ne3 Bg6 44. Nd4 Bh5 45. a4 Bxd4 46. cxd4 e5 47.
axb5 exd4 48. Nf5+ Ke5 49. bxa6 e3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nb3 Qe7 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. O-O O-O 14. a3 Bd6
15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Bf4 17. Ne2 e5 18. Nxf4 exf4 19. f3 Be6 20. Bf2 Rfd8 21. Nc5
Ne5 22. Qb1 Bc4 23. Rd1 Rac8 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Qc1 Ne3 27. Bxe3
fxe3 28. Qxe3 b6 29. Nd3 Rc2 30. Rd1 Qe7 31. Rc1 Qc7 32. Rxc2 Qxc2 33. h4 Nd7
34. Kh2 Nf8 35. f4 h5 36. f5 Qc4 37. Nf4 g6 38. Nd5 Kh7 39. Qg5 Qd4 40. Qe7 Kg8
41. Qe8 Qf2 42. Kh3 Qf1 43. f6 Qh1+ 44. Kg3 Qe1+ 45. Kf3 Qf1+ 46. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. Rd1 a6 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5
15. Bxb5 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Qe7 17. Be2 Be5 18. Bf3 c5 19. Re1 Rfe8 20. Kg1 Rad8 21.
Bg5 h6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. Rad1 Qf4 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Rd1 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Bd4 27.
Qb3 Rb8 28. Qa4 a5 29. Qc4 Bd5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O d4 13. e4 Bg4 14. h3 Bh5
15. g4 Bg6 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Re1 Re8 18. Kg2 Bc7 19. Qd2 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Qe7 21. b4
f6 22. Bc4+ Kh8 23. Bd5 Ne5 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rd1 Nxf3 26. Qxf3 Rc3 27. Qf4 Qe5
28. Qxe5 fxe5 29. Bxb7 Be8 30. a4 Rc7 31. Bd5 Bxa4 32. Ra1 Bb5 33. g5 g6 34. f4
h6 35. fxe5 hxg5 36. e6 Kg7 37. e5 a6 38. Kf3 Kf8 39. Rd1 d3 40. Ke3 Rc2 41.
Rf1+ Ke8 42. Be4 Re2+ 43. Kd4 d2 44. Bxg6+ Ke7 45. Rf7+ Kxe6 46. Rf6+ Ke7 47.
Rf7+ Kd8 48. Bc2 Re1 49. e6 Rxe6 50. Rf8+ Ke7 51. Rg8 Rc6 52. Bd1 Rc1 53. Rxg5
Rxd1 54. Rg2 Rb1 55. Rxd2 Rxb4+ 56. Kc5 Rb3 57. Kb6 Rxh3 58. Rd1 Ra3 59. Rd5
Ke6 60. Rg5 Kd6 61. Rh5 Bc4 62. Rg5 Rb3+ 63. Ka7 Kc6 64. Rh5 Rb7+ 65. Ka8 Rg7
66. Rf5 Kb6 67. Rf6+ Kb5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf4 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Ra7 14. Rfd1 Rd7
15. Rab1 Qc7 16. Qd4 O-O 17. Qxb6 Rc8 18. Qxc7 Rdxc7 19. Rxd6 Rxc4 20. Bb7 Rf8
21. Rb3 Ra4 22. a3 g6 23. Bf3 Rc4 24. Rdb6 Rcc8 25. Rb1 Kg7 26. a4 Nd7 27. Rxa6
Rxc3 28. Ra1 Ne5 29. Be4 Rfc8 30. a5 R8c4 31. f3 f5 32. Bb7 Rc1+ 33. Rxc1 Rxc1+
34. Kf2 Ra1 35. Ra8 Ra2 36. a6 Nd3+ 37. Ke3 Nc5 38. Kd4 Rc2 39. Re8 Nb3+ 40.
Ke3 Ra2 41. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "Chess Classics Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D92"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Rc1 dxc4 7. e4 b5 8. Nxb5
Nxe4 9. Bxc7 Qd7 10. Bxc4 Nc6 11. d5 Nb4 12. Be5 Bh6 13. O-O Ba6 14. Nc7 Bxc1
15. Qxc1 Nd3 16. Bxd3 Bxd3 17. Rd1 Be2 18. Re1 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nd6 20. Nxa8 Rxa8
21. Qc6 Qd8 22. Qa4 Nf5 23. Qe4 Rc8 24. Bc3 h5 25. Qe5 Kh7 26. Rd1 Rc4 27. Kf1
Rc8 28. a4 Qd7 29. a5 a6 30. Re1 Rd8 31. Rd1 f6 32. Qe4 Qb5+ 33. Kg2 e5 34. f4
Nh4+ 35. Kh1 Qb3 36. Re1 Qxd5 37. Qxd5 Rxd5 38. fxe5 fxe5 39. Rxe5 Rd7 40. f4
Kg8 41. Re3 Rd1+ 42. Re1 Rd5 43. Rb1 Kf7 44. b4 Nf5 45. b5 axb5 46. a6 Ne7 47.
a7 Rd8 48. Rxb5 Ra8 49. Bd4 Nc6 50. Be3 Ke6 51. Rb7 Kd6 52. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Chess Classics Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1998.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ne5 f6 12. Bg4 Bc8 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Nf3 c5 15.
Qe2 Re8 16. Nxd5 Bd6 17. Nxb4 Ng3 18. Qd3 Nxf1 19. Nd5 Nxh2 20. Nxh2 Re1+ 21.
Nf1 Qe8 22. Bf4 Rxa1 23. Bxd6 Qe1 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Nxc8 Rd1 26. Qf5 Qxf1+ 27.
Kh2 Qh1+ 28. Kg3 Rg1 29. Qd5 g5 30. Ne7 Qh4+ 31. Kf3 Qh5+ 32. Ke4 Qg4+ 33. Kd3
Qxd4+ 34. Qxd4 cxd4 35. g3 Rg2 36. Bc5 Rxf2 37. Bxd4 Rf3+ 38. Ke4 g4 39. Nf5 h5
40. b4 Ra3 41. Bxf6+ Kh7 42. b5 Rxa2 43. c5 Rc2 44. c6 bxc6 45. Nd4 Rf2 46. Be5
cxb5 47. Nxb5 a5 48. Nc3 Kg6 49. Bc7 Rf3 50. Bxa5 Rxg3 51. Ne2 Ra3 52. Nf4+ Kh6
53. Bd8 Ra4+ 54. Kf5 g3 55. Bg5+ Kh7 56. Bh4 g2 57. Nxg2 Rg4 58. Nf4 Rxh4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.06.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Kostakiev,D} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qd8 12. d5 Ne5 13. Bc3 (
13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 (14... Nxd7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. O-O $14) 15. O-O (15.
Bc3 Qg4 (15... Rc8 16. O-O Nf3+ 17. gxf3 Rxc3 18. Nxc3 Bxc3 19. Rc1 Be5 20. Kg2
$13) 16. O-O (16. Qa4+ Qd7 17. Qb3 Qg4 18. Qxb7 O-O $17) 16... Qxe4 17. Ng3 Qf4
18. Re1 {/\ Re4} Nf3+ 19. Qxf3 Qxf3 20. Bxg7 Qxd5 21. Bxh8 Rc8 $6 (21... Kf8
22. Bb2 Re8 23. Ba3 f5 24. Rxe7 Rxe7 25. Re1 Qxa2 26. Bxe7+ Kf7 $13) 22. Bf6
Rc7 23. Ne4 {/\ Be7!} Qa5 24. Bg5 $1 f5 25. Bd2 $1 (25. Nd2 e5 $13) 25... Qa6
26. Ng5 h6 27. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Veingold,A-Dvoirys,S/Budapest/1989/ (36)}) 15...
O-O 16. Bc3 Rfc8 (16... Rac8) 17. f4 Ng4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qd4+ Kg8 20. h3 Qb5
21. Ng3 Rc4 22. Qd2 Nf6 {Larsen,B-Lombardy,W/Zuerich/1961/0-1 (96)}) (13. Rc1
O-O 14. O-O Nxc4 15. Rxc4 e6 16. Bc3 $1 $14 exd5 17. exd5 Bd7 $2 (17... b6) 18.
Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nc3 $1 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. Ne4 $1 f5 22. Qd4+ Kg8 23. Nc3 $1
Qf6 24. Qb4 b6 25. Rd1 $16 {1-0 Rashkovsky,N-Dvoirys,S/USSR-ch/1986/ (51)})
13... O-O 14. Bb3 Qb6 (14... Bd7 15. f4 Ng4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qd4+ Kg8 18. h3
Qa5+ 19. Kf1 Nf6 20. e5 Ne8 21. Kg1 {1/2-1/2 Donner,J-Ree,H/NLD-ch/1977/ (42)})
15. f4 $146 (15. O-O Bg4 16. h3 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Rfc8 18. Rac1 a5 19. Bd2 h5 20.
Kh1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 a4 22. Bd1 Nd7 23. Rc4 Qb1 {1/2-1/2 Shneider,A-Huzman,A/
URS-sf Ukraine-ch/1989/ (41)}) 15... Ng4 (15... Nd7 $5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qd4+
Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Nc5 19. Bc2 Rd8 $11) 16. Bd4 (16. Bxg7 Qf2+ 17. Kd2 Kxg7 18. Qg1
Bd7 $15) 16... Qa5+ (16... Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Rd8 (18... Nf6 19. e5
Ne4 (19... Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Rd8 21. Nb5) 20. Rc1 $14) 19. Ke2 e5 20. fxe5 Nxe5 $13
) 17. Qd2 Qxd2+ 18. Kxd2 {[#]} e5 $2 {A very illustrative mistake, white will
be able to build a dominating pawn chain in the center.} (18... Bxd4 19. Nxd4
Rd8 20. h3 Nf6 21. Ke3 $14) (18... Nf6 19. e5 (19. Bxf6 {Kostakiev,D} Bxf6 20.
Rac1 $16) 19... Ne4+ 20. Ke3) 19. h3 $1 (19. fxe5 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Nxe5 21. Rhc1
$13) 19... exd4 20. hxg4 g5 (20... d3 21. Nc3 Re8 22. Rae1 (22. e5 Bxg4 23.
Kxd3 f6 $1 $13) 22... Bxg4 23. Kxd3 $16) (20... Bxg4 21. e5 Bxe2 22. Kxe2 Rac8
23. Rad1 $16) 21. g3 Bxg4 (21... d3 22. Nc3 Bxg4 23. Kxd3 Bf3 24. Rhe1 $16) 22.
e5 Bxe2 (22... Bf3 23. Rhf1 g4 (23... Be4 24. d6 $16) 24. d6 $1 $16) 23. Kxe2
Rfc8 24. Rad1 (24. Kd3 $2 Rc3+ 25. Kxd4 Rxg3 $17) 24... Rc3 25. Rd3 Rac8 (25...
Rd8 26. d6 $16) (25... b5 $142 {Kostakiev,D}) 26. d6 {Black is technically
pawn up, but his pieces are not getting anywhere. On the contrary Kramnik is
eying f7 and h7 weaknesses and his cenral pawns are already quite far.} b5 (
26... Rd8 27. Rxc3 dxc3 28. Rc1 gxf4 (28... h5 29. Rxc3 h4 30. Rc7 hxg3 31.
Rxf7 Kh8 32. e6 g2 33. e7 g1=Q 34. exd8=Q+ Kh7 35. Bc2+ Kh6 36. Qh8+ Bxh8 37.
Rh7#) (28... Rc8 29. e6 $18) 29. gxf4 Bh6 30. Kf3 Rc8 31. e6 $18) (26... Kf8
27. Rxh7 $16) (26... Re8 27. Rxc3 dxc3 28. Kd3 Rd8 29. Rc1 h5 30. Rxc3 h4 31.
gxh4 gxh4 32. Rc7 $18) 27. Rxc3 dxc3 28. e6 $1 Kf8 (28... Rb8 29. e7 Bf6 30.
fxg5 Bxg5 31. Rf1 c2 32. Kd3 c1=Q 33. Rxc1 Bxc1 34. d7 $18) (28... Bf6 29. e7 (
29. fxg5 {Kostakiev,D} Bxg5 30. e7 $16) 29... Re8 (29... Bxe7 30. dxe7 Re8 31.
Kd3 Rxe7 32. Kxc3 Re3+ 33. Kb4 Rxg3 34. fxg5 Rxg5 35. Rf1 Rg7 36. Kxb5 $18) 30.
Bd5 Bxe7 31. Bc6 Bxd6+ 32. Bxe8 $18) (28... c2 29. d7 Rf8 30. e7 $18) (28...
gxf4 {Kostakiev,D} 29. d7 $18) 29. e7+ Ke8 {[#]} 30. Bxf7+ $1 (30. Bxf7+ $1
Kxf7 (30... Kd7 31. f5 (31. Rxh7 $18 {Kostakiev,D} c2 32. e8=Q+ Rxe8+ 33. Bxe8+
Kxe8 34. Kd2 $18) 31... Rb8 32. Rxh7 Bf6 33. Bh5 $18) 31. d7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.07.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf4 c6 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. Qc2 (10. Nd3 c5 11. dxc5 $5 (11. Ba2 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13.
Qe2 $11 {1/2-1/2 Christiansen,L-Benjamin,J/USA-ch f 1997/CBM 61 (35)})) (10.
O-O e5 $11) 10... e5 11. Nfe2 exd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. Be2 Bc5 14. Nf5 g6 15. Ng3
Bg4 16. O-O Bxe2 17. Ncxe2 Qe7 18. b3 Rad8 19. Bb2 Rfe8 20. Nd4 Bd6 21. h3 Ned7
22. Nge2 Qe4 23. Rac1 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 Be5 25. Bc1 Ne4 26. b4 Nb6 27. Nb3 Rd3 28.
Na5 Re7 29. g4 Nd6 30. Kg2 Nb5 31. Ra2 Nd5 32. Nc4 Bf6 33. Rd2 Rxd2 34. Nxd2 b6
35. Kf3 Bg7 36. Ne4 Kf8 37. a4 Nbc3 38. N2xc3 Nxc3 39. Nxc3 Bxc3 40. Ba3 Re6
41. Rc1 Bf6 42. b5+ c5 43. Rc4 Rd6 44. Ke2 Be7 45. Bb2 Rd7 46. Bc3 a6 47. bxa6
Ra7 48. Kd3 Rxa6 49. Ke4 Ra7 50. Kd5 Rd7+ 51. Kc6 Rd6+ 52. Kc7 $2 (52. Kb5 $14)
52... Re6 53. e4 Ke8 54. e5 Bd8+ 55. Kc8 $2 (55. Kb7 $11) 55... Re7 $1 56. f4
Rc7+ 57. Kb8 Kd7 58. e6+ (58. Z0 Kc6) 58... Kxe6 59. Re4+ Kd7 60. Be5 Rc6 61.
Ka7 $4 (61. Re1 $15) 61... Re6 $1 $19 62. Re1 Kc6 63. Rd1 Bc7 64. Ka6 Re8 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.07.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kramnik Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O
7. e3 b6 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qe2 c5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Rad1 (
13. Rac1 $5 {Ftacnik}) 13... Nxg3 (13... cxd4 $6 14. Bxe4 $1 dxe4 15. Nxd4 $14
{0-1 Belov,I-Donev,I/Pravec 1989 (32)} (15. Nxd4 {Ftacnik} Qc8 16. Nf5 $16 {
Belov,I-Donev,I /Pravec/1989/})) (13... Ndf6 $5 {Meiner Meinung nach ist diese
Fortsetzung sicherer als die Partiefortsetzung. So wird der starke Ne4
unterstьtzt.} 14. dxc5 {Ftacnik} Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bxc5 16. Nd4 Qe7 17. Bh4 Qe5 18.
f4 Qd6 19. Nb3 Rfe8 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21. c4 Qe6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. e4
c4 25. Bb1 $14 {Vyzmanavin,A-Petrosian,A /Palma de Mallorca/1989/}) 14. hxg3 a6
$146 {Selbstverstдndlich ist die positionelle Drohung Bd3-Ba6 unangenehm, aber
die gewдhlte Fortsetzung vom Nachziehenden ist ein wenig langsam.} (14... Nf6
15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Ba6 Qb6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Rd2 (18. Ne5 $5 {Ftacnik} Rfd8 19.
Nd3 $14) 18... Rfd8 19. Rfd1 (19. Rc1 {Ftacnik} Rac8 20. Ne5 d4 $10) 19... Rd6
20. Ne1 Rad8 21. Nd3 Ne4 22. Rc2 Bf6 23. Nf4 Bxc3 24. bxc3 {Vyzmanavin,A-Kolev,
A/Elenite 1993/[Belov]/1-0 (40)}) (14... Bf6 {Ftacnik} 15. Bb1 Re8 16. Rd2 a6
17. Rc1 Rc8 18. Qd1 c4 19. Nh2 g6 20. a4 Bc6 21. Ng4 h5 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. b3
b5 24. bxc4 bxc4 25. Qf3 {Vyzmanavin,A-Pigusov,E/Moscow-B/1987/1-0 (91)}) (
14... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 15. Bc2 Rad8 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Nd4 Bf6 18. Qg4 Rfe8 19. Rc1
Qe5 20. Rfd1 g6 21. b4 h5 22. Qf3 Ne4 23. Ba4 {1-0 Vyzmanavin,A-Geller,E/
Sochi-A/1989/ (37)}) (14... cxd4 {Ftacnik} 15. Nxd4 Bb4 16. Ncb5 a6 17. Nc2 Bc5
18. Nbd4 Re8 19. Rd2 Ne5 20. b3 Qf6 21. Qd1 Nxd3 22. Rxd3 Rac8 {Zoler,
D-Klovans,J/Schwarzach opA/1997/0-1 (49)}) (14... c4 $5 {Kramnik}) 15. dxc5
bxc5 {Die sogenannten hдngenden Bauern d5+c5, die in dieser Stellung eher
schwдcher als stдrker sind. Die weiЯen Figuren sind besser platziert 
(vergleichen Sie Qe2 mit Qd8; Rd1 mit Rf8), aber dafьr besitzt der
Nachziehende das Lдuferpaar. Es ist lehrreich wie Kramnik seine Figuren
umgruppiert um die hдngenden Bauern abzuschwдchen.} (15... Nxc5 $2 16. Bc4 $1
$16 {der Bauer d5 geht verloren.}) (15... Bxc5 16. Bc2 (16. Bb1 {Ftacnik} Nf6
17. Nd4 (17. a3 Qc7 18. Ba2 Bxa3 $1 $15) 17... Re8 18. Nf5 $13) 16... Nf6 17.
Bb3 $16 (17. e4 {Kramnik})) 16. Bb1 {[%cal Yd1d8]} (16. e4 {Kramnik} d4 17. Nb1
{/\Nb1-d2-c4+/=}) 16... Nb6 (16... Nf6 $6 17. Nxd5 $5 (17. e4 d4 18. e5 Nd5 19.
Qc2 g6 20. Ne4 Qb6 $15) 17... Nxd5 18. e4 $16 {WeiЯ bekommt die geopferte
Figur mit Zinsen zurьck.} (18. e4 {Ftacnik} Qd6 19. exd5 Rad8 $14)) 17. a4 $1 {
[%cal Yb1a2,Ya2d5,Ya4a5,Ya5b6] Ftacnik: Black should not have great problems
with two bishops despite hanging pawns, but the "a" pawn can disturb the
coordination of his pieces. Dieser starke Zug bedient zwei Ziele: a) stellt
die potentielle Drohung a4-a5 auf b) rдumt das Feld a2 fьr den Bb1} (17. Qc2 {
Kramnik} g6 18. Nxd5 $5 Bxd5 (18... Nxd5 $5 19. e4 Nb4 20. Rxd8 Nxc2 $14) 19.
e4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Qc7) 17... Bf6 (17... a5 $5 {Ftacnik} 18. Qc2 g6 (18... f5 19.
g4 $1 Qd6 20. gxf5 $14) 19. Nxd5 (19. Ba2 $36 {Kramnik} Bf6 20. e4 $5) 19...
Nxd5 20. e4 Ra6 21. exd5 Bxd5 $11) 18. Qc2 g6 19. a5 (19. Ne4 {Ftacnik} c4 20.
b3 a5 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Rd4 $11) (19. Ba2 {Kramnik} Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Nxa4 (20...
c4 21. a5 Nd7 22. b3 $16) 21. Qc2 Nb6 22. Qxc5 $16) 19... Nc4 (19... Bxc3 20.
Qxc3 $1 Nd7 (20... Nc4 21. Ba2 Qxa5 22. Qxa5 Nxa5 23. Bxd5 $14) 21. Ba2 c4 22.
e4 $5) 20. Nxd5 $2 {Gibt dem Nachziehendem Gegenchancen. Die logische
Fortsetzung die den weissen Vorteil behaupten kцnnte, wдre:} (20. e4 $142 $5
Bxc3 (20... d4 21. Na4 Nxa5 22. Nxc5 $14) (20... Qxa5 21. Nxd5 (21. exd5 Qb4
$11) 21... Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Qb4 23. e5 Bg7 24. Ba2 $18) 21. Qxc3 Qxa5 22. Qc1 $1 {
Kramnik} (22. exd5 {Ftacnik} Qxc3 23. bxc3 $14) (22. Qxa5 {Donev} Nxa5 23. exd5
$14) 22... Kg7 (22... dxe4 $2 23. Qxh6 exf3 24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Rd7
$18) 23. exd5 $36) 20... Nxb2 (20... Bxd5 {Ftacnik} 21. e4 Bxe4 $2 22. Qxc4 $18
) 21. Nxf6+ (21. Rd2 {Ftacnik} Bxd5 22. Qxc5 Rc8 23. Qxd5 Nc4 $11) 21... Qxf6
22. Rd2 Bxf3 (22... c4 $2 {Ftacnik} 23. Qxb2 c3 24. Qa1 $18) 23. gxf3 (23. Qxb2
{Kramnik} Qxb2 24. Rxb2 Bd5 25. Rc1) 23... Rab8 {Man kann sagen, dass die
grцЯten Probleme des Nachziehenden vorbei sind.} (23... c4 $4 {Kramnik} 24.
Qxb2 c3 25. Qa1 $18) 24. f4 {Ftacnik: Kramnik plays with a clear concept of
squaring the misplaced knight b2.} (24. Qxc5 $5 {Ftacnik} Rfc8 $1 (24... Qxf3
25. Qd4 Rb5 (25... Qb7 26. Ba2 Rfd8 27. Bd5 Qb5 28. Qf4 $18) 26. Be4 Qg4 27.
Rc1 $14) (24... Rb5 $1 {Kramnik} 25. Qd4 (25. Qc7 Qxf3 {/\Rb5-h5}) 25... Qxd4
26. Rxd4 Rxa5 27. Be4) 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 Nc4 27. Bd3 Nd2 28. Bxa6 Nxf3+ 29.
Kg2 Nxd4 30. Bxc8 Nc6 31. Bh3 Nxa5 $11) 24... c4 25. e4 (25. f5 {Ftacnik} g5
$13) {Mit folgenden genauen Zьgen neutralisiert Schwarz die weiЯe Initiative.}
25... Rfd8 $1 (25... c3 $2 {Ftacnik} 26. e5 Qc6 27. Rd6 Qc7 28. Rc1 Rfc8 29.
Ba2 $18) 26. e5 Rxd2 27. Qxd2 (27. exf6 $2 {Ftacnik} Rxc2 28. Bxc2 Rd8 $15)
27... Qd8 28. Qe2 (28. Qxd8+ {Ftacnik} Rxd8 29. e6 Rd6 30. exf7+ Kxf7 $11) (28.
Qc3 $2 {Ftacnik} Rb3 $1) 28... Qd4 $1 (28... Qxa5 {Ftacnik} 29. e6 $1 (29. f5
gxf5 30. Bxf5 Kf8 31. Bh3 Nd3 32. e6 $11) (29. f5 $36 {Kramnik}) 29... Qd5 30.
e7 Qb5 31. f5 gxf5 32. Bxf5 Qxf5 (32... Re8 $2 33. Qg4+ Kh8 34. Bd7 $18) 33.
e8=Q+ Rxe8 34. Qxe8+ Kh7 35. Ra1 $14) 29. e6 {Ftacnik: Important factor is the
chance to open the kingside and use the potential of the long range bishop b1.}
(29. f5 $5 {Kramnik} Nd3 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. e6) 29... Nd3 30. Bc2 (30. Rd1 {
Ftacnik} Rd8 $1 (30... Rb2 $1 {Kramnik} 31. exf7+ Kg7 (31... Kxf7 $2 32. Bxd3
cxd3 (32... Rxe2 33. Bxg6+) 33. Rxd3 $16) 32. Bc2 Qxf2+ $1) 31. e7 Re8 32. Bxd3
cxd3 33. Rxd3 Rxe7 34. Rxd4 Rxe2 35. Rd6 Re6 $11) (30. exf7+ {Kramnik} Kxf7 31.
f5 $6 gxf5 32. Qh5+ Kg7 33. Qxf5 Rf8) (30. Ba2 $5 {Kramnik} Rb2 31. Qe3 Qxe3
32. fxe3 $1 fxe6 (32... c3 $5 33. e7 Rb8 34. Bc4) 33. Bxc4 Nc5 $14) 30... fxe6
(30... f5 {Ftacnik} 31. Ba4 $1 c3 32. e7 Qxa4 33. Qxd3 Qc6 34. Rc1 Re8 35. Rxc3
Qe6 36. Rc7 Rxe7 37. Rxe7 Qxe7 38. Qxa6 $16) (30... Re8 $5 31. exf7+ {Kramnik}
(31. f5 {Ftacnik} Kg7 32. Qf3 Rf8 (32... gxf5 33. exf7 Re5 34. Qa8 Kxf7 35.
Qxa6 $14) 33. Qb7 gxf5 34. e7 Re8 35. Ba4 Nc5 36. Qa7 Rxe7 37. Qxe7 Nxa4 $13)
31... Kxf7 32. Qf3 $36 Ne1 $2 33. Qb7+ Re7 34. Bxg6+ Kf6 35. Qxa6+ Re6 36. Qb5
$1) 31. Qxe6+ Kg7 (31... Kh7 $2 {Ftacnik} 32. Qf7+ Qg7 33. Qxc4 $18) 32. Ba4 (
32. f5 {Ftacnik} gxf5 33. Qxf5 $2 Rf8 $19) (32. Qxa6 $6 {Kramnik} Rb2 33. Bxd3
cxd3 $11) 32... c3 $4 (32... Nxf2 $2 {Kramnik} 33. Rxf2 Qa1+ (33... Rb2 34.
Qe5+) 34. Kg2 Qxa4 35. Qe5+ $18) (32... Nc5 $5 {Ftacnik} 33. Qe7+ Kg8 34. Bc2 (
34. Be8 Rb7 35. Qe3 (35. Qe2 Kg7 36. Rd1 Nd3 $15) 35... Qxe3 36. fxe3 Kg7 37.
Rc1 Rb4 $15) 34... Nd3 $13) (32... Rb1 $2 {Kramnik} 33. Rxb1 Qxf2+ 34. Kh1 Qf3+
35. Kh2 Qf2+ 36. Kh3 Nxf4+ 37. gxf4 Qf3+ 38. Kh2 Qf2+ 39. Kh1 Qf3+ 40. Kg1 Qg3+
41. Kf1 $18) (32... Rb2 $6 {Kramnik} 33. Qe7+ Kh8 (33... Kg8 34. Bd7 $1) 34.
Qf8+ Kh7 35. f5 $1 $16) (32... Rf8 $142 33. Be8 $1 (33. Qxa6 Nxf2 34. Qb6 $13)
33... Qf6 (33... Rf6 $10 34. Qe7+ Kg8 35. Bc6) 34. Qxc4 Nxf4 (34... Nxf2 {
Kramnik} 35. Bd7 Qd6 (35... Rd8 36. Bc8 $5) 36. Rxf2 (36. Bc8 $5) 36... Qxd7
37. Qxa6 $16) 35. Bd7 Qd6 $14) 33. Bc2 $1 {Jetzt entscheidet die Fesselung des
Nd3, der nicht mehr vom c4 Bauer gedeckt ist.} (33. Bb3 $5 {Ftacnik} Qf6 34.
Qc4 Nc5 35. Ba2 $16) 33... Rb2 (33... Rf8 {Ftacnik} 34. Qxa6 Rd8 35. Qb7+ Rd7
36. Qb6 $16) (33... Rd8 {Kramnik} 34. Qxa6) 34. Qe7+ Kg8 (34... Kh8 {Ftacnik}
35. f5 $1 gxf5 (35... Rxc2 36. f6 $18) 36. Qf8+ Kh7 37. Qxf5+ $18) 35. Qe2 $18
Nxf4 (35... Nc5 36. Qe8+ Kg7 37. Qxg6+ Kf8 38. Rd1 $18) (35... Nb4 {Ftacnik}
36. Qe8+ Kg7 37. Re1 $18) 36. gxf4 Kf7 (36... Qxf4 {Ftacnik} 37. Qe8+ Qf8 38.
Qxg6+ $18) 37. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vasquez Schroder, Rodrigo Rafael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 b6 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. Qe2 e6 8. g4
h6 9. h4 a6 10. Bg2 g6 11. f4 Qc7 12. f5 e5 13. Nc2 Nbd7 14. Ne3 Nc5 15. b4
Ncd7 16. fxg6 fxg6 17. O-O g5 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Bd2 Rc8 20. Rac1 Qd8 21. Ned5
Bxd5 22. exd5 Qe7 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 Qg7 25. Kg2 b5 26. Bf5 Be7 27. Qd3 Rb8
28. c5 dxc5 29. d6 Bf8 30. bxc5 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qc6 12. Qb4 Be6 13. Nd4 Qc7 14. Be2
Nd7 15. c4 Qxc5 16. Qxc5 Nxc5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Bf3 Rad8 20. Rd1
Ne4 21. O-O Nf6 22. Rd4 Rd7 23. Rc1 Rfd8 24. h4 Kf7 25. g4 g5 26. hxg5 hxg5 27.
Kg2 Ke6 28. Be2 Rh8 29. Bd3 Kd6 30. Bf5 Rc7 31. Rxc7 Kxc7 32. f4 Rg8 33. Kf3
Kd6 34. fxg5 Rxg5 35. Kf4 Rg8 36. Rd2 Kc5 37. Rc2+ Kd6 38. Rh2 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Na6 6. a3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8.
O-O-O Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Qa4 10. Qxa4 Nxa4 11. Be5 d5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 exd5 14.
e4 a6 15. exd5 Bf5 16. Bd3 Rc8+ 17. Kb1 Bxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Rg8 19. g3 Kd7 20. Nf3
Rge8 21. Re1 Rxe1+ 22. Nxe1 Rc5 23. Nc2 Rb5 24. b4 a5 25. Ka2 axb4 26. Nxb4 Rc5
27. Kb3 b5 28. Rf3 Ke7 29. Nc6+ Kd6 30. Rxf6+ Kxd5 31. Nb4+ Ke5 32. Rxf7 Rc3+
33. Ka2 h5 34. Rb7 Rf3 35. Rxb5+ Kd6 36. Rd5+ Ke6 37. Rxh5 Nc3+ 38. Kb2 Nd1+
39. Kc1 Nxf2 40. Nc2 Kd6 41. a4 Ne4 42. a5 Nc5 43. a6 Rf7 44. Nb4 Nb3+ 45. Kb2
Nc5 46. Rd5+ 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cifuentes Parada, Roberto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 Nc6 8.
Bb5 Bd7 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. exd5 Bxd5 11. O-O Be7 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Re1 Qxd4 14.
Nxd4 O-O-O 15. Rxe7 Rxd4 16. Be3 Rd7 17. Rxd7 Nxd7 18. Rc1+ Kb8 19. Bf4+ Ka8
20. Rc7 Rd8 21. h3 a6 22. b4 f6 23. g4 g5 24. Bd6 Nb6 25. Bc5 Nd5 26. Rxh7 b6
27. Bd4 Rd6 28. Rf7 Nf4 29. Bxf6 Nxh3+ 30. Kg2 Nf4+ 31. Kf3 Nh3 32. Kg3 Rd3+
33. f3 Ng1 34. Bxg5 Ne2+ 35. Kf2 Nc3 36. Bf6 1-0

[Event "WDR Match TV g/60"]
[Site "Cologne"]
[Date "1998.08.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nge2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nd7 11. f4 Qh4+ 12. g3 Qh3 13. Bf1 Qh5 14. Bg2 Nb6
15. O-O Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bh3 17. f5 Bxg2 18. Qxg2 Nc4 19. g4 Qh4 20. f6 Nxe5 21.
fxg7 Rfe8 22. Nf5 Qd8 23. Be3 Re6 24. g5 Rc8 25. Nh6+ Rxh6 26. gxh6 Rc6 27. Kh1
Rg6 28. Qh3 Ng4 29. Qf3 Qc7 30. Bg1 Ne5 31. Qh3 Qc6 32. Bd4 Ng3+ 33. hxg3 Rxh6
34. Qxh6 Qxh6+ 35. Kg2 f6 36. Rf4 Kxg7 37. Raf1 Qg6 38. Rf5 a6 39. R1f4 Qe8 40.
Rxf6 Kg8 41. Rf8+ Qxf8 42. Rxf8+ Kxf8 43. Bxe5 Kf7 44. Kf3 Ke6 45. Kf4 b5 46.
a3 a5 47. Bd4 a4 48. Kg5 Kf7 49. Kh6 Kg8 50. g4 Kf7 51. Kxh7 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8324]} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Nf6 6.
Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 (8. Be2 {Ftacnik} Qa5+ 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. O-O e5 11. Ne4
$5 exd4 12. Qxd4 Qb6 13. Rfd1 Re8 14. Rac1 h6 15. Bh4 Qxd4 16. Rxd4 Nxe4 17.
Rxe4 Kf8 (17... g5 18. Bg3 Nf6 19. Rd4 Be6 20. a3 Rad8 $11) 18. a3 Nf6 19. Re5
g5 20. Bg3 Nh5 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V/Las Palmas 1996/ (29)}) 8... h6 (
8... Qa5+ $5 {Ftacnik} 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. O-O e5 $132) 9. Bxf6 (9. Bh4 $5 $14)
9... Bxf6 10. Nc3 Nd7 (10... b6 {Ftacnik} 11. Qa4 Bb7 12. Rd1 $14) 11. Rd1 Qe7
(11... Qb6 12. Rd2 e5 (12... c5 13. Na4 $16) (12... Rd8 13. O-O Be7 14. Rc1 $14
) 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Qe4 Re8 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. O-O $16) (11... Qa5
12. O-O Rd8 13. b4 Qh5 14. Ne4 Be7 $14) 12. Bb1 e5 (12... g6 13. O-O Bg7 $11)
13. O-O (13. d5 $1 Qc5 14. Qe4 (14. Qd3 g6 15. O-O cxd5 16. Nxd5 Bg7 17. Rc1
Qd6 18. Rfd1 Nb6 19. Nc7 Qxd3 20. Bxd3 Rb8 $11) 14... g6 15. dxc6 (15. d6 Rd8
16. O-O Nf8 17. Qc2 Bf5 18. Ne4 Qxc2 19. Bxc2 Bg7 20. Nfd2 Be6 21. Bb3 Rd7 22.
Nc5 Rxd6 23. Nxb7 $14) 15... bxc6 16. O-O Rd8 17. Rd2 $14) 13... exd4 (13...
Rd8 $2 {Ftacnik} 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Qe4 Qf6 18. f4
Bd6 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Ne4 $18) 14. exd4 Nb6 15. Qd3 g6 16. Rfe1 Qb4 17. Qd2 Nc4
$4 $18 (17... Bg7 18. a3 (18. Ne5 Re8 (18... Be6 19. Nxg6 fxg6 20. Rxe6 Nc4 21.
Qc2 Nxb2 22. Rxg6 Rf7 23. a3 $1 Qxa3 24. Re1 $18) 19. a3 Qd6 (19... Qa5 $2 20.
Nxg6 $1 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Bg4 22. f3 fxg6 23. fxg4 $18) (19... Qf8 20. Ba2 Bxe5
21. dxe5 Be6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Ne4 Nd5 24. f4 $14) 20. Ne4 Qd8 21. Nc5 (21. Qf4
Be6 22. Nc5 Nd5 23. Qf3 Qc8 $132) 21... Nd5 22. Ba2 Rb8 $132) 18... Qd6 19. Ne4
Qc7 $132 {'~~' Ftacnik.}) 18. Qxh6 Nxb2 (18... Bg7 19. Qh4 Nxb2 20. Ng5 Rd8 21.
Nxf7 $1 $18 {'!' Ftacnik.} (21. Nxf7 $1 {Ftacnik} Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Bxd4 23. Ng5
$18)) 19. Bxg6 $1 {[%mdl 512]} fxg6 (19... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Qxf7#
) 20. Ng5 $3 {I think, this very strong move was missed by Lautier.} (20. Qxg6+
$2 Bg7 21. Ng5 Bf5 $19) 20... Bxg5 (20... Rf7 {Ftacnik} 21. Re8+ $18) 21. Qxg6+
Kh8 22. Qh5+ $1 Kg7 23. Qxg5+ Kf7 (23... Kh7 {Ftacnik} 24. Re4 $18) 24. Re3 {
'!' Ftacnik.} (24. Re3 Nxd1 25. Qf4+ Kg6 26. Rg3+ $18 (26. Rg3+ {Ftacnik} Bg4
27. Rxg4+ Kh7 28. Qc7+ (28. Qg5 Nxc3 29. Rh4#) 28... Kh6 29. Qg7+ Kh5 30. Qg5#)
) 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.11.02"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qb3
Nbd7 8. Bg5 Be7 9. e4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] '?!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Kortschnoj is
courageous as ever, but the problem is not in the temporary loss of the pawn.
White pieces will lose coordination and he will have to strive for
compensation.' Ein interessantes Bauernopfer, das ungefдhr gleiches Spiel
verspricht.} (9. e3 {0-1 Adianto,U-Shabalov,A/New York 1994/CBM 40 ext (24)}) (
9. Rd1 {1/2-1/2 Kharitonov,A-Dolmatov,S/Sverdlovsk 1984/MCL (21)}) 9... b4 10.
Bxf6 (10. Ne2 {Ftacnik} Nxe4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qc2 Nd6 13. Qxc6 Bb7 14. Qa4 Nc4
(14... O-O 15. Qxb4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Rab8 17. Qa3 $13) 15. Ne5 Ncxe5 16. dxe5 O-O
$15) 10... Nxf6 (10... Bxf6 {Ftacnik} 11. Qxb4 Rb8 12. Qa4 Rxb2 13. e5 $14) 11.
Na4 Nxe4 12. Bd3 (12. Qc2 {Ftacnik} Nf6 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Nxc6 Qc7 15. Bb5 O-O (
15... Nd7 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Qd2 Bd6 18. Rc4 $14) 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. O-O Rab8 $15)
12... Nf6 (12... Qd5 $5 {Ftacnik} 13. Qc2 Nf6 14. O-O O-O $15) 13. O-O {
Die weiЯe Kompensation stьtzt sich auf die Schwдchen in der schwarzen Struktur
und den leichten Entwicklungsvorsprung.} O-O (13... Qd5 $5 {Ftacnik}) 14. Rac1
{Ftacnik: 'The control of the squares c5,e5 is suffiecient , but black has two
bishops and no weaknesses (except for c6 pawn).'} a5 (14... Qd5 {Ftacnik} 15.
Bc4 Qh5 16. Rfe1 Rd8 $15) 15. Rfd1 (15. Rxc6 Bb7) 15... Bd6 (15... Bb7 {Ftacnik
} 16. Ne5 Rc8 17. Nc5 $15) 16. Ne5 (16. Rxc6 Bb7) 16... Nd5 $5 (16... Bb7 17.
Nxc6 (17. Nxc6 {Ftacnik} Qc7 18. Ne5 Bd5 19. Bc4 Rac8 20. Qe3 Qa7 $15)) 17. Qc2
g6 18. Qxc6 Ra7 19. Nc5 {Ftacnik: 'The knight on a4 was not very well located,
finally white can claim that his pieces are working together again.'} (19. Be4
{Ftacnik} Rc7 20. Qa8 (20. Qb5 $2 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Bd7 $19) 20... Nf4 21. Kh1 Rxc1
22. Rxc1 Ne2 23. Re1 (23. Nc6 Qh4 $19) 23... Nxd4 $17) 19... Rc7 20. Qb5 (20.
Qa8 {Ftacnik} Nf4 21. Qe4 Qg5 $15) 20... Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qg5 22. Be4 $2 {'?!'
Ftacnik. Kortschnoj bricht plцtzlich zusammen.} (22. Re1 $5 $11 {sollte zu
ausgeglichenem Spiel fьhren, z.B.:} Nf4 (22... Bb7 23. h4) 23. g3) (22. Qxa5 {
Ftacnik} Bb7 $1 (22... Qxe5 23. Rc2 $14) 23. h4 (23. Rc2 Ra8 24. Qb5 Nc3 $1 25.
f4 Qh5 $17) 23... Qxh4 24. Nxb7 Rxb7 25. Rc4 Qh5 $11) 22... Bb7 23. g3 $2 (23.
Bf3 $2 Nc3) (23. Qxa5 {Ftacnik} Qxe5 24. Bxd5 (24. Nxb7 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qxe4 26.
Qc5 Nf4 27. Qc6 Qxc6 28. Rxc6 Ra8 $17) 24... Bxd5 25. Qxb4 Rfc8 26. Qa3 Bxg2
27. Kxg2 Rxc5 $15) 23... Qxe5 {Auf einmal hдngen die weiЯen Figuren in der
Luft.} 24. Re1 {Ftacnik: 'White has lost the string of the fight and Kramnik
not only won the pawn, but managed to improve all his pieces. '} (24. Nxb7 Qxe4
25. Nc5 Qe5 $17) (24. Bxd5 {Ftacnik} Bxd5 25. Qxa5 Rfc8 26. Qxb4 Qd6 $19) 24...
Rfc8 25. Bxg6 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (25. Qxa5 {Ftacnik} f5 26. Bd3 (26. Bg2 Rxc5 $19)
26... Rxc5 27. Rxe5 Rxa5 $19) (25. Nd3 {Ftacnik} Rxc1 26. Nxc1 (26. Nxe5 Rxe1+
27. Kg2 Ne3+ 28. fxe3 (28. Kf3 Bxe4+ 29. Kxe4 Nc4+ $19) 28... Bxe4+ 29. Kh3
Rxe3 $19) 26... Bc6 $17) 25... Qxb2 $17 (25... Qd4 {Ftacnik} 26. Nb3 Qxb2 27.
Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Be4 $13) 26. Bd3 $6 (26. Rb1 $142) 26... Nc3 $19 {Ftacnik:
'White must be in dire straits, since now the communication between his forces
is to great deal disabled.'} 27. Bxh7+ (27. Qb6 Rxc5 28. Qxb7 Ne2+ 29. Rxe2
Rxc1+ $19) 27... Kh8 28. Qd3 (28. Qf1 Rxc5 29. Rc2 Qa3 $19) 28... Ne2+ {
Schwarz kann sich den Gewinn bereits aussuchen.} (28... Rxc5 29. Rc2 Qa3 $19)
29. Qxe2 Qxe2 30. Rxe2 Kxh7 31. Rec2 Bd5 (31... Bd5 32. h4 a4 {/\ .. b4-b3})
0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.11.03"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zvjaginsev, Vadim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. cxd5 exd5 ({Reasonable
alternative for could be} 6... Nxd5 {for example} 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. Rc1 Rd8 9. e3
Nf6 10. Qb3 b6 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Rfd1 h6 14. a4 c5 15. a5 Nd5 16.
axb6 axb6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Cebalo,M-Andersson,U/Roma 1985 (28)}) 7. e3 c6 8. Bd3 (
8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Bd3) 8... Bg4 $5 (8... Ne4 $5) 9. Qc2 h6 ({After} 9... Nbd7 {
White can play} 10. Bxf6 $5 Nxf6 11. Ne5 Be6 12. f4 c5 13. O-O $14 {with nice
position mostly behalf strong position of knight on e5.}) (9... Bxf3 10. gxf3
Nbd7 11. Rg1 Re8 12. O-O-O b5 13. Kb1 a5 14. Bh6 Bf8 15. e4 $36 {1-0 Engel,
G-Luder,F/Graz op-B 1995 (37)}) 10. Bf4 ({Deserves attention} 10. h3 $5 {
with possible continuation} Bxf3 11. Bxf6 Bxg2 12. Bh7+ Kh8 13. Bxg7+ Kxg7 14.
Rg1 Kh8 15. Rxg2 Nd7 16. O-O-O $14) 10... Nbd7 11. Ne5 (11. h3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 c5
$13) 11... Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Nd7 (12... Be6 $5 13. O-O Ng4 $1 14. Bf4 Bd6 $13) 13.
Bg3 c5 {N/ New and risky move, but after standart moves like} (13... Re8 14.
O-O Bh4 15. b4 Bxg3 16. hxg3 Nf6 17. b5 Qd6 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Na4 $14 {1-0
Sotnikov,I-Malikov,S/Voronezh op 1997 (37)}) ({or} 13... Rc8 14. O-O Nf6 15.
Rab1 Re8 16. b4 Bd6 17. Rfc1 Qe7 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. a4 b6 20. Bf5 Bxf5 21. Qxf5
$14 {1-0 Thorsteins,K-Fulton,T/Dubai olm 1986 (40) White keeps maybe not big
but stable advantage.}) 14. O-O ({It was interesting to play} 14. Nxd5 $5 {
and I am not sure, that after, for example} cxd4 15. Bc7 Qe8 16. Qc4 $5 (16.
exd4) 16... Nc5 17. Qxd4 Be6 18. Bc2 {Black has compensation for the pawn.})
14... cxd4 (14... Be6 15. Rad1) 15. exd4 Nb6 $14 {[%csl Rb6,Gd3,Gg3]} 16. Qb3 {
Kramnik could get small advantage after} (16. Rfe1 Bd6 $1 (16... Bb4 17. a3
Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Qd7 19. Qb4 $1 $16) 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. h3 Be6 19. Nb5 $14 {
but he pretends for more.}) 16... a5 {Double-edged move.Zviaginsev trys to
push out white queen from strong position on b3, but black with this move
strongly weaken queen,s flank.} 17. h3 (17. a4 $6 Bb4 18. Rae1 Bd7 $1 $132)
17... a4 (17... Be6 $6 {gives to White important temp-} 18. Rae1 a4 19. Qd1 {
/\Bd3-c2, Qd1-d3 and strong attack.}) 18. Qc2 (18. Nxa4 $6 Rxa4 19. hxg4 Rxd4
20. Rac1 Bd6 $15) 18... Bd7 19. a3 Bc6 $6 (19... Bf6 $142 $5 20. Be5 Bxe5 21.
dxe5 d4 $5 22. Ne4 Re8) 20. Rae1 Bd6 21. Qd2 $1 {White don,t affraid doubled
pawns,} Qc7 ({because after} 21... Bxg3 22. fxg3 Nd7 23. Rf4 $5 Nf6 24. Ref1 {
there advantage is obvious.}) 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Re3 Rae8 (23... Nc4 $2 24. Bxc4
dxc4 25. d5) (23... Rfe8 24. Rfe1 Rxe3 25. Qxe3 $1 Kf8 26. Nb5 $5 $16) 24. Rfe1
Qb8 (24... Rxe3 $142 25. Qxe3 Qb8 $14) 25. Nd1 $1 {[%csl Ra4,Rb6,Rd5][%cal
Gd2b4,Gd1e3][%mdl 32] Brilliant move!} g6 (25... Rxe3 26. Nxe3 {/\Ne3-f5}) (
25... Qd6 $142 $5) 26. Qb4 {With strong and consistent game Kramnik got big 
advantage} Nd7 (26... Rxe3 27. Nxe3 Qd8 28. Ng4 $1) 27. Bb5 {Harvest time} Rxe3
28. Nxe3 Nf6 (28... Qa7 29. Nxd5 $18) (28... Nb6 29. Ng4 Kg7 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31.
Ne5 $16) 29. Bxa4 Bxa4 30. Qxa4 Re8 31. Qd1 Re4 32. Ng4 (32. Nc2 $5) 32... Nxg4
33. hxg4 Rf4 34. g3 Rf6 35. Qb3 (35. Re5 $142 Rd6 36. Qe2 Kg7 37. Re8 Rd8 38.
Re7 $18) 35... Qd8 (35... Qc8 $1 36. Qxd5 $140 $2 Qc2 $1 $132) 36. Qxb7 Rb6 37.
Re8+ Qxe8 38. Qxb6 Qe1+ 39. Kg2 Qe4+ 40. Kh2 Kg7 (40... Qxg4 41. Qd8+ Kg7 42.
Qxd5 $18) 41. Qc7 (41. Qc7 Qxd4 (41... Qf3 42. Qf4) 42. Qc3) 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nb5 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bb4+ 7. N1c3 O-O 8.
Bd6 Bxd6 9. Nxd6 Qb6 10. Qd2 Ne8 11. Nxe8 Rxe8 12. e3 Rd8 13. Rc1 d6 14. Be2 a6
15. O-O Qc7 16. Rfd1 Qe7 17. Na4 Qc7 18. Nc3 Qe7 19. e4 b6 20. Qe3 Rb8 21. a3
Bd7 22. b4 Be8 23. h3 h6 24. Rd2 Rdc8 25. f4 Qc7 26. Rcd1 Rd8 27. Kh1 Ne7 28.
Rd3 b5 29. c5 dxc5 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. bxc5 Bc6 33. Bf3 Qa5 34. Ne2
Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Qa5 36. Nd4 Qc7 37. Kh1 Bd7 38. Nb3 a5 39. Qc3 Nc6 40. e5 b4 41.
axb4 Nxb4 42. c6 Be8 43. Qc5 Nxc6 44. Nd4 Qa7 0-1

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 axb4 11. Bxb4 Nd7 12. a4 f5 13. Ng5 Nc5 14. Bxc5 dxc5 15.
Bf3 Ra6 16. a5 Kh8 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 f4 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Rfb1 Rb8 21. Nd5
Nxd5 22. cxd5 Bf8 23. Be2 Ra7 24. a6 Bd6 25. h4 Kg7 26. Bc4 b6 27. Bb5 h6 28.
Kf1 Rf8 29. Ke2 Rf6 30. Rb3 Kf8 31. Rh3 Ke7 32. Kd3 Kf8 33. Kc4 Kg7 34. Bc6 Kf8
35. Kb5 Kg7 36. Bb7 Kf8 37. Rg1 Ke7 38. g3 f3 39. Rc1 Kd8 40. Rc3 h5 41. Rh1
Ke7 42. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 c5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Rad1 Rc8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Qf5 Qe7
15. Rfe1 Qe6 16. Qb1 h6 17. Bd3 Ne5 18. Bf5 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Qe5 20. f4 Qe8 21.
Bh3 Rd8 22. Bg2 Qe6 23. Ne2 Bc7 24. Ng3 Ba5 25. Re2 Ba6 26. Rc2 Bb6 27. Rcd2 d4
28. exd4 cxd4 29. Bxd4 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 Rde8 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Qb3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Nc3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3
O-O 9. Rd1 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Bd3 e5 12. dxe5 Ndc5 13. Qc2 Nxd3+ 14. Qxd3
Nxc3 15. Qxc3 dxc4 16. Rd6 Be6 17. O-O Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Bd5 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. h3
b5 21. Nd4 b4 22. Qd2 Re8 23. f4 Be4 24. Qe2 Rd8 25. Rc1 c5 26. Nf3 Bd3 27. Qe1
a5 28. e4 Qb7 29. Nd2 a4 30. Nxc4 Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Bxe4 32. Nd6 Bd5 33. a3 bxa3
34. bxa3 c4 35. Rc2 f6 36. Nxc4 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 Qg6 13. O-O Nc6 14.
Rfc1 Bh3 15. Qc2 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Qe6 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Kf2 Qh6 19. Qd3 Re7 20. Rc2
Rae8 21. Re1 Qh5 22. Kg1 Bf5 0-1

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Rab1 a5 12. a3 Bd6 13. Rbe1 Bg4 14. Nd2 Bh5
15. f4 h6 16. Bh4 Bg6 17. f5 Bh7 18. h3 N8d7 19. Nf3 b5 20. e4 b4 21. e5 bxc3
22. exd6 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 cxb2 24. Qxb2 Rb8 25. Qc3 Qb6 26. Bxf6 Nxf6 27. Rb1
Qxb1+ 28. Bxb1 Rxb1+ 29. Kh2 Bxf5 30. Ne5 Kh7 31. Nxf7 Be4 32. Ne5 Rb7 33. Kg1
a4 34. Nxc6 Rb3 35. Qd2 Rxa3 36. Ne5 Ra1+ 37. Kh2 a3 38. d7 Nxd7 39. Nxd7 Rb1
40. Nc5 Rb2 41. Nxe4 Rxd2 42. Nxd2 a2 43. Nb3 Kg6 44. Kg3 Kf5 45. Kf3 h5 46.
g4+ hxg4+ 47. hxg4+ Kg5 48. Kg3 g6 49. Na1 Kf6 50. Kf4 Kf7 51. Ke5 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Bb5+ Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bg4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 Bxf3 14.
Qxf3 Bxd4 15. Rfd1 c5 16. Rxc5 Bxe3 17. Rxd8 Bxc5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Qc3 Bb6 20.
Kf1 Rd8 21. a4 e6 22. a5 Bd4 23. Qc7 Rf8 24. e5 h5 25. Ke2 Kg7 26. f4 Rh8 27.
Kf3 Bg1 28. Qc1 Bd4 29. Ke4 Rd8 30. Qc7 Rd5 31. g3 Bg1 32. h3 Rd1 33. g4 hxg4
34. hxg4 Rd4+ 35. Kf3 Rd5 36. Ke2 Bd4 37. Kf3 g5 38. f5 exf5 39. e6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1998.12.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1998.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Be7 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Be3 Nb8 12. f3 Nbd7 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15.
Rac1 Rfe8 16. Bf1 Rac8 17. Qf2 Qb8 18. Nab1 Bc6 19. Ne2 d5 20. cxd5 exd5 21.
exd5 Nxd5 22. Bd4 Bg5 23. f4 Nxf4 24. Rc3 Ne6 25. Rh3 Bb5 26. Nbc3 Bxe2 27.
Nxe2 Nxd4 28. Nxd4 Nc5 29. Nf5 Rcd8 30. Rxd8 Qxd8 31. Kh1 Ne4 32. Qf3 Qf6 33.
Rh5 g6 34. h4 gxh5 35. hxg5 Qxf5 36. Qxf5 Ng3+ 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1998.12.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1998.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 b6 7. Be2 Bb7 8. f3
a6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Be3 Be7 11. a4 O-O 12. a5 bxa5 13. Nb3 Rb8 14. Nxa5 Ba8 15.
Qd2 Qc7 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Na4 Qd8 18. b4 d5 19. c5 dxe4 20. Bxa6 exf3 21. Bxc8
Qxc8 22. Nb6 Nxb6 23. cxb6 Qf8 24. Nc6 Bxc6 25. Rxc6 Bxb4 26. Qc2 Nd5 27. Bf2
Bd6 28. Qc4 Be5 29. Re1 Bc3 30. b7 Bxe1 31. Rc8 Bb4 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 (5... h6 $5 {See comments
to Jelen,I-Kurajica,B/Dresden,1998/CBM 65(0-1)[Golod,V](30)}) 6. e3 $5 ({
Other options are:} 6. Nf3) (6. a3) (6. e4 $6) 6... b6 $5 {Besides,6...Bxc3+;6.
..c5;6...h6;6...0-0;6...Qe7-was checked in the previous games} 7. Nge2 $5 ({
Another alternativ is:} 7. Bd3 $5 Bb7 8. f3 Bxc3+ (8... c5 $142 9. Nge2 cxd4
10. exd4 h6 11. Bh4 d5 12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. O-O Be7 $11 {1-0 Hjartarson,J-Chernin,
A/Madrid 1988/EXT 97 (95)}) 9. Qxc3 c5 10. Nh3 h6 11. Bf4 Qe7 12. Bg3 e5 13.
dxe5 dxe5 14. O-O-O g6 15. Bc2 $14 {is the first(!!!) game in this variation:
Alekhine,A-Nimzowitsch,A/New York(1-0) 1927/HCL (81)}) 7... Bb7 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9.
Nxc3 h6 ({Worse is:} 9... O-O 10. f3 Qe7 11. Be2 c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. O-O h6
14. Bh4 Ne5 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Rd2 d5 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Rad1 $14 {1-0 Drasko,
M-Mijailovic,Z/Nis 1993/EXT 97 (65)}) 10. Bh4 O-O $5 ({Another options is:} 
10... g5 $5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. O-O-O Qe7 13. Qa4 $5 (13. Nb5 $143 Ndf6 14. c5 Nxg3
15. hxg3 dxc5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. f3 Kf8 18. Nc3 Kg7 $6 (18... Nd5 $5) 19. Na4
$36 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E-Aleksic,N/Roma 1990/TD (41)}) 13... Kf8 14. e4 Kg7 15.
Be2 Nxg3 16. hxg3 c5 17. d5 e5 18. Bg4 Nf6 19. Bf5 $14 {1-0 Flear,G-Aleksic,N/
Aosta 1990/EXT 98 (60)}) 11. f3 (11. Rd1 $143 Qe7 12. f3 d5 13. Be2 c5 14. O-O
Rac8 15. Qb3 Rfe8 $11 {1-0 Kelecevic,N-Berset,P/Neuchatel 1996/EXT 97 (34)})
11... c5 $5 $146 (11... Re8 $5 {[%cal Gd7f8,Gf8g6]} 12. Be2 Nf8 13. O-O-O Ng6
14. Bf2 e5 15. d5 Nd7 16. h4 a5 17. g4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Pils,W-Grillitsch,K/
AUT-chT9495 1995/CBM 45 ext (24)}) 12. dxc5 $1 ({After:} 12. Rd1 Qe7 13. dxc5 (
13. d5 $2 exd5 $17 {[%csl Re3]}) (13. Bd3 $143 cxd4 14. exd4 d5 $11) 13... bxc5
{black has a equal game.}) 12... dxc5 $6 ({In my opinion} 12... bxc5 {[%csl
Gc5,Gd6,Ge6] is better and black has a strong pawn chain in the centre.}) 13.
O-O-O $14 Qe7 ({Badly:} 13... Qc7 {in view of:} 14. Bg3 e5 15. Nb5 Qb8 16. Nd6
$36) 14. Be2 {[%csl Ye2][%cal Ye2f3] ><f3,with the idea g4->} Rfd8 $5 {/\Ne5
or Nf8-g6} ({Dubious:} 14... Rad8 {because of:} 15. Nb5 {[%csl Ra7,Rd6]}) 15.
g4 Ne5 ({Worse is:} 15... Nf8 16. Bg3 {and black has a lack of space.}) 16.
Rxd8+ $5 (16. f4 $2 Ng6 (16... Bxh1 $2 17. fxe5 {[%csl Rf6,Rh1]} Qc7 18. exf6
Qxh2 19. Be1 $14) 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 {=/=/+}) 16... Rxd8 $140 17. Rf1 {[%csl Yf1]
[%cal Yf1f3] /\f4 or Bg3} Bc6 (17... Ng6 18. Bg3 Bc6 {-see the game after-18...
Ng6}) 18. Bg3 (18. f4 $143 Ng6 19. Bg3 e5 $5 (19... Qb7 20. Rd1 $14) 20. f5 Nf8
21. h4 N8h7 $13) 18... Ng6 19. Bd3 $6 ({Can be recommended:} 19. h4 {/\h5+/=})
19... Qd7 $1 20. Be2 {is the best move!} ({Dubious:} 20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Rd1 (21.
g5 $6 hxg5 22. Rd1 Qc8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Qxg6 Bxf3 25. Qxg5 (25. Be5 g4 $15)
25... Qd3 26. Be5 Qf1+ 27. Kd2 Ne4+ $5 28. Nxe4 $8 Qd1+ 29. Kc3 Qc1+ 30. Kb3 (
30. Kd3 Qf1+) 30... Bd1+ 31. Ka2 Qxc4+ 32. Ka1 Qc1+ $11) ({Loses:} 21. Qxg6 $4
Qd2+ 22. Kb1 Be4+ $3 23. Nxe4 (23. fxe4 Qd3+ $19) 23... Qd3+ 24. Ka2 Qxc4+ 25.
b3 Qe2+ $19) 21... Qe8 22. Rxd8 Qxd8 {+/=/=}) 20... Qb7 $6 (20... Qe7 $5 {
/\e5+/=}) 21. h4 {[%mdl 128]} Nh7 22. Rd1 $1 {[%mdl 32] <->d} Re8 ({After:} 
22... Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Qe7 24. h5 Ngf8 25. Qd6 {white has a big advantage in the
endgame.}) 23. Nb5 $1 {[%cal Gb5d6]} Bxb5 $6 ({Slight better is:} 23... Qe7 24.
h5 Ngf8 25. Bd6 Qb7 {+/=/+/-}) 24. cxb5 $16 Nf6 (24... Nhf8 25. h5 (25. g5 $5
$40) 25... Ne7 26. e4 $16) 25. g5 hxg5 ({Badly:} 25... Nh5 {in view of:} 26.
Be1 $1 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gf3f4]} hxg5 27. hxg5 Ne5 28. Qe4 $1 Qxe4 29. fxe4 g6
$8 30. Bc3 f6 (30... Ng3 31. Bxe5 Nxe2+ 32. Kd2 $18 {[%csl Re2]}) 31. gxf6 Nf7
32. Rg1 $18) 26. hxg5 Nd5 ({Also badly:} 26... Nh5 {because of:} 27. Be1 $1)
27. Qd2 {><f4;/\e4} Qe7 $6 (27... Nde7 $5 {with the idea after28.e4 e5!}) 28.
e4 Nc7 29. f4 {[%mdl 128]} e5 $6 (29... Rc8 $142 30. f5 exf5 31. exf5 Ne5 32.
g6 $40) 30. f5 Nf4 (30... Nf8 31. g6 $18) 31. Bxf4 $1 exf4 32. g6 $18 {[%csl
Rf7,Rg8][%cal Ge2c4,Gc4g8]} Qxe4 ({Loses right away:} 32... fxg6 33. Bc4+ Kf8
$8 34. Qh2 $1 Qf6 (34... Qxe4 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qxg7#) 35. Rd7 $18 {[%csl Rf8]
[%cal Gh2h8]}) ({Also loses:} 32... Kf8 33. Rh1 fxg6 (33... Kg8 34. Bc4 $18) (
33... Qxe4 34. Qd6+ Kg8 $8 35. gxf7+ Kxf7 36. Qxc7+ Kg8 (36... Re7 $143 37.
Bh5+ $18) 37. Rh2 f3 38. f6 $1 $18) (33... Qd8 34. Qxd8 Rxd8 35. Rh8+ Ke7 36.
f6+ $1 gxf6 37. g7 $18 (37. Rxd8 $18)) 34. Rh8+ Kf7 35. fxg6+ Kxg6 $8 (35...
Kf6 $2 36. Qxf4+ Ke6 (36... Kxg6 37. Qf5#) 37. Bg4#) (35... Ke6 $2 36. Bc4+ Ke5
37. Rh5+ $18) 36. Bh5+ $18) 33. gxf7+ Kxf7 34. Bh5+ Kf8 ({Badly:} 34... Kf6 {
because of:} 35. Qd6+ Kxf5 36. Bg6+ (36. Qg6+ $5 Ke5 37. Qxg7+ Ke6 $8 (37...
Kf5 38. Bg4#) 38. Bg4+ Qf5 39. Qd7+)) 35. Qd6+ $5 Qe7 (35... Re7 $143 36. f6
Qe3+ 37. Kb1 gxf6 38. Qxf6+ Kg8 39. Rd8+ Ne8 40. Rxe8+ $1 Rxe8 41. Bf7+ Kh7 (
41... Kf8 42. Be6#) 42. Qg6+ Kh8 43. Qh6#) (35... Kg8 $2 36. Qxc7 $18) 36. Bxe8
Qxd6 37. Rxd6 Kxe8 (37... Nxe8 38. Rd7 {[%csl Ra7]}) 38. a4 Ke7 39. Rg6 Nd5 (
39... Kf7 40. Kd2 Nd5 41. Rd6 Ne7 42. Rd7 Kf6 43. Rxa7 Nxf5 44. a5 $18) 40. Kd2
Ne3 $138 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Bb5+ {It is not accidental that Kramnik has started to play this seemingly
harmless variation. He certainly has found a lot of new ideas in this line.}
Nc6 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 Bxf3 (13... Qd7
14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qe6 $5 (15... Rac8 16. Rc4 (16. Rc5 f5 (16... Rfd8 $1 {
-13...Rc8}) 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Qg4 Rd8 19. Rc4 Ra5 20. Qe2 e5 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22.
Qc2 Qd3 23. Rxc6 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 $16 {1/2-1/2 Atalik,S-Van Mil,J/Budapest Cansys
1991 (33)}) 16... f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Qe4 Ra5 19. Rfc1 (19. a4 Bf6 20. Rfc1
Kf7 21. Qf3 Kg7 22. Qf4 Rf5 23. Qe4 Ra5 24. Rb1 Rd8 25. Rcb4 Qd6 26. Qf3 Rd7 {
0-1 Gostisa,L-Kozul,Z/Vidmar-mem 1989 (41)}) 19... Rxa2 20. d5 $1 c5 21. Rxc5
Rxc5 22. Rxc5 Ra4 23. Qc2 Ra1+ 24. Kh2 Be5+ 25. f4 Qd6 26. Rc8+ Kg7 27. Qe4 Bf6
28. Rc6 Qd7 29. g4 $36 {1-0 Garcia Palermo,C-Ftacnik,L/Szirak 1986 (36)}) 16.
Rc2 Rfd8 17. e5 Rac8 18. Qe2 c5 19. dxc5 Bxe5 20. Rd1 Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 h5 22. h4
Qc6 23. Rd2 Qe4 24. g3 Bxg3 25. Rd8+ Rxd8 26. Qxd8+ Kh7 27. Qf8 Bh2+ 28. Kxh2 {
1/2-1/2 Alburt,L-Romanishin,O/Taxco izt 1985}) (13... Rc8 14. Rc5 (14. e5 Be6 (
14... Qd5 $5) 15. Qa4 Bd5 16. Nd2 Qd7 17. f3 Rb8 18. Nb3 Qf5 19. Nc5 Rb2 20.
Rf2 Rxf2 21. Kxf2 f6 22. e6 {1-0 Bonin,J-Ashley,M/Manhattan It 1998 (35)})
14... Qd6 (14... Qd7 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Rfd8 17. e5 f6 18. Rfc1 Qe6 19. Qe2
fxe5 20. dxe5 Rd5 21. f4 Rxc5 22. Rxc5 g5 23. fxg5 Bxe5 24. Qc4 Kf7 25. Qc2 Ke8
26. Qxh7 Bd6 27. Rc3 Qe5 28. Qd3 Kd7 29. Bf2 {Izeta Txabarri,F-Chiburdanidze,M/
Bilbao 1987/0-1 (57)}) (14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bxd4 16. Rd1 e5 17. Bxd4 exd4 18.
Qd3 Qe7 {1/2-1/2 Rajkovic,D-Chiburdanidze,M/Baden Baden op 1987}) 15. Qa4 Bxf3
16. gxf3 Qe6 17. Kg2 f5 18. Qc4 Qxc4 19. Rxc4 f4 20. Bd2 Rb8 21. Bc3 Rfc8 22.
Rc1 Kf7 23. h4 Bf6 24. Kh3 Ke8 25. e5 Bg7 26. Bd2 Rb2 27. R1c2 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 {
Ristic,N-Sokolov,I/Vrnjacka Banja 1990/1/2-1/2 (38)}) (13... Qd6 14. Qa4 Bxf3
15. gxf3 Rfc8 16. Rc5 e5 17. d5 cxd5 18. Rxd5 Qf6 19. Kg2 Qh4 20. Rb1 Bh6 21.
Bxh6 Qxh6 22. Rxe5 Qf4 23. Qd4 $14 {Krivoshey,S-Tseitlin,M/EUCup Vilnius 1995/
1-0 (52)}) 14. Qxf3 Bxd4 15. Rfd1 c5 (15... e5 16. Rxc6 Qe8 17. Rdc1 $14 (17.
Rd6 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qa4 19. h4 Qxa2 20. h5 Rab8 21. Qg5 Rb1 22. Qxe5 Rxd1+ 23.
Rxd1 Qe2 24. Ra1 Qxh5 25. Qxh5 gxh5 {1/2-1/2 Kapetanovic,A-Marinkovic,S/
Belgrade 1991}) (17. Qf6 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Rc8 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Qxe5 Qc2 21. Qd5
Qe2 22. Qb3 Qg4 23. Rd4 Rc8 24. Qb2 Qe6 25. Qd2 Qb6 {Lugovoi,A-Smikovski,I/St.
Petersburg Chigorin 1995/1/2-1/2 (48)}) 17... Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qd7 19. h4 Rfd8 20.
h5 Qg4 21. h6 Rd1+ 22. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 23. Kh2 Qg4 24. g3 Qd7 25. Qc5 Re8 26. Rc7
Qd2 {1/2-1/2 Kalinitschew,S-Holzke,F/Porz 1992 (35)}) 16. Rxc5 Bxe3 17. Rxd8
Bxc5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 {This endgame was considered rather drawn; however, Kramnik
has a different opinion on this subject! After the present game it seems that
Black should look for another way of defence in this line.} 19. Qc3 Rc8 {
[%cal Yc8c7,Yc5b6]} (19... Rd8 $5 20. Kf1 Bd4 $6 (20... Bb6 $5 $14) 21. Qc7 Bb6
22. Qxe7 Rd2 23. Qe8+ Kg7 24. Qe5+ Kg8 25. f4 $1 Rf2+ 26. Ke1 Rxg2 27. f5 $40 {
1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Ivanchuk,V/Erevan olm 1996 (42)}) 20. Kf1 Rc7 21. a4 {
This may be a future queen! Besides, it is important to push the black bishop
from its comfortable b6 square.} Bb6 22. Qe5 Rc2 23. a5 Bc5 24. f4 e6 25. g4 {
Black has two weak points: his king and his a7 pawn protected only by a
"hanging" bishop. Therefore his defence is very hard.} Rc4 26. Qc7 h6 27. f5
gxf5 28. gxf5 exf5 29. exf5 f6 30. Qg3+ Kf8 31. Qg6 Bd4 32. Qxh6+ Ke7 33. Qf4
Kd7 34. h4 Ra4 35. Qe4 Kd6 36. h5 Ra1+ 37. Ke2 Be5 38. Qb4+ Kd5 39. Qb7+ Kc4
40. h6 Ra2+ 41. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} c5 2. c4 {Mit 2.e4 kann jetzt die Sizilianische Verteidigung
erreicht werden, aber nachdem Kramnik nur sehr selten 1.e4 spielt, wдre das
schon eine groЯe Ьberraschung. Ribli.} Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 {Dieser
Zug wurde zuerst von Exweltmeister Tal gespielt.(Tal,M. - Timman,I.
KRO-Wettkampf 1985.)} cxd4 (5... e6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 {D 41}) 6. Nxd4 dxc4 (
6... e6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bd2 $14) 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2
Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 $5 (10... Ba6 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. Bxd5 Rc8 13. Bd2 $14 {[%csl Rc4]
Diese schwarze Mцglichkeit ist weniger populдr, denn der Bauer c4 ist hier
stets schwach und WeiЯ kann beide Lдufer in die langen Diagonalen stellen.})
11. Nxc4 {WeiЯ hat die bessere Bauernstruktur, aber Schwarz bekommt
Gegenchancen in der halb-offenen b-Linie. Weiterhin steht der schwarze
Springer auf d5 aktiv. Allerdings bereiten dem Schwarzen alle Endspiele wegen
seiner Bauernschwдchen gewisse Probleme.} Ba6 12. Na5 $5 $146 {[%csl Rc6]
Ftacnik: 'Interesting attempt to revitalize the well known line. Most of the
games continue with 12.b3, but black seems to hold balance.'  Eine groЯe
Ьberraschung! Zuvor hatte Kramnik schon zwei Mal die Fortsetzung - 12.b3 
(gegen Hjartarson,J und gegen Polgar,J.) gespielt. In beiden Fдllen hatte er
zwar die besseren Chancen, aber jetzt verbessert er sein frьheres Spiel!} (12.
b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Ke7 (13... Bxc4 $6 14. bxc4 Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne7 16. Rab1 O-O-O+
17. Kc3 $14 {Greenfeld,A-Alterman,B/Haifa/1993/INF59(65)/}) (13... Bxd2+ 14.
Nxd2 Nb4 15. Be4 (15. Kd1 $5 Ke7 (15... Rb8 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Rb6 18. Bf3 Ke7
19. Rc5 Rc8 20. Kc1 Rb5 21. Rc2 c5 22. Kb2 Rb7 23. Rhc1 Rbc7 24. Ne4 c4 25. b4
Bb5 26. Nc3 {1-0 Gulko,B-Jelen,I/2nd op, Nova Gorica SLO 1997 (39)}) 16. a3 Nd5
17. Rc1 (17. Ne4 $5) 17... Rac8 18. Ne4 c5 $1 $8 19. Nxc5 Rhd8 20. Ke1 Nb6 21.
f4 Nd7 {Gelfand,B-Leko,P/Vienna 1996/1/2-1/2 (59)}) 15... Ke7 (15... Rc8 16. a3
Nd5 17. Rc1 c5 18. Bd3 (18. Nc4 Ke7 19. Bd3 {Remis Lalic,B-Vaganian,R/Moscow
olm/1994/}) 18... Bxd3 19. exd3 Ke7 20. Ne4 Rhd8 21. Nxc5 Nc7 22. Kd2 Nb5 23.
Nb7 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rd7 25. Nc5 {1-0 Kanstler,B-Liss,E/Herzliya 1998/EXT 99 (46)}
) 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 c5 (17... Rhc8 18. f4 c5 19. Kf2 Rab8 $10 {Gulko,
B-Topalov,V/Novgorod/1995/CBM48/INF63,(39)/}) 18. h4 Rac8 19. h5 h6 20. Rh4 Bb5
21. Bf3 Rhd8 22. Nc4 Rc7 23. Na5 Rdc8 24. e3 Nb6 25. Be2 Bxe2 26. Kxe2 f5 27.
Rf4 Kf6 28. g4 {1/2-1/2 Ehlvest,J-Berelovich,A/Koszalin 1998/CBM 65 ext (68)})
14. Rc1 Rhc8 $1 (14... Rac8 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5 17. Na5 c5 18. O-O {
1-0 Kramnik,V-Hjartarson,J/Clichy 1995/EXT 98 (40)}) 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5
17. Na5 (17. e4 Bxc4 $5 18. Rxc4 Nb6 19. Rc5 Nd7 20. Rc3 a5 $1 21. Kd2 Ra6 {
1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Kramnik,V/Belgrade 1995/CBM 51/[Ribli] (27)}) 17... c5 18. e4
Nf6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Kd2 Rc7 (20... Rab8 21. b4 f6 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxc5 Rxc5
24. bxc5 Rb2+ 25. Kc3 Rb5 26. exf6+ Kxf6 27. Nb3 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/
Tilburg 1997/CBM 61 (48)}) 21. Rhd1 Rac8 22. Ke1 c4 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Rxd5 c3
25. b4 Bc4 26. Rd6 Be6 27. b5 Bd7 28. a4 f6 29. Ra6 fxe5 30. Ke2 Kf7 31. h4 c2
32. Nc6 Bxc6 33. bxc6 Rxc6 34. Rxa7+ Kf6 35. Rb7 Rc5 {1/2-1/2 Piket,J-Timman,J/
Gouda 1997/EXT 99 (35)}) 12... Bc5 $6 {Schwarz strebt nach aktivem
Figurenspiel und verteidigt daher nicht seinen c-Bauern. Tatsдchlich steht der
Lдufer aber in der c-Linie nicht glьcklich.} (12... Kd7 $5 13. Bd2 Rb8) (12...
Bb4+ {Ftacnik} 13. Bd2 Bxa5 (13... Bxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Rb8 15. b3 Kd7 16. Rac1 $14)
14. Bxa5 Rb8 15. b3 $14) 13. Bd2 (13. Nxc6 $6 Rc8 14. Ne5 Nb4 $132 {[%cal
Rb4c2,Rc2a1] '©' Ftacnik.} (14... O-O $44 {Ftacnik})) 13... O-O {'?!' Ftacnik.
Ftacnik: 'Black fails to find the best idea 13...Bd4 and the reward will be
unpleasant suffering in a worse endgame.'} (13... Bd4 $5 {Ftacnik} 14. Nxc6 (
14. Rb1 Rc8) 14... Bxb2 15. Rb1 Ba3 (15... Bf6 $2 16. e4 $18) 16. Nxa7 (16. e4
Ne7 17. e5 Nd5 18. Nxa7 Bc4 $14) 16... Bc4 17. e4 Bxa2 $14) (13... Kd7 {Ftacnik
} 14. Rc1 Bd4 15. Rxc6 Bb5 16. Rc1 $16) 14. Rc1 {[%cal Rc1c6]} Bd4 15. b4 $16
Bb5 $5 (15... Ne7 16. Nxc6 Nxc6 17. Bxc6 $16 (17. Rxc6 $2 Bb7 18. Rc4 (18. b5
a6 $15) 18... Bxg2 19. Rg1 $11)) 16. Nxc6 Bb2 (16... Bxc6 17. Rxc6 $16) 17. Rc5
Bxc6 18. Rxc6 Rac8 19. Rxc8 (19. Ra6 $6 Rfd8 $132 (19... Rc7 {Ftacnik} 20. Bxd5
exd5 21. Bf4 Bc3+ 22. Kd1 Rb7 23. a3 Rc8 $16) 20. Rxa7 Nxb4 $40 {[%csl Re1]}
21. Bxb4 $4 Rc1#) 19... Rxc8 20. Bxd5 $1 {Der schwarze Springer d5 steht so
aktiv, daЯ WeiЯ das Lдuferpaar aufgeben muЯ.} exd5 21. f4 $1 {[%cal Gh1f1,
Gf1f3,Gf3a3] WeiЯ mobilisiert seinen Turm.} (21. O-O $6 Rc2 $132) 21... Ba3 (
21... Rc2 22. Kd1 Rc4 23. Rf1 Ba3 24. Rf3 {'!' Ftacnik.} (24. b5 $1 {Ftacnik}
Ra4 25. Rf3 $16) 24... Bxb4 25. Bxb4 Rxb4 26. Ra3 {[%csl Ra7,Rd5,Rg8] Das
fьhrt zu einem дhnlichen Endspiel wie die Partiefortsetzung.}) 22. Rf1 Rc4 (
22... Rc2 {Ftacnik} 23. Rf3 Rxa2 24. Rd3 h6 25. Rxd5 Rb2 26. b5 $16) 23. Rf3 (
23. b5 {Ftacnik} Bb4 $1 24. Bxb4 Rxb4 25. Kf2 Rxb5 26. Rc1 $14) 23... Bxb4 24.
Bxb4 Rxb4 25. Ra3 {[%csl Ga3,Ra7,Rd5] Ftacnik: 'The critical position in a
pure rook endgame. Black is not even a pawn down, but the weak pawns on a7 and
d5 make his position very difficult.'} h5 {Schwarz opfert einen Bauern, denn
im Turmendspiel ist aktives Figurenspiel normalerweise wichtiger.} (25... Rb7
26. Kd2 Kf8 27. Kd3 Ke7 28. Ra6 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Rb7,Gd3,Rd5,Re7][%cal Rd3d4]
Schwarz ist ohne Gegenspiel und die weiЯen Figuren stehen sehr aktiv. Das
Endspiel ist kaum zu halten.} (28. Kd4 {Ftacnik} Rd7 29. g4 $16)) 26. Rxa7 Rb2
27. a4 Ra2 {[%csl Ga2][%cal Ga2h2,Ga2a4] Fьr den geopferten Bauern hat Schwarz
etwas Aktivitдt. Sein Turm kontrolliert den a-Bauern und die Bauern am
Kцnigsflьgel.} (27... h4 {Ftacnik} 28. a5 h3 29. a6 Rb1+ 30. Kf2 Rh1 31. Rb7
Rxh2+ 32. Kf3 Rh1 33. Rb8+ Kh7 34. a7 Rf1+ 35. Kg4 $18) (27... f5 {Ftacnik} 28.
a5 d4 29. a6 Ra2 30. Kd1 $18) 28. f5 $1 Ra1+ (28... g6 29. f6 $16) (28... d4 {
Ftacnik} 29. a5 d3 30. exd3 Rxh2 31. Ra8+ Kh7 32. a6 Ra2 33. a7 g5 34. fxg6+
fxg6 35. d4 g5 36. d5 $18) 29. Kf2 d4 30. a5 f6 (30... Ra2 {Ftacnik} 31. Kf3
Ra3+ 32. Ke4 Re3+ 33. Kxd4 Rxe2 34. a6 Rxh2 35. Rb7 Ra2 36. a7 Kh7 37. Rxf7 $18
) 31. Kf3 {Ftacnik: 'The biggest worry for black is the fate of a weak d4 pawn.
'} Kh7 (31... Ra3+ {Ftacnik} 32. Ke4 Re3+ 33. Kxd4 Rxe2 34. a6 Rxh2 35. Rb7 Ra2
36. a7 Kh7 37. Kc5 Kh6 38. Kb6 $18) 32. a6 {[%csl Ga6,Ga7,Gf3] WeiЯ hat gute
Gewinnchancen, denn seine Figuren stehen sehr aktiv. Der schwarze Turm allein
kann die Stellung nicht retten.} Kh6 {[%cal Gh6g5]} 33. h4 g6 (33... Ra3+ 34.
Kf4 Ra2 35. Ra8 Kh7 (35... g5+ {Ftacnik} 36. fxg6 Kxg6 37. a7 $18) 36. a7 Ra5
37. Ke4 Ra4 38. Kd5 $22 {[%csl Rd4,Rh7]}) 34. fxg6 Kxg6 35. Ra8 Ra2 (35... Kf5
{Ftacnik} 36. a7 Ra3+ 37. Kf2 Ra2 38. Ke1 Ra3 39. Kd2 Ra2+ 40. Kd3 Ra4 41. Kc2
$18) 36. Kf4 Kf7 (36... Rxe2 37. a7 Ra2 38. Rg8+ $18) 37. a7 Kg7 (37... Ra4 38.
Rh8 Rxa7 39. Rh7+ $18) 38. Kf5 Ra5+ 39. Ke4 $18 {[%mdl 4104] Der weiЯe Kцnig
entscheidet die Partie. Der d4-Bauer ist schutzlos.} Ra4 40. Kd5 $22 Ra1 (40...
Kh7 41. Kc5 Kg7 42. Kb6 Rb4+ 43. Ka5 Rb7 (43... Rb3 44. Rb8 $18) 44. Ka6 $18)
41. Kxd4 {Ftacnik: 'Black can not prevent exchange of the rook on the 7th rank
with a lost pawn endgame.'  Und Schwarz gab auf. Gute Endspieltechnik von
Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. b4 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Nc6 8. b5
Na5 9. Nbd2 c6 10. bxc6 bxc6 11. c4 Kh8 12. Bc3 Nb7 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qc2 Ng4 15.
h3 Nh6 16. Qb2 Kg8 17. e3 Nf7 18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Nc5
Nxc5 22. dxc5 Bxc3 23. Qxc3 e5 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Bxd5+ Rf7 26. Bxa8 Bxh3 27.
Rfe1 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. c4 e6 5. b3 Ngf6 6. Bb2 c6 7. O-O Bd6 8. d4
O-O 9. Nbd2 a5 10. Ne5 Bh5 11. Re1 a4 12. bxa4 Qa5 13. Qb3 Qxd2 14. Bc3 Qh6 15.
Qxb7 Rab8 16. Qxc6 Rb6 17. cxd5 exd5 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Bb7 11. Qc2 Nh5 12. d5 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Bg7 14. dxe6 fxe6 15.
Rad1 Qe7 16. Nd4 O-O-O 17. a4 Nc5 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. axb5 Bb7 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 Qd7 9. O-O b6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. Bb5 Nb4 13. Qa4 Bc6 14. Bxc6 Nxc6
15. Rad1 Rfd8 16. Qc2 Na5 17. f3 Nc4 18. Bf2 e6 19. h4 Qb5 20. Qd3 a6 21. Rb1
Qc6 22. h5 Ne5 23. Qe3 Nc4 24. Qg5 h6 25. Qg3 g5 26. Rbd1 f5 27. d5 f4 28. Nxf4
gxf4 29. Qxg7+ Kxg7 30. dxc6 Rd6 31. Rd4 b5 32. e5 Rxd4 33. Bxd4 a5 34. Rb1 Ra6
35. Rxb5 Rxc6 36. a4 Kf7 37. Kf2 Ke7 38. Ke2 Kd7 39. Kd3 Kc8 40. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bc4 c6 6. Bd2 Bf5 7. Nge2 e6 8.
Ng3 Bg6 9. h4 h6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Nf4 Bh7 12. Qe2 Nd5 13. O-O-O Be7 14. Ngh5 Rg8
15. Rh3 Nd7 16. Rb3 N7b6 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 g6 19. Ng3 Bxh4 20. Ne4 Be7 21.
c4 Nf6 22. Nxf6+ Bxf6 23. c5 Nd5 24. Rxb7 Bg5 25. Nxd5 Qxd5 26. Kb1 Kf8 27.
Bxg5 hxg5 28. Qf3 Qxf3 29. gxf3 Rh8 30. Rc7 Rh3 31. Rxc6 Rxf3 32. Rd2 Rd8 33.
Rc7 Rf4 34. Rxa7 Rfxd4 35. Rxd4 Rxd4 36. b3 g4 37. c6 Ke8 38. a4 Kd8 39. Rxf7
Rd6 40. Rd7+ Rxd7 41. cxd7 Kxd7 42. Kc2 Kd6 43. Kd3 Kc5 44. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8.
Nb3 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Kh1 Rc8 11. f4 a6 12. a4 Na5 13. f5 Bxb3 14. cxb3 Rxc3
15. Bxf6 Rxb3 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Bc4 Rb4 18. Bd5 Qb6 19. Qd2 Qd4 20. Qg5 f6 21.
Qg3 Rxb2 22. Rac1 Nc6 23. h4 Qe5 24. Qg4 Rb4 25. Qh3 Rxa4 26. h5 g5 27. h6+ Kh8
28. Rb1 Rb4 29. Qe3 a5 30. Rbc1 Qd4 31. Qg3 Qe5 32. Qe3 Qd4 33. Qg3 Rb6 34.
Rfd1 Qb2 35. Qd3 Nb4 36. Qe3 Nc6 37. Rc3 a4 38. Rd2 Qb1+ 39. Kh2 Rb2 40. Rxb2
Qxb2 41. Bxc6 bxc6 42. Rxc6 Qe5+ 43. Kh1 d5 44. Re6 Qa1+ 45. Kh2 d4 46. Qd2 Qc3
47. Qa2 Qc7+ 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4 4. e3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 d6 6. d4 Nf6 7. Qd1 g6 8.
Be2 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 d5 11. Bf3 cxd4 12. exd4 dxc4 13. bxc4 e5 14. dxe5
Nd7 15. Ba3 Re8 16. Nd5 Nxe5 17. Rc1 Qa5 18. Qb3 Be6 19. Be4 f5 20. Bb4 Qd8 21.
Bf3 Rc8 22. Rfd1 Qh4 23. g3 Qh6 24. Ne7+ Rxe7 25. Bxe7 Nxc4 26. Qxb7 Re8 27.
Bd5 Bxd5 28. Qxd5+ Kh8 29. Qf7 1-0

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 $5 {Besides,white has two options:} (11.
Nh3) ({and} 11. Bd3) 11... Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 $5 ({There are three
alternatives:} 13. Be7 $6) (13. Bxc7 $5) (13. bxc3 $6) 13... Nd5 14. Bf2 c5 {
Is the main line.} ({In my opinion slightly better is:} 14... f5 $5 {
/\e5-e4-see comments Gelfand,B-Tiviakov,S/Elista 1998/CBM 65(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)
(23)}) 15. Bb5 $5 ({Slightly worse is:} 15. e4 {-see comments to Teplitsky,
Y-Gershon,A/Bermuda,1999/CBM 69(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(27)}) 15... N5f6 $6 {Besides
black has a two equal options:} (15... Rfd8 $5 16. e4 $5 (16. Ne2 $143 cxd4 17.
Nxd4 Nc5 18. O-O Nc7 19. Bc4 e5 20. Nf5 Ba6 21. Bxa6 N7xa6 $11 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23.
Nc6 Re8 24. b4 Re6 25. bxc5 Rxc6 26. cxb6 axb6 27. e4 Nc5 28. Rfc1 Rac8 {
1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo 1998/CBM 63 ext (28)}) 16... Ne7 17.
Ne2 cxd4 $1 (17... Bc6 $6 18. Ba6 b5 19. a4 bxa4 20. dxc5 Ne5 21. Nd4 $14 {
1-0 Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Moscow RUS 1998 (61)}) 18. Nxd4 a6 19. Be2 Nc5 20. b4
Na4 21. O-O e5 22. Nb3 Nc3 23. Rfe1 Nxe2+ 24. Rxe2 Rd6 25. Rd2 {1/2-1/2 Anand,
V-Karpov,A/Monte Carlo MNC 1999 (25)}) ({and} 15... Rad8 $5 16. Ne2 cxd4 17.
Nxd4 a6 (17... e5 $5 18. Nc6 (18. Nf5 $5) 18... Bxc6 19. Bxc6 Nc5 20. Rd1 (20.
Ke2 $5) 20... Ne7 21. Bb5 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Rc8 23. Re1 a6 24. Bf1 b5 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Jelen,I-Podlesnik,B/Krsko 1997/CBM 61 ext (45)}) 18. Be2 Nc5 19. O-O
Na4 20. Rab1 Rc8 21. Rfd1 Rfd8 22. Rd2 Ne7 $6 (22... b5 $5 {Finkel,A} 23. Rbd1
Ndb6 24. Bh4 g5 25. Bg3 Nc4 26. Bxc4 bxc4 $132) 23. Rbd1 $14 {Jelen,I-Farago,I/
Ljubljana,1997/CBM58 (1-0)(Finkel)(61)}) 16. Ne2 a6 17. Ba4 cxd4 $146 {[%mdl 8]
} (17... b5 $5 {-was checked in the previous game.} 18. Bc2 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Rac8
20. O-O-O g6 21. e4 Rc7 22. Kb1 Rfc8 23. Rc1 $14 {Ljubojevic,L-Kramnik,V/
Amber-rapid6th 1997/(0-1)(63)}) 18. Nxd4 Nc5 $6 {/\e5} ({Can be recommended:} 
18... Rac8 $5 {with the idea 19...Rfd8 and after this 20...Nc5}) 19. Bc2 $14 e5
$6 (19... Rac8 $142) 20. Nf5 Rfd8 ({After:} 20... e4 {strongly:} 21. b4 $1 Ne6
(21... Nd3+ $143 22. Bxd3 exd3 23. Kd2 {[%csl Rd3]}) 22. Nd6 Bc6 23. fxe4 $5
$14) (20... Rad8 21. Bh4 $36) (20... Ne6 $5 21. e4 b5 $14) 21. Bh4 $1 {[%csl
Rf6,Yg7,Gh4][%cal Gf5h6,Yg7h6,Yg7f6,Gh4f6]} Nd3+ $2 (21... Ncd7 $142) 22. Ke2
$1 $16 {This move better than:} (22. Bxd3 Rxd3 23. Bxf6 (23. Nxh6+ gxh6 $1 24.
Bxf6 Rxe3+ 25. Kf2 Rd3 26. Rad1 (26. Bxe5 $143 Rd2+ 27. Kg3 Kh7 $44) 26... Rxd1
27. Rxd1 e4 $14) 23... gxf6 24. Nxh6+ Kf8 $44) 22... Nxb2 $6 ({Slightly better
is:} 22... e4 $5 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Nxh6+ Kf8 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 (25... exd3+ $143
26. Kd2 $18) 26. Rad1 Rb3 (26... Rad8 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 28. Rc1 $16) 27. Rd2 Re8 (
27... exf3+ $143 28. gxf3 Re8 29. e4 $16) 28. f4 Bc8 29. h3 $16) 23. Rhb1 $1
Nc4 $140 24. Bd3 {[%csl Rb6,Rb7,Rc4]} Nd6 ({Loses right away:} 24... Rxd3 25.
Kxd3 b5 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Ke2 $5 {/\a4+-} (27. a4 $143 Rd8+ 28. Kc3 Bc8 $1 $16)
) 25. Nxh6+ Kf8 ({Badly:} 25... gxh6 26. Bxf6 $18 {[%csl Rb6,Rd8,Re5]}) 26.
Bxf6 gxf6 27. Rxb6 Bc8 (27... Rab8 $6 {is refuted by:} 28. Rab1 Nb5 $140 29.
Bxb5 $1 Bxf3+ (29... axb5 $143 30. Ke1 $5 $18 {[%csl Rb5,Rb8]} (30. Rxf6 $143
Bd5 $16)) 30. gxf3 Rxb6 31. Bd3 {+/-/+-}) 28. Rc1 {[%csl Rd6,Rf6][%cal Gc1c6]}
Be6 29. Rcc6 Ke7 30. e4 $5 {(><d5,f5)and weakness- pawn chain of black in the
king side.} (30. Rxa6 $143 Rxa6 (30... f5 $4 31. Rxd6 $1 $18 {[%csl Ga6,Ra8,
Yd6][%cal Ya6d6,Ga6a8]}) 31. Rxa6 Rh8 (31... f5 $5) 32. Ra7+ Kd8 33. Nf5 $1 Nc8
(33... Nxf5 $4 34. Ra8+ Bc8 35. Bxf5 $18) (33... Bxf5 $4 34. Bxf5 $18 {[%csl
Rd6,Rh8][%cal Ga7d7,Ga7a8]}) 34. Rb7 Rxh2 35. Kf2 Rh1 $16) 30... Nb5 (30... a5
$5) 31. Ke3 $1 Nxa3 $140 32. Nf5+ Kf8 (32... Bxf5 33. exf5 Nb5 34. Rb7+ $18)
33. Bxa6 $18 {[%csl Ra3]} Rd1 34. Be2 Ra1 (34... Rh1 $5) 35. Rb2 Rd8 (35...
Bxf5 36. exf5 Rh1 37. Rb7 (37. h3 $5) 37... Rxh2 38. Rxf6 Rh7 39. Rc6 $18) 36.
h4 {[%csl Ra3,Gg2,Gh4][%cal Gh4h5,Gg2g4]} Nb1 37. Kf2 Nd2 $2 {The latter fault}
({Also badly:} 37... Bxf5 38. exf5 $18 {[%csl Rb1,Rf6][%cal Gc6c1,Gc6f6]}) (
37... Na3 $142 $18) 38. Rd6 $1 {[%csl Rd2,Rf8]} (38. Rd6 $1 Rxd6 $140 39. Rb8+
Rd8 40. Rxd8#) 1-0

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7.
Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3
Nc6 14. d5 Na5 15. Bg5 {An attempt to make use of the pawn position on h7} Bxf3
$6 {This novelty had been probably refuted by Kramnik at home!} (15... Qa3 16.
Bd2 Bc3 17. Bc1 Qd6 18. e5 Qd7 19. Bd2 Rfc8 (19... Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxd2 21. Qxd2
Nc4 22. Qe2 b5 23. e6 Qd6 24. exf7+ Kg7 25. Rxb5 Ne5 26. Be4 Rxf7 27. Ra5 Rf6
28. g3 a6 29. Bg2 Raf8 30. Kh1 h5 31. Ra4 Ng4 32. f4 e5 33. dxe6 {1/2-1/2
Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V/Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo MON 1998}) 20. Bxc3 Rxc3 21. Qd4
Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Rac8 (22... Rc4 23. Qe3 b6 24. e6 Qd6 25. exf7+ Kg7 26. Rfe1 Rf8
27. Qxe7 Qxe7 28. Rxe7 Rxf7 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Shirov,A/8th Amber Blindfold
1999 (42)}) 23. Qxa7 Rxf3 24. gxf3 Qxd5 25. f4 Nc6 26. Qxb7 Rb8 27. Qc7 Rxb1
28. Rxb1 Nd4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Shirov,A/Hoogovens 1999 (42)}) 16. Bxf3
Rfe8 17. e5 $3 {A typical pawn sacrifice in this type of positions. The black
e5 bishop is vulnerable to tactical threats and the e7 pawn - to frontal
attack. '!' Ftacnik.} Nc4 {The rejection of the sacrifice looks like a
positional capitulation but can it be taken? '?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Black is
letting the great defensive tactical chance to slip away and thus lands in
difficult position. '} (17... Bxe5 18. Re1 (18. d6 {Ftacnik} Bxd6 (18... exd6
19. Bd5 Qa3 20. Bd2 Nc6 (20... Bc3 $2 21. Qf3 $18) 21. Rxb7 $16) 19. Ra1 (19.
Bd5 Qa3 $17) 19... Qc4 20. Rxa5 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 $13 (21. Kxh2 Qc7+ $19)) 18...
Nc4 (18... Bd6 $2 19. Ra1) (18... f6 $2 19. d6 (19. Rxe5 fxe5 20. Ra1 Qb3 21.
Rxa5 Qxd1+ 22. Bxd1 $13) 19... Kh8 20. d7 Red8 21. Rxe5 fxe5 22. Bxe7 Rxd7 23.
Bf6+ Rg7 24. Bxg7+ Kxg7 25. Ra1 $18) (18... Bc3 19. Rxe7 $16 {[%csl Gd5]} (19.
Rxe7 Bd4 20. d6 $13)) 19. Rxb7 {[%csl Re7]} f6 20. d6 $1 e6 21. Rxe5 $1 Nxe5
22. Bxf6 $16) 18. d6 Nxe5 19. Bd5 $1 (19. Bxb7 Rab8 20. Bxe7 Bf8 {was not so
strong. It is essential for White to lure the Black queen to a3.}) 19... Qa3 (
19... Qa5 20. Bxe7 Bf8 21. Rxb7) 20. Bxe7 Bf8 21. Bxb7 Bxe7 (21... Rab8 22. d7
{- that's the point!}) 22. Bxa8 Bxd6 23. Bd5 {Ftacnik: 'White has won an
exchange and the opposite colour bishops can help him to realize the advantage.
'} Re7 24. Kh1 {In this open position the White rook is much stronger than the
black knight but this advantage is not easy to convert. White prepares
f2-f4-f5. '!' Ftacnik.} h5 25. h3 Kg7 26. Qd2 Bc7 27. Rbd1 {Ftacnik: 'Kramnik
has met all the preparations for the decisive push of the f pawn.'} Nd7 $2 {
This allows a deadly blow leading to a favourable endgame for White.} (27...
Ba5) (27... Ba5 {Ftacnik} 28. Qg5 $16) (27... Qd6 {Ftacnik} 28. f4 Nd7 29. Qc3+
Nf6 30. Bxf7 $18) 28. Bxf7 $1 Rxf7 29. Qxd7 Rxd7 30. Rxd7+ Kh6 31. Rxc7 {
Two rooks are stronger than a queen especially as the black king is unsafe.}
Qd3 {This leads to a quick loss of the a-pawn.} (31... a5 $142) 32. Kg1 Qd4 $2
33. Rc2 {34.Ra2 or 34.Ra1 is inevitable. Ftacnik: 'Black has resigned, since
he will lose the a pawn and then he stands no chance against two rooks turning
their attention to the pawns on the kingside.'} 1-0

[Event "Paris Arthur Andersen sim 30'"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1999.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Doornbos, Yann"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2332"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.03.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
h6 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 e5 13. Re1 Qf6 14. Be3 Re8 15.
Rad1 Kh8 16. c5 Bc7 17. d5 cxd5 18. Bxd5 Nf8 19. Nd2 Bf5 20. Qb3 e4 21. Qxb7
Qe7 22. Bf4 Rac8 23. Bd6 Bxd6 24. cxd6 Qxd6 25. Qxf7 Be6 26. Bxe6 Qxe6 27. Qxe6
Nxe6 28. Nxe4 1-0

[Event "Paris Arthur Andersen sim 30'"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1999.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jossien, Arnaud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2307"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.03.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. Nc3 e5 5. g3 Ngf6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. h3 Bh5 8. Be3
c6 9. O-O O-O 10. d5 Qc7 11. Rc1 Rfd8 12. b4 a5 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. b5 c5 15. g4
d5 16. cxd5 Bg6 17. Nh4 Nb6 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Qc2 Rac8 20. Rfd1 Rd7 21. d6 Rxd6
22. Rxd6 Bxd6 23. Bc6 Nc4 24. Bg5 Nb6 25. Bd2 Be7 26. Na4 Nbd7 27. Nb2 Nb8 28.
Bg2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2571"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qd2 e5 8. d5
Nc5 9. f3 a5 10. g4 Bd7 11. h4 c6 12. h5 cxd5 13. cxd5 a4 14. Nh3 Qa5 15. Rb1
b5 16. Nf2 b4 17. Ncd1 b3 18. a3 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 h6 20. Be3 gxh5 21. gxh5 Rfc8
22. Nc3 Rab8 23. Rbc1 Ne8 24. Bf1 Nf6 25. Bh3 Kh7 26. Ne2 Bxh3 27. Rxh3 Nb7 28.
Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Nc3 Nd7 30. Nd3 Bf6 31. Nb4 Ndc5 32. Nb5 Bg5 33. Bxg5 hxg5 34.
Ke3 Kh6 35. Nc6 Re8 36. Rh1 f5 37. exf5 e4 38. Nc7 Rc8 39. Ne6 exf3 40. f6 g4
41. Ne7 Ra8 42. f7 Nd7 43. Nf5+ Kh7 44. Rg1 Na5 45. Rxg4 Rc8 46. Rg7+ Kh8 47.
Ne7 Nc4+ 48. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
O-O 9. Qd2 a5 10. Bb5 Na7 11. Be2 Nc6 12. Bb5 Na7 13. Ba4 Be6 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15.
Qf2 Ra8 16. O-O-O Qb8 17. Bb5 Rc8 18. Na4 d5 19. Nb6 a4 20. Bxa4 Qa7 21. exd5
Bd8 22. dxe6 Bxb6 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24. Nc5 Qxa4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. h3 Re8 14. a3 Bb7 15. Be3
exd4 16. Nxd4 g6 17. Kh1 Bf8 18. Nf3 c5 19. a4 b4 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Nb6 22.
Bc4 Rad8 23. Bg5 Rd7 24. a5 Nxc4 25. Qxc4 Qd6 26. Bf4 Bxd5 27. Bxd6 Bxc4 28.
Bxf8 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Kxf8 30. Rc1 Bd3 31. Rxc5 Re2 32. Rd5 Be4 33. Rd4 Bxf3 34.
gxf3 Rxb2 35. Kg2 Ke7 36. h4 Rb1 37. f4 b3 38. Rb4 b2 39. Rb6 Kf8 40. f5 Kg7
41. Kf3 Kh6 42. fxg6 hxg6 43. Rb7 f6 44. Kf4 g5+ 45. hxg5+ fxg5+ 46. Kf5 g4 47.
Kf6 Rf1 48. Rxb2 g3 49. f4 Rxf4+ 50. Ke5 Rf2 51. Rb3 g2 52. Rg3 Kh5 53. Ke4 Kh4
54. Rg6 Kh3 55. Rh6+ Kg3 56. Rg6+ Kh2 57. Rh6+ Kg1 58. Rxa6 Kf1 59. Rg6 g1=Q
60. Rxg1+ Kxg1 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ c6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. a4
Be7 9. Ne5 Nd5 10. O-O O-O 11. d4 Na6 12. Nc3 b4 13. Ne4 c5 14. dxc5 Rc8 15. c6
Nb8 16. Nc5 Bxc6 17. Ncd3 Bb7 18. Qb3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Bd2 a5 21. Rfc1 Bb7
22. Bf3 Qd6 23. e4 Nc3 24. bxc3 Qxd3 25. Be3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Qxc3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. b3 Bb4 6. Bb2 O-O 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Bxc3
b6 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 a5 11. O-O Ba6 12. Qe2 Qc8 13. a4 c5 14. Rfd1 Rd8 15.
Bb2 Qb7 16. Nd2 Rac8 17. h3 h6 18. Rac1 cxd4 19. exd4 Qb8 20. Nf1 Qf4 21. Bb1
Bb7 22. Qe3 Qd6 23. Qe1 dxc4 24. bxc4 Qc6 25. d5 exd5 26. cxd5 Qxa4 27. Rxc8
Rxc8 28. Ne3 Re8 29. Qd2 Qf4 30. Qc3 Rc8 31. Qe1 Re8 32. Rd4 Qg5 33. h4 Qh5 34.
Qc3 b5 35. Qxa5 Bxd5 36. Qd2 Be6 37. Bd3 Ne5 38. Be2 Bg4 39. Bxb5 Rf8 40. Bf1
Be6 41. Ra4 Ng6 42. Be2 Qc5 43. Ba3 Qc6 44. Ra6 Qe4 45. Bxf8 Nxf8 46. Qd8 Qb1+
47. Bf1 Qb4 48. Ra8 N6d7 49. g3 g6 50. Qa5 Qb2 51. Qa1 Qxa1 52. Rxa1 h5 53. f3
Kg7 54. Kf2 Nh7 55. Ra7 Nhf6 56. Bc4 Bxc4 57. Nxc4 Kf8 58. Ke3 Ke7 59. Kf4 Kf8
60. Kg5 Kg7 61. Kf4 Kf8 62. Ke3 Ke7 63. Kd4 Ke6 64. Ra6+ Ke7 65. Ne3 Kf8 66.
Ra7 Kg7 67. Nc4 Kf8 68. g4 hxg4 69. fxg4 Ke7 70. g5 Ng4 71. Nb6 Nge5 72. Kd5
Ke8 73. Nxd7 Nxd7 74. Kd6 Nb6 75. Rc7 Kf8 76. Rc6 Na4 77. Ke5 Kg7 78. Kd4 Nb2
79. Rc1 Na4 80. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 Qb6 5. dxc5 Qxc5 6. Be2 d6 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bg4 9. b4 Qb6 10. Be3 Qd8 11. Ra2 Nf6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rd2 Nd7 14. Qb3 a5 15. h3
Bxf3 16. Bxf3 axb4 17. axb4 b6 18. Rfd1 Re8 19. Be2 Qc7 20. Nb5 Qb7 21. f4 Ra1
22. e5 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Nxb4 24. Bf3 Qb8 25. Qa4 dxe5 26. Rxd7 exf4 27. Bf2 e5
28. Nd6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. b4 Nbd7 10. Bb2 a5 11. Be2 axb4 12. axb4 Rxa1+ 13. Bxa1 Ne4 14. Qb3
Qf6 15. O-O Qg6 16. Rd1 f5 17. d5 e5 18. Ne1 Ndf6 19. f3 Ng5 20. Nd3 e4 21. Nf4
Qh6 22. Rf1 Bc8 23. Qd1 Bd7 24. Qe1 Ra8 25. h4 Nf7 26. Bd4 Ne5 27. Qg3 Ra2 28.
Ra1 Rxa1+ 29. Bxa1 exf3 30. gxf3 Ng6 31. Ng2 Nh5 32. Qg5 Qxg5 33. hxg5 f4 34.
e4 Kf7 35. Kf2 Ba4 36. Bd4 h6 37. gxh6 gxh6 38. c5 bxc5 39. bxc5 Nf6 40. c6 Nh7
41. Bc3 Ke7 42. Ba5 Kd8 43. Bd2 Ng5 44. Nxf4 Nxf4 45. Bxf4 Nh3+ 46. Kg3 Nxf4
47. Kxf4 Ke7 48. Kf5 Kf7 49. f4 Bc2 50. Bh5+ Ke7 51. Bf3 Kf7 52. Kg4 Kf6 53.
Kh5 Kg7 54. e5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. e4 Nb4 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. a3 N8c6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. e5 Qxd1
15. Rxd1 Rfd8 16. Be3 Rab8 17. Rxd8+ Nxd8 18. Nb5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nc6 20. Rc1
Nxe5 21. Nxa7 Bf6 22. b3 g5 23. Rc8+ Rxc8 24. Nxc8 b5 25. Nd6 b4 26. a4 Nc6 27.
Nb7 g4 28. a5 Nb8 29. Kf1 Kf8 30. Nc5 Nc6 31. a6 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht,Hj. Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O
a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. a3 Na5 12. Bc2 b5 13. d5
{'!?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'White is often dreaming about the breakthrough in the
center, this idea became quite popular of late.'} (13. Qd3 {Ftacnik} Bb7 14.
Bg5 g6 15. Rad1 Rc8 16. Ne5 Nc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 (17... Rxc4 18. Bb3 Rc8 19. Qh3 (
19. d5 Bxd5 20. Qh3 Rc7 $11) 19... Rc7 20. Qh4 Nd5 21. Ne4 $14) 18. Qh3 Nd5 19.
Bh6 Re8 20. Ne4 Nf6 (20... Qb6 $15 21. Bc1 f5 22. Nc3 Bf6 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. Qg3
Bxd4 (24... Bg7 25. h4 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Bxd4 27. Bxf5 $15) 25. Bxf5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Sokolov,I-Hansen,C/Malmo/1998/ (29)}) 21. Ng5 Qb6 22. Ba4 Red8 23. Nxe6 fxe6
24. Rxe6 Qc7 25. Rde1 Bf8 26. Rxf6 Bxh6 27. Qxh6 Rxd4 28. Rfe6 Qf7 29. Re7 {
1-0 Sosnicki,M-Hnydiuk,A/Ksiaz/1998/ (29)}) 13... Re8 14. Bg5 (14. Qd3 g6 (
14... h6 $5 15. dxe6 Bxe6 16. Nd4 Bb3 $1 $11) (14... exd5 15. Bg5 $16) 15. b4
Nc4 16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. Nd4 Bd5 $1 18. Bg5 Bb7 $11 19. Bb3 (19. a4 Nb2 20. Qd2
Nc4 $11) 19... Qd6 (19... Rc8 $5 $15) 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Qd2 Ng4 22. Bf4 Bg5 $1
23. Bxd6 Bxd2 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Nde2 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Illescas Cordoba,M-Anand,V/
Dos Hermanas 1999/CBM 71 (25)}) 14... h6 (14... Nxd5 15. Bxe7 Rxe7 (15... Nxe7
16. Ng5 Qxd1 17. Bxh7+ Kf8 18. Raxd1 Nc4 $11) 16. Nxd5 exd5 (16... Rd7 17. Qe2
$1 Rxd5 (17... exd5 $4 18. Qe8+ Qxe8 19. Rxe8#) 18. Be4 $14) 17. Rxe7 Qxe7 18.
Qxd5 Bb7 19. Qd3 g6 20. Re1 Qc7 $11) (14... Nc4 $5) 15. Bh4 Nxd5 {'?!' Ftacnik.
Ftacnik: 'Defending this position is anything but easy, white probably enjoys
slightly better chances in all lines.'} (15... Nc4 16. Nd4 Nxd5 (16... Nxb2 17.
Qc1 Nc4 18. Nc6 Qd7 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Ne4 $40) 17. Qd3 g6 18. Nc6 Qd7 (18...
Qd6 19. Nxe7+ Nxe7 20. Qf3 $16 {[%cal Gc3e4,Ge4f6]}) 19. Nxe7+ Nxe7 20. Qxd7
Bxd7 21. Bxe7 Rxe7 22. Nd5 $16) (15... exd5 {Ftacnik} 16. Qd3 $5 (16. Rxe7 Rxe7
(16... Qxe7 17. Nxd5 Qd8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qd3 Kf8 20. Rd1 $13) 17. Bxf6 gxf6
18. Qd2 Kg7 (18... f5 19. Qxh6 Re6 20. Qh5 $13) 19. Qd3 f5 20. Nxd5 Re6 21.
Qc3+ Kg8 22. Rd1 Rd6 $15) 16... g5 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Nc4 19. Qg3 Nh5 20.
Bxe7+ Nxg3 21. Bxd8 $14) 16. Nxd5 exd5 (16... Bxh4 17. Qd3 $1 g6 (17... Kf8 18.
Nxh4 Bb7 19. Qh7 Qxd5 20. Rad1 Qc6 (20... Qc5 21. Rd7 $18) 21. Qh8+ Ke7 22.
Nf5+ Kf6 23. Qxg7#) (17... f5 18. Nxh4 Bb7 (18... Qxh4 19. Nc7 Rd8 20. Qc3 $18)
19. Nxf5 $1 Qxd5 (19... exf5 20. Ne7+ Rxe7 21. Qxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rxe7 $18) 20.
Nxh6+ $1 $18) 18. Nxh4 exd5 (18... Qxh4 19. Qc3 $1 $18) 19. Nxg6 $18) 17. Qd3
g6 18. Qe3 (18. Rxe7 Rxe7 19. Qc3 g5 $17) 18... Be6 (18... g5 19. Nxg5 (19. Qd3
f5 20. Bg3 $44 (20. Bg3 Nc4 21. Nd4 Nxb2 22. Qe2 Bd7 23. Qh5 $40)) (19. Bg3 {
Ftacnik} f5 20. Nd4 Nc4 21. Qe2 $16) 19... hxg5 20. Bxg5 Be6 (20... Nc6 21. Bh6
Bg4 22. Qd3 $1 f5 23. Qc3 $1 $18) 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 (21... Rxe7 22. Qh6 f6 23. Rxe6
Rxe6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Bg6 $18) 22. Qh6 f6 23. Re3 $18) (18... Nc6 19. Bxe7 (19.
Qxh6 $5 Bf8 (19... Bxh4 20. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kf8 22. Qxc6 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1
Ra7 24. Qc5+ $18) 20. Qf4 $16) 19... Rxe7 20. Qxh6 $36) 19. Qxh6 {'!' Ftacnik.}
(19. Bxe7 $5 Qxe7 (19... Rxe7 {Ftacnik} 20. Qxh6 Qf8 21. Qh4 $14) 20. Qxh6 Qf8
21. Qf4 $16) 19... Bxh4 20. Bxg6 $1 Qf6 {Ftacnik: 'Within a few moves black
king was left without a great part of his shield. The attack is possible
partly due to the rear position of the knight a5.'} (20... fxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kf8
22. Qh6+ Kf7 (22... Kg8 $2 23. Rxe6 $18) 23. Qh7+ Kf6 (23... Kf8 24. Nxh4 $18)
24. Qxh4+ (24. Nxh4 {Ftacnik} Qd7 25. Qh6+ Kf7 26. Re3 $16) 24... Kg7 25. Qg3+
Kf8 26. Qf4+ Kg7 (26... Kg8 27. Rxe6 Rxe6 28. Qg4+ $18) 27. Re5 $1 $40) (20...
Bf6 {Ftacnik} 21. Rxe6 fxg6 22. Qxg6+ Bg7 23. Ng5 $18) 21. Bh7+ Kh8 22. Bg6+
Kg8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Nxh4 Qg7 (24... Qxb2 $1 25. Nf5 (25. Bd3 Qf6 $132 {
[%cal Ya5c4]}) (25. Bf5 {Ftacnik} Qf6 26. Rad1 $36) 25... fxg6 26. Qxg6 (26.
Qh6+ Kf7 27. Nd6+ Ke7 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Qxg6 {'!' Ftacnik.} (29. Rxe6+ $1 Kxe6
30. Re1+ Kf7 31. Qf4+ Kg7 32. Qc7+ $11) 29... Qf6 $15) 26... Bxf5 (26... Qh8
27. Rad1 {[%cal Gd1d3,Gd3f3]} Bxf5 28. Qxf5+ Kg8 29. Qxd5+ $16) 27. Qxf5+ Kg7
28. Qg5+ Kh7 $11) (24... Nc4 {Ftacnik} 25. b3 Nd6 26. Bd3 $16) 25. Qxg7+ (25.
Nf5 $5 Qxh7 26. Bxh7 Nc4 27. b3 $1 (27. b4 Bxf5 (27... a5 28. Nd4 $16) 28. Bxf5
Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Nxa3 30. Rd1 $14) 27... Bxf5 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Bxf5 Nxa3 30.
Bd3 b4 (30... Nc4 $5 31. bxc4 dxc4 32. Bf1 $16) 31. Bxa6 $16) 25... Kxg7 26.
Bd3 $16 Nc4 (26... d4 27. Rad1 Rad8 28. Nf3 $16) 27. b4 (27. b3 $1 Nd2 28. b4
$16 (28. b4 {Ftacnik} Kf6 29. f4 Rh8 30. g3 Rxh4 $1 31. gxh4 Nf3+ 32. Kf2 Nxe1
33. Rxe1 $11)) (27. Re2 $5 $16) 27... Nb2 (27... d4 $142) 28. Bf1 d4 29. Nf3
Rad8 30. Reb1 (30. Rab1 Nc4 31. Rbd1 Nxa3 32. Nxd4 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 Nc2 34. Rg4+
Kf8 35. Re2 Bxg4 36. Rxc2 $16) 30... Nc4 31. Rd1 (31. a4 {Ftacnik} d3 32. axb5
axb5 33. Rd1 Bf5 $11) 31... Bg4 32. Rd3 $1 (32. Rxd4 Bxf3 33. Rxd8 Rxd8 34.
gxf3 $16 Nd2 35. Bg2 (35. Kg2 Nxf1 36. Kxf1 Rd3 37. Ke2 Rb3 $132) 35... Rd3
$132 {[%cal Yd2c4]}) 32... Nb2 33. Rxd4 Bxf3 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. gxf3 {Ftacnik:
'White has great advantage in far reaching bishop and two spare pawns.
Unfortunatelly his a3-b4 pawns need protection and extra pawns are of poor
quality. Winning the game is not easy. '  Hecht,Hj: '[#] Mehrbauer, starker
Lдufer sowie die angreifbare Schwдche a6 ergeben einen deutlichen Vorteil fьr
WeiЯ.'} Rc8 $1 {[%cal Yc8c3,Yc3a3,Yc3f3]} (35... Rd2 36. Rc1 $18) 36. Ra2 $1
Na4 (36... Rc2 37. a4 $1 (37. Kg2 {Hecht,Hj} Rd2 38. a4 bxa4 (38... Nc4 39.
Bxc4 $18) 39. Bxa6 a3 40. Rxa3 Nd1 41. Rb3 $18) 37... bxa4 38. Bxa6 $18) (36...
Nc4 {Ftacnik} 37. Rc2 $18) 37. Rd2 $18 {[%cal Gd2d6]} Rc6 38. f4 Nb6 {'?!'
Ftacnik.} (38... Nc3 {Ftacnik} 39. Rd3 Rg6+ 40. Rg3 Nb1 $16) 39. Kg2 Nc4 40.
Rd3 (40. Bxc4 $5 {Ftacnik} bxc4 41. Kf3 c3 42. Rc2 Kf6 43. Ke4 Rc4+ 44. Kd3
Rxf4 45. Kxc3 Rf3+ 46. Kb2 Rh3 47. Rc6+ $18) 40... Nb2 41. Rg3+ Kh8 {'?'
Ftacnik.} (41... Kf6 {Ftacnik} 42. h4 Kf5 43. Rg7 Kf6 44. Rg8 $18) 42. Be2 Rc2
43. Bh5 (43. Bf3 $142 {[%csl Ra6,Rb5][%cal Gf3b7]} Nd3 $140 44. Be4 $18) 43...
Rc7 44. f5 $6 {'?' Ftacnik.} (44. Kf3 $18 {[%cal Gf3d5]}) (44. Kf3 $1 {Ftacnik}
Kh7 45. Ke4 Kh6 46. Rh3 Kg7 47. Kd5 Nc4 48. Be2 $16) 44... Kh7 (44... f6 {
Ftacnik} 45. Be2 Nc4 46. Bxc4 Rxc4 47. Rg6 $18) 45. Be2 $6 (45. f6 Kh6 46. Bf3
Nd3 47. h4 $18) 45... Kh6 46. h4 Rc2 47. Bf3 Nc4 48. Bd5 (48. Bb7 $2 Nd6 $1 49.
Bxa6 $140 Rc6) 48... Nd6 (48... Ne5 {Ftacnik} 49. Bb7 $18) 49. Rd3 $1 (49. f6
Rd2 50. Bc6 Nf5 $132) 49... Kg7 (49... Nxf5 50. Bb7 (50. Bxf7 $5 Nxh4+ 51. Kf1
$18) 50... Nxh4+ 51. Kg1 $18 {Hecht,Hj: 'дhnlich wie in der Partie'}) 50. Bf3
$1 {Hecht,Hj: '[#] Endlich stehen die weiЯen Figuren optimal. Kramnik gibt
zwei relativ wertlose Bauern am Kцnigsflьgel auf und kassiert dafьr den
wichtigen Ba6.'} (50. Bb3 Rc6 51. Rd5 Kf6 $132) 50... Nxf5 (50... Nc4 {Ftacnik}
51. Bb7 Ra2 52. Bxa6 Nxa3 53. Kg3 Nc2 54. Bxb5 Nxb4 55. Rd6 $16) 51. Bb7 Nxh4+
52. Kg1 Re2 (52... Rc1+ {Ftacnik} 53. Kh2 Rc2 54. Bxa6 Rxf2+ 55. Kg3 Rf6 56.
Bxb5 $18) 53. Bxa6 Re5 54. Rc3 {[%cal Gc3c5] Hecht,Hj: '[#] Gegen Tc5 gibt es
keine befriedigende Antwort. Die Folge ist ein Lдufer/Springer-Duell, bei dem
der Lдufer in Verbindung mit dem weit entfernten a-Freibauern klarer Sieger
bleibt.'} Nf5 55. Rc5 {'!' Ftacnik.} Rxc5 (55... Re1+ {Ftacnik} 56. Kg2 Nd4 57.
Bxb5 Ra1 58. a4 Nxb5 59. axb5 $18) 56. bxc5 Nd4 57. c6 {'!' Ftacnik.} Nxc6 58.
Bxb5 {Ftacnik: 'Finally Kramnik managed to transform the position into a good
example of bishop's abilities in endgames with light pieces.'} Na5 59. Kg2 Kf6
60. Kf3 Ke5 61. Ke3 Nb7 62. Bc4 f6 (62... f5 $2 63. f4+ Kd6 64. Kd4 $18 {
[%csl Rf5]}) 63. a4 Na5 64. Bf7 Nc6 (64... Nb7 65. f4+ Kd6 (65... Kf5 66. Bd5
Nc5 67. a5 $18) 66. Kd4 $18) 65. Kd3 Kd6 (65... Na5 66. Kc3 Ke4 67. Kb4 Nb7 68.
f3+ Kd4 69. a5 $18) 66. Ke4 Ne7 (66... Na5 67. Bd5 $1 $18) 67. a5 Kc5 68. a6
Nc8 (68... Kb6 69. Bc4 Ka7 70. Kf4 $18 {[%cal Gf4g4,Gg4h5,Gh5h6,Gh6g7,Gg7f6]})
69. Bh5 $1 {[%cal Gh5e2,Ge2a6]} Kd6 70. Bf3 (70. Bf3 Kc6 (70... Na7 71. Kd4 $1
Nb5+ 72. Kc4 Na7 73. Bb7 $1 $18) 71. Kf5+ Kb6 72. Bb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. b4 O-O 6. Bb2 c6 7. Bg2 Na6 8. a3 Nc7
9. O-O d6 10. Nbd2 Kh8 11. a4 a6 12. Ne1 Qe8 13. Nd3 Be6 14. Rc1 g5 15. e3 Rd8
16. Qe2 Qf7 17. f3 Bc8 18. e4 fxe4 19. fxe4 Qh5 20. Qxh5 Nxh5 21. Rxf8+ Rxf8
22. d5 Bxb2 23. Nxb2 Bd7 24. a5 Nf6 25. Re1 e5 26. c5 dxc5 27. d6 Ne6 28. Nd3
cxb4 29. Nxe5 Nc5 30. Rc1 Na4 31. Nd3 Re8 32. e5 Bf5 33. Rf1 Bxd3 34. Rxf6 Nc5
35. e6 Rxe6 36. d7 Re1+ 37. Rf1 Rxf1+ 38. Bxf1 Nxd7 39. Bxd3 Ne5 40. Bf5 c5 41.
Be4 c4 42. Bxb7 b3 43. Nb1 Kg7 44. Bxa6 Nc6 45. Bxc4 Nxa5 46. Bd5 Kf6 47. Kf2
Ke5 48. Bg8 h5 49. Ke3 b2 50. Nd2 Kf5 51. h3 h4 52. g4+ Kf6 53. Bd5 Ke5 54. Be4
Ke6 55. Kd4 1-0

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Re1 Na5 11. Bc2 b5 12. d5 $1 (12. a4 b4 13. Ne4 Bb7 14.
Nc5 Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Bxd1 $1 Rc8 17. Bd2 Nd5 18. Rc1 O-O 19. Ng5 $5 {
/\ Ne4-d6} Bc6 $1 20. Ne4 Nb7 $11 {0-1 Filippov,V-Estrada Nieto,J/Linares 1998/
Inf 71/[Estrada Nieto,J] (56)}) 12... b4 (12... Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Bd2 (14.
Qxd5 exd5 15. Nd4 Kf8 (15... Bd7 16. Bg5 f6 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Rac1
$44) 16. b3 $44) (14. Be4 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Bb7 $17) 14... Nc6 (14... Nb7 15. Be4
Qd6 16. a4 $44) 15. Be4 Qd6 16. Bc3 Bb7 17. Bxg7 Rg8 18. Qxd6 Bxd6 19. Bf6 $16
h6 20. Rad1 Be7 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Nh4 $1 $16 {[%cal Gh4f5,Ge1e7]}) 13. Ba4+ Kf8
14. Bf4 $1 bxc3 (14... Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5 (15... exd5 16. Rc1 $18) 16. Qxd5
exd5 17. Rac1 $44) (14... exd5 15. Ne2 $44 {[%csl Rf8]}) (14... Nh5 $5) 15. d6
Nd5 (15... cxb2 16. dxe7+ Kxe7 17. Qc2 $1 Bd7 (17... bxa1=Q 18. Qc5+ Qd6 19.
Qxd6#) 18. Qxb2 (18. Rad1 $5 Qb6 19. Bd6+ Ke8 20. Bc7 Qb4 21. Bxd7+ Nxd7 22.
Rxd7 Kxd7 23. Bxa5 Qb7 (23... Qxa5 24. Ne5+ $18) 24. Bc3 $16) 18... Bxa4 19.
Qb4+ Ke8 20. Qxa4+ Kf8 21. Rab1 $44 {/+/-}) 16. dxe7+ Qxe7 17. Be5 $1 (17. Qxd5
exd5 18. Bd6 Be6 19. Bxe7+ Kxe7 20. bxc3 Rhc8 $15) 17... Bb7 (17... cxb2 18.
Bxb2 Nc4 (18... Bb7 19. Qd4 f6 20. Rac1 $44) 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7 20. Qxd5 (20. Qd4+
Qf6 21. Qxc4 Bb7 $14) 20... exd5 21. Rxe7 $14) 18. bxc3 Rd8 (18... f6 $142) (
18... Rc8 $142) 19. Nd4 Nc4 $4 (19... Qg5 20. Qf3 Kg8 21. Rab1 $36 {[%csl Rg8]}
) {[%tqu "En","Find a winning idea for White.","","","e5g7","",10]} 20. Bxg7+
$1 Kxg7 21. Nf5+ exf5 22. Rxe7 Nxe7 23. Qe2 $1 $18 Ng6 24. Qxc4 Rd2 25. Bb3 Bd5
26. Qxa6 Rd8 27. Bxd5 R8xd5 28. h3 Ne5 29. a4 f4 30. a5 f3 31. Qb7 fxg2 32. a6
1-0

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 b6 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Nc4 Bb7 12. b3 Ke7 $6 {An inaccurate
move as Bishop on c5 is getting in trouble.} (12... O-O $5) 13. Bb2 Rhd8 14.
Ne1 $1 {[%csl Rc5]} b5 15. Na5 Be4 16. Bf3 $1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 {[%cal Ga5b7,Ga5c6,
Ge1d3,Gd3c5]} Rdc8 18. Nd3 Rab8 (18... Bd6 19. Nb7 Bc7 20. Ba3+ $36) 19. Nxc5
Rxc5 20. Rac1 Ke8 21. Bd4 Rxc1 (21... Rcc8 22. Nc6 $16) 22. Rxc1 $14 {/+/-.
Black`s pawn on a6 is weak,White`s pieces and more active,Bishop is better
than Knight- Black are facing difficult defence.} Ra8 23. Kf1 e5 24. Bb2 Nd5
25. Rd1 Ne7 26. Nb7 $1 Nc8 27. Rc1 $1 f6 28. Ba3 a5 $1 29. Rc7 b4 30. Bc1 Na7
31. Nd6+ Kd8 32. Rb7 Nc8 (32... Nc6 $5) 33. Nc4 a4 34. Bd2 $16 {/+-} axb3 35.
axb3 Ra7 36. Rxa7 Nxa7 37. Bxb4 Kc7 38. Ke2 Kc6 39. Kd3 g6 40. Be7 Nc8 41. Bd8
$1 Kb5 42. Kc3 Na7 43. Nd6+ Kc6 44. Ne4 $1 f5 45. Ng5 h5 46. e4 Nb5+ 47. Kc4
Nd4 48. b4 Nb5 49. Be7 Nd4 $2 (49... Nb6+ $142 50. Kd3 Na4 51. Nf7 Nb2+ 52. Kc2
Nc4 $16) 50. f4 $1 Nb5 51. exf5 gxf5 52. Nf7 $1 exf4 53. Nd8+ Kb6 54. Kd5 Ka6
55. Ke6 Nb6 56. Kxf5 Nd5 57. Bc5 Nbc3 58. Ne6 Kb5 59. Nxf4 Nxb4 60. Bxb4 Kxb4
61. Nxh5 Kc5 62. Nf6 Kd6 63. h4 Ke7 64. h5 Kf8 65. Kg6 Nb5 66. h6 Nd6 67. h7
Nf7 68. f4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Bd7 5. Qc2 Bc6 6. d3 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 Rc8 8.
O-O e6 9. Ng5 h6 10. Nh3 b5 11. f4 g6 12. a4 a6 13. axb5 axb5 14. Bf3 Bg7 15.
f5 g5 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Qb3 Qe7 18. Nf2 Ne5 19. Be2 O-O 20. Ra6 Ng6 21. g3 d5
22. Qa2 Kh8 23. Ra7 Rc7 24. Rxc7 Qxc7 25. Nb3 dxe4 26. Qa5 Qd6 27. dxe4 Ra8 28.
Rd1 Qb8 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bf5 6. Bf4 Nbd7 7. e3 e6 8. Be2
Be7 9. Nd2 (9. O-O O-O 10. Qb3 Qc8 11. h3 Re8 12. Bh2 Bd8 13. Rfd1 h6 14. Rac1
Bc7 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Na4 Re7 17. Qb4 Rae8 18. Nb6 e5 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. dxe5
Nxe5 21. Nd4 Be4 $11 {geschah in der Partie Yudasin,L-Magem Badals,J/Pamplona
1995/CBM 46 (51). Der Textzug leitet eine wesentlich wirksamere Idee ein: nach
Abtausch der schwarzfeldrigen Lдufer verhindert WeiЯ den VorstoЯ e6-e5 mit
f2-f4.}) 9... Bg6 10. b4 Qc8 11. O-O Bd8 12. Rc1 {Dieser Zug sieht ьberflьssig
aus.} (12. a4 $5) 12... Bc7 $6 {Meines Erachtens ist es genauer, mit} (12...
O-O {fortzufahren, um im folgenden Tf8-e8 und e6-e5 zu spielen; nur auf diese
Weise kann die Schattenseite des Zuges Sf3-d2, die in der Minderung der
Kontrolle des Feldes e5 besteht, bloЯgelegt werden.}) 13. Bxc7 Qxc7 14. f4 Ng8
{Schwarz gestattet den VorstoЯ e3-e4, doch sind andere Fortsetzungen nicht
angenehmer:} (14... Ne4 15. Ncxe4 Bxe4 (15... dxe4 16. Nc4 {ist ebenfalls
nicht erfreulich fьr Schwarz.}) 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. f5 {mit erklecklichem
Vorteil fьr WeiЯ.}) (14... O-O 15. g4 h6 16. f5 exf5 17. gxf5 Bh7 18. Bd3 {
nebst Dd1-f3 gefolgt von Druck auf der g-Linie; der Lдufer auf h7 bleibt
begraben.}) 15. e4 Ne7 16. f5 $1 {Nur mit der Durchfьhrung dieses Konzeptes
kann WeiЯ auf Vorteil hoffen: Er verschafft sich die Bauernmehrheit am
Damenflьgel, und der Bauer des Schwarzen auf d5 wird verteidigungsbedьrftig.
Der Lдufer auf g6 bleibt auЯer Spiel. Der Mehrbauer des Schwarzen ist
bedeutungslos, denn er kann die Bauernmehrheit am Kцnigsflьgel nicht wirksam
einsetzen. Dennoch ist Schwarz natьrlich keineswegs verloren; es gibt aber fьr
WeiЯ keine andere Art, dem Spiel Wьrze zu verleihen. Nach} (16. e5 $2 Nf5 {
muЯ WeiЯ Material abgeben.}) 16... exf5 17. exd5 cxd5 ({Die Fortsetzung} 17...
Nxd5 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bd3 {ьberlдЯt dem WeiЯen ohne weiteres deutlichen
Vorteil.}) 18. b5 O-O 19. b6 Qd8 $6 {Stдrker ist} (19... Qc8 {, welcher Zug
das wichtige Blockadefeld c6 im Auge behдlt (D. Poldauf nach V. Topalov,
"Schach" 8/1999, S.36):} 20. Nb3 Nf6 21. Na5 Nc6 {usw.}) 20. Nb3 Nf6 21. Na5
Rb8 {Dies entzieht dem Bauern auf a6 die Deckung.} (21... Qd7 {gefдllt mir
besser:} 22. Qa4 (22. a4 Nc6 23. Nxc6 Qxc6 24. Na2 (24. a5 Rfe8 25. Na2 Qe6 {
verspricht dem Schwarzen ebenfalls reichliches Gegenspiel.}) 24... a5 25. Bb5
Qe6 {mit unklarem Spiel.}) 22... Nc6 23. Nxc6 bxc6 {Die Lage ist mir nicht
deulich.}) 22. a4 Ne4 23. Na2 f6 $2 {Jetzt strebt Schwarz danach, das Feld c6
in die Hand zu bekommen, aber dazu ist es zu spдt. Zu recht schlдgt D. Poldauf
in "Schach" 8/1999, S.36,} (23... f4 {vor:} 24. Rxf4 Nf5 25. Nxb7 ({Nach} 25.
Qd3 Qg5 26. Rcf1 Rfe8 {hindern die Gegendrohungen des Schwarzen den WeiЯen
daran, seine Initiative am Damenflьgel krдftig zu verfolgen.}) 25... Qg5 ({Nach
} 25... Rxb7 26. Bxa6 Rb8 27. a5 Qg5 28. Qg4 Qxg4 29. Rxg4 Nxd4 30. c6 {
hat WeiЯ eine Gewinnstellung.}) 26. Rxe4 dxe4 27. Bxa6 Bh5 28. Qf1 Nxd4 {
Schwarz hat ausreichendes Gegenspiel.}) 24. Nb4 Be8 25. Qc2 g6 26. Rb1 Rf7 27.
Nxb7 Rxb7 28. a5 Nc6 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Bxa6 Rb8 31. Bb5 Qc8 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33.
a6 Kg7 34. Rb4 Nd6 35. Qa4 Qxa4 36. Rxa4 Nc8 37. Rb4 Na7 38. bxa7 Ra8 39. c6
Raxa7 40. Rc1 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Re8 $5 {Besides,black has two options:} (10... c5 $5 {
-see comments to Karpov,A-Piket,J/Monaco,1999/CBM 70(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(48)}) ({
and} 10... Nbd7 $5 {(is the main line).You can see comments to Piket,J-Karpov,
A/Monaco,1999/CBM 70(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(41)}) 11. Nh3 $5 {Other alternatives
are:11.Bd3;11.Rc1;11.cxd5} Nbd7 12. cxd5 $5 (12. Rc1) (12. Be2) ({and} 12. Bd3
{-was checked in the previous games.}) 12... exd5 (12... Nxd5 $143 13. Bxd8
Nxc3 14. Bh4 Nd5 15. Kf2 $14 {1-0 Onischuk,A-Bako,V/Budapest 1992/CBM 30 ext 
(39)}) 13. Be2 ({Another alternative is:} 13. Bf2 $5) 13... Qe7 14. Bf2 c5 15.
O-O c4 $6 ({In my opinion slightly better is:} 15... Rac8) ({Also possibly:} 
15... cxd4) 16. b3 $5 (16. Rfb1 $5 b5 17. b3 Nb6 18. bxc4 bxc4 19. a4 Nc8 20.
Bd1 Nd6 21. Nf4 $14 {1-0 Alexandria,N-Maric,A/Kuala Lumpur 1990/TD (60)}) 16...
b5 17. bxc4 $146 {This is move undoubtedly better than:} (17. Rfe1 $6 Nb6 18.
bxc4 bxc4 19. Bd1 Bc6 20. Nf4 (20. Bh4 $2 Ne4 $1 $11) 20... Qd7 21. Rb1 Ba4 22.
Bxa4 Nxa4 23. Qa5 Rab8 {=/=/+; See comments to Hracek,Z-Lutz,C/Rimavska Sobota,
1991/CBM 24(0-1)(Ftacnik)(46)}) 17... bxc4 ({After:} 17... dxc4 $6 18. e4 Nb6
19. Bd1 {[%csl Yd1][%cal Yd1a4] (/\Rab1,d5)-white has a positional advantage,
thanks to a strong pawn chain on the centre.}) 18. Bd1 $1 {[%mdl 32] with the
idea a4,after 18...Bc6 and 19...Nb6} Nb6 19. Bc2 Bc6 20. a4 $14 Qd7 $6 {
[%csl Ra4]} ({Can be recommended:} 20... a5 $5) 21. a5 Nc8 $8 (21... Na4 $4 {
is refuted by:} 22. Qa3 $18 {[%csl Ra4]}) 22. Bh4 $1 {/\Nf2} Nh7 23. Nf2 Nd6
24. Ng4 $1 {[%cal Gg4e5]} Nf5 ({Another possibility is:} 24... Nb5 25. Qd2 Qe6
26. Ne5 $14) 25. Bf2 f6 26. h3 $1 {[%csl Yh2][%cal Yg4h2,Gf1e1,Ge3e4]} Nd6 ({
Interestingly:} 26... Ng5 {[%csl Re4,Yg5]}) 27. Rfe1 Rac8 28. e4 $1 Nb5 ({
After:} 28... dxe4 $6 29. d5 $1 Bxd5 30. Rad1 {[%csl Rd5,Rd6] white has a
strong pressure.}) 29. Qd2 h5 ({Also possibly:} 29... dxe4 $5 30. fxe4 Ng5 31.
d5 $140 h5 {[%csl Re4,Rg4]} 32. Nh2 Ba8 $14 {[%cal Gb5d6]}) 30. Ne3 dxe4 31. d5
f5 $2 ({It is necessary:} 31... c3 32. Qd1 Ba8 33. fxe4 {[%csl Rh5]} Ng5 $14)
32. Nxf5 $1 Qxd5 $2 {Again mistake.} (32... Qxf5 $142 33. dxc6 (33. Bxe4 Qd7 $1
(33... Rxe4 $143 34. fxe4 Qd7 35. Qd1 Ba8 36. Qxh5 Nf6 37. Qf3 $16) 34. Qc2 {
[%csl Rh7]} (34. Bxh7+ Kxh7 35. Qc2+ g6 36. Rxe8 Rxe8 37. dxc6 Qxc6 {+/=/=})
34... Rxe4 35. fxe4 Ba8 36. Rad1 $14) 33... Nf6 {+/=/+/-}) 33. Qxd5+ Bxd5 34.
Ba4 $1 $18 {[%csl Ga4,Rb5,Rc8,Re8,Gf5]} a6 ({Loses right away:} 34... Bc6 35.
Bxb5 Bxb5 36. Nd6 $18 {[%csl Ra7,Rb5,Rc8,Re4,Re8]}) 35. Bxb5 axb5 36. fxe4 $1 {
This move better than:33.Nd6 because of:Nf6} Bc6 (36... Rxe4 $2 37. Rxe4 Bxe4
38. Ne7+ {[%csl Rc8,Rg8]}) (36... Bxe4 37. Nd6 Nf6 38. Bh4 $1 {[%csl Rc8,Re4,
Re8,Yf6]} (38. a6 $5) 38... Bc6 39. Bxf6 gxf6 (39... Rxe1+ 40. Rxe1 Ra8 41. Bc3
$18) 40. Rxe8+ Rxe8 41. Nxe8 Bxe8 42. a6 Bc6 43. a7 Ba8 44. Rb1 $18) 37. Nd6
Nf6 38. a6 $5 ({Good enough:} 38. e5 Rcd8 39. Nxe8 Nxe8 40. e6 $18) 38... c3 (
38... Nxe4 $144 39. Nxe8 Rxe8 40. a7 Kf7 41. Ra6 {[%cal Ga6b6,Gb6b8]} Ba8 42.
Rb6 Re5 43. Rb8 $18 {[%csl Ra8,Rb5]}) 39. a7 c2 40. e5 Ne4 41. Nxe8 Rxe8 42.
Rec1 {[%csl Ga7,Rc2]} 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.07"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 cxd4 8.
Rd1 Be7 9. exd4 Na5 $6 (9... O-O 10. a3 $1 $146 (10. Nc3 Na5 11. Bd3 b6) 10...
Nd5 11. Nc3 Re8 (11... Na5 12. Ba2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7 14. Qe4 Bd7 15. Bf4 Qc8
16. Ne5 Bc6 17. Nxc6 Nxc6 18. c4 Bf6 19. Bd6 Re8 20. c5 Ne7 21. Bb1 g6 22. Qf3
Nd5 23. Be4 {1-0 Tkachiev,V-Legky,N/FRA t-ch 1999 (48)}) 12. Ba2 (12. Qe4 $5
$14 {B.Gelfand}) 12... Bxa3 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qb5 Bd6 15. Bxd5 h6 16. Ne5 $1
Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qc7 18. Bf4 Be6 $11 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Kortschnoj,V/Dos Hermanas
1999/CBM 71/[Gelfand] (64)}) 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Ne5 Nc6 (11... O-O 12. Nxd7 Nxd7
13. d5 exd5 14. Rxd5 Qc7 15. Nc3 Nf6 $14) 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Qf3 Nd5 (13... Rc8
$142) 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Qxd5 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 Bf6 17. Qe2 (17. Qh5 g6 18. Qe2 Re8
19. Be3 $16) 17... Re8 (17... Bxb5 18. Qxb5 Bxd4 19. Qa4 $18 (19. Be3 Qb6 $14))
18. Be3 Bg5 19. Bc4 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Qg5 21. Qf2 (21. e4 $5 Bg4 (21... Rac8 22.
Rf1 Re7 23. e5 $16) 22. Qf2 Rxe4 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Re1 Bh3 $5 (24... Qf4 25.
Rxe4 (25. Qxb7 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Qxd4+ 27. Kh1 Rd8 $16) 25... Qxe4 26. Qf2 $16)
25. Bf1 Be6 26. Qxb7 Bd5 27. Qb4 Rf4 $132) 21... Be6 22. d5 Bf5 23. d6 $1 Qxe3
(23... Rxe3 24. h4 $18) 24. Qxe3 Rxe3 25. Rac1 $1 Rd8 (25... Kf8 26. Bd5 Rc8
27. Rxc8+ Bxc8 28. Bxb7 $18) 26. Bd5 $1 Be6 27. Rc7 Kf8 28. Kf2 Re5 29. Bf3 $1
Ra5 $2 (29... Bxa2 30. b4 (30. Rxb7 a5 31. b3 Rc5 $8 32. Bd5 (32. Rc7 Re5 $132)
(32. Ke2 Re5+) 32... Rxd6 33. Rxf7+ Ke8 34. Re1+ Kd8 $11) 30... Rb5 31. Rd4 Rb6
32. Rxb7 Rbxd6 33. Rxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxa7 Bd5 $14) 30. a3 Ra6 31. Rxb7 Raxd6 32.
Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Ke3 a6 (33... Rd7 34. Rxd7 Bxd7 35. Kd4 Ke7 36. Kc5 $18) (33...
a5 $142 34. a4 $16) 34. a4 Bc4 35. b4 g5 36. Rc7 Bb3 37. a5 $18 {[%csl Ra6]}
Ba4 38. Be2 h6 39. Bc4 $1 f5 40. Rf7+ Ke8 41. Rxf5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hansen,Cu} d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7.
Qe2 a6 8. a3 cxd4 (8... b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b4 Bb6 (11... Be7 12.
Bb2 O-O 13. Nbd2 Qb6 14. Nb3 Rfd8 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Nc5 $14 {1-0 Eliskases,
E-Muffang,A/Warsaw 1935/HCL 36 (25)}) 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. Nbd2 Rfd8 15.
Rac1 Rd7 16. Bb1 Rad8 17. Nb3 $11 {1-0 Pirc,V-Spielmann,R/Maribor 1934/HCL 32 
(30)}) (8... Be7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b4 Bd6 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Nc3 b6 14.
Rac1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Qe7 16. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Stahlberg,G-Skalicka,C/Podebrady 1936/
EXT 97 (43)}) (8... Qc7 9. Nc3 cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. Bg5 Ng4 12. Qd2 h6 13. Bf4
Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Ne4 Qd8 16. Qf4 $16 {1-0 Ragozin,V-Flohr,S/Moscow 1944/
URS-ch (49)}) 9. Rd1 b5 10. Ba2 d3 (10... Bb7 11. Nc3 b4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Rxd4
Qc7 14. Bb3 Be7 15. Ba4+ Kf8 16. Bd2 $16 {1-0 Barus,C-Mahmud,S/Jakarta 1996/
CBM 57 (30)}) 11. Rxd3 Qc7 12. e4 $1 Ng4 (12... Bc5 13. b4 Bb6 14. Be3 $14) (
12... Bd6 13. Rxd6 Qxd6 14. e5 $16) 13. h3 Nge5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 (14... Nxe5 15.
Rc3 $1 (15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Rc3 Qe7) 15... Qd8 16. Be3 $14 {/+/-}) 15. Be3 $1 Bb7 (
15... Qxe4 16. Nc3 Qg6 (16... Qf5 17. Nd5 (17. Rad1 Be7 18. Bb1 Qf6 19. Ne4 Qh4
20. Nd6+ $44) 17... exd5 18. Bxd5 Ne5 19. Bd4 $1 (19. Rad1 Be7 20. Bxa8 Nxd3
21. Bc6+ Bd7 22. Bxd7+ Qxd7 23. Rxd3 Qe6 $11) 19... Qxd3 20. Qxe5+ Be6 21. Bc6+
Kd8 22. Bxa8 $18) (16... Qe5 17. Rad1 Be7 18. Qf3 Qc7 19. Bf4 Qb6 20. Nd5 $1
exd5 21. Bxd5 Bb7 (21... O-O 22. Bxc6 Ra7 23. Rc1 $18 {[%cal Gf4e3,Ge3a7]}) 22.
Bxf7+ $1 (22. Bc7 Ne5 $8 (22... Qxc7 23. Qxf7+ Kd8 24. Be6+ $18) 23. Bxe5 Bxd5
24. Rxd5 O-O 25. Rd7 $36) 22... Kf8 (22... Kxf7 23. Bc7+ $18) 23. Bd5 $18 Ke8
$140 24. Bc7 $18) 17. Nd5 (17. Rad1 Bb7 18. Nd5) (17. Qf3 Bb7 18. Rad1 Na5 19.
Qg4 Qxg4 20. hxg4 Bc6) 17... exd5 18. Bxd5 Be7 19. Bc5 O-O 20. Bxe7 Re8 21. Re3
$14 {/+/-}) 16. Nc3 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Bc5 17. Rad1 O-O 18. f4 (18. Rd7 $5 Rab8 19.
f4 Bxe3+ 20. Qxe3 $16 {/+-}) 18... Bxe3+ 19. Qxe3 Qb8 20. Rd7 $16 Bc8 21. R7d6
Ne7 22. Kh1 Qc7 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. h4 Ng8 25. Bb1 Bb7 26. Rd7 Qc6 27. e5 Qc8 28.
f5 (28. Qd3 f5 (28... g6 29. Qd6 Qc6 30. Be4 $1 Qxd6 31. R1xd6 Bxe4 32. Nxe4
$16) 29. Qg3 $1 g6 30. h5 $18) 28... exf5 29. Bxf5 Qb8 30. Be4 Bxe4 31. Nxe4
Qe8 (31... Ra7 32. Ng5 Rxd7 33. Rxd7 Qe8 34. Qd3 $16) 32. R1d6 (32. Nc5 Ne7 33.
h5 $16) 32... Ne7 {[%csl Re5][%cal Ye7g6,Yg6e5,Ye8e5]} 33. Nf6 Nf5 $1 (33...
gxf6 34. Rxe7 Qxe7 35. exf6 Rg8 36. Qxg8+ Rxg8 37. fxe7 $18) 34. Qf4 gxf6 35.
Qxf5 Qxe5 36. Qxf6+ Qxf6 37. Rxf6 $14 Kg7 38. Rf5 h6 39. Kh2 Rad8 40. Rfxf7+
Rxf7 41. Rxd8 Re7 $1 (41... Rf2 42. Rd7+ Kg6 (42... Kf8 43. b4 Ra2 44. Rd6 $18)
43. Rd6+ Kf5 44. b3 $16) 42. Rd6 Re3 $1 43. Rxa6 Rb3 44. Rb6 Rxb2 $11 45. a4 b4
46. Kg3 b3 47. Kf4 Ra2 48. Kf5 Rxa4 49. Rb7+ Kg8 50. g4 {Hansen,Cu: 'This
postion should be a simple draw. This easiest way to achieve that result would
be:'} Ra6 {'?!' Hansen,Cu.} (50... h5 $1 {Hansen,Cu} 51. g5 Rxh4 52. Kg6 (52.
Rxb3 Rc4 53. Kg6 Rc8 $11) 52... Rf4 53. Rxb3 Rf8 {this postion is draw even
without P-h5. Black just moves his rook back and forth and the back rank.}) 51.
Rxb3 Kg7 (51... Ra5+ {Hansen,Cu} 52. Kg6 Ra6+ 53. Kh5 Kg7 54. Rb7+ Kg8 $11) 52.
Rb7+ Kg8 53. Re7 $1 Ra5+ 54. Re5 Ra4 55. Re4 Ra7 (55... Ra6 $2 {Hansen,Cu} 56.
Re6 $18) (55... Ra5+ {Hansen,Cu} 56. Kg6 Ra6+ 57. Kh5 Kg7 $11) 56. Kf6 Rg7 {
'?' Hansen,Cu.} (56... Ra6+ {Hansen,Cu} 57. Re6 Ra4 $11) 57. Re8+ Kh7 58. Re7
Rxe7 59. Kxe7 Kg7 60. h5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Nc6 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. Nc3 a6 10. O-O Nxd4 11. Qxd4 d6 12. Qd3 Qc7 13. Rfd1 Rd8 14. Rac1
Nh5 15. Bd2 Rb8 16. Ne4 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Bf4 e5 19. Be3 Be6 20. b3 h6 21.
a4 b6 22. Rc2 Be7 23. Bd5 Qd7 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. f3 b5 26. cxb5 axb5 27. a5 d5
28. Bb6 e4 29. Qxb5 Rd6 30. fxe4 Bd8 31. exd5 Bxb6+ 32. axb6 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 Rf6+
34. Ke1 Rfxb6 35. Qc5 Qe4 36. Kf2 Rxb3 37. d6 R8b5 38. Rc4 Rf3+ 39. Kg1 Qxe2
40. Qd4 Rb2 0-1

[Event "Zuerich clock sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1999.09.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Forster, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2459"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.09.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nh5 10. Be3 f5 11. Qd2 f4 12. Bf2 Be5 13. Rfd1 Na6 14. Nb3 Qf6 15. c5
Nxc5 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. Qd5+ Kh8 18. Qxc5 b6 19. Qb5 c6 20. Qa4 g5 21. Nd5 Qh6
22. Nxb6 Ng3 23. Nxa8 Nxe2+ 24. Kf1 Ng3+ 25. hxg3 fxg3 26. Bg1 g4 27. Qa5 gxf3
28. gxf3 Qh3+ 29. Ke2 Qg2+ 30. Ke3 c5 31. Qxc5 Ba6 32. Rd2 Qh1 33. Rd6 Bb7 34.
Nc7 Bxe4 35. Nxe8 Qxf3+ 36. Kd2 Bf4+ 37. Ke1 g2 38. Qd4+ 1-0

[Event "Zuerich clock sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1999.09.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gerber, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2386"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.09.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Ne5 d5 8. d4 Bb7
9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. Nd3 Bd6 11. Nd2 Ne4 12. e3 Qe7 13. Rc1 a5 14. Nf3 a4 15. Qc2 g5
16. Nd2 g4 17. Rfd1 c5 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. cxd5 exd5 20. Nf4 Bxf4 21. exf4 Ra6
22. b4 a3 23. Ba1 c4 24. Nf1 Ndf6 25. Ne3 Qe6 26. Bxf6 Rxf6 27. Rd4 h5 28. Rcd1
Rb6 29. Nxd5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Rxb4 31. Re5 Rb2 32. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Petah-Tikva Elitzur"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8.
Nb3 O-O 9. Kh1 a6 10. a4 b6 11. f4 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nd7 13. Be3 Rc8 14. Rf2 Na5 15.
Nxa5 bxa5 16. Ra3 Rc4 17. Rb3 Qc8 18. Qd3 Rb4 19. Rf1 Nc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Nd1
Rc8 22. Rxb4 axb4 23. Qd2 Qxc2 24. Qxb4 Qc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. b3 Rb4 27. e5
dxe5 28. fxe5 Rxb3 29. e6 fxe6 30. Bxb7 Rxb7 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vazquez Igarza, Renier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2409"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. c3 Re8 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 g6 13. Qh4 Be7 14. Bg5 Qd8
15. Rfe1 b6 16. Qh6 Bf8 17. Qh3 Be7 18. Qg3 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Nf6 20. Qf4 Qe7 21.
h4 Bb7 22. Bc4 Nd5 23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Re3 Kg7 25. Rae1 Rac8 26. Rg3 Qc7 27. Qf3
h6 28. Nh3 e5 29. dxe5 Rxe5 30. Rxe5 Qxe5 31. Nf4 Re8 32. Nh5+ Kf8 33. Nf6 Re7
34. Ng4 Qg7 35. Qf4 Re8 36. Qd6+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.15"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. O-O Bh6
15. Be3 Nxf6 16. Qf3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rh6 18. a4 a6 19. Qf4 Rdh8 20. g4 Rg6 21. h3
Rhg8 22. Rf2 R8g7 23. Raf1 c5 24. a5 Qxa5 25. Bxb7+ Kxb7 26. Qd6 cxd4 27. exd4
Ne8 28. Rxf7+ Nc7 29. Ne4 Qb6 30. Nc5+ Ka7 31. Qxb6+ Kxb6 32. Nd7+ Kb7 33. Ne5
Rxf7 34. Rxf7 Rg8 35. h4 b4 36. Kf2 c3 37. bxc3 bxc3 38. Ke2 Kb6 39. g5 Nd5 40.
g6 c2 41. Kd2 Rc8 42. Rf1 Nb4 43. h5 Rd8 44. g7 Rxd4+ 45. Kc1 Rd8 46. h6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D60"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Qxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Re8 13. Rad1 e5 14. Bc4
exd4 15. exd4 Nb6 16. Rfe1 Qd8 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Re1 Qd8 19. Ng5 Nxc4 20. Qxc4
Be6 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23. h4 h6 24. Re4 Qb6 25. b3 Qa5 26. a4 Qd2 27.
Qf7 b5 28. axb5 cxb5 29. Kh2 b4 30. d5 a5 31. Re6 a4 32. d6 axb3 33. d7 b2 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Nf3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Bg4 10. Rc1 Bxf3 11. gxf3 e6 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 14. c4
Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 f5 16. f4 b6 17. Be2 Nf6 18. Kd3 Kf7 19. Bf3 Ne8 20. Bd1 Nd6 21.
Ba4 Rhd8 22. Bc6 Rab8 23. Ke2 Bf6 24. Kf3 Bh4 25. Rhd1 h6 26. Rd3 Bf6 27. Rc2
Rdc8 28. Rb3 Rd8 29. Ra3 a5 30. Rb3 h5 31. Ke2 Kg7 32. Kd3 Ne4 33. Rc1 Rdc8 34.
Rcb1 Bd8 35. f3 a4 36. R3b2 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Nf3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Bg4 10. Rc1 Bxf3 11. gxf3 e6 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 14. c4 Qa3
15. f4 O-O-O 16. Bg2 Bd4 17. O-O Bxe3 18. fxe3 f5 19. d6 Nb6 20. Rc3 Rxd6 21.
Bxb7+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 O-O 8.
Be2 e5 9. Nf3 exd4 10. Nxd4 N8d7 11. O-O Ne5 12. Ndb5 c6 13. Nd6 Qc7 14. f4 Ng4
15. Bc5 Nd7 16. Bxg4 Nxc5 17. Nxc8 f5 18. Nd6 fxg4 19. e5 Qb6 20. Kh1 Qxb2 21.
Rc1 h5 22. Qd4 Qb6 23. Rb1 Qa5 24. Nc4 Ne6 25. Qd6 Qxc3 26. Qxe6+ Kh7 27. Nd6
Qd4 28. f5 gxf5 29. Rxb7 Rab8 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nxf5+ Rxf5 32. Qxf5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
a3 a5 9. d4 Bg4 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Ne5 Qe6 12. Nxg4 Qxg4 13. e3 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 a4
15. Bd2 e5 16. d5 Na5 17. Rac1 e4 18. Rxc7 Bxb2 19. Bb4 Rfe8 20. d6 Nc6 21. d7
Red8 22. Bc5 f5 23. Rxb7 Rab8 24. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 O-O 8.
Nf3 Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. gxf3 Nc6 11. d5 Ne5 12. Qb3 c6 13. f4 Ned7 14. dxc6
bxc6 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. h4 Rab8 17. Qc2 Rfd8 18. h5 Nf8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. hxg6
hxg6 21. Kf1 Ne6 22. e5 Nd4 23. Bxd4 Rxd4 24. Nb5 Qd7 25. Nxd4 Qxd4 26. e6 Nd5
27. exf7+ Kxf7 28. Qxc6 Qe4 29. Kg1 Bd4 30. Rh2 Kg7 31. Bf1 Bb6 32. Rg2 Qf5 33.
Rg3 Nxf4 34. Qf3 Qe5 35. b4 Qd4 36. Qc3 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rb1 a6 12. dxc5 Qc7 13. Qc2 Na5 14. Bd3 Rfd8
15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Nf4 Bc4 17. Bxc4 Nxc4 18. Nd5 Rxd5 19. exd5 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Qxc5
21. Rxb7 Qxe3+ 22. Qf2 Qxc3 23. d6 exd6 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. h3 Rf8 26. Qe7 h5 27.
Kh1 Rf2 28. Qxd6 Kh7 29. Qc7 Qxc7 30. Rxc7 Kh6 31. a3 Ra2 32. Rc6 Rxa3 33. Re1
Bd4 34. Kh2 h4 35. Ree6 Kh5 36. Rxa6 Rb3 37. Ra5+ Kh6 38. Raa6 Kh5 39. Rxg6 Rb1
40. g4+ hxg3+ 41. Kg2 Rg1+ 42. Kf3 Be5 43. Rh6+ Kg5 44. h4+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8.
Bc4 Be7 9. Qe2 c6 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. c3 a5 12. h4 b5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. Kb1 h6 15.
Rhe1 O-O-O 16. g3 Kb8 17. Rc1 e5 18. c4 b4 19. d5 Rhe8 20. Red1 Nc5 21. Nxc5
Bxc5 22. Be4 cxd5 23. cxd5 Qb6 24. Rd2 f5 25. Bxf5 e4 26. Bxe4 Rxd5 27. Qd1
Rxd2 28. Nxd2 Rxe4 29. Nxe4 Bxe4+ 30. Ka1 Bb7 31. Qg4 Bd4 32. Qf4+ Ka7 33. Rc2
Bf6 34. Qe3 Bd4 35. Qf4 Bf6 36. Qe3 Qxe3 37. fxe3 Kb6 38. Rc4 Bd5 39. Rf4 Kc5
40. Kb1 a4 41. a3 bxa3 42. bxa3 Bb3 43. Rb4 Kd5 44. h5 Ke5 45. g4 Be7 46. Rb7
Bxa3 47. Rxg7 Bb4 48. Rb7 Bf8 49. Rf7 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 b5 7. a4 b4 8. Na2
Bb7 9. f3 Nf6 10. Qd2 e5 11. Nb3 a5 12. Bb5+ Bc6 13. c4 Be7 14. O-O O-O 15.
Nac1 Qc7 16. Ne2 Bb7 17. Ng3 g6 18. Rac1 Nbd7 19. Bg5 Nc5 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21.
Rfd1 Rfd8 22. Qf2 Ng4 23. Bxe7 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Nxf2 25. Rd7 Qxd7 26. Bxd7 Nd3
0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A89"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2494"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5
Ne5 9. Qb3 h6 10. Rd1 Kh8 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. c5 g5 13. Qa3 Qe8 14. d6 exd6 15.
cxd6 cxd6 16. Qxd6 Rf7 17. Qb4 Bf8 18. Qa5 b6 19. Qb5 Bd7 20. Qb3 Be6 21. Qc2
Rc8 22. Bd2 Rd7 23. Rac1 Qh5 24. Qa4 Bc5 25. Be1 f4 26. Rxd7 Bxd7 27. Qxa7 Ng4
28. Qxd7 Qxh2+ 29. Kf1 Ne3+ 30. fxe3 Rf8 31. gxf4 gxf4 32. Bf2 fxe3 33. Qh3
Rxf2+ 34. Ke1 Rxg2 35. Qxh2 Rxh2 36. Kd1 Rh1+ 37. Kc2 Rxc1+ 38. Kxc1 h5 39. Ne4
h4 40. Ng5 Kg7 41. Kd1 Kg6 42. Nf3 Kh5 43. Nxe5 h3 44. Nf3 Bd6 45. Kc2 h2 46.
Nxh2 Bxh2 47. Kd3 Bg1 48. b4 Kg4 49. a4 Kg3 50. a5 bxa5 51. bxa5 Kf2 52. a6 Bh2
53. a7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 Nd7 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Qf4 10. Qe3 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 Qxe3+ 12. Kxe3 f5 13. Ned2 c5 14. a3
cxd4+ 15. Nxd4 Bc5 16. b4 Bxd4+ 17. Kxd4 Ke7 18. Re1 Rd8 19. Kc3 a5 20. c5
axb4+ 21. axb4 Nf6 22. Bc4 b6 23. Nb3 Ne4+ 24. Rxe4 fxe4 25. cxb6 Rb8 26. Re1
Rxb6 27. Rxe4 Bb7 28. Rg4 g5 29. Nc5 Rf8 30. f3 Bd5 31. Rd4 Rd6 32. b5 Bxc4 33.
Rxc4 Rb8 34. Kb4 Rdb6 35. Re4 Rxb5+ 36. Kc4 Rb4+ 37. Kd3 Rxe4 38. Nxe4 Rb2 39.
Nd2 Kf6 40. Ke3 h5 41. g3 Kf5 42. h3 Rb4 43. g4+ Kg6 44. Ne4 h4 45. f4 Rb3+ 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nc3 d5 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8.
Ne5 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O-O c5 12. Nxd7 Qxd4 13. exd4 Kxd7 14.
dxc5 Bxc5 15. Ne4 Rhc8 16. Nxc5+ Rxc5 17. Rd4 e5 18. Rg4 g5 19. h4 f5 20. Ra4
g4 21. Ra6 Rc6 22. Ra5 Ke6 23. Rd1 d4 24. f3 gxf3 25. gxf3 Rac8 26. Rd2 d3 27.
Rxd3 Rxc2+ 28. Kd1 Rc1+ 29. Ke2 R1c2+ 30. Rd2 R8c7 31. Ra6+ R2c6 32. Ra5 Rc5
33. Ra6+ R5c6 34. Ra5 Kf6 35. b4 f4 36. Rad5 Rc3 37. R5d3 Kf5 38. a4 Rxd3 39.
Kxd3 Rc1 40. a5 Rf1 41. Ke2 Rb1 42. Rd7 Rb2+ 43. Ke1 Rxb4 44. Rf7+ Kg6 45. Rxa7
Ra4 46. a6 Kh5 47. Ra8 Kxh4 48. a7 h5 49. Ke2 Ra3 50. Kf2 Kh3 51. Rh8 Ra2+ 52.
Ke1 Rxa7 53. Rxh5+ Kg2 54. Rxe5 Kxf3 55. Re8 Ra1+ 56. Kd2 Kg3 57. Rg8+ Kf2 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c5 3. c4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb3 d4 6. e3 Nc6 7. exd4 exd4 8.
Bd3 Bb4+ 9. N1d2 Qe7+ 10. Kf1 Nf6 11. a3 Bd6 12. Nf3 O-O 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Bg4
15. h3 Bh5 16. g4 Bg6 17. Kg2 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Ne5 19. Qf5 Nxc4 20. Nbxd4 Qd8 21.
Qb5 Rc8 22. Nf5 Bf4 23. Rad1 Qc7 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Rd7 Qc5 26. Qxc5 Rxc5 27.
Rxb7 Re8 28. Rd1 h5 29. Rdd7 hxg4 30. hxg4 Rf8 31. Ne7+ Kg7 32. Ng1 Be5 33. b4
1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3
b5 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. d5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bd6 14. a4 b4 15.
e4 O-O 16. Be3 Na5 17. Rac1 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 c4 19. Nd4 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Be5 21. Nf5
Rad8 22. Rc5 Nc6 23. R5xc4 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bf4 d6 11. Rad1 Qb6 12. Qb5 Rd8 13. Ng5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Qc7
15. Nge4 a6 16. Qa4 Nc6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Ne4 Be5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc2 f5 21.
Nd2 Qb7+ 22. Nf3 g5 23. Kg1 Nxf3+ 24. exf3 Qxf3 25. Rfe1 Kf7 26. Re3 Qg4 27.
Rde1 Re8 28. Qa4 f4 29. Re4 e5 30. Qc6 Rad8 31. Qxa6 h5 32. Qb7+ Rd7 33. Qd5+
Kf6 34. f3 Qe6 35. Rd1 Qxd5 36. Rxd5 Ra8 37. a3 Rb8 38. Re2 Rb3 39. Kf2 Ke6 40.
Red2 g4 41. R5d3 Rdb7 42. Rxd6+ Kf5 43. fxg4+ hxg4 44. gxf4 Kxf4 45. Re2 Rxb2
46. Rf6+ Kg5 47. Rc6 Rxe2+ 48. Kxe2 Kf4 49. Rf6+ Ke4 50. Kf2 Rb3 51. Rd6 Rc3
52. a4 Rxc4 53. a5 Ra4 54. a6 Ra3 55. Rg6 Kf4 56. Rc6 Ra2+ 57. Kg1 e4 58. Rxc5
Rxa6 59. Rc3 Ra2 60. Rb3 e3 61. Kf1 Kf3 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. d5
exd5 9. Ng5 Na6 10. cxd5 h6 11. h4 d6 12. Nce4 g6 13. Nh3 Nb4 14. Qd2 Nxe4 15.
Bxe4 Re8 16. a3 Bf8 17. Bxg6 Nxd5 18. Bb1 Nf6 19. O-O Qd7 20. Nf4 Qg4 21. Kh2
Bg7 22. f3 Qd7 23. e4 d5 24. exd5 Rad8 25. Ba2 Qb5 26. Rf2 c4 27. d6 Qc5 28.
Qc2 Rxd6 29. Ng2 Rd3 30. Qxc4 Qxf2 31. Qxf7+ Kh7 32. Bb1 Qxf3 33. Bxd3+ Qxd3
34. Qxb7 Ng4+ 35. Kh3 Nf2+ 36. Kh2 Ng4+ 37. Kh3 Qf5 38. Bf4 Re2 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D98"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nc6 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4 11. Be2 Qd6 12. e5 Qxc5 13. dxc5 Nd7 14. e6 Bxe6
15. Ng5 Rfd8 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. O-O Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nf6 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Rfc1 b6
21. h3 Nd5 22. Bg5 bxc5 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Bg4 Kf7 25. Re1 Nd8 26. c4 Nf6 27.
Bf3 Rb4 28. Rd1 Ke8 29. Bf4 Rxc4 30. Bxc7 Nf7 31. Bc6+ Kf8 32. Bb8 a5 33. a4
Nd5 34. Bb5 Rc2 35. Re1 c4 36. Rxe6 c3 37. Rc6 Rd2 38. Bc4 c2 39. Bxd5 Rd1+ 40.
Kh2 c1=Q 41. Rxc1 Rxc1 42. Ba7 Ra1 43. Bc6 Rb1 44. Be3 Nd6 45. Bd2 Rb2 46. Bxa5
Rxf2 47. Bb6 Rc2 48. Bd5 Nc4 49. Bc5 g5 50. Be6 h6 51. Bb4 Ne3 52. a5 Rxg2+ 53.
Kh1 Rb2 54. Bc5 Rb5 55. Bb6 Nd5 56. Bd8 Nf4 57. Bg4 e5 58. a6 Rb1+ 59. Kh2 Ra1
60. Bc8 e4 61. Bb6 Ra2+ 62. Kh1 Nd5 63. Bc5+ Kg7 64. Bb7 e3 65. Bxd5 e2 66. Bf2
Rxa6 67. Bf3 Rf6 68. Kg2 Re6 69. Be1 Kg6 70. Kf2 h5 71. Bxe2 Rb6 72. Bd3+ Kf7
73. Bd2 Kf6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bf4 d6 11. Rad1 a6 12. Ng5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qc7 14. Nge4 Nxe4
15. Nxe4 e5 16. Bc1 Nc6 17. Nc3 Qb7 18. Nd5 f5 19. Qxc6 Qxc6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Qd2
Re8 9. g3 Na6 10. Bg2 Nc7 11. O-O b5 12. a3 h6 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Nh4 b4 15. axb4
cxb4 16. Na4 Ncxd5 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Rfe1 Rb8 19. Rad1 Ne4 20. Qd4 Nxf4 21. gxf4
Bc6 22. b3 d5 23. Qxa7 Qf6 24. Nd4 Bxa4 25. Qxa4 Nc3 26. Qc6 Qxc6 27. Nxc6 Rbc8
28. Na7 Rc7 29. Ra1 Ree7 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 Nd7 9. g3 e5 10. Bg2 exd4 11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Bc5 13. O-O-O Nf6 14. e4
Ng4 15. Rhf1 Nxh2 16. Rfe1 Bg4 17. Rd2 O-O-O 18. Nb3 Rxd2 19. Nxd2 Bxf2 20. Rf1
Nxf1 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nd2 g6 5. e4 d6 6. cxb5 a6 7. a4 Bg7 8. Ngf3 O-O
9. Ra3 e6 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. Be2 d5 12. O-O dxe4 13. Ng5 Bd5 14. Nc4 h6 15. Nh3
axb5 16. axb5 Nbd7 17. Nf4 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nb6 19. Ba2 c4 20. Be3 Nfd5 21. Nxd5
Nxd5 22. Bxc4 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Re8 24. Bd5 Rb8 25. Bc6 Qxd1 26. Rxd1 Red8 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. g4 f5 29. b6 Bxb2 30. b7 Kf7 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Bd7 Be5 33. Bxf5
Kf6 34. Bxe4 Rd2 35. Rf3+ Kg7 36. Rf5 Bd6 37. h4 Rd4 38. f3 Rd2 39. h5 Bh2+ 40.
Kf1 Bg3 41. Rb5 Rd8 42. Ke2 Bf4 43. Rf5 Bb8 44. Rc5 Kf6 45. Rc8 Ke7 46. Ke3
Ba7+ 47. Kf4 Rf8+ 48. Ke5 Bb8+ 49. Kd5 Rd8+ 50. Kc6 Rd6+ 51. Kc5 Rd8 52. Rxb8
Rxb8 53. Kc6 Rd8 54. Bf5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Nc6 9. Bc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Qa5 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. O-O
Bxd2 15. Nxd2 O-O 16. Bf3 Nf5 17. Nb3 Qd8 18. Rc1 Nd6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. Qd2 Qf6
21. Rc7 Rfd8 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. dxc6 Nc4 24. Qe2 Nd2 25. Rc1 Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 Qxf3
27. gxf3 Rdc8 28. Rb7 a6 29. Kg2 Kf8 30. f4 a5 31. Rxb5 Ra6 32. Rbc5 Ke7 33.
Kf3 Kd6 34. c7 Ra7 35. Ke4 Raxc7 36. Rxc7 Rxc7 37. Rxc7 Kxc7 38. Kd5 Kb6 39. a4
f5 40. Kd6 g6 41. Kd5 Kb7 42. Kc5 Kc7 43. Kb5 Kd6 44. Kxa5 Kc5 45. Ka6 Kc6 46.
a5 Kc7 47. Kb5 Kb7 48. h4 Ka7 49. Kc5 Ka6 50. Kd6 Kxa5 51. Ke6 Kb4 52. Kf6 Kc4
53. Kg7 Kd4 54. Kxh7 Ke4 55. Kxg6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Be3 Nb4 12. Qf3 Qd6 13. Qg3 Nbd5 14. Rae1
Rd8 15. Qf3 Bd7 16. g4 Be8 17. g5 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Nd5 19. Nxf7 Bxf7 20. Qxf7+ Kh8
21. Ne4 Qb6 22. Qh5 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Qxd4 24. Qe2 Rf8 25. Rd1 Qe5 26. g6 Rf4 27.
Kh1 Raf8 28. Nd6 Qf6 29. Nf7+ Kg8 30. Rxe6 Qh4 31. Rxe7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 b5 8. a4
Bb7 9. axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8 Bxa8 11. Nc3 b4 12. Ba4+ Nbd7 13. Nb5 Be7 14. dxc5
Bxc5 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. Nc4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Qxb6 18. Bd2 Rd8 19. Qe2 Be4 20. Rc1 Bd3
21. Qe1 Ne4 22. h3 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Bb5 24. Bxb5 Qxb5 25. Nc4 Kf8 26. Qe2 Be7 27.
b3 Bf6 28. Rc2 Bc3 29. Ra2 Qd5 30. Kh2 Qd1 31. Qxd1 Rxd1 32. Ra8+ Ke7 33. Ra7+
Kf6 34. f4 h5 35. g4 h4 36. Kg2 Kg6 37. Rb7 f5 38. gxf5+ Kxf5 39. Rb5+ Ke4 40.
Rb6 Kd3 41. Rd6+ Kc2 42. Rxd1 Kxd1 43. Kf3 Kc2 44. Na5 Kd3 45. e4 Bd4 46. f5
exf5 47. exf5 Kc3 48. Kg4 Bb6 49. Nc6 Kxb3 50. f6 gxf6 51. Kf5 Bd8 52. Nxd8 Kc3
53. Nb7 b3 54. Nc5 b2 55. Na4+ Kb3 56. Nxb2 Kxb2 57. Kxf6 Kc3 58. Kg5 Kd4 59.
Kxh4 Ke5 60. Kg5 Ke6 61. Kg6 Ke7 62. Kg7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c5 3. c4 cxd4 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qxd4 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7
8. g3 Nc6 9. Ndb5 Rc8 10. Bg2 a6 11. Na3 b5 12. Nc2 e5 13. O-O h6 14. Rd1 Bc5
15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nd4 17. Rd2 b4 18. Ncd5 Bb5 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Nd5 Nxe2+
21. Kh1 Nd4 22. Nxf6+ Kf8 23. Ng4 Rc5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxd4 a5 26. Bf3 Kg7 27.
Kg2 Rc8 28. Rd2 a4 29. Rad1 a3 30. bxa3 bxa3 31. Rb1 Bc4 32. Rb4 Be6 33. Bg4 f5
34. Bf3 Rc3 35. Ra4 Rb5 36. Rd6 Re5 37. Raa6 Bxa2 38. Ra7+ Kf8 39. Rxh6 Kg8 40.
Rha6 Bf7 41. Rxa3 Rxa3 42. Rxa3 Kg7 43. Ra7 Kf6 44. Ra6+ Kg7 45. Rb6 f4 46.
gxf4 Rf5 47. Kg3 Rf6 48. Rb7 Rg6+ 49. Bg4 Kf8 50. f5 Rd6 51. Kf4 Rd4+ 52. Kg5
Rd5 53. h4 Kg7 54. h5 Kg8 55. h6 Rd4 56. h7+ Kh8 57. f3 Bd5 58. Rd7 Rd3 59. Kh6
Bc4 60. Rc7 Rd6+ 61. Kg5 Bf7 62. f4 Rg6+ 63. fxg6 Bxg6 64. f5 Bxh7 65. Kh6 Bg8
66. f6 Be6 67. Rh7+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nd7 10. O-O b6 11. Re1 Nf6 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7 14. d5 Nd7
15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Rc8 17. Bb5 Nf6 18. Nd4 Nxe4 19. Nc6 Bxc6 20. Bxc6 Nf6 21.
Qf3 Qd6 22. Bg3 Qd8 23. Rbd1 Kh7 24. d6 e5 25. d7 Rxc6 26. Qxc6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 c6 7. O-O Bg4 8. Be3
Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Qc7 11. Rc1 e5 12. d5 a5 13. a3 Rfc8 14. b4 axb4 15.
axb4 Ra3 16. c5 Bf8 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. cxd6 Qxd6 19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. Nb5 Bxb4 21.
Nxa3 Bxa3 22. Rc4 Be7 23. Rb1 c5 24. Bg4 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Nf8 26. Rb7 Bd6 27. g3
Ne6 28. Rd7 Rc6 29. Kg2 Kg7 30. g5 Ra6 31. Kh3 Kf8 32. Kg4 Ke8 33. Rb7 Nd8 34.
Rb3 Ne6 35. f4 exf4 36. gxf4 Ra2 37. f5 Rg2+ 38. Kf3 Rg3+ 39. Kf2 Nxg5 40. Rb6
Nh3+ 41. Ke2 Nf4+ 42. Kd2 Rg2+ 43. Kd1 Nd3 44. Rc2 Rxc2 45. Kxc2 Nb4+ 46. Kb3
Kd7 47. Rb7+ Ke8 48. f6 Nc6 49. Rb6 Kd7 50. Kc4 Kc7 51. Ra6 Kb7 52. Ra1 Be5 53.
Rf1 h5 54. Kd5 h4 55. Bxc5 h3 56. Bd6 Bd4 57. Rf3 h2 58. Bxh2 Ba1 59. Bd6 Nd8
60. e5 Ne6 61. Ra3 Bd4 62. Rb3+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Kh1 Nbd7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Qc7 13. Qd2 a5 14. Rfd1 Nc5 15.
Rac1 Kh7 16. Bf1 a4 17. Nc2 Re6 18. Bg3 Bf8 19. Nd4 Re8 20. b4 axb3 21. axb3
Nh5 22. Bf2 Bg7 23. Qc2 Bd7 24. b4 Ne6 25. Nb3 Be5 26. g3 Nf6 27. Bg2 g5 28.
Ne2 Kg7 29. Nd2 Ra3 30. Nf1 Rea8 31. Rd2 g4 32. f4 Ba1 33. Ne3 Nf8 34. Qd1 h5
35. Nc2 Bc3 36. Nxc3 Rxc3 37. Bd4 Rxc4 38. e5 dxe5 39. fxe5 N6h7 40. e6+ Rxd4
41. Nxd4 Bxe6 42. b5 c5 43. Nxe6+ fxe6 44. Qc2 Rc8 45. Qb2+ Nf6 46. b6 Qe7 47.
Qe5 Ng6 48. Qd6 c4 49. Qxe7+ Nxe7 50. Rd6 c3 51. Bxb7 Rb8 52. Bg2 Ned5 53. Rxe6
Rxb6 54. Rxb6 Nxb6 55. Rxc3 Nbd5 56. Rc5 Ne7 57. Kg1 Ng6 58. Kf2 h4 59. Ke3
hxg3 60. hxg3 Ne7 61. Be4 Kh6 62. Kf4 Neg8 63. Bf5 Ne7 64. Bxg4 Ned5+ 65. Kf3
Ne7 66. Be6 Ng6 67. g4 Kg7 68. g5 Nh7 69. Rc7+ Kh8 70. Kg4 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bf4 c5 5. e3 b6 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. h3 cxd4 8. exd4
d6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Be7 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfe1 Rfe8 14. a4 a6 15.
Bg3 Bf8 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nf6 19. Qd3 Qb7 20. Bh4 Nd5 21. Qe4
b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Bg3 Ra6 24. b3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Qc6 26. Qd3 Qxc3 27. Qxc3
Nxc3 28. Ra6 Rd8 29. Rb6 g5 30. h4 g4 31. Ne1 Ne2+ 32. Kf1 Nxd4 33. Nd3 e5 34.
Nb4 Rc8 35. Ke1 f5 36. h5 Kf7 37. Rb7+ Ke6 38. Na6 f4 39. Bh4 Kd5 40. Rf7 Ke4
41. Nc7 d5 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 c5 8. e3
cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. a3 Rc8 12. Qe2 Re8 13. Rfe1 Bf8 14. Rad1 g6
15. Ne5 Bg7 16. h3 Rc7 17. Qe3 Ne7 18. c4 Qa8 19. Ndf3 Nf5 20. Qe2 Nd6 21. g4
Rec8 22. Ng5 dxc4 23. d5 c3 24. Bxc3 Rxc3 25. Nexf7 Nxf7 26. Qxe6 Rf8 27. d6
Bxg2 28. Nxf7 Rxf7 29. d7 Nxd7 30. Rxd7 Rcf3 31. Red1 Bf8 32. Rd8 R3f6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2444"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Bf2 Nc5 15.
Rab1 Qc7 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Ne6 19. Be3 Qc6 20. Qd2 Nc5 21.
Bf1 h5 22. Rc2 Qe8 23. Re1 Kh7 24. g3 Qh8 25. Bg2 h4 26. f4 Kg8 27. g4 h3 28.
Bf3 g5 29. f5 Be5 30. Bxg5 f6 31. Be3 Kf7 32. Kh1 Ke8 33. Rg1 Kd7 34. Qd5 Qg8
35. g5 fxg5 36. Rxg5 Qxd5 37. exd5 Bf6 38. Rg6 Rh8 39. Bg4 Raf8 40. Bh6 Rf7 41.
Re2 Nd3 42. Be3 Ne5 43. Bb6 Rh4 44. Rxe5 dxe5 45. c5 Rg7 46. Be2 Rxg6 47. fxg6
Rf4 48. Bb5+ Kc8 49. c6 bxc6 50. dxc6 Rd4 51. Ba6+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. h3 Bf3 8.
O-O Nxe2+ 9. Nxe2 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 Qxd5+ 11. Kh2 Rd8 12. d3 e6 13. Nf4 Qc6 14. Be3
h5 15. Qe2 Bd6 16. a4 h4 17. Rae1 Kd7 18. Bd2 Kc8 19. a5 g5 20. Bc3 hxg3+ 21.
fxg3 gxf4 22. Bxf6 fxg3+ 23. Kg1 Rxh3 24. Qg2 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Rh2+ 26. Kf3 Rg8
27. Rg1 Rf2+ 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 Bb5 7. c4 dxc4 8. Nc3 Nc6
9. a4 Ba6 10. a5 Qb4 11. Bd2 cxd4 12. Nd5 exd5 13. Bxb4 Bxb4+ 14. Nd2 c3 15.
Bxa6 cxd2+ 16. Kf1 bxa6 17. Qg4 Nge7 18. Qxg7 Rg8 19. Qxh7 Nxe5 20. g3 Rc8 21.
Kg2 N5g6 22. Rhd1 Rc2 23. Kf1 Rxb2 24. h4 Bc3 25. Rab1 Rxb1 26. Rxb1 d3 27. Qh5
Bxa5 28. Qg4 Ne5 29. Qa4+ N5c6 30. Qa3 Rg4 31. h5 Rb4 32. Rd1 Rc4 33. h6 Kf8
34. Kg2 Rc1 35. Rxc1 dxc1=Q 36. Qxc1 d2 37. Qa1 Bc3 38. Qxc3 d1=Q 39. Qh8+ Ng8
40. Qg7+ Ke7 41. h7 Nf6 42. h8=Q Nd7 43. Qh4+ Kd6 44. Qxf7 Qd3 45. Qhf4+ Nce5
46. Q7f5 a5 47. Qxd3 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Qe2+ Qe7 7. Be3 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Nf6 9. O-O-O O-O-O 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4 Ne4 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Nxe4 Qxe4 14.
Rg1 Re8 15. Bg2 Qe6 16. Qb5 Rd8 17. c4 Nb4 18. c5 Nc6 19. Rd3 a6 20. Qa4 Be7
21. Rgd1 Rhe8 22. Bf1 Nb8 23. Rb3 c6 24. Bf4 Rd7 25. Re3 Qf6 26. Be5 Qxf2 27.
Re2 Qf3 28. Qc2 Bg5+ 29. Kb1 f6 30. Bxb8 Rde7 31. Rxe7 Rxe7 32. Bd6 Re3 33. a3
Bf4 34. Bxf4 Qxf4 35. Ka2 f5 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. Bd3 g6 38. Qd2 Qf3 39. h4 Kb8
40. Bc2 Re2 41. Qd3 Qf2 42. Kb1 Ka7 43. h5 gxh5 44. Qxf5 Qe3 45. Qxh5 Re1 46.
Rxe1 Qxe1+ 47. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 e6 5. c4 exd5 6. cxd5 Be7 7. Ne2 O-O 8. Nec3
Nh5 9. g4 Bh4+ 10. Ke2 Nf6 11. Rg1 Re8 12. Nd2 b5 13. Nxb5 Ba6 14. a4 Qa5 15.
Ra3 Bxb5+ 16. axb5 Qxb5+ 17. Rd3 Nxd5 18. Nb1 Nb4 19. g5 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qxd3+
21. Kxd3 Bf2 22. Rg4 Nc6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nb3 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Nf6 10. c4 O-O 11. Bb2 Be6 12. Bxf6 exf6 13. Qxd6 Rad8 14. Qf4
Kg7 15. c5 Qa6 16. e3 Bd5 17. Rfd1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Ne5 19. Qe4 h5 20. Rd6 Rxd6
21. cxd6 Qxd6 22. Qxb7 h4 23. Nd4 f5 24. Rd1 Qf6 25. gxh4 Qxh4 26. Ne6+ Kg8 27.
Rd4 Ng4 28. Qf3 Qxh2+ 29. Kf1 fxe6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb5 8. Nc3
Bb4 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Qa6 12. Qd1 Ne7 13. a4 O-O 14. Ba3 Nbc6
15. Ng5 h6 16. Nh3 Rfe8 17. Nf4 Na5 18. Nh5 Ng6 19. f4 Rac8 20. Bb4 Nc4 21. Rf3
Qc6 22. a5 b6 23. a6 Rc7 24. g4 Qd7 25. Qe1 Ne7 26. Qf2 Nc6 27. f5 Nxb4 28.
cxb4 Rec8 29. Rf1 exf5 30. gxf5 b5 31. Rg3 Kf8 32. Rxg7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb5 8. Nc3
Bxe2 9. Nxe2 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. O-O Bxd2 12. Qxd2 Nge7 13. Ng3 O-O 14. Rac1
Rac8 15. Rc3 Na5 16. b3 Rxc3 17. Qxc3 Rc8 18. Qd2 Nac6 19. Rc1 Qb4 20. Nf1 a5
21. Rc2 Qxd2 22. N1xd2 Kf8 23. Kf1 Ke8 24. g4 Kd7 25. Ke2 h5 26. h3 hxg4 27.
hxg4 f6 28. exf6 gxf6 29. Nf1 e5 30. dxe5 fxe5 31. Rd2 e4 32. Ng5 Rg8 33. Nxe4
Kc7 34. Nf6 Rg6 35. Nxd5+ Nxd5 36. Rxd5 Rxg4 37. Ne3 Rg7 38. Rd2 Rf7 39. f4 Kb6
40. Kf3 Kc5 41. Rc2+ Kd4 42. Ng4 Rf8 43. Rd2+ Kc3 44. Rd7 Kb2 45. Rxb7 Kxa2 46.
Ke4 Re8+ 47. Ne5 Nb4 48. f5 Kxb3 49. f6 Rf8 50. f7 a4 51. Nc6 a3 52. Nxb4 Rxf7
53. Rxf7 Kxb4 54. Kd3 a2 55. Rb7+ Ka3 56. Kc2 a1=N+ 57. Kc3 Ka2 58. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Bd7 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O Rc8 8. Na3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Nf5 10. Nc2 Be7 11. Bd3 Qb6 12. Bxf5 exf5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Qd2 O-O
15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Nb4 Rc4 17. Nd3 Rfc8 18. Nc5 Qb4 19. Qxb4 Rxb4 20. b3 Rb6 21.
g3 h6 22. h4 f4 23. gxf4 Ng6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. f5 exf5 26. Rac1 Rbc6 27. Rxc6
Rxc6 28. Kh2 Rc2 29. Kg3 Kf7 30. h5 Nf8 31. Nh4 Ke6 32. Ng2 Rd2 33. Nf4+ Kd7
34. Nxd5 Rxd4 35. Nf4 Ne6 36. Nxe6 Kxe6 37. f4 Rd2 38. Rf2 Rd3+ 39. Kg2 a5 40.
Rc2 Kd7 41. Rf2 b5 42. Rf3 Rd2+ 43. Kh3 Rxa2 44. Rg3 Rb2 45. Rxg7+ Ke6 46. Rg6+
Kd5 47. Rxh6 Ke4 48. Rg6 Kxf4 49. e6 Rxb3+ 50. Kh2 a4 51. h6 Rb2+ 52. Rg2 a3
53. h7 a2 54. h8=Q a1=Q 55. Qd4+ Kf3 56. Qxb2 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m6 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 a5 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. d4
Bxc3 9. Qxc3 d6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. Rad1 Ne4 13. Qc1 Ndf6 14. Ne1 Nd7
15. f3 Nef6 16. e4 e5 17. Nc2 a4 18. Ne3 axb3 19. Nf5 Qd8 20. dxe5 dxe5 21.
axb3 Qe8 22. Bh3 g6 23. Qh6 gxf5 24. Bxf5 Ra2 25. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m6 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bc4 Nxc3 9. Qb3 e6 10. bxc3 Na5 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. O-O a6 14. Be2 Bg7
15. Qa3 Qe7 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qb6 Qd8 18. Qb4 f6 19. c4 Kf7 20. d5 e5 21. Bd2 b6
22. c5 Bf8 23. d6 Nc6 24. Qb3+ Kg7 25. cxb6 Bxd6 26. Rfd1 Rb8 27. Be3 Qe7 28.
Qd5 Nd4 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Qxd4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Rc8 12. Nc3 c5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5
15. dxc5 Rxc5 16. Qd2 Nf6 17. Be5 Qd7 18. Bd4 Rc7 19. Rac1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8
21. Ne5 Qe6 22. Rxc8+ Qxc8 23. Nd3 Ne4 24. Qb2 Bxd3 25. exd3 Nf6 26. h3 h6 27.
b4 Qe6 28. Qc3 Ne8 29. a4 Bf6 30. Kh2 Qd7 31. a5 Kh7 32. Bxf6 Nxf6 33. Qe5 Qd8
34. a6 Kg8 35. d4 b5 36. Bf3 Kf8 37. Kg2 Kg8 38. h4 Qb6 39. Bxd5 Nxd5 40. Qxd5
Qxa6 41. Qd7 Qg6 42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. d5 a5 44. bxa5 b4 45. d6 b3 46. d7 Qc6+ 47.
Kh2 Qf3 48. Qe1 Qd3 49. a6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Be7 12. O-O Bf6 13. Qb3 Qb6 $6 14.
Qxd5 $1 {White opens up an attacking plan against black king in which both
white bishops play a prominent role.} Rd8 (14... Qxb2 15. Rab1 Qc3 16. Rfc1
Qxa3 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Bd6 $18) 15. Qe4 g6 (15... h6 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Rab1 $16
) 16. Bg5 $1 Qxb2 (16... Bf5 $2 17. Qh4 Bxd3 (17... Bxg5 18. Nxg5 $18) 18. Bxf6
Rd6 19. Rfd1 $18) 17. Bc4 Kg7 (17... Bf5 $2 18. Qh4 Rd6 (18... Kg7 19. e4 $18)
19. e4 Bc8 20. Rab1 $18) 18. Qh4 h5 (18... Rd6 19. Qf4 Rd7 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21.
Rab1 $18) 19. Bxf7 $1 {[%mdl 128] It is no secret, that f7 square is rather
vulnerable for black. White's combination is rather refreshing, black defences
are falling to pieces.} Bxg5 (19... Kxf7 20. Rab1 Qxa3 21. Bxf6 Rd6 22. Be5 $18
) 20. Nxg5 Qf6 (20... Ne5 21. Be6 $18) 21. e4 Rd4 (21... Nd4 22. f4 Nc2 23. e5
Qf5 24. Ra2 Ne3 25. Re1 $18) 22. Rae1 (22. f4 $2 Rxe4 $1) 22... Bd7 (22... Bf5
23. Qg3 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxf7 25. Ng5 $18) 23. f4 Rf8 24. Ba2 (24. e5 Qe7 25. e6
Bc8 $18) 24... Qd6 (24... Rd2 25. Bd5 $18) 25. Kh1 (25. Bd5 Qxa3 26. f5 Qd6 $16
) 25... Qxa3 26. Bb1 Qe7 27. Qg3 Kh6 (27... Rh8 28. e5 h4 29. Qe3 $16) 28. Nf3
Rb4 29. Nh4 $1 {Despite Short's best efforts kingside structure remains as
weak as ever. Black king is very insecure and black has no defense.} Be8 (29...
Qf7 30. e5 $18) (29... Rg8 30. Nf5+ Bxf5 31. exf5 $18) 30. e5 Rxb1 31. Rxb1 Nd4
32. Qg5+ $1 (32. Qg5+ $1 Qxg5 33. fxg5+ Kg7 34. Rxb7+ Kg8 35. Rf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 {Eine seltene Zugfolge -
die traditionellen Alternativen sind 5.Bg5 und 5.Bf4.} Nbd7 (5... O-O 6. Bg2
dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 {Das ist die prinzipielle Alternative, hier opfert Schwarz
einen Bauern (nach 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxc6 ist der c4P nicht zu halten) und bekommt
aktives Gegenspiel.}) 6. Bg2 O-O (6... dxc4 7. Nd2 (7. Qa4) 7... Nb6 8. Nxc4
Nxc4 9. Qa4+ $14) 7. O-O {Mit dieser Fortsetzung opfert WeiЯ den Pc4.} (7. Qb3)
(7. b3) 7... dxc4 8. e4 a6 {Kramnik spielt diese Variante mit beiden Farben.
In zwei frьheren Partien spielte er bereits 8...c6, was - meiner Meinung nach
- die beste Fortsetzung ist.} (8... c6 $5 9. a4 e5 $5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5
12. e6 (12. Qd4 Rd8 13. Qxc4 Ndxe5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Qb3 b6 16. Rfd1 Bg4 {
0-1 Hudecek,J-Stern,R/Pardubice 1996/CBM 55 ext (42)}) (12. Qd2 Bb4 13. e6 fxe6
14. Bd6 Bxd6 15. Qxd6 Nde5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd4 Rd8 18. Qe3 Nd3 19. e5 Qxe5 {
0-1 Hausner,I-Kramnik,V/Germany 1993/GER-chT (49)}) 12... fxe6 13. Qe2 (13. Ng5
Nde5 14. Qe2 h6 15. Nh3 Bd7 16. Kh1 Be8 17. Bd2 Bh5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Nf4 Bf7 20.
Ncd5 Qd8 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Bc3 Ned7 {0-1 Skatchkov,P-Evseev,D/Tula 1999/EXT
2000 (50)}) 13... Nge5 14. Nd4 Nd3 $1 15. Nxe6 Rf6 16. Bc7 Qb4 17. Nd4 (17. Nf4
Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. e5 $132) 17... Bc5 $1 {0-1 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Linares
1997/Inf 69/[Kramnik,V] (33)}) (8... c5 9. d5 $36) 9. a4 Rb8 (9... c5 10. d5
exd5 11. exd5 (11. e5 $5) 11... Nb6 12. Ne5 Bd6 13. f4 a5 14. h3 Re8 15. Nb5
Bxe5 16. fxe5 Rxe5 17. Bf4 Rxd5 18. Qe2 Rd7 19. Qf2 Nbd5 20. Be5 Ra6 21. Qxc5
Re6 22. Bd4 Ne4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Rae1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re7 26. Rxe7 Nxe7 27. g4
Nc6 {0-1 Mochalov,E-Nielsen,P/Minsk 1993/CBM 36 (59)}) 10. a5 {Schwarz mцchte
b7-b5 ziehen, um den Pc4 zu verteidigen. WeiЯ hingegen muss diesen Spielplan
durchkreuzen.} (10. Nd2 b5 11. e5 Nd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bb7 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7
15. Nf3 Qe6 16. Be3 Qd5 {0-1 Gruenberg,R-Stelting,T/GER-N chT 7879 1979/EXT 99
(16)}) 10... b5 11. axb6 Nxb6 (11... cxb6 $6 12. Bf4 Ra8 13. Nd2 $14 (13. d5
$36 {Ftacnik})) 12. Qe2 {WeiЯ hat dank seines starken Bauernzentrums
Raumvorteil, zudem besitzt Schwarz einen Doppelbauern auf der c-Linie.
Prinzipiell hat WeiЯ ausreichende Kompensation fьr den Bauern.} Bb7 (12... c5
13. Bf4 Rb7 14. Rfd1 $14 {Taimanov}) 13. Rd1 Bb4 14. Ne5 {Endlich macht sich
WeiЯ daran, den Pc4 zurьck zu gewinnen - mit besserem Spiel.} a5 {[%cal Gb7a6,
Ga6e2]} 15. Na2 $146 (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bf4 Qe7 17. Na4 Nxa4 18. Rxa4 c3 19. bxc3
Bxc3 20. Rc4 Bb4 21. Nc6 Bxc6 22. Rxc6 Rfc8 23. Qc4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Ulibin,
M-Aseev,K/Elista 1994/CBM 44/[Moiseev] (37)}) (15. Bf4 Nfd7 16. Nf3 Rc8 17. Na2
Bd6 18. Bd2 Ra8 19. Nc3 Bb4 20. Bg5 Qc8 21. Na2 c5 22. Rac1 cxd4 23. Nxb4 axb4
24. Nxd4 Qc5 25. Be3 Qe7 26. Nb5 Ra2 {1/2-1/2 Skatchkov,P-Brodsky,M/Nizhnij
Novgorod 1998/EXT 2000 (46)}) 15... Ra8 (15... Be7 $5 {Mit 16.Nc3 kцnnte WeiЯ
Zugwiederholung anstreben. Es ist fraglich, ob er hier mehr hat.}) 16. Bg5 Be7
17. Nxc4 {WeiЯ hat keine Angst vor der mцglichen Fesslung auf der Diagonalen
a6-f1.} (17. Nc3 $5) 17... Ba6 {Schwarz muss das Spiel verkomplizieren, sonst
muss er sich in eine passive Stellung ohne Gegenspiel fnden.} 18. b3 a4 $13 19.
Bxf6 (19. Nc3 axb3 20. Rxa6 Rxa6 21. Ne5 Qa8 $19 (21... Ra3 22. Nc6 Qd7 23.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 24. e5 Qb4 $17)) 19... axb3 (19... Bxf6 20. Nb4 $14) 20. Qg4 Bxf6
21. Nxb6 cxb6 (21... Rb8 22. e5 Be7 23. Nb4 $5 (23. Na4 bxa2 24. Rxa2 Bc4 $44)
23... Bxb4 24. Rxa6 Rxb6 25. Rxb6 cxb6 26. d5 $36) 22. e5 Be7 23. d5 {[%mdl 64]
WeiЯ verscmдht das Schlagen auf a8, sondern opfert Material fьr aktives Spiel.}
(23. Bxa8 Qxa8 24. Nc3 b2 25. Rab1 (25. Ra2 Rc8) 25... Qc6 {[%cal Ga6b7,Gb7h1,
Rc6c3]} 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. f3 Qc2 $13) 23... exd5 24. Bxd5 bxa2 25. Rxa2 {WeiЯ
hat eine Figur weniger, aber Schwarz muss etwas Material zurьckgeben.} (25.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $19) 25... Qb8 26. Bxa8 Qxa8 27. Rd7 (27. Rda1 $2 Qc8
$19) 27... h5 28. Qf4 (28. Qxh5 Qc6 29. Rxe7 Qc1+ 30. Kg2 Bf1+ 31. Kf3 Qd1+ $19
) 28... Re8 29. Ra1 {[%cal Ga1a8]} Qc8 (29... b5 $5 30. Qd4 Qc6 31. Rxa6 Qxa6
32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. Qxe7 Qe6 $15) 30. e6 $1 fxe6 31. Rc7 Qd8 $2 (
31... Qa8 $5 32. Qa4 Bf6 (32... Qd8 33. Qc6 Bc8 34. Ra8) 33. Ra7 (33. Qxa6 Bxa1
34. Ra7 Qf3 35. Qxa1 e5 $15) 33... Qc8 (33... Qxa7 34. Qxe8+ Kh7 35. Qxh5+ $11)
34. Qxa6 Bxa1 35. Qxa1 e5 36. Qb1 Qc6 37. Qf5 Rf8 38. Qxe5 Qc1+ 39. Kg2 Qc6+
$11) 32. Rxa6 Rf8 33. Qc4 $16 {Schwarz behдlt nur einen Bauern fьr die
Qualitдt. Die weiЯen Figuren stehen sehr aktiv.} Qd1+ 34. Qf1 Qxf1+ 35. Kxf1 {
[%mdl 4096]} Bc5 {Hecht: '[#] '} 36. f4 g5 (36... e5 {Hecht} 37. Raa7) (36...
Bd4 {Hecht} 37. Rd7 e5 (37... Bf6 38. Rxb6 e5 39. f5 (39. Ke2 exf4 40. gxf4 $16
{und wir hдtten ein nettes Gegenstьck zur Nr. 41. Ein Gewinnweg mьsste erst
noch gefunden werden. Im Falle von g6 hдtte WeiЯ immerhin den Hebel f5.}) 39...
Bg5 40. Rxg7+ Kxg7 41. Rg6+ Kh7 42. Rxg5 Kh6 43. h4 Ra8 44. Rg6+ Kh7 45. Re6
Ra1+ 46. Kg2 Ra2+ 47. Kh3 Rf2 48. Rxe5 Kg7 $14) 38. Raa7 Kh8 39. Rxg7 exf4 40.
Rgf7 Rxf7 41. Rxf7 fxg3 42. hxg3 $18 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Rf7f5]}) 37. Raa7 Bd4 38.
Rd7 Bh8 39. Ra4 e5 40. f5 Rxf5+ 41. Ke2 Bg7 42. Ra6 b5 43. Rb6 g4 44. Ke3 Kh7
45. Ke4 Rg5 46. Rxb5 Kg6 47. Rbb7 Bf6 48. Rh7 h4 (48... Rf5 {Hecht} 49. Rh6+
Kxh6 50. Kxf5 Bg7 (50... Bd8 51. Rd7 Ba5 52. Rd6+ Kh7 53. Kg5 $18) 51. Rb6+ Kh7
52. Kg5 {[%csl Rg4,Rh5]}) (48... Bd8 {Hecht} 49. Rbg7+ Kf6 50. Rd7 Kg6 51.
Rhg7+ Kh6 52. Rgf7 Ba5 (52... Rg8 53. Rd6+ Kg5 54. Rf5#) (52... Kg6 53. Rf2 Ba5
54. Ra2 $18)) 49. Rxh4 Bg7 50. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.02.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 11. Bd3 (11. Bb5 $5) (11. Be2) (11.
Bb2) (11. Ba2)) 10. Bb2 {If white declines to contest the main line, then
black's 9th move, delaying the capture on c4 has the distinct advantage of
restricting white's options.} ({For this reason at least} 10. cxd5 exd5 11. a4
{remains the critical choice.}) 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. Be2 ({The main
alternative here is} 12. h3 {putting a stop to black's intended ...Bg4. The
line seems to have had its heyday in the 1950s. A comparison can be made with 
( in the main line move order ) 11 Ba2 e5 12 h3 which I discussed in CBM 71 -
cf. Y.Yakovich - M.Sosnicki, Swidnica 1999. A couple of examples:} e4 (12...
Rd8 {looks weaker with the bishop still on c4. Black is running into Ng5 at
some stage.}) (12... Bf5 $5 13. Qe2 (13. Bb5 e4 14. Nh4 Be6 (14... Bd7 $5) 15.
c4 cxd4 16. exd4 Rad8 (16... a6 $142 17. d5 axb5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. dxe6 fxe6
20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Qxe4 bxc4 22. Qxc4 $11 {-Taimanov ( Quoted in 'NCO' 1999.)})
17. d5 Ne5 18. Qb3 Bd7 19. Qg3 $1 $40 Rfe8 20. Bxd7 Rxd7 21. Nf5 Ng6 22. Qg5
Qf4 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Qxf6 Qe5 25. Nh6+ Kf8 26. Ng4 $16 {1-0 Taimanov,
M-Antoshin,V/Moscow 1957/URS-ch (41)}) 13... Rfe8 14. Rfd1 Rad8 15. a4 e4 16.
Nd2 Nd5 17. Nb3 cxd4 18. Nxd4 $5 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Ne7 20. Bb5 Nc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6
22. Qb5 Rxd4 23. cxd4 Bd7 24. Qxc6 Bxc6 25. a5 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Yd4d5] 1-0
Hort,V-King,D/BL8586 1986/GER-chT (49) with a minimal advantage for white,
which he exhibited really fine technique to convert.}) 13. Nd2 $1 {another
advantage of the move h3 - white does not have to reckon with the irritating ..
.Ng4.} Ne7 14. Be2 $5 cxd4 $6 15. cxd4 Be6 16. Qb1 Bd5 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. a4 $14 {
1-0 Brinck Claussen,B-Kolarov,A/Lugano 1968/MCD (41)}) 12... Rd8 {An
interesting choice. Theory is less than crystal clear here, not least because
the position reached at move 17 here has been subject to quite a variety of
assessments.} ({Arguably simpler is} 12... Bg4 $5 {the point being that after}
13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. c4 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 {looks fairly harmless, but may still be
better than} (15. gxf3 Bh3 {when white's rook faces a more restricted choice,
and worse still no possibility to contest the d-file so quickly} 16. Re1 Rad8
17. Qc2 Qc6 18. Qc3 $6 (18. Kh1 Ng4 19. e4 Rd2 20. Qxd2 Nxf2+ 21. Kg1 Nxe4 22.
fxe4 Qg6+ 23. Kh1 Qxe4+ 24. Bf3 Qxf3+ 25. Kg1 Qg4+ {1/2-1/2 Navarovszky,
L-Flesch,J/HUN-ch20 1965/MCD (25)}) 18... Rd2 $1 19. e4 Rfd8 20. Kh1 Nh5 21.
Rab1 Qg6 $1 22. Rg1 Rxe2 23. Rxg6 hxg6 24. f4 Red2 25. Rg1 R8d3 26. Qe5 Rd1 27.
Qe8+ Kh7 28. Qa4 Bg4 $1 {0-1 Rubin-Shakarov/corr 1975 (28)}) 15... Rfd8 16. Qe2
Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Ne8 18. h4 Qe7 19. h5 h6 20. Rfd1 b6 21. Qg4 f6 22. Rd5 Nc7 23.
Rf5 Rd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Yusupov,A-Ehlvest,J/Riga Tal 1995/CBM 47 (30)}) 13. Qc2
Bg4 {Seems to be better than the immediate} (13... e4 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. Nb3 b6
16. c4 cxd4 17. exd4 Ne7 18. Qc3 Rac8 19. Rac1 $14 {[%csl Gb2,Ge2] 1/2-1/2
Yusupov,A-Beliavsky,A/Groningen 1994/CBM 45 (32)}) 14. dxe5 {Now the
possibility of ...e4 needed to be addressed. Only the extraordinarily original
Granda Zuniga has been willing to venture the alternative} (14. Kh1 $5 {
but in principle white should really avoid the exchange of white-squared
bishops.}) 14... Nxe5 15. c4 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 Bh3 17. Rfd1 Qc6 $5 {The whole
position is complex and none to easy to assess. A few general comments: 1)
White's bishop pair is still generally an asset, and his b2 piece in
particular looks strong.  2) The doubling of the f-pawns of course potentially
weakens white's king-side. In general, if black handles the position carefully,
this seems to be a more significant factor than the half-open g-file.  3) The
combination of pressures bearing down on g7 strongly indicates that black is
right to head for the defensive formation with ...Ne8 and ...f6 ( see note to
move ___). 4) The open d-file is also an important factor - not just in terms
of who will control it, but how many rooks will remain on the board. The text
move looks good since white has to be alert to knight moves facilitating a ...
Qg6+. Also d5 is covered and ...Ne8 prepared.} (17... Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19.
Rb1 (19. Rc1 Qc6 20. Kh1 Qe6 21. e4 h6 22. Rg1 Nh5 23. Qc3 Rd4 24. Qe3 Qe5 $1 {
[%csl Gb2,Rf4] An instructive moment where the moves speaks more eloquently on
such themes as blockade, the relative worth of the pieces, and outposts than I
could hope to do.} 25. Bf1 (25. Qxh6 Nf4 $44) 25... Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Nf4 27. Rg1
b6 28. a4 Nh3 29. Rf1 Nf4 30. Rg1 Nh3 31. Rf1 Nf4 {1/2-1/2 Taimanov,M-Kholmov,
R/Erevan 1962/URS-ch (31)}) 19... Qc6 (19... Qd7 20. Kh1 Bf5 21. e4 Bg6 22. Qc3
Ne8 23. Qe5 Qd2 $6 24. Rd1 Qa5 25. Rd7 Ra8 26. Kg2 h6 27. Qd5 $16 Qa4 28. Bd1 {
1-0 Taimanov,M-Sliwa,B/Moscow 1956 (28)}) 20. Kh1 Bg4 (20... h6 21. Rg1 Qe6 22.
Qc3 Kf8 23. e4 b6 24. Qe3 g5 $6 {Given the consequences of allowing the queen
to f4 in Vaiser - Kolev, this while perhaps not actually bad, looks like an
overreaction.} 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. f4 {[%csl Rg5,Rh3]} Be6 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Rxg5
Qd4 29. Qf4 {Of course, without queens black would have no problems.} Bxc4 30.
Bxc4 Qxc4 31. Kg2 Qe6 32. Qh4 Re8 33. Kg1 {[%cal Gg5h5,Gh5h8] At issue is
simply relative king security.} c4 (33... Rd8 $5 34. Rh5 Qg6+ 35. Rg5 Qe6 $11 {
(?)}) 34. Rh5 Qg6+ 35. Kf1 f6 36. Rh6 Rxe4 37. f4 Qg7 38. Rh8+ Kf7 39. Qh5+ Ke6
40. Re8+ {1-0 Jussupow,A-Van der Sterren,P/Germany 1998/GER-chT (40)}) 21. Kg2
Bc8 22. Rg1 b6 23. Qc3 Qe6 24. Kh1 Kf8 25. e4 h6 26. Qe3 Bb7 27. Qf4 {1/2-1/2
Vaisser,A-Kolev,A/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (27) Looks '+/=', but it is not easy
to progress.}) 18. Qc3 (18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Kh1 Ne8 (19... Rd6 $5 {looks looser}
20. Qc3 Nh5 21. Qe5 (21. Rg1 $5) 21... Bg4 22. e4 f6 23. Qc3 Nf4 24. Bf1 Rd3 $1
25. Bxd3 Bxf3+ 26. Kg1 Qd7 27. Kf1 Nxd3 {0-1 Lim,S-Tisdall,J/Hastings 1976 (27)
}) 20. Rg1 f6 21. Bc3 Be6 22. Rg3 Qd7 23. Qe4 b6 24. Rg1 Qf7 {[%csl Rc4] Here
with just one pair of rooks on the board, black also seems well able to
neutralise the pressure, and start to exploit white's weakness on c4.} 25. Qf4
Kf8 26. Qe4 h6 27. Qf4 Rd7 28. a4 Nd6 29. Rd1 Ke7 30. a5 Nxc4 31. Rxd7+ Kxd7
32. Qb8 Kc6 33. a6 Kb5 34. Qb7 Qg6 $17 {0-1 Schoen,W-Hall,J/2.BLW9697
Wattenscheid-KKS Koeln 1997/BL2-W (40)}) 18... Ne8 19. Kh1 Be6 ({Or similarly} 
19... f6 20. e4 Be6 21. Qe3 Bf7 22. Rg1 Rd7 23. Rg2 Bg6 24. Rag1 Rad8 {This
all bears an uncanny resemblance to the main game, and just goes to confirm
the view that black's position is more than comfortable.} 25. Bc3 b6 26. h4 Qe6
27. Rh2 Bh5 $1 {Again this could have served as a model for Kramnik. White's
king-side aspirations are stopped in their tracks.} 28. Rg3 Nd6 29. Rhg2 Kh8
30. Kh2 Rf8 31. Ba1 Re8 32. Bf1 Nb7 33. Rg1 Rde7 34. Bh3 Qd6 35. Kh1 Na5 36.
Qc3 Nc6 37. Qe3 Ne5 38. Bxe5 Qxe5 39. Rd1 Bf7 40. Bf1 h6 $17 {0-1 Ibragimov,
I-Alexandrov,A/Kherson 1991 (49)}) 20. Rg1 f6 {[%csl Ge8,Gf6][%cal Ge6d5,Yb2f6,
Ge8g7,Ge8f6][%mdl 4] This is the key defensive formation. The f6 pawn blunts
the b2 bishop, while the knight on e8 is supremely well placed to neutralise
white's hopes of an attack on the g-file. In this task it can be supported by
the bishop which can re-route to g6 or h5 as required. The game seems to
suggest that placing all bets on the g-file and abdicating the d-file to
black's rooks is risky indeed.} 21. Rg3 Rd7 22. Rag1 Rad8 23. Bc1 Bf5 24. e4
Bg6 25. h4 Nc7 {Already safe enough on g7 to aspire after a more active role.}
26. Bf1 Ne6 27. Rh3 {[%cal Yh4h5]} Bh5 $1 28. Rhg3 Kh8 29. Qe3 Nd4 30. Bg2 Re8
31. Rh3 Qa4 {White is virtually paralysed, and the threat to penetrate with
the queen is surprisingly hard to parry.} 32. Bf1 Qd1 33. Bg2 Qc2 34. f4 Ne2
35. Rf1 Rd1 {[%csl Rc1,Ge2,Gh5] On the one hand a picture of domination, but
also of economy of force. Each of black's pieces works to the maximum.} 0-1

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 b5 ({Nach} 15... O-O-O {ist Kramniks Fortsetzung} 16. Qe3 Nc5
17. Be2 Qxg2 18. Rhg1 Qxh2 19. Rxg7 Rd3 20. Rh1 $16 {unangenehm fьr Schwarz.})
16. axb5 Nb4+ 17. Kc3 (17. Kb3 cxb5 18. Kxb4 bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rb8+ 20. Ka3 (20.
Ka4 Qd6 $5 $40) 20... Qa5+ 21. Qa4+ {1/2,Bareev,E-Khalifman,A/Ubeda/1997/})
17... cxb5 18. Rd1 (18. Nb6 Qc5+ 19. Kb3 Nc6 $1 (19... Rb8 $2 20. Qxb5+ Qc6 21.
Kxb4 Rxb6 22. Rc1 $1 Qd7 23. Rc7 $1) 20. Qxb5 Qe3+ 21. Kc2 (21. Bd3 $2 O-O $1
$17) 21... Qf2+ 22. Kc3 (22. Be2 $2 O-O) 22... Qd4+ {1/2,Shirov,A-Chalifman,A/
Ter Apel/1997/}) 18... Qc5 {Bisher wurde nur das im folgenden diskutierte
Damenopfer versucht; der Textzug wurde von einigen als Alternative
vorgeschlagen.} (18... bxc4 19. Rxd5 Nxd5+ 20. Kd2 {Dies scheint mir stдrker
zu sein als der von Topalov gegen Anand gespielte Zug 20.Kc2; WeiЯ versucht,
seinen Kцnig sofort am Kцnigsflьgel in Sicherheit zu bringen. 'N!?' Stohl.} (
20. Kc2 {Kortschnoj} O-O 21. Qe4 Rfc8 22. h4 Rc5 23. Rh3 Rac8 24. Ra3 a5 25.
Kc1 h5 26. Qd4 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Dos Hermanas 1997/CBM 59 [Huebner]
'~~' Stohl. Stohl: '1/2,Topalov,V-Anand,V/Dos Hermanas/1997/'}) 20... O-O 21.
Qe5 (21. Qxc4 Rab8 {genьgt vielleicht auch, ьberlдЯt dem Nachziehenden aber
unnцtig viel Gegenspiel.}) 21... Rac8 (21... Rfd8 $2 22. Bxc4 Nb6+ 23. Kc3 Rac8
24. b3) 22. Be2 Rfd8 (22... c3+ $5 23. bxc3 Nxc3 $14) 23. Rc1 Nb6+ (23... Nf4+
24. Ke3 Nxg2+ 25. Kf2 Nh4 26. Rxc4 $18 {Schwarz kann seinen a-Bauern nicht
halten.}) (23... c3+ 24. bxc3 Nxc3+ 25. Ke1 (25. Bd3 {Kortschnoj} Nd5 26. Rb1
$14) 25... Nd5 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Bf3 Nf6 28. g4 {ist ebenfalls hoffnungslos
fьr Schwarz.}) 24. Ke1 Rd5 25. Qe3 Rb5 26. Rc2 g6 (26... h5 $5 {Kortschnoj})
27. g4 Rcc5 28. Rd2 Nd5 29. Qe5 Rb3 30. h4 h6 31. Kf2 a5 32. Bf3 Rd3 33. Re2
Rb3 34. Qd6 Nb4 35. Be4 Nd3+ 36. Kf1 Re5 37. Qc7 Rc5 38. Qd8+ Kg7 39. Qd4+ e5 (
39... Kg8 {Kortschnoj} 40. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 41. Rxe6 $18) 40. Qd6 Rbb5 41. Bxd3 {
1-0 Salov,V-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas 1997/CBM 59/[Huebner,R] (41)} (41.
Bxd3 {Kortschnoj} cxd3 42. Rf2 d2 43. Qf6+ $18)) 19. Qe5 Nd5+ 20. Rxd5 b4+ ({
Die Fortsetzung} 20... Qxd5 21. Nd6+ Kf8 22. Qxd5 exd5 23. Bxb5 $16 {ist nicht
angenehmer fьr Schwarz.}) 21. Kb3 Qxd5 22. Be2 O-O 23. Qxd5 exd5 24. Na5 Rfe8
25. Bf3 Rac8 26. Rd1 {Ich zitiere aus "Schach" 4/2000, S.12: "Das vorliegende
Endspiel ist einer konkreten Analyse nicht leicht zugдnglich. Kramnik meint,
daЯ WeiЯ etwas besser steht, Schwarz sich aber bei genauem Spiel behaupten
sollte. Wo Shirov fehlgegriffen habe, lieЯe sich erst nach einer grьndlichen
Analyse verlдЯlich sagen." Ich beurteile die Aussichten des Schwarzen weniger
optimistisch und mцchte mich nicht darauf einlassen, diese Stellung als
Nachziehender zu verteidigen.} Re3+ 27. Ka4 b3 28. Rxd5 g6 29. Rd7 Rc2 30. Ka3
Kg7 31. Rxa7 h5 32. h3 h4 33. Rb7 Rc5 34. Kb4 Rf5 35. Rc7 g5 36. Nxb3 Rf4+ 37.
Rc4 Rxc4+ 38. Kxc4 f5 39. Nd4 Kf6 40. b4 Re1 41. b5 Ke5 42. Nc6+ Kd6 43. b6
Rc1+ 44. Kb5 g4 45. b7 Rb1+ 46. Nb4 Kc7 47. hxg4 fxg4 48. Be4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 e6 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3
Bb4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qc2 (11. h3 a5 (11... g6 $5 12. Qf3 h5 (12...
Qa5 13. Ne2 Rae8 14. b3 Ne4 15. Ng3 Nd6 $15 {Polugaevskij-Ivancuk, Biel 1989,
Inf. 48/(505)})) 12. Qf3 Nb6 13. Bb3 g6 14. g4 fxg4 15. hxg4 h5 16. gxh5 Nxh5
$13 {Vaganjan-Beljavskij, Reggio Emilia 1987/88, Inf. 45/441}) (11. f3 Qa5 (
11... Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd7 13. a5 (13. Qd3 Rad8 14. a5 Nc8 15. Bc2 g6 (15... Nd6 16.
Ra4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 $16 {Aseev-Solozenkin, UdSSR 1988, Inf. 45/(442)}) (15... Ne7
$5 {Inf. 45/(442)}) 16. Ra4 c5 17. Na2 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Ra6 $14 {Aseev,
Inf. 42/(442)}) 13... Nbd5 14. Qd3 Be7 15. e4 Nb4 16. Qc4 Rad8 17. Be3 $16 {
Jusupov-Ehlvest, Saint John (cm/1) 1988, Inf. 45/442}) (11... Qe7 12. Qc2 g6
13. e4 fxe4 (13... c5 14. Bg5 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Qd6 16. dxc5 Qxc5+ 17. Be3 Qc6 18.
exf5 Rac8 19. Rfc1 Nb6 20. Bb3 Qxc3 21. Rxc3 Rxc3 22. bxc3 gxf5 23. Bd4 Nh5 24.
Re1 $16 {Aseev-Chalifman, UdSSR 1988, Inf. 45/(442)}) 14. fxe4 Bxc3 15. bxc3
Qxe4 16. Qb3 $44 {Aseev, Inf. 45/(442)}) 12. Qc2 (12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Kh1 Rad8 (
13... c5 $5 14. Na2 Ba5 15. Qc2 Rac8 $13 {Aseev, Inf. 46/502}) 14. Ne2 c5 15.
Ng3 f4 16. Nf5 cxd4 17. a5 Bxa5 18. exd4 $13 {Aseev-Savcenko, UdSSR 1988, Inf.
46/502}) 12... c5 (12... Rad8 13. Na2 Bd6 14. Bd2 Qc7 15. Qxf5 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1
Bd6 17. Nc3 g6 18. Qh3 $14 {Lputjan-Velikov, Saint John (open I) 1988, Inf. 45/
443}) 13. Na2 cxd4 14. Nxb4 Qxb4 15. exd4 Nb6 $10 {Jusupov-Chandler, Linares
1988, Inf. 45/444}) 11... g6 12. f3 (12. Rd1 Qe7 (12... Qc7 13. Be2 a5 14. Bf3
Nb6 15. g3 Qe7 16. Bd2 Rfd8 17. Rac1 Qe6 18. Be1 $10 {Mihal'cisin-Bareev, Lvov
1987, Inf. 45/(441)}) 13. Be2 Nb6 $6 {13...a5!?} 14. a5 Nbd5 15. a6 b5 16. Na2
$13 {Mihal'cisin-Beljavskij, UdSSR 1987, Inf. 45/(441)}) 12... Qb6 {Schwarz
drьckt auf den Punkt d4, um e3-e4 zu erschweren. Vielleicht kommt in dieser
Stellung auch 12...Sb6 13.Lb3 a5 in Betracht.} 13. Kh1 Rae8 (13... c5 $5) 14.
Qf2 Re7 (14... c5 15. Qh4 Rc8 16. Ba2 Rfd8 17. Bd2 Nf8 18. a5 Qa6 19. Rfd1 c4
20. Be1 Re8 21. e4 Bxc3 22. Bxc3 fxe4 23. d5 N8d7 24. Rd4 {Natьrlich ist diese
Stellung vцllig unklar. 1/2-1/2 Jussupow,A-Kramnik,V/Riga 1995/CBM 47/(24).})
15. e4 $1 fxe4 ({Auch die Fortsetzung} 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 fxe4 17. Bh6 {
ьberlдЯt dem WeiЯen das bessere Spiel.}) 16. Nxe4 $6 ({Unklar sind die
Konsequenzen von} 16. fxe4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxe4 18. Qh4 Rfe8 ({Die Folge} 18...
Qd8 19. Ba3 c5 20. Rae1 {gibt dem WeiЯen eine gefдhrliche Initiative in die
Hand.}) 19. Ba3 c5 20. Rxf7 Rxf7 21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Qxh7+ Ke6 23. Qxg6+ Ndf6
24. Rf1 (24. Re1 Kd7) 24... Qa6) 16... Nd5 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. a5 Bxa5
20. Nd6 Rb8 21. Bf4 Bb4 $2 ({Am sichersten sieht die Fortsetzung} 21... Ra8 22.
Nxb7 Qxb7 23. Rxa5 N7b6 $11 {mit gleichem Spiel aus.}) (21... Kh8 22. Bxd5 cxd5
23. Rfc1 Qd8 24. Nb5 Ra8 25. Bd6 Rf7 (25... Rg7 26. Bc7 Bxc7 27. Nxc7 {kostet
die Qualitдt, denn} Nc5 28. Nxa8 Nb3 29. Rxa7 Nxc1 30. Qc2 {ist unzutrдglich
fьr Schwarz.}) 26. b4 Bb6 27. Qa2 Nf8 {fьhrt ebenfalls zu befriedigendem Spiel
fьr Schwarz.}) 22. Nf5 Re6 $6 ({Schwarz konnte besseren Widerstand leisten.
Nach} 22... gxf5 23. Bxb8 Nxb8 24. Qg3+ Kf7 25. Qxb8 Qxd4 26. Bxd5+ cxd5 27.
Rxa7 Bd6 28. Qxd6 Qxa7 29. Qxd5+ Kg7 30. Qxf5 Qf2 31. Qg4+ Kh8 32. Qc8+ Kg7 33.
Qc1 $16 {ist die technische Aufgabe des WeiЯen noch nicht einfach; am besten
war aber wohl}) (22... Rbe8 23. Nxe7+ Rxe7 {usw.}) 23. Bxb8 Nxb8 24. Ne3 Rd6
25. Qg3 Nd7 26. Bb3 $18 Qxd4 27. Bxd5+ cxd5 28. Nf5 Qb6 29. Nxd6 Bxd6 30. Qe1
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 (1. d4 d6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 Nd7 5. Nf3 e5 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O
8. Re1 Nc6 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 Kh8 11. d5 Ne7 12. b4 f5 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. f3 h6 15.
Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Neg8 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Qd3 Ne8 20. c5 Qxe6 21.
cxd6 cxd6 22. Qb3 Ngf6 23. Rad1 $44 {1-0 Gokhale,J-Myo,Z/Kuala Lumpur 1993/EXT
98 (46)}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6
8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 13. Be3 Ne8 $146 (13...
Neg8 14. c5 Bh6 15. exf5 Bxf5 (15... gxf5 16. f4 Ng4 17. Bxg4 fxg4 18. Nce4 $16
{1-0 Piket,J-Polgar,J/Aruba (m/3) 1995/ (27)}) 16. Qd2 a5 17. a3 Nh5 18. g3 Qe7
19. cxd6 cxd6 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Nb5 Raa8 22. Rac1 Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nxd6
Bxg5 25. Nxc8 Bxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Bxc8 27. f4 Nhf6 28. d6 Qxd6 29. fxe5 Qe6 30. Qd4
Qd5 31. Qc3 Ne4 32. Qxc8 $18 {1-0 Har Zvi,R-Gabrielsen,S/Gausdal 1996/CBM 54
ext (35)}) 14. Rc1 c6 $2 (14... h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 (17. c5
Qxe6 18. Nb5 (18. cxd6 Nxd6) 18... d5) 17... Qxe6 18. Qd2 $44) 15. c5 $1 Ng8 (
15... h6 16. cxd6 (16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 (17. cxd6 Qxd6 18. Bc5 Qd7 19. dxe6
Qxe6 $13) 17... d5 $36) 16... Nxd6 (16... Qxd6 17. Bc5 Qf6 18. d6 hxg5 19. d7
$18) 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Rf6 19. Qd2 (19. Qb3 Qg8 20. Bc5 Qxe6 21. Qxe6 Rxe6
22. Red1 Nec8 23. b5 $44) 19... Rxe6 20. Red1 $44) 16. exf5 $1 gxf5 17. f4 (17.
dxc6 bxc6 18. cxd6 h6 19. Nh3 Nxd6 20. Bc5 Rf6 21. Qa4 $16) 17... Ne7 18. cxd6
Nxd6 19. dxc6 (19. fxe5 Bxe5 20. Bd4 Bf6 (20... Ng6 21. Nf3 Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4+ Qf6
23. dxc6 bxc6 24. Na4 $16) 21. Bf3 $16) 19... Nxc6 20. Bc5 exf4 21. Bxd6 Qxg5 (
21... Bd4+ 22. Qxd4+ Nxd4 23. Be5+ Kg8 24. Bc4+ Ne6 25. Nxe6 Bxe6 26. Bxe6+ Rf7
27. Nd5 $18) 22. Bxf8 Bxf8 23. Bf3 $1 {[%cal Ge1e8]} 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nc2 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8.
g3 Be6 9. Nd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Nf6 11. Bg2 Qb6 12. Bg5 O-O 13. O-O Qxd4 14. cxd4
Bxc4 15. Bxb7 Rab8 16. Bf3 Kg7 17. Rfb1 h6 18. Bd2 g5 19. h3 Rfc8 20. a4 Be6
21. g4 Bd5 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. e4 Nf4 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26. Kg2 Rb4 27.
Kf3 e5 28. dxe5 dxe5 29. a5 Rb3+ 30. Kg2 a6 31. Ra4 Rb5 32. Ra3 f6 33. Kf3 Kg6
34. Kg2 h5 35. gxh5+ Kxh5 36. Kf3 Kg5 37. Kg2 f5 38. exf5 e4 39. h4+ Kxf5 40.
h5 Kg4 41. f3+ exf3+ 42. Rxf3 Rxa5 43. h6 Rh5 44. Ra3 Rxh6 45. Ra5 Rb6 46. Ra2
Rd6 47. Kf2 Rh6 48. Ra5 Rf6 49. Ra2 Kf5 50. Kf3 Ke5 51. Rd2 Ke6 52. Rd4 a5 53.
Re4+ Kd6 54. Ra4 Rf5 55. Kg4 Ke6 56. Re4+ Kf6 57. Rc4 Kg6 58. Kf3 Kg5 59. Rc5
Rxc5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 d6 $5 (
7... Bb7 {It's main line,other lines are:}) (7... c5) ({and} 7... Ba6) 8. f3 ({
Another alternative is:} 8. e3 {See comments to Ivanov,S-Yudasin,L/St.
Petersburg,1996/CBM56(1/2-1/2)(Shipov,S) (63)}) 8... Nbd7 ({Another options is:
} 8... c5) 9. e4 ({Repeatedly was checked in the previous games:} 9. Nh3) 9...
c5 ({Weakly:} 9... e5 {in view of:} 10. d5 Bb7 11. Bd3 Qe8 12. Ne2 h6 13. Be3
$14 {Seefeldt,M-Baitinger,M/Muenster,1990(1-0)(42)}) 10. dxc5 $146 {In my
opinion this novelty a little dubious, because of black gets a strong pawn
chain in the centre.} ({Also dubios:} 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. Nh3 h6 12. Bh4 $6 (12.
Be3 $142) 12... Rc8 13. Rc1 cxd4 14. Qxd4 Nc5 15. Bc2 e5 $15 {Hillarp Persson,
T-Aagaard,J/Copenhagen, 1997(0-1)(39)}) ({Can be recommended:} 10. Nh3 $5 h6 (
10... Ba6 $5) (10... Bb7 $5) 11. Be3 Qc7 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 Rb8 14. Be2 Re8
15. Nf2 $14 {Lazarev,V-Vehi Bach,V/Biel,1997(1-0)(29)}) 10... bxc5 11. Nh3 ({
After:} 11. Qd2 {[%csl Yd2][%cal Gg1e2,Ge2c3,Yd2g5]} Qb6 {[%csl Rb2][%cal
Ga8b8] black has a strong pressure in <->b}) 11... h6 ({It deserves attention:
} 11... d5) 12. Bxf6 $6 {[%mdl 16384] After this positional inaccuracy white
are getting in trouble,probably could be recommended: 12.Bf4 e5 13.Be3=} ({
After:} 12. Bh4 {again possibly:} d5 $36 (12... Nxe4 $2 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. Be7
Re8 15. Bxd6 Na4 16. b3 $14)) 12... Nxf6 13. O-O-O {[%cal Ge4e5]} ({Probably
better is:} 13. Rd1 {/\Be2,0-0}) 13... e5 {[%csl Gc8,Rh3]} 14. g4 ({
Senselessly:} 14. Qd2 {in view of:} Bxh3 15. gxh3 Ne8 $15 {[%csl Rd6,Yd8,Ye8]})
({A little bit better is:} 14. Nf2) 14... Rb8 15. Nf2 ({From my point of view
more logiccaly:} 15. g5 hxg5 16. Nxg5 Nh5 17. h4 {=/=/+}) 15... Rb6 {[%cal
Yb6d6] Black's plan is:Be6,Qe7or Qc7,Rfb8 <->b} 16. Rd2 ({Probably could be
recommended:} 16. h4) 16... Qe7 $15 17. Nd1 ({However better is:} 17. h4) 17...
Be6 18. Bd3 {/\Bc2(><b3)} Rfb8 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gb6b3]} 19. Bc2 Qb7 20. Re1 Nh7
$1 {It's the best move, black's knight is tending on ideal " parking "d4.} 21.
Re3 $2 ({It is necessary:} 21. Ba4 Qa6 $140 22. Bb5) 21... Qa6 $1 $17 {[%csl
Rc4][%mdl 2048] Against 22.b3(קa3)} 22. Bd3 Bd7 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gh7g5,Gg5e6,
Gh7f8,Gf8e6,Ge6d4]} 23. Bf1 Ng5 24. Red3 Ne6 25. Ne3 Nd4 {[%csl Rc3,Rf3][%cal
Gb6b3] Full domination,white doesn't have space for any movement.} 26. Nd5 $2 (
{Also loses right away:} 26. Kb1 $2 Rb3 27. Qc1 Nxf3 $19) (26. Rf2 $8 Be6 {
[%csl Rc4][%cal Gb6b3]} 27. Kd1 {-/+/-+}) 26... Rb3 {[%csl Rc3]} 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2
dxc4 9. O-O Bd6 $6 {Normaler ist 9...Be7. Auf d6 ist der Lдufer verschiedenen
Anfeindungen ausgesetzt.} 10. Nd2 Nb6 (10... Qxd4 $4 11. e3 $18 {und WeiЯ
gewinnt durch die Springergabel 12.Sxc4 oder 12.Sde4 den Lдufer d6. Falls} Qd3
$2 12. Be4 {und die Dame geht verloren.}) 11. e3 O-O 12. Nce4 Qe7 13. Nxd6 Qxd6
14. f4 $1 $14 {Verhindert das befreiende ...e6-e5. WeiЯ hat Raumvorteil und
Schwarz hat nicht einmal das Lдuferpaar als Kompensation.} Bd7 15. Qc2 Rfc8 16.
Nxc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 a5 18. a3 Ra7 19. Rfd1 b6 20. Rac1 a4 21. e4 Qe7 22. e5 g6
23. Rc3 Kg7 24. Qb4 Qxb4 25. axb4 b5 {Eine derartige Stellung ist das
Albtraumszenario in der Moskauer Variante: Schwarz bleibt auf seinem
schlechten Lдufer und seinem Raumnachteil sitzen.} 26. Kf2 Kf8 27. g4 Ke7 28.
Rh3 Rh8 29. Rc1 Ra6 30. Be4 Rb6 31. Rcc3 Rc8 $2 (31... Kf8 $16 {, um ggf. den
Kцnig nach g7 und den Turm nach c8 zu bringen. WeiЯ mus dann noch zeigen, wie
er weiter kommt.}) 32. Rxh6 $18 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. h3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Be2 c4 {this configuration is not very normal in
Queens-gambit positions. However with an extra pair of Ns on c3 and f6 it is
quite well-known and considered clearly better for white. Maybe this is why
the idea c5-c4 in this variation for a long time was not taken seriously} 11.
O-O b5 {[%csl Gb5,Gc4,Gd5,Re2] black will now obviously build up on the Q-side
while whites only chance of putting some pressure on black would be to play
e3-e4. But how ? Blacks position is much easier to play. Whites whitesquared B
clearly belongs in the /^ b1-h7 but even in games where the B is on c2 -
Kortjnoj-Lputian Corustournament 2000 - it is not easy for white to
demonstrate any advantage} 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Rc8 14. Ne5 f6 15. Nf3 {
White would claim that the move f6 has weakend e6} (15. Nxd7 Qxd7 $15) 15...
Nb6 16. g4 $6 {White has to try and do something on the K-side} (16. Nd2 $5 {
[%cal Ye2g4,Yg4f5] With ideas such as Bg4-f5 and sometimes maybe even e3-e4 -
trying to equalize !} f5 17. Nf3 {[%cal Yf3e5]} (17. g4 $5)) 16... Bc6 17. Kg2
b4 {[%cal Rc6a4]} 18. Rc1 Be8 {[%cal Ye8g6,Yg6e4] The way white has played the
move f7-f6 has been a great help for black} 19. Qd2 g5 $5 20. Bg3 Bg6 {Black
has choosen a very original setup on the K-side. Whites Nf3 and Be2 are so far
away from being able to control f5 that he can allow himself such luxury} 21.
Bd1 (21. Nh2 $5 {[%cal Yf2f3,Yf1f2,Yh2f1]} Qd7 {[%cal Rc4c3]}) 21... Be4 22.
Kh2 (22. Bc2 f5 $36) 22... Qd7 23. Ne1 c3 {[%csl Rd2]} 24. Qe2 (24. bxc3 bxc3
25. Qe2 Ba3) 24... cxb2 25. Qxb2 Rxc1 26. Qxc1 Qb5 {[%cal Rb5f1]} 27. Rg1 Rc8 {
[%cal Rc8c1]} 28. Qa1 a5 {Simple chess. Black still has a P-majority on the
Q-side, and whites counterplay is nowhere in sight} 29. f3 Bg6 30. Rg2 Rc3 31.
Bc2 Nc4 32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Nc2 Nxe3 34. Nxe3 Rxe3 35. Qc1 Re2 36. Qc7 a4 37. Be5
Kf7 38. Bd6 b3 39. axb3 axb3 40. Bxe7 Rxe7 41. Qc3 Qc4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qd3 Nbd7 8. e4
b4 9. Na4 Qa5 {Anhand der Partien in dieser Variante schlieЯe ich darauf, dass
Schwarz keine Probleme hat. Schwarz kommt zu ...c6-c5. AuЯerdem ist das Feld
c3 geschwдcht.} 10. b3 c5 11. e5 $5 {Da WeiЯ sowieso die Entwicklung des
Lдufers nach e2 folgen lдЯt, ist es vielleicht genauer, erst 11.Be2 zu spielen,
um noch ...Bb7 herauszukitzeln.} (11. Be2 $5 Bb7 12. e5 Nd5 13. O-O Be7 14. Bd2
O-O 15. Rfc1 Rfc8 16. Qb5 Qxb5 17. Bxb5 N5b6 $11 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Nxb6 axb6
20. Nd4 Ne4 21. Be3 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Nc3 23. Rc2 Bc5 24. Bf1 Be4 25. Rd2 Nxa2 26.
Nb5 Nc3 27. Nc7 Rc8 28. Ba6 Rb8 29. Bc4 h6 30. Bxc5 bxc5 31. f3 Bb7 32. Rd7 Kf8
33. h4 h5 34. Kf2 g6 35. Ke3 Nb1 36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Nxe6+ Ke8 38. Rh7 Bc6 39.
Nxc5 Rb5 40. Ne6 Rxe5+ {0-1 Piket,J-Van Wely,L/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 69 ext (40)
}) (11. Bg5 cxd4 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nxd4 Bb7 14. Nb5 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Rc1
Qb6 17. Rxc5 Qxc5 18. Nd6+ Ke7 19. Nxb7 Qb6 20. e5 fxe5 21. Be2 Rac8 22. Qe4
Rc1+ 23. Bd1 Qd4 24. Qxd4 exd4 25. Na5 $13 {1/2-1/2 Filippov,V-Kharlov,A/
Kemerovo 1995/CBM 50 (88)}) 11... Nd5 12. Be2 cxd4 (12... Bb7 {wьrde zu
Piket-Van Wely fьhren. Aber Schwarz hat besseres.}) 13. Qxd4 Ba6 14. Bd2 Be7
15. a3 $6 {WeiЯ startet eine Initative am Damenflьgel, aber schon bald wird er
nicht mehr die Gesier los, die er rief. Er sollte mit 15.Qe4 kleine Brцtchen
backen.} (15. Qg4 $6 Bxe2 $1 (15... g6 16. Qe4 O-O 17. O-O) 16. Qxg7 (16. Kxe2
Qb5+) 16... O-O-O 17. Kxe2 Qb5+ 18. Ke1 Qd3 $40) (15. Qe4 $11 {nebst 0-0
sollte zum Ausgleich fьhren.}) 15... Bxe2 16. Kxe2 Qb5+ $1 (16... O-O $11 {
wьrde zu problemlosen Ausgleich fьr Schwarz fьhren. Aber Kramnik wдhlt eine
ehrgeizigere Fortsetzung.}) 17. Qc4 Qb8 {Nun hдngen der Pe5 und der Pa3. Das
Problem ist jedoch die Fesselung des Nd7. Kramnik muss erkannt haben, dass
Schwarz sich aus dieser Fesselung befreien kann, ohne das WeiЯ in der
Zwischenzeit etwas erreichen kann.} 18. Qc6 bxa3 {Es wird sich als erstaunlich
schwierig erweisen, diesen Bauern wieder zurьckzugewinnen.} 19. Rhc1 a5 $1 {
So einfach ist das: Schwarz bereitet ...Qa7 vor.} 20. Kf1 $2 (20. Nc5 $5 {
sollte noch zum Ausgleich genьgen.} Qc8 (20... Ra7 21. Nxd7 Rxd7 22. Qc8+ Qxc8
23. Rxc8+ Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Bc1 $11) 21. Qxc8+ Rxc8 22. Nb7 O-O 23. Rxc8
Rxc8 24. Nxa5) 20... Qa7 21. Nd4 (21. Nc3 Nb4 22. Qc4 O-O $36) 21... O-O 22.
Nb5 Qa6 23. Qxa6 (23. Qxd7 Rab8 $17) 23... Rxa6 $17 24. f4 Bb4 $1 25. Rc2 Rb8
26. Nxa3 (26. Nd4 Bxd2 27. Rxd2 Nxf4 $17) 26... Bxd2 27. Rxd2 Rxb3 28. g3 Rc6
29. Nc2 $2 Rxc2 $19 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. Qf4 Qb8 11. e4 d6 12. b3 a6 13. Qe3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Bb2
Ra5 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. Nd4 Rc8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 e5 21. a3 b4
22. Rxc8+ Qxc8 23. axb4 Ra2 24. Qc3 Qf5 25. Rc1 g6 26. h3 Bd8 27. Ra1 Bb6 28.
Bf3 Bd4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Qd2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 Re8
9. Nge2 exd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. f4 a6 12. O-O b5 13. cxb5 Qb6 14. Kh1 Ng4 15.
Ng3 h6 16. Bh4 axb5 17. h3 Ne3 18. Rfe1 c4 19. Be4 b4 20. Rxe3 bxc3 21. bxc3 f5
22. Rae1 fxe4 23. Nxe4 Rf8 24. Rg3 Kh7 25. Be7 Rf5 26. Nxd6 Nf6 27. Nxf5 Bxf5
28. Rge3 h5 29. d6 Qc6 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Re7+ Kh6 32. Rf7 Bh4 33. Qd4 Rg8 34.
Qa7 Rh8 35. Ree7 g5 36. Rf6+ Bg6 37. Rxg6+ Kxg6 38. Re6+ Kf5 39. Qf7# 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 e5 5. O-O d6 6. d3 Be7 7. h3 O-O 8. Bc4
h6 9. a3 Re8 10. Nh2 Be6 11. Nd5 Bf8 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Ng4 Qg6 14. Bxe6 fxe6
15. c3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Be7 17. b4 b6 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Qc2 Rb8 20. Be3 h5 21. Nh2
Rb6 22. Nf3 Reb8 23. Qa4 Qe8 24. Rac1 Bf8 25. d4 Nxd4 26. Qd1 Nxf3+ 27. Qxf3
Rb3 28. Qg3 Rxa3 29. f4 exf4 30. Rxf4 Be7 31. Rf3 Kh7 32. Bg5 Bxg5 33. Qxg5 Qg6
34. Qh4 Rab3 35. Rg3 Qf7 36. Rf3 Qe8 37. Kh2 Rb1 38. Rxb1 Rxb1 39. e5 d5 40.
Qf2 Qg6 41. Qxc5 Qe4 42. Qd6 Rb2 43. Rg3 Qf4 44. Qxe6 Rb6 45. Qe7 Rg6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5
8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5
Bg7 $5 {Mit diesem Zug waren zuletzt die schwarzen Hoffnungen verbunden, die
gefдhrliche Khalifman-Variante 10.h4 zu entschдrfen. Schwarz strebt die kurze
Rochade an. Im gegensatz dazu hatte Schwarz in der дlteren Variante 14....Tg8
Probleme mit dem Kцnig gehabt.} 15. Rad1 (15. b3 $5 cxb3 16. axb3 O-O 17. Rad1
Nh7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. g3 Rc8 20. f3 f5 21. exf5 exf5 22. fxg4 Qc7 23. Kh2 fxg4
24. Ne4 $44 Rce8 25. Bd3 Qe7 26. Nc5 Nf6 27. Rde1 Qxe1 28. Rxe1 Rxe1 29. Nxb7
Nd5 30. Qd2 Re3 31. Nd6 Kf6 32. Be4 Rxb3 33. Bxd5 cxd5 34. Qh6+ Ke7 35. Qg7+
Kxd6 36. Qxf8+ Kc6 {1-0 Goldin,A-Novikov,I/New York 2000/CBM 76 ext (36)})
15... O-O 16. Bg3 $5 {Dieser Zug erscheint gefдhrlicher als 16.f3. WeiЯ deckt
seine Karten am Kцnigsflьgel noch nicht sofort auf.} (16. f3 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,
L-Lautier,J/Monaco 2000/CBM 75/[Lutz] (24) Lutz}) 16... Nh7 {'?!' Ftacnik.
Ftacnik: 'The knight moves in a wrong direction, it belongs to the center.'
Auf dem ersten Blick ist es nicht so leicht zu erkennen, welche Vorteile die
Springerstellung auf h7 (gegenьber d7) bietet. Aber Akopian plant ...f7-f5 und
dann verhindert der Sh7, dass WeiЯ ggf. seinen Springer nach g5 stellt.} (16...
Nd7 $5 {in Verbindung mit ...c6-c5 sieht nach einer sinnvollen Alternative aus.
} 17. e5 c5 (17... f5 18. exf6 Qxf6 $13) 18. Ne4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Qb6 20. d5 exd5
21. Qxd5 Rad8 22. Qe4 Nxe5 $1 23. Bxe5 Qe6 24. f4 gxf3 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Qxf3
Bxe5 27. Qxh5 Bd4+ 28. Kh1 Rd5 29. Qf3 Re5 30. Bd1 Re3 31. Qa8+ Kg7 {0-1
Goldin,A-Khenkin,I/New York 2000/CBM 76 ext (31)}) 17. e5 f5 18. exf6 Qxf6 {
Jetzt will Schwarz am Kцnigsflьgel Gegenspiel suchen.} 19. f3 ({Kramnik gab
gemдЯ SCHACH 8/2000} 19. b3 $5 {zu bedenken. Dieser Zug hдtten den Vorteil,
dass das Feld d3 fьr den Lдufer gerдumt werden wьrde.}) 19... Qf5 20. Qd2 Qg6
21. fxg4 hxg4 22. Qe3 Rf5 23. Ne4 c5 $1 {"Ehe er sich mit Ne4-c5 seinen Bb7
kaltstellen lдsst, gibt Akopian den Merhbauern fьr aktives Spiel zurьck." (R.
Tischbierek, SCHACH 8/2000)} 24. Nxc5 Bd5 25. a4 Raf8 26. axb5 Rf3 $1 {Ftacnik:
'Black comes up with a phantastic attacking idea, Kramnik has to play exact
moves. ' Der Hцhepunkt der Partie, jetzt wird's taktisch.} 27. gxf3 gxf3 28.
Kh2 Nf6 $2 {Der entscheidende Fehler.} (28... Bh6 $1 {war richtig:} 29. Qe5 (
29. Qf2 Nf6 {"mit genьgend schwarzen Gegenchancen" lt. Kramnik. In der Tat hat
Schwarz nach z.B.} 30. Bxf3 Bxf3 31. Qxf3 Ng4+ 32. Kh1 Rxf3 33. Rxf3 Qc2 34.
Re1 Qxb2 {wegen des offenen weiЯen Kцnigs keine Probleme.}) (29. Qc3 Bf4 30.
Rg1 Ng5 31. Bxf4 Rxf4 32. Kg3 Rf5 {"und der schwarze Angriff dringt durch" 
(Kramnik/Tischbierek)}) 29... Bg7 30. Qe3 {mit Zugwiederholung wird von
Kramnik als das Beste fьr WeiЯ angegeben.} (30. Qc7 fxe2 31. Rxf8+ Nxf8 32. Re1
Bxd4 $40)) 29. Bxf3 Bxf3 30. Qxe6+ Kh8 31. Rxf3 $1 {WeiЯ gibt die Qualitдt
zurьck, um den gefдhrlichen weiЯfeldrigen Lдufer zu eliminieren.} Qc2+ 32. Rf2
Qxd1 {Ftacnik: 'The outcome of the combination is somewhat dangerous position
for white, but he has some extra material.'} 33. Kg2 Qxd4 34. Qe5 Qd5+ (34...
Nh7 35. Rxf8+ Nxf8 36. Qxd4 Bxd4 37. Na4 Nd7 38. Bf2 Bxf2 39. Kxf2 Kh7 40. Ke3
$18) 35. Qxd5 Nxd5 36. Rxf8+ Bxf8 37. Na4 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'This
original endgame is very dangerous for black, since white king is very strong
and pawn on a7 a perfect target. '} Bg7 38. Kf3 Nb6 39. Nxb6 axb6 40. Ke4 Bxb2
41. Kd5 {"Auf 41...c3 holt sich WeiЯ zunдchst mit 42.Be5+ nebst Kc4 den
gegnerischen Pc3 ab, bevor er durch den Gewinn des b-Bauern selbst den
entscheidenden Freibauern bildet." (Tischbierek)} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b4 a5 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. d4 axb4 13. axb4 Rfc8 14. Rxa8
Rxa8 15. d5 Nf8 16. Rd1 Bc8 17. Nd4 e5 18. Nb3 Bd7 19. f3 Qd8 20. Nd2 Ng6 21.
Bf1 h6 22. e4 Nh7 23. c5 bxc5 24. bxc5 f5 25. Ba3 Rc8 26. cxd6 cxd6 27. Qb4 Qg5
28. Qxd6 Nf6 29. Bc5 Kh7 30. exf5 Bxf5 31. Nc4 e4 32. Be3 Qh5 33. Qg3 exf3 34.
gxf3 Nh4 35. Nd2 Rc2 36. Be2 Nxd5 37. Bd4 Bg6 38. Qg4 Nf5 39. Qxh5 Bxh5 40. Bd3
Bg6 41. Bxc2 Nxd4 42. Bxg6+ Kxg6 43. Kf2 Ne6 44. Ne4 Nef4 45. Ra1 Nh5 46. Ra6+
Kf7 47. Nd6+ Ke7 48. Nf5+ Kf7 49. Ne3 Ndf4 50. Ng4 Nd5 51. Ne3 Ndf4 52. Nf5 Nd5
53. Ke1 Ndf6 54. Kd2 Nd5 55. Ra5 Ke6 56. Ne3 Ndf4 57. Rf5 Ke7 58. Ng4 Ke6 59.
Re5+ Kf7 60. Ke3 Kg6 61. Ke4 Nh3 62. Ra5 Ng5+ 63. Ke3 Ne6 64. Ne5+ Kf6 65. Nd3
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O {Die Variante gilt als gut spielbar fьr
Schwarz; auch in Partien von Kasparov, Anand und Kramnik hat sie sich bewдhrt.
Die bisher gespielten Zьge Bg5, Bf4 und a3 konnten die schwarze Stellung nicht
erschьttern.} 11. h4 $5 {Ein neuer und zudem unerwarteter Zug.} Na5 ({Auf} 
11... b5 {wьrde} 12. d5 {folgen.}) 12. Bc2 b5 13. Qd3 Bb7 14. h5 {Nun stellt
15.Bg5 schon eine Drohung dar.} Bxf3 {Nimmt das Bauernopfer an; stattdessen kam
} (14... Nc4 $5 {in Frage.}) 15. Qxf3 Qxd4 16. Bf4 {Es fдllt mir schwer in der
Folge Verbesserungsvorschlдge fьr Schwarz zu unterbreiten.} b4 17. Rad1 Qc4 ({
In Schach war folgende Variante zu sehen:} 17... Qc5 18. Re5 Qc6 19. Qg3 bxc3
20. Bh6 Ne8 21. Bxg7 Nxg7 22. h6 Bf6 23. hxg7 (23. Rg5 $2 Rfd8 $1) 23... Bxe5
24. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 25. Qxe5 cxb2 26. Qxb2 {WeiЯ hat hervorragende Aussichten.})
18. Bd3 Qc6 19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Be5 f5 {Nach diesem Zug wird deutlich, dass WeiЯ
mehr als Kompensation fьr den Bauern hat, denn der Bauer e6 wird zu schwach.} (
{Etwas besser sieht} 20... f6 {aus. Nach} 21. Bd4 {kдme WeiЯ auch schnell zu
Druck gegen den Pe6.}) 21. Qg3 Rf7 22. Nd2 {Auf dem Weg nach d4!} Nb7 23. Nf3
Nc5 24. Nd4 Qb6 ({Auch nach} 24... Qc8 25. Bc4 Ne4 26. Qb3 {besitzt WeiЯ
deutlichen Vorteil.}) 25. Nxf5 $1 exf5 (25... Nxd3 26. Nh6+ (26. Rxd3 exf5 27.
Rxd5) (26. Nxe7+ Nxe7 27. Rxd3) 26... Kf8 27. Nxf7 Qxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2
Kxf7) 26. Bc4 Nf6 27. Bc7 $1 {Die zusдtzliche Drohung Txe7 entscheidet nun
sofort und Schwarz gibt daher auf.} 1-0

[Event "WDR Match TV g/60"]
[Site "Cologne"]
[Date "2000.08.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.08.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Wдhrend die Fernsehpartien des WDR in den letzten Jahren eher durch feine,
aber schwer durchschaubare positionelle Leistungen glдnzten, bekamen die
Zuschauer in diesem Jahr einen flotten Angriff zu sehen. Die scharfe
Erцffnungsvariante hatte daran naturgemдЯ einen hohen Anteil und mцglich wurde
sie erst dadurch, dass Kramnik ьberraschend mit dem Kцnigsbauern erцffnete.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Be2 Qc7 6. Nc3 a6 7. O-O b5 {In
dieser recht selten gespielten Variante kennt sich Kramnik jedenfalls gut aus.}
8. Nxc6 {Am besten.} dxc6 9. Be3 Bb7 10. f4 c5 $6 {Schwarz sollt stattdessen
mit 10...Le7 die Entwicklung fortsetzen.} 11. f5 $1 {'!?' Ftacnik. Warum
sollte WeiЯ auch warten, der Entwicklungsvorsprung ist ja offensichtlich.} Rd8
(11... Nf6 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Bh5+ Nxh5 14. Qxh5+ g6 15. Qg4 $16 {1/2-1/2 Stein,
L-Taimanov,M/Yerevan/1962/ (76)}) (11... exf5 12. Bf4 Qb6 13. a4 c4+ 14. Kh1
Nf6 15. axb5 Rd8 16. Qe1 Bb4 17. Qg3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 O-O 19. Bc7 Qxb5 20. Bxd8
Rxd8 21. Rxf5 Nxe4 22. Qc7 {1-0 Gaprindashvili,N-Hindle,O/Hastings/1964/ (32)})
(11... b4 $6 {Ftacnik} 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Bf4 Qc6 14. Bh5+ g6 15. Be5 bxc3 16.
Bxh8 $18) (11... Bd6 $5 {Ftacnik} 12. fxe6 fxe6 (12... Bxh2+ 13. Kh1 fxe6 14.
Bxb5+ axb5 15. Qh5+ g6 16. Qxh2 $16) 13. Bh5+ g6 14. Bg4 $40) 12. Qe1 Nf6 (
12... b4 {Ftacnik} 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Rxf8+ $5 Kxf8 15. Na4 Bxe4 16. Nxc5 Bf5
17. Qxb4 $14) (12... Bd6 13. Qh4 $36) 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Bf4 {'!' Ftacnik.} e5 (
14... Qc6 15. Bf3 c4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Bg5 $14) 15. Bg5 Be7 16. a4 {
'!' Ftacnik.} c4 $6 {Danach wird der weiЯe Vorteil noch deutlicher.} ({
Notwendig war} 16... b4 {, was allerdings positionell nicht gut aussieht. Nach}
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qd6 20. Bc4 (20. Bh5+ g6 21. Bg4 O-O 22.
Be6+ $14) 20... O-O 21. Qe4 {ist aber ein Gewinn fьr WeiЯ nicht leicht zu
erzielen.}) 17. axb5 axb5 18. Kh1 {'!' Ftacnik.} b4 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 (19... bxc3
20. Bh5+ g6 21. Bxh8 $18) 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Qc5 22. Bh5+ (22. Ra6 $5 {
Ftacnik} O-O 23. Rc6) 22... Ke7 23. Qg3 {Die Drohung ist Txf6 und die Dame
dringt auf g7 ein.} g6 {'?' Ftacnik.} ({Auch nach} 23... Ra8 24. Rad1 Qd6 25.
Rxf6 $1 Qxf6 26. d6+ Kd8 27. Qe3 {steht WeiЯ auf Gewinn.}) (23... Rhg8 $5 {
Ftacnik} 24. Ra6 Qxd5 (24... Rd6 25. Rxf6 $1 Kxf6 (25... gxf6 26. Qxg8 Rxa6 27.
Qe8+ Kd6 28. Qd8#) 26. Qf3+ Kg5 27. h4+ Kh6 28. Rxd6+ Qxd6 29. Bf7 g6 30. Bxg8
$18) 25. Bg4 Rd6 26. Ra7+ $40) 24. Rxf6 $1 {Ftacnik: 'It is only just that
white get's the chance to finish the game with the help of a masterful direct
attack.'} Kxf6 (24... Qxd5 25. Qh4 $18) 25. Rf1+ Kg7 26. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 27. Qxe5+
Kg8 ({Nach} 27... Kh6 {gewinnt} 28. Rf4) 28. Qe6+ Kh7 29. Rf7+ Kh6 30. Qh3+ Kg5
31. Qg3+ Kh5 32. Qe5+ (32. Qe5+ {Nach} Kh6 33. Rf4 {ist die schon erwдhnte
weiЯe Gewinnstellung entstanden. Schwarz gibt daher auf.}) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 {Kramnik has already tried the classical 7.Bc4, 7.Bb5+, also 8.h3!?, but
his main weapon was 8.Rb1. The text was successfully employed by Kasparov
himself in the early eighties.} Qa5 (8... Nc6 $6 9. Rc1 cxd4 (9... Qa5 10. d5
$1 Bxc3+ $2 11. Rxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Bd2 $16) 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. d5 $40)
(8... O-O $144) 9. Qd2 Bg4 {Kasparov played this lately with success, the more
usual move is} (9... Nc6 10. Rb1 $5 (10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O
13. d5 (13. Bb5 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rxc6 Rfb8 17. Kc3 Rb6 18.
Rxb6 axb6 19. Kb2 Be4 20. a3 e6 21. Rc1 Bf8 22. Rc3 Bd5 23. Bf4 b5 24. Be5 Be7
25. h4 Rf8 26. Rc7 Rf7 27. Rc8+ Rf8 $11 {Seirawan,Y-Mecking,H/Sao Paulo m/1992/
}) 13... Rd8 14. Ke1 (14. Bd3 $2 Nb4) 14... Na5 15. Bd2 (15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Bd3
Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 $11) 15... b6 16. Bb4 Bf8 17. Ne5 e6 18. Bxa5 bxa5 19. Bc4 Rd6
$5 20. Nc6 exd5 21. Bxd5 Bb7 22. Ke2 Re8 $11 {Zakharevich,I-Yandemirov,V/
Smolensk/1992/}) 10... a6 (10... O-O $5 11. Rb5 cxd4 12. Rxa5 dxe3 13. Qxe3
Nxa5 14. h4 Be6 15. h5 Rfc8 16. e5 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Ng5 Rac8
20. Nxe6 Rxc3 21. Qg5 Rc1+ 22. Kd2 Rxh1 23. Nxg7 Rd8+ 24. Ke2 Kxg7 25. Qxe7
Rdd1 $11 {Dautov,R-Svidler,P/Istanbul olm/2000/}) (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+
12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5 Rd8 14. Bd3 Na5 15. Bc5 e6 $5 16. Be7 Rd7 17. d6 a6 $13)
11. Rc1 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 e6 $5 ({The idea of Rb1-c1 is clear after
} 13... O-O $6 14. d5 Rd8 15. Ke1 $36 Nb4 $2 (15... Na5 $2 16. Bb6) 16. Bd2 $16
) (13... f5 14. e5 Be6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Rxc4 O-O 17. g3 Rfd8 18. Rb1 Rd7 $5
$132 (18... Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Rxb7 Bf6 21. Rb6 g5 22. Kd3 Kf7 23. f3 $36 {
Dautov,R-Rytshagov,M/EU-chT Pula/ 1997/})) 14. Bc4 O-O 15. Rhd1 Bd7 16. Ke1 Na5
17. Be2 Rfc8 18. Bd2 Nc6 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 Nd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Bf4 Bc3+
23. Bd2 Be5 24. h3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ $11 {1/2,Huebner,R-Ftacnik,L/
Istanbul olm/2000/}) 10. Rb1 {[%cal Rb1b5] /\Rb5} ({Kasparov convincingly met} 
10. Rc1 Bxf3 $1 (10... O-O $6 11. Ng5 $1 {is weaker-} h6 12. h3 Bh5 {fails to}
13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14. g4 $16 {and the B sortie thus loses sense.}) 11. gxf3 e6 12.
d5 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 14. c4 Qb6 $1 15. Bh3 (15. Be2 Qd6 16. Kf1 f5 17. Kg2 O-O
18. Bf4 Be5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. f4 Nc6 21. Rce1 Nd4 $36 {Mirovshchikov,S-Votava,
J/Pardubice op/ 2000/}) 15... f5 16. O-O Qd6 17. Bf4 Be5 18. Rfe1 O-O-O 19.
Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc3 Rhe8 21. Re3 Qf6 22. f4 Nd7 23. Bg2 Qxc3 24. Rcxc3 Nf6 25.
Bf3 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Rd6 27. Ra3 Kb8 28. Rb3 Ra6 29. a3 Ne8 30. e4 fxe4 31. Bxe4
Nd6 $17 {[%csl Gd6,Re4] _|_,ץ,Yermolinsky,A-Kasparov,G/Wijk aan Zee/1999/}) (
10. Ne5 $6 Bxe5 11. dxe5 Nc6 {/\Rd8|^}) 10... a6 (10... Bxf3 $143 11. gxf3 cxd4
12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Nc6 14. d5 O-O-O 15. Ba6 $1 bxa6 16. Rhc1 Rd6 17. Ke2
Kc7 18. Bc5 Kd7 19. Rb7+ Kc8 20. Bxd6 Kxb7 21. dxc6+ Kb6 22. Bxe7 Rc8 23. Bc5+
Kb5 24. Bxa7 Rxc6 25. a4+ {1-0,Rivas Pastor,M-Georgiev,K/Plovdiv/1984/}) (10...
b6 11. Bb5+ Nd7 (11... Bd7 12. Bd3 {gives White an extra tempo compared with
the 7.Be3 and 8.Qd2 line.}) 12. Ng5 $5 {/\} h6 13. f3 $36 {is not ideal either.
}) 11. Rxb7 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (11. Rb3 $143 $6 b5 12. d5 Bxf3 $1 (12... Nd7
13. c4 b4 14. Qc2 Qc7 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. f4 a5 17. Bd3 a4 18. Rb1 g5 19. f5 Be5
20. h3 Bg3+ 21. Kf1 Bh5 22. e5 Qxe5 23. Ne4 $44 {Timman,J-Ivanchuk,V/Linares/
1992/}) 13. gxf3 c4 14. Rb4 Qa3 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 O-O 17. Qd2 Nd7 $15 {
->,עe1}) 11... Bxf3 (11... Nc6 12. Bc4 {only transposes, as} O-O 13. Bd5 Rac8
14. O-O Bxf3 15. gxf3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Nxd4 18. Bb4 $1 {is a worse
version of the _|_ Black could have achieved later on.}) 12. gxf3 Nc6 13. Bc4
$1 {[%csl Gb7,Gc4,Ge3] White's idea is getting clear-although d4 falls, he
still has an active ^^ and a R on the 7-th.} O-O (13... e6 14. O-O $1 (14. e5
cxd4 15. cxd4 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Bxe5 $1 {[%cal Rc6a5] /\Na5} 17. dxe5 $2 O-O-O+
$15) (14. Bxe6 Nd8 $1 15. Bd5 Nxb7 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Bc6+ Ke7 $17) 14... cxd4
15. cxd4 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 Nxd4 17. Kg2 $36) (13... cxd4 14. cxd4 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2
Nxd4 16. f4 Nf5 $5 17. Rb6 Nxe3 18. fxe3 $32 {|^}) 14. O-O {/\d5} (14. Bd5 Rac8
15. Bxc6 Rxc6 16. O-O (16. Ke2 Rfc8 $1 $36 {[%csl Re2] ע}) 16... cxd4 17. cxd4
Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Bxd4 19. Rxe7 Rc2 $11) 14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 $1 (15... Qxd2
16. Bxd2 Nxd4 17. Kg2 Rfc8 18. Rc1 e6 $14 {White can try to realize his
advantage without any risk.} 19. Bxa6 $6 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 Bf8 $1 {is insufficient,
without the a-pawns White has nothing.} (20... Rxa6 $2 21. Rb8+ Bf8 22. Bh6 $18
)) (15... Qh5 $2 16. Bd5 Qxf3 17. Qd1 $1 $16) 16. Bd5 {Kramnik played this
move quickly, White still needs his ^^.} (16. Bh6 Bg7 $1 (16... Rfc8 $2 17. Qf4
Ne5 18. Rxe7 $1 Rxc4 19. Qf6 $18) (16... Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Ne5 18. Be2 $14 {
and Black's seemingly active pieces are exposed.}) 17. Bd5 Bxh6 (17... Qxd2 18.
Bxd2 Ne5 19. Bb4 $36) 18. Qxh6 Nd4 19. Qe3 Nf5 20. Qg5 Qd8 $5 21. f4 (21. exf5
Qxd5 22. Rxe7 Rae8 $11) 21... e6 $1 $132) 16... Bc3 $6 {Agressive, Black
continues to avoid the _|_, but more circumspect was} (16... Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Rfc8
(17... Ne5 18. Bb4 e6 19. Bxf8 exd5 20. f4 $1 Nd3 (20... Nf3+ 21. Kg2 dxe4 22.
Ba3 $16) 21. Bh6 dxe4 22. Rfb1 $16) 18. f4 (18. Rc1 Ne5 19. Rbc7 (19. Rb3 Rxc1+
20. Bxc1 Rc8 21. Bh6 a5 $1 {/\e6<=>}) 19... Rxc7 20. Rxc7 Rb8 21. Kg2 Rb2 22.
Bh6 Rxf2+ $11) 18... e6 19. Bb3 Ra7 $11 {/+/=} (19... Rab8 $11 {/+/=})) (16...
Bxe3 $143 17. Qxe3 $36 {/\} Nb4 $2 18. Qc3 e6 19. Bxe6 Qg5+ 20. Kh1 $18) 17.
Qc1 $1 (17. Qc2 Rac8 $1 18. Bxc6 (18. Bb6 Qa3 $11) 18... Rxc6 19. Rxe7 Qh5 20.
Qd1 g5 (20... Qh3 $5 $44) 21. f4 Qh3 22. Qe2 (22. fxg5 Rc7 $1 23. Qd6 (23. Rxc7
$2 Be5 $19) 23... Qg4+ $11) 22... Bf6 23. Rb7 Rc2 $1 $11 24. Qxc2 Qg4+) 17...
Nd4 {The idea behind 17.Qc1! is} (17... Rac8 18. Bb6 Qb4 19. a3 Qb2 20. Qxb2
Bxb2 21. a4 $14 {with an unpleasant _|_ as above.}) 18. Bxd4 (18. Qd1 $143 e6
19. Bxd4 exd5 20. Bxc3 Qxc3 21. exd5 Rad8 $44 {/+/=}) 18... Bxd4 19. Rxe7 $36 {
[%csl Ge7,Rf7] ^-,><f7,Re7} Ra7 $1 20. Rxa7 Bxa7 {Black has exchanged the
dangerous R and wants to activate his B on the neighboring diagonal.} 21. f4 {
White can't let Black establish a dark-square blockade, but interesting was} (
21. Qg5 $5 {/\Bf7} Qc7 22. Rc1 Qb6 23. Qh4 {/\Rc6->}) 21... Qd8 22. Qc3 (22.
Qc4 Qh4 (22... Qd7 23. e5 Rd8 (23... Rc8 24. e6 $16) 24. e6 $1 $16) 23. e5 a5 {
[%csl Rf2][%cal Yg8g7] /\Kg7,Rb8,><f2}) 22... Bb8 23. Qf3 (23. Qg3 Qd6 24. f5
Qxg3+ (24... Qf6 25. f4 {[%cal Rg3g5] /\Qg5+/-}) 25. hxg3 gxf5 26. exf5 Rd8 27.
Bb3 Kg7 $1 (27... Rd2 $143 28. Rc1 {/\} Ba7 29. f6 $1 $40 {[%csl Rf7] ><f7})
28. Rc1 Kf6 $14 {White has similar techical problems as in the game.}) 23...
Qh4 24. e5 g5 {It seems now Black wins back the pawn and draws easily, but
Kramnik has an unpleasant surprise up his sleeve.} 25. Re1 $1 Qxf4 (25... gxf4
$143 26. e6 fxe6 27. Rxe6 $40 {עg8}) 26. Qxf4 gxf4 27. e6 fxe6 28. Rxe6 Kg7
29. Rxa6 {[%csl Rb8,Gd5][%mdl 4096] _|_^-} Rf5 (29... Rd8 30. Ra5 Bc7 31. Rb5
$1 (31. Ra7 Rxd5 32. Rxc7+ Kg6 $44) 31... Rb8 32. Bb7 $14 {[%cal Ya2a4,Yg1e4] /
\a4,Kg2-f3}) (29... f3 $2 30. Ra3 $16 (30. Ra8 $16)) 30. Be4 Re5 $6 {Only
forces a useful move f3.} (30... Rb5 $142 31. a4 (31. Kg2 Rb2 32. Kf3 Be5 {/\}
33. Ra7+ Kf6 34. Bxh7 Rxf2+ $1 35. Kxf2 Bd4+ 36. Kf3 Bxa7 $11) 31... Rb2 32. a5
Be5 $14 {gives Black very good drawing chances.}) 31. f3 Re7 ({More active was
} 31... Rb5 $1 32. a4 (32. Kg2 Rg5+ 33. Kf1 Rh5 {leads nowhere.}) 32... Rb2 33.
a5 Ra2 $14) 32. a4 Ra7 $6 $138 (32... Ba7+ $142 33. Kg2 Be3 {activates the B
and it's difficult to say if White can convert his advantage:} 34. a5 Re5 35.
Ra8 h5 36. a6 Ra5 {In the game White's R will be more actively placed,
protecting the Pa6 sideways.}) 33. Rb6 (33. Rxa7+ $2 Bxa7+ {is a clear draw-}
34. Kg2 Bb6 35. Kh3 h5 36. Kg2 Kf6 37. Kf1 Ke5 38. Bg6 h4 39. Kg2 Bd8 $11)
33... Be5 34. Rb4 Rd7 (34... Bd6 35. Rc4 Rc7 36. Bc6 $1 $14 {Kasparov
allegedly overlooked this, he can't force the R off.}) 35. Kg2 $1 {W} (35. a5
$2 Bc3 36. Ra4 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Ra1 $11) 35... Rd2+ 36. Kh3 h5 (36... Ra2 $5 37.
Rb7+ (37. Kg4 Rxh2 38. Kf5 Rb2 $5 $14) 37... Kf6 38. Rb6+ Kg7 39. Ra6 h5 $14 {
/+/-}) 37. Rb5 Kf6 38. a5 Ra2 39. Rb6+ Ke7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} ({Although White
has made substantial progress in the preceding moves, there is still no forced
win after} 39... Kg7 40. a6 Bd4 41. Rg6+ (41. Rd6 Be3 42. Kh4 Ra5 $1 $16 {
is similar.}) 41... Kf8 (41... Kf7 $2 42. Rd6 Ra4 43. Rxd4 $18) 42. Re6 Ra5 $16
) 40. Bd5 (40. Bd5 Rxa5 (40... Re2 41. Re6+ Kd7 42. a6 $18) 41. Re6+ Kd7 42.
Rxe5 Kd6 43. Rxh5 Rxd5 44. Rxd5+ Kxd5 45. Kg4 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Seit 1985 war der Weltmeistertitel in der Hand von Gary Kasparov. Nach der
Tradition der Schachwelt in ьber 100 Jahren wird Weltmeister, wer den
amtierenden Titeltrдger in einem Weltmeisterschaftsmatch besiegt. Genau dies
gelang - etwas ьberraschend - Vladimir Kramnik. Der 25-jдhrige Russe geht
damit als 14. Weltmeister in die Schachgeschichte ein. Bei seinem 8,5:6,5-Sieg
lieЯ er Kasparov nicht zur Entfaltung kommen. Dessen scheinbar schwaches Spiel
war wohl in Wirklichkeit der Stдrke des neuen Weltmeisters geschuldet.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Zu Nimzoindisch kam Kasparov erst, als er sowohl mit
Grьnfeldindisch als auch mit dem Angenommenen Damengambit Schwierigkeiten
hatte.} 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 {
Dieses System nennen Insider auch Karpov-Variante. In der Tat hat der
Exweltmeister dieses System in den 70-er Jahren populдr gemacht. Fьr Karpov
war es die Hauptwaffe gegen Nimzoindisch mit 4.e3.} 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7
12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qb3 {Diesen aggressiven Aufbau habe ich frьher selbst gespielt;
Schwarz spielt nun am sichersten 13...Bxc3.} Be7 {Das wurde zunдchst getadelt,
doch wahrscheinlich zu Unrecht.} (13... Bxc3 14. Rxc3 h6 15. Bh4 {Ob WeiЯ hier
Vorteil hat, ist sehr fragwьrdig.} Bd5 (15... Qe8 $5) 16. Ne5) (13... Ba5 $6 {
Das gab ich in ECO Band E 2. Auflage als zum Ausgleich fьhrend an; wohl ein
Irrtum.} 14. Ne5 Qc7 (14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qd4 16. Bxe6 Ng4 17. Be3 Nxe3 18.
Bxc8 Ng4 19. Bxb7 Qxf2+ 20. Kh1 Qh4 21. h3 $16 {1-0 Knaak,R-Espig,L/
Fuerstenwalde 1981/MCD (57)}) 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 18.
Qxf7 Rf8 19. Qe7 Ng4 (19... Qb8 20. Bh4 Bxc3 21. bxc3 $14 {1-0 Knaak,R-Spassov,
L/Sochi 1980/MCD (64)}) 20. f4 Qc6 21. d5 $1 {(Fritz)} (21. Re2 Bxc3 22. Rxc3
Qd5 23. Rd2 Rf7 $11 {(ECO)}) 21... Qc5+ 22. Qxc5 Nxc5 23. Be7 $1 Rc8 24. Bxc5
bxc5 25. Re7 $16) 14. Bxf6 {Vielleicht ist ja dieser viel gelobte Zug gar
nicht so gut.} (14. Ne5 $5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nb5 Rc5 $2 (
17... Qg5 $5 18. Qg3 Qxg3 19. hxg3 Ba6 20. Nd6 (20. a4 $5 Bxb5 21. Bxb5 Rxc1
22. Rxc1 Nxe5 23. Rc7 $13) 20... Bxc4 21. Rxc4 Rxc4 22. Nxc4 Rc8 $11) 18. f4
Rfc8 $2 19. Nxa7 Rd8 20. Nb5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Rd2 22. Bf1 $18 {1-0 Shulman,
Y-Smagin,S/St Petersburg 1994/EXT 98 (36)}) 14... Nxf6 ({Hier würde} 14...
Bxf6 {die in der Partie folgenden Verwicklungen vermeiden.} 15. Nb5 Bxf3 $1 (
15... Ra8 $2 16. Nd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Bxd4 18. Nxf7 Qf6 19. Bxe6 Qxf3 20. Ng5+ {
mit groЯem weiЯen Vorteil.}) 16. Qxf3 a6 17. Nd6 (17. Na7 Rc7 (17... Bg5) 18.
Nc6 Qc8 19. Bd3 Nb8 20. d5 exd5 21. Bf5 Qb7 22. Nb4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rd8 24. Rd1
Bxb2 25. Nxd5 {und Fritz sieht trotz Minusbauern einen kleinen Vorteil fьr
WeiЯ.}) 17... Rc7 18. Nxf7 (18. Bxa6 $2 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Nb8) 18... Rxf7 19. Bxe6
Nf8 20. Rxc7 (20. Bb3 Kh8 21. Bxf7 Rxf7 22. Rcd1 Rd7 23. Re4 $13) 20... Qxc7 {
und Vorteil fьr WeiЯ ist nicht in Sicht.}) 15. Bxe6 $1 {Ein typisches Motiv,
und sogar schon gespielt worden.} fxe6 $2 {Schwarz muss nicht schlagen.} (15...
Rc7 $142 16. Ng5 (16. Bc4 $5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Bd6 $13) 16... Bd6 {droht 17...Bf4}
(16... Qxd4 $1 $13) 17. Nb5 $1 (17. Rcd1 h6 18. Nxf7 Rcxf7 $13) 17... Re7 18.
Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bc4 Qf4 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 Rd7 22. Red1 $16 {/+/= Diese
Stellung gilt es gegen die Partiestellung nach z.B. 21.Nd6 abzuwдgen, um zu
bewerten, ob 15...Rc7 wirklich besser gewesen wдre.}) 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 17. Qxe7
Bxf3 18. gxf3 Qxd4 {Es ist noch nicht so schlimm fьr Schwarz, WeiЯ versucht
nun sofort die Schwдche der gegnerischen Grundreihe auszunutzen.} 19. Nb5 $1
Qxb2 $2 ({Auch} 19... Qf4 $6 {ist schwach:} 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Qxf3 $2 (
21... Ra8 22. Nf7+ (22. Ne8 Nxe8 23. Qxe8+ Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Rxf8 25. Re7 $14)
22... Kg8 23. Nd8 (23. Qe6 Rf8 24. Nd8+ Kh8 25. Qe7 Nd5 26. Ne6 Nxe7 27. Nxf4
$14) 23... Qg5+ 24. Kf1 Qg6 $14) 22. Nxc8 Qg4+ 23. Kf1 Qh3+ 24. Ke2 Qxc8 25.
Kd2 $18 {1-0 Hazai,L-Danielsen,H/Valby 1994/EXT 98 (32)}) (19... Qd2 $5 20.
Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Rb8 $14) 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Rb8 ({Nach} 21... Ra8 {Aber}
22. Ne8 $1 (22. Nf7+ Kg8 {kann von weiЯer Gewinnstellung noch keine Rede sein.}
23. Qe6 (23. Nd8 h6 24. Ne6 Nh5 (24... Ne8 $6 25. Re4 $1) (24... Nh7 $5 25. Qb7
Re8 26. Qd7 Rb8 27. Qxa7 Re8 28. Qd7 Rb8 29. f4 Qf6) 25. Qb7 Re8 26. Qd7 Rb8
27. Qxa7 Re8 28. Qd7 Rb8) 23... h6 $1 24. Nxh6+ Kh7 {Nun kann WeiЯ mit
Springerzьgen einen kleinen Vorteil behaupten, aber es geht nicht} 25. Qh3 $2 {
weil nach} (25. Ng4 $16) 25... gxh6 26. Re7+ Kg6 27. Qg3+ Kf5 {kein Turm auf
b8 hдngt; WeiЯ hat nur Dauerschach.}) 22... Ng8 23. Qd7 h6 24. Kg2 $18) 22.
Nf7+ Kg8 23. Qe6 Rf8 {Das verliert sofort.} ({Nach} 23... h5 {kann WeiЯ jedoch
ebenfalls gewinnen:} 24. Ng5+ Kh8 25. Qf5 $1 {und das Eindringen des weiЯen
Turmes ьber e7 oder auch e6 bringt die Entscheidung.} Qxa2 (25... Kg8 26. Re7)
(25... h4 26. h3 Qxa2 27. Re7 Qa3 28. Rf7 Kg8) 26. Qg6 Qa3 27. Re6 Kg8 28. h4
$18) 24. Nd8+ Kh8 25. Qe7 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 544]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7.
bxc3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5
Rd8 14. Ke1 Ne5 {A rare continuation. It is not advised to exchange White's
poorly placed f3 knight, after which the f2 pawn can move forward gaining a
tempo.} (14... Na5 {is the main line - see Kramnik-Van Wely.}) 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 {
[%mdl 4096]} 16. f4 Bd6 ({After} 16... Bg7 {White can easily prepare e4-e5,
which cuts the g7 bishop off, e.g.} 17. Kf2 Kf8 18. Bc4 (18. Rc7 Rd7 19. Rc2 f5
20. Bd3 fxe4 21. Bxe4 b6 22. d6 Bb7 $11) 18... Bd7 19. Bb3 b5 (19... a5 20. Bb6
a4 21. Bc4 $16) 20. e5 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5,Rg7]} (20. Rc7 $5 a5 21. Rhc1) 20... a5
21. a3 Rdc8 22. Bd2 Ke8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 $16 {1/2-1/2 Jezidzic,G-Ivanovic,Z/
CRO-chT Makarska 1994}) 17. Kf2 {[%cal Ge4e5]} (17. e5 $2 Bb4+ 18. Kf2 Rxd5)
17... e5 {This was Black's idea; however, White's protected passed pawn
guarantees him the better prospects.} 18. Bc5 $1 {[%mdl 544] This bishop
exchange brings White the following benefits: first, the blockading bishop is
replaced by a less suitable piece (the rook); second, the white rook can now
invade to c7. The loss of the f4 pawn is a factor of minor importance. Such a
deep positional pawn sacrifice is Kramnik's pet method of play.} Bxc5+ ({
I would prefer} 18... exf4 19. Bxd6 Rxd6 {although after} 20. Kf3 g5 $140 21.
h4 {White is clearly better.}) 19. Rxc5 exf4 20. Kf3 {Not just recapturing the
pawn - the king is going to support his own pawns!} Bd7 (20... g5 21. h4 {
opens up the file for the h1 rook. The pawn will be recaptured anyway as after}
h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rh5 f6 24. e5 {the black position breaks down.}) 21. Bd3
Rac8 22. Rhc1 g5 ({After} 22... Rxc5 23. Rxc5 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Kxf4 {
[%cal Yf4e5,Ye5d6,Yd6c7] White must win the bishop endgame, e.g.} f6 (25... Kf8
26. Ke5 Ke7 27. d6+ Kd8 28. Kf6 Be6 29. a4 {and White wins by means of e4-e5,
Kf6-g7-f8 and Bd3-b5-e8 (of course, if ...a7-a6 then a4-a5 etc.)}) 26. e5 Kf7 (
26... fxe5+ 27. Kxe5 Kf7 28. Kd6 Z0 29. Kc7) 27. e6+ $1 Ke7 28. h4 $18 {
[%cal Yh4h5]}) {The text move enables the white rook to invade to the 7th rank.
} 23. Rc7 {[%cal Rc7d7]} Rxc7 (23... Re8 24. R1c2 {[%cal Rc7d7,Rc7b7]}) 24.
Rxc7 Ba4 {A desperate attempt to get some "counterplay"} (24... Bc8 25. e5 {
[%cal Yf3e4]}) 25. Kg4 $1 {Before capturing the b7 pawn White activates his
king.} h6 26. Rxb7 Rd7 27. Rb4 Bd1+ 28. Kf5 Kg7 29. h4 $1 f6 30. hxg5 hxg5 (
30... fxg5 31. e5 Rxd5 32. Rb7+ Kf8 33. Kf6 Rd8 34. Bc4 $18) 31. e5 $1 fxe5 32.
Kxe5 {The plan started with White's 20th move has been completed! His king has
reached this dominant position, which, together with the passed d5 pawn,
brings White an easy win, in spite of the limited pawn material.} f3 (32...
Re7+ 33. Kf5 Rd7 34. Be4 Kh6 35. Rb1 Bh5 36. Rh1 $18) 33. gxf3 Bxf3 34. d6 Rd8
35. Bf5 (35. Ra4 $18) 35... Bc6 (35... Re8+ 36. Be6 Bc6 37. Kf5 Rd8 38. d7 $18)
36. d7 $1 Rf8 37. Rd4 (37. Rd4 Rd8 38. Kd6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8 12. Nge4 b6 13. b3 c5 14. Bb2
Nd4 15. Rd2 Kb7 16. Nd5 Rd8 17. c4 Bc6 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Ba3 20. Rd2 Rhe8
21. Re1 f6 22. exf6 Bb4 23. f7 Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxd2 25. Re7 Bxd5 26. Re8 Bxf7 27.
Rxd8 Bc3 28. Rd3 Bf6 29. f4 Bg6 30. Rd1 h5 31. Kf2 Bc2 32. Rd2 Bb1 33. Kf3 a5
34. g3 Bc3 35. Re2 Bf5 36. Re7 Kc6 37. Ke2 Bf6 38. Re3 Kc5 39. Kd2 Kb4 40. Kc1
Ka3 41. Re2 a4 42. bxa4 Kxa4 43. Re8 Kb4 44. Rh8 g6 45. Rh7 c6 46. Rc7 Be4 47.
h3 Kxc4 48. g4 hxg4 49. hxg4 c5 50. Kd2 b5 51. Rf7 Bc3+ 52. Ke3 Bb1 53. f5 gxf5
54. g5 b4 55. g6 f4+ 56. Rxf4+ Bd4+ 0-1

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. a3 Be7 8.
Nf4 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ncxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O Bg5 13. Re1 Bxf4 14.
Bxf4 Qf6 15. Be5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Be6 17. Qd2 Rad8 18. Rae1 h6 19. R1e3 Bd7 20. h3
Qd6 21. Qa5 Qb6 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Be2 Be6 24. f4 g6 25. Bd3 Bc8 26. Re7 Kg7 27.
Bb5 Kf6 28. Rc7 Rd6 29. Rec3 Rdd8 30. Re3 Rd6 31. a4 Rdd8 32. Kf2 Rd6 33. g4
Rdd8 34. Kg3 g5 35. f5 h5 36. Ree7 hxg4 37. hxg4 Kg7 38. Kf3 Kf6 39. Ke3 Kg7
40. Kd3 Kf6 41. Kc3 Kg7 42. Kb4 Kf6 43. Ka3 Kg7 44. b4 Kf6 45. a5 bxa5 46. bxa5
Kg7 47. Kb4 Kf6 48. Kc5 Kg7 49. Be2 Rde8 50. Rxe8 Rxe8 51. Bf3 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "266"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 12. Ne4 Bf5 13. Bg5 Bxe4 14. Bxe4
h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Re1 Rfe8 17. Qf3 Qxf3 18. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Rc8 20. Kf1
Kf8 21. Be4 b6 22. f4 Ne7 23. Re2 f5 24. Bf3 g5 25. fxg5 hxg5 26. h3 Kf7 27.
Ke1 Kf6 28. Rd2 Ke5 29. Kd1 Ng6 30. g3 Rh8 31. Bg2 f4 32. Rd3 fxg3 33. Rxg3 Kf5
34. Kd2 Ne5 35. Bf1 Kf4 36. Rb3 Nf3+ 37. Ke2 g4 38. hxg4 Rh2+ 39. Kd1 Kxg4 40.
Ba6 Kf4 41. Bb7 Ne5 42. Kc1 Rf2 43. Rh3 Rf1+ 44. Kd2 Rf2+ 45. Kc1 Kg4 46. Bc8+
Kg5 47. Kb1 Rf1+ 48. Ka2 Rc1 49. Kb3 d3 50. Rh2 Nf3 51. Rg2+ Kf4 52. Kc3 Ne1
53. Rd2 dxc2 54. Ba6 Rd1 55. Rxc2 Nxc2 56. Kxc2 Rd6 57. Kc3 Ke5 58. Bb5 Rd5 59.
Ba6 Rc5+ 60. Kb3 Kd4 61. Bb7 Rh5 62. Bc6 Rh3+ 63. Kc2 Kc4 64. Bd7 Rh2+ 65. Kb1
Re2 66. Bg4 Rf2 67. Be6+ Kd3 68. Bb3 b5 69. Bg8 a5 70. Be6 Kd4 71. Bg8 Kc5 72.
Be6 b4 73. axb4+ Kxb4 74. Bg8 a4 75. Be6 Kc5 76. Ka2 Kb4 77. Kb1 Re2 78. Bg8
Re5 79. Bf7 Rb5 80. Ka2 Rb7 81. Bd5 Rc7 82. Be6 Re7 83. Bg8 Re2 84. Kb1 Re3 85.
Ka2 Re4 86. Bd5 Rd4 87. Bf7 Rd2 88. Kb1 Kc5 89. Be8 Kb4 90. Bf7 Rd7 91. Be6 Rc7
92. Ka2 Rc2 93. Kb1 Rc6 94. Bf7 a3 95. bxa3+ Kxa3 96. Bd5 Rc5 97. Be6 Rc3 98.
Bd5 Kb4 99. Kb2 Rd3 100. Be6 Rd2+ 101. Kc1 Kc3 102. Kb1 Rd1+ 103. Ka2 Re1 104.
Bg8 Re8 105. Bf7 Ra8+ 106. Kb1 Ra7 107. Be6 Ra5 108. Bf7 Rf5 109. Be6 Rf2 110.
Bg8 Rf1+ 111. Ka2 Rh1 112. Bf7 Rg1 113. Be6 Rg3 114. Bf7 Kc2 115. Be6 Rg5 116.
Ka3 Kc3 117. Ka4 Rc5 118. Bf7 Rc7 119. Be6 Rc5 120. Bf7 Re5 121. Bg8 Re8 122.
Bf7 Rb8 123. Ka5 Rb1 124. Ka4 Rb8 125. Ka5 Kd4 126. Ka4 Kc5 127. Ka3 Kd4 128.
Ka2 Kc3 129. Be6 Rb6 130. Bf7 Rb7 131. Be6 Rb5 132. Bf7 Rb8 133. Be6 Rb6 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6.
bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2
O-O 13. d5 Rd8 14. Ke1 Na5 {This (theoretically harmless) line has been
discussed in detail in CBM73, in annotations to Yermolinsky-Kudrin. I supposed
there that Alex Yermolinsky had probably prepared a novelty. Was it what
Kramnik played in this game?} 15. Bg5 Bd7 (15... Kf8 16. Bd3 f5 17. Rc7 $5 ({
A new idea by A.Yermolinsky, which is better than} 17. Ke2 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Bd7
19. Rhd1 Ba4 20. Rd2 Bb5+ 21. Ke1 Nc4 22. Rdd1 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Yermolinsky,
A-Kudrin,S/ch-USA prelim A 1999 (46)}) 17... Rd7 18. Rc2 h6 $5 {This is a pawn
sacrifice, which looks quite risky for Black.} (18... Nc6 19. Bb5 fxe4 20. dxc6
Rd5 21. Bc4 Rf5 22. Rd2 $14 {Yermolinsky,A-Casella,M/Los Angeles 2000}) ({if} 
18... Rd8 {then the white rook stands better on c2 than on c1, e.g.} 19. Ke2
fxe4 20. Bxe4 Bd7 21. Rhc1 $36) 19. Be3 (19. Bd2 b6) 19... b6 20. exf5 Bb7 $44
{A.Yermolinsky}) 16. Bd3 Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 18. Be3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A very
interesting novelty. White is now threatening 19.Rxc8, after which Black must
give up either the a7 pawn (19...Rxc8) or the c-file (19...Bxc8).} (18. Bd2
exd5 $1 19. exd5 Re8+ 20. Be3 a6 21. Rc7 Rad8 22. Rb1 Bg4 23. h3 Bxf3+ 24. Kxf3
Rxd5 25. Be4 Rde5 26. Bxb7 Rf5+ 27. Ke2 Nxb7 28. Rbxb7 Bd4 {1/2-1/2 Chekhov,
V-Schmidt,W/Prague Bohemians 1989 (32)}) 18... exd5 19. exd5 b6 {'?' Ftacnik.
Protecting the a7 pawn; however, White now captures the c-file.} (19... Rd8 $5)
(19... Ba4 {Ftacnik} 20. Rxc8+ Rxc8 21. Bxa7 Rd8 22. Rc1 Bf8 23. Bb6 Rxd5 24.
Rc8 Nc6 25. Ra8 (25. Be4 Rd6 26. Bc5 Rd8 27. Rxd8 Nxd8 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 $11) 25...
Bb5 26. Bxb5 Rxb5 27. Be3 Kg7 28. Nd4 Ra5 {1/2-1/2 Weeks,C-Easton,A/Bristol
1991/ (28)}) 20. Ba6 {Ftacnik: 'Kramnik seems to believe, that white's chances
in this position are preferable. He recently won a first game with 8.Be3, 9.
Qd2 also against Leko in Budapest match.'} Rd8 ({After} 20... Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8
{'?' Ftacnik.} (21... Bf5 $5 {Ftacnik} 22. Nd4 $14) 22. Rc7 {White attacks the
black queenside pawns while Black can't easily capture the d5 pawn because of
the weakness of his 8th rank.}) 21. Rhd1 Bc8 (21... Ba4 $5 {Ftacnik} 22. Rd3 b5
(22... Rd7 23. Ra3 b5 24. Rc5 Nb7 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Rd3 $14) 23. d6 Nc4 24. d7
Bb2 25. Re1 Bc2 26. Rd5 Be4 27. Rdd1 Bc2 28. Bg5 $14) 22. Bxc8 (22. Bb5 Bd7)
22... Raxc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 {[%mdl 4096] It seems that Black has simplified the
position and equalised; however, White proves that his passed pawn is an
important factor.} 24. Nd4 $1 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Yd4b5,Yd4c6]} Bf8 $2 {Black
prevents 25.Nc6 but allows 25.Nb5, which turns out much more dangerous for him.
} (24... Rc7 25. Nb5 Rd7 26. Rc1 $1 h6 27. d6 $16 {[%cal Rc1c7]} a6 $140 28.
Rc7 Rd8 29. Bxb6 axb5 30. d7 $18) (24... a6 $142 25. Nc6 (25. d6 Rd8 26. Ne6
fxe6 27. Bxb6 Nb7 28. Bxd8 Nxd8 $13) 25... Nxc6 26. dxc6 Kf8 (26... Be5 27. f4
Bc7 28. Kf3 $14) 27. Rc1 b5 28. Bf4 $14) (24... Bxd4 {Ftacnik} 25. Bxd4 Rc2+
26. Kd3 Rxa2 27. d6 $16) 25. Nb5 $1 a6 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (25... Rc2+ {Ftacnik}
26. Rd2 Rxd2+ 27. Bxd2 a6 28. Bxa5 bxa5 29. Nc7 Bd6 30. Nxa6 Kg7 31. h3 Kf6 32.
Kd3 $16) 26. d6 $1 {This is what Black probably overlooked. Ftacnik: 'The free
d pawn turns into decisive piece, black fights with huge problems.'} Rc2+ (
26... axb5 27. d7 Rd8 28. Bxb6 Nc6 29. Bxd8 Nxd8 30. Rd5 {[%cal Rd5b5,Rd5e5,
Re5e8] and thanks to the 31.Re5 threat White wins the b5 pawn and the game.})
27. Kd3 Rxa2 28. d7 Nb7 (28... Nc6 29. Na7 $18) (28... Be7 29. Nc3 Ra3 (29...
Rb2 30. Bc1 Rxf2 31. Re1 $18) 30. Bxb6 Nc6 31. Kc2 Bf6 32. Nd5 $18) 29. Nc3 Rb2
(29... Ra3 30. Kc2 Be7 31. Bxb6 $18) 30. Nd5 {[%cal Re3b6,Re3d4,Rd5f6] Now
Black has a lot of possibilities but none of them provides sufficient defense.
The white pieces dominate the board.} Rb5 $6 (30... f5 {was the best chance
but after} 31. Bxb6 Kf7 32. d8=Q Nxd8 33. Bxd8 Rxf2 34. Rd2 Rxd2+ 35. Kxd2 {
the endgame, though not easy, must be winning for White}) 31. Kc2 {Maintaining
all the threats while the f2 pawn is not attacked anymore.} Bc5 32. Bh6 {
The most accurate move but} (32. Nc7 {was good enough:} Ra5 33. d8=Q+ Nxd8 34.
Rxd8+ Kg7 35. Ne8+ Kf8 36. Bg5 $1 $18) 32... f6 33. Nc7 (33. Nc7 Ra5 34. d8=Q+
Nxd8 35. Rxd8+ Kf7 36. Rd7+ Be7 37. Be3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {McShane} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 {McShane: 'A complex position arises
out of the opening where White has the bishop pair and more central pawns
while Black has a less fragile pawn structure, and the possibility of
incarcerating the c1 bishop behind its own pawns.'} 11. Bb2 e5 {It is
noteworthy for what comes later in section 4, that even in this rather old,
well-established variation the imperative is on black to attack white's centre,
even though this is likely to accelerate the opening of the position. At the
risk of anticipating John Watson's remarks somewhat, it might help to see it
not just as a question of opening the position or not, but as black striking
and making sufficient mess to both try and create good squares for his knights
and also to PREVENT WHITE FROM OPENING THE POSITION ON HIS OWN TERMS. Because,
lets face it, if black sits back and does nothing special, white will organise
the e4 advance and improve the scope of the bishop pair at his own civilised
pace!!} 12. h3 $5 {Unusual, but the line has a definite logic. Why does white
so often retreat the c4 bishop voluntarily when as here the ...Na5 move with
which black will force it back, seems to have both positive and negative
points and while aimed at the light squares is also potentially neglectful of
the centre?} e4 13. Nd2 Na5 14. Ba2 Bf5 (14... c4 $5 15. f3 Bxh3 $5 16. Nxe4
Nxe4 17. fxe4 $13) 15. c4 {[%cal Ga2c4,Yb2f6] '!' McShane. A common problem in
these lines: opening up one bishop's diagonal blocks in the other.} Rfe8 16. d5
Nd7 {McShane: 'Black now hopes to prove that the a2 bishop is restricted, in
the long term to place a knight on d6 and advance b7-b5. But Kramnik has moves
in-between...'} 17. f4 $1 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Yb2g7,Yg2g4,Gd7e5,Yf4e5][%mdl 32]
Contests the e5 square and the b2-g7 diagonal. Logical: focus attention on
that 'uncontested bishop'.  McShane: 'Now the threat of g2-g4 and f4-f5
trapping the bishop forces Black to capture en passant.'} (17. f3 {McShane} Ne5
$1 {and Black sacrifices a pawn but can maintain a stronghold in the centre.})
17... exf3 {Funny old rule this en passant, although one suspects Vlad had it
covered! Probably the capture is pretty much forced - e5 is a big point in
black's defence. Still, the f-file is a huge asset too, f7 can be a bit moist,
and white is perfectly well equipped in this case for a light square
discussion too.} 18. Qxf3 Bg6 19. h4 {[%csl Rg6] '!' McShane. McShane:
'Kramnik is a fantastic player with the initiative and drives his advantage
forward ruthlessly. This one forces a weakness.'} h5 (19... Ne5 20. Qg3 $36)
20. Bb1 $1 {[%csl Rf7] The bishop finds a new home. OK, in general we shall be
looking at positions where the proud possessor of the bishop pair is not the
one initiating exchanges of bishops, but here we are already in the realm of
the familiar 'transfer of advantages': from 'bishop pair' to 'direct attack'
in the course of which 'exchanging key defenders' is quite legitimate.} Qd6 21.
Bc3 {[%csl Ra5] The down side of ...Na5.} b6 22. Ne4 Rxe4 {'?!' McShane.} ({
Its understandable that black didn't like the look of} 22... Qe7 $5 {but the
problem with the exchange sac is that despite an improvement in the condition
of black's knights, white's initiative ( and bishop pair ) survive pretty much
in tact.}) (22... Bxe4 {McShane} 23. Qxf7+) ({But} 22... Qe7 {McShane: may be
a lesser evil although} 23. Ng5 Qxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Rxe3 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Rf7 $1 {
promises a big initiative with a rook on the seventh rank.}) 23. Bxe4 Nxc4 24.
Qf4 Qxf4 25. Rxf4 Nxe3 26. Bf3 {McShane: 'Black has two pawns for the exchange,
but the bishop pair and passed pawn make White's job easier. Even so, Kramnik
doesn't waste time in pressing home his advantage.'} Nc2 27. Ra2 Re8 28. g4 $1
{Attack before material. Whatever we may come on to say later, there is no
disputing that healthy bishops thrive on open lines!} hxg4 29. Bxg4 Ne5 30. d6
$1 Nxg4 31. Rxg4 Re6 32. h5 Bd3 33. d7 Rd6 34. Rxg7+ Kf8 35. h6 Nd4 36. Rag2
Bg6 37. Rf2 $1 Nf5 38. h7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bxc6 {This
was hot in the 1860s.} bxc6 7. Nxe5 d5 (7... Re8 8. Nf3 d5 9. e5 d4 10. O-O Ng4
11. Bf4 dxc3 12. Nxc3 Ba6 13. h3 Nxf2 14. Rxf2 Bxd3 15. Qd2 Bxf2+ 16. Qxf2 $16
{1-0 Rodriguez,A-Ramon,V/Santa Fe de Bogota 1988/EXT 2001 (25)}) 8. Bg5 $146 {
[%mdl 8] The scope for improvement is quite vast. The line hasn't been played
in top level games for ages. Ivanchuk is following the trend of picking up
forgotten lines. Very sensible given the level of information available these
days.} (8. Nxc6 $6 Qe8 9. Nd4 dxe4 10. Be3 Ba6 11. dxe4 Nxe4 12. Nd2 Rb8 13.
Qc2 f5 $36 {0-1 Mayet,C-Anderssen,A/Berlin 1865/EXT 99 (27)}) (8. O-O dxe4 9.
d4 Bd6 10. Nxc6 Qe8 11. Na5 Qb5 12. Nb3 Bg4 13. Qd2 Bxh2+ $19 {0-1 Neumann,
G-Anderssen,A/Berlin 1864/EXT 99 (18)}) 8... Re8 9. f4 {Somehow White must try
to support his claims in the centre. Black just wants to tear everything down.
A P more or less is not so important for Black at this stage.} (9. Nxc6 $6 {
cannot work} Qd6 10. Na5 Ng4 $1 $40) 9... dxe4 10. d4 Bb6 11. Nd2 (11. O-O c5
$36) 11... c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Qe2 h6 (13... Bb7 14. O-O-O Qe7 15. Ng4 Rad8
$13) 14. Bh4 g5 $5 {[%mdl 32] Enterprising play. Kramnik sticks with the
initiative come what may.} 15. fxg5 hxg5 16. Bg3 {Black has unpinned the N,
but he has also weakened his Ks defence.} e3 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. Qf3 Be6 19. Rd1 g4
20. Qe2 (20. Qf1 e2 $1 $13) 20... Qe7 21. Nc6 Qf8 22. Nbd4 (22. O-O $2 Bc4 $1
23. Qxc4 e2+ $17) 22... Qc5 23. Ne5 (23. Be5 Bc4 24. Qxe3 Nh7 $1 $13 {[%cal
Ye8e1]}) 23... Nh5 $2 {Dropping the ball completely. Now White should win.} (
23... Bxa2 $5 24. Nxg4 (24. O-O Rxe5 25. Rxf6 Re4 26. Bf4 (26. Rf4 Rxf4 27.
Bxf4 Qh5 $13) 26... Qf8 $1 27. Qxg4+ Qg7 $13) 24... Qg5 25. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $13) 24.
Nxe6 Rxe6 25. Qxg4+ Ng7 26. Nxf7 $2 {A tempting mistake. But now Black gets a
new avenue for the attack against the white K - the f-file.} (26. Qf3 $1 Qf8
27. Nd7 Qc8 28. Be5 $18) 26... Rf8 $1 (26... Kxf7 27. Qf3+ $18) 27. Ng5 e2 $1 {
It's getting difficult for White - especially in time pressure.} 28. Rd4 (28.
Nxe6 exd1=Q+ 29. Kxd1 Qd5+ 30. Nd4 c5 $17) 28... Rg6 29. h4 Qf5 $1 30. Qxf5 (
30. Qxe2 Bxd4 31. cxd4 Rc6 $19) 30... Nxf5 31. Bf2 Nxd4 32. cxd4 Re8 33. a3 Rc6
$17 34. Kd2 Rf6 35. Nf3 Rg6 36. Ng5 Rd6 37. Nf3 c5 38. Re1 $2 (38. Kd3 $142)
38... Ba5+ 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 4]} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Bf4 (5. Be3 {
Sutovsky-Dautov, Julian Borowski Essen 2000 CBM 77}) (5. Nf3 {- Prasad-Prakash,
Chalapathi 2000 CBM 77}) 5... Bxc5 6. Bd3 (6. Qg4 $143 Ne7 7. Nd2 Ng6 8. Nb3
Qb6 9. Nh3 Nc6 10. Bd3 $2 (10. c3) 10... Qb4+ $1 {Now White's popsition
collapses.} 11. c3 Ncxe5 $1 {This is the winning move.} 12. Qg3 Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3
Nxf4 14. Nxf4 Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 Qxf4+ 16. Ke2 {0:1 Hamdouchi-Khenkin, Anderlecht
rapid 1998}) 6... Nc6 7. Nf3 {We have reached a French type of position.} f6 $1
{Black wants to attack the [+] without hesitation.} (7... Nge7 8. O-O (8. c3
Ng6 9. Bg3 f6 {Soon or later Black has to eliminate White's stronghold on e5.}
10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. exf6 {White couldn't hold >< e5 any longer.} gxf6
{The black [+] has a bright future.} 13. Nh4 f5 14. Qh5 Qf6 15. f4 e5 16. Nxg6
{1/2:1/2 Ibragimov-Urban, Groningen op 1997}) 8... Qc7 9. Bg3 Nb4 10. Nc3 a6
11. Re1 Bd7 12. Bf1 b5 13. a3 (13. a4 Rb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. h3 O-O 16. Qd2 Rfc8
$15 {Kavalek-Augustin, CSR-ch Jablonec 1962}) 13... Nbc6 14. Bd3) (7... Qb6 {
wins the P b2 P, but it is connected with the well-known risk.} 8. O-O Qxb2 9.
Nbd2 Qb6 10. Ng5 {is the other way of aggression.} (10. c4 {wants to open up
the position in order to make profit from the lead of development.} Nge7 11.
Rb1 Qc7 12. Bg3 Bd7 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Ne4 {>< d6} Be7 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. exd6
Qc8 17. Ne5 O-O (17... Nc3 $2 {is hunting for material instead of solving the
problem of his K.} 18. Qg4 $1 Nxe5 (18... Nxb1 19. Qxg7 Rf8 20. Bf4 $1 $18 {
/\ Bh6}) 19. Qxg7 Rf8 (19... Ng6 20. Rbc1 $18) 20. Rb3 Nxd3 21. Rxc3 $16) 18.
Qh5 $44 {and White has an -> for the P, Bliumberg-Poplavsky, Odessa-ch 2000.})
10... g6 11. c4 Nge7 12. Rb1 Qd8 13. Qf3 Nd4 14. Qh3 h5 15. Nb3 Nxb3 16. axb3
Nf5 17. Bxf5 exf5 {(De Vreugt-Oosterom, NED-chT 2000)} 18. cxd5 $1 Be7 (18...
Qxd5 19. Rbd1 Qc6 20. Rd8+ $1 $16) 19. Qe3 (19. Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 20. Rbd1 $44 {
and the phalanx of the central pawns is dangerous for Black.}) 19... Qxd5 20.
Rfd1 Qc6 (20... Qb5 21. e6 $1 $40) 21. Rd6 Qc7 (21... Qb5 22. e6 $1 f6 23. Nf7
$44) 22. Rc1 (22. e6 $5 Bxg5 (22... Bxd6 $2 23. exf7+ $18) 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24.
Qe5 Re8 25. Rf6+ Bxf6 26. Qxc7+ Re7 $11) 22... Qa5 23. e6 f6 24. Nf7 $44 {
with a wonderful compensation for the sacrificed material.}) 8. Nbd2 (8. O-O g5
$5 {is a brave, but risky decision.} 9. Bg3 (9. b4 gxf4 10. bxc5 fxe5 {with a
mighty P chain for Black.} 11. Bb5 Qf6 12. c4 e4 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Qxd5 exf3
15. Re1+ Nge7 16. Bxc6+ bxc6 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. Qxf3 Bg4 20. Qb3 Rg7
$19 {Henris-Khenkin, CERA Bank op 1998}) (9. Nxg5 $143 {doesn't seem to be
correct:} fxg5 10. Qh5+ Kf8 11. Bxg5 Qc7) 9... g4 10. Nfd2 fxe5 11. Qxg4 Nf6
$13) 8... fxe5 (8... g5 $5) 9. Bxe5 (9. Nxe5 $2 Qf6 $17) 9... Nf6 10. Qe2 {
Black has to keep >< e5 at any rate.} (10. Bg3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxd6 Qxd6
13. Re1 Qf4 (13... e5 $2 {is punished by} 14. Nc4 $1) 14. c3 e5 $11 {and Black
was successful.}) 10... O-O 11. O-O-O $2 {Now the white K will be exposed to
many threats.} ({In a positional position, like that, where the main question
is the blockade of >< more natural is} 11. O-O Bd6 (11... Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bd6 13.
c3 {- 11...Bd6 12.c3}) (11... Ng4 $5 12. Bg3 e5 13. h3 $1 {Now Black is losing
material.} Nh6 (13... e4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 $16) 14. Nxe5 $1 (14. Bxe5 Re8
15. Bb5 Nf7) 14... Qg5 15. Nxc6 Qxg3 16. Ne7+ Kh8 17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Nb3 Bb6
19. c3 $16 {and Black's -> is beaten back.}) 12. c3 $1 (12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Rfe1
{allows the freeing move} e5 $1 14. Nxe5 Re8 {The pin on the e <-> solves
Black's problem.} 15. f4 Ng4) 12... Nxe5 (12... Ng4 $2 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Bxh7+
$16) (12... Nh5 $6 13. Ng5 $1 {Suddenly White changes the course, and exploits
the weaknesses of the >>.} (13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Ng5 g6 15. g3 {is again met by}
e5) (13. g3 $5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Nf6 15. Nb3 $14 {however keeps control over the
vital ><e5 and d4.}) 13... Qxg5 14. Bxd6 Nf4 15. Bxf4 Qxf4 (15... Rxf4 16. Nf3)
16. Bc2 $1 {defending against e5 by attacking d5.} (16. Rae1 e5) 16... Ne5 (
16... e5 $2 17. Qd3 $1 $18 {with double ->.}) 17. Rad1 Ng4 18. Nf3 $16 {
and White will take control over >< e5 again.}) 13. Nxe5 Qc7 (13... Nd7 14.
Ndf3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qh4 (15... Qg5 16. Rfe1 $14) 16. g3 $14) 14. Ndf3 (14. Rae1
Bxe5 15. Qxe5 Qxe5 16. Rxe5 $14) 14... Nh5 {/\ Nf4} 15. g3 $14 {and the
"French" B remains passive.}) 11... a5 $1 {Black immediately begins an -> on
the <<.} 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. Kb1 (13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Rhe1 e5 $1 {The same motif of
the pin on the e <-> again.} (14... a4 15. Nbd4 a3 16. b3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxh2
18. g3 Qh5) 15. Nxe5 Re8 16. Nc4 (16. f4 Bg4) 16... Qb8 $1 17. Ne3 a4 $17 {
/\ a3}) 13... Bxe5 14. Nxe5 a4 15. Nc1 (15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Nd4 Qb6 $17) 15... a3
16. b3 {Now Black has always serious mating threats on b2.} Qa5 $1 17. c4 $6 {
opening up the << helps only for Black.} (17. Qe3 Nxe5 18. Qxe5 Ng4 $1 19. Qh5
h6 $1 $17 (19... Nf6 20. Qe5)) (17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Qe1 Qc7 $17 {and Black's
central pawns will move ahead.}) 17... dxc4 18. Nxc4 Qc7 $17 19. Rhe1 (19. Rd2
Nd5) 19... Nd5 20. Qd2 Ncb4 {The dark squares on the << are terribly weakened.}
21. Ne2 (21. f4 b5 $19) 21... Rxf2 (21... b5 {was also tempting.} 22. Ne3 Rxf2
23. Nxd5 Nxd5 $17) 22. Be4 b5 23. Qd4 (23. Ne3 Bb7 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Bf3 (25.
Bxd5 Bxd5) 25... Rxe2 $1 26. Bxe2 Nc3+ 27. Ka1 Nxd1 $19) 23... Rxe2 $1 {
liquidating for a very good _|_.} 24. Rxe2 bxc4 25. Bxd5 (25. bxc4 Rb8 $19)
25... Nxd5 26. bxc4 Ba6 27. Rc1 Nf4 28. Rd2 e5 29. Qe3 Bxc4 30. Ka1 Qf7 $19 31.
g3 Nd3 $5 {Perhaps this was not so necessary.} (31... Ng6 $19) 32. Rxd3 (32.
Qe4 Re8 33. Qxc4 Nxc1 34. Qxc1 e4 $19) 32... Bxd3 33. Qxd3 h6 34. Qb3 Qxb3 35.
axb3 {The R _|_ is lost because of the bad K.} Kf7 36. Rc6 a2 37. h4 Ra3 38. b4
e4 39. Rc4 e3 40. Re4 Kf6 41. g4 h5 $1 {clearing the way for the K.} 42. gxh5
Kf5 43. Re7 Kf4 44. b5 Rb3 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46. Re7+ Kd3 47. Rd7+ Kc2 48. Rc7+ Kd2
({or} 48... Rc3 49. Rxg7 Kb3 $19) 49. Kxa2 Rxb5 50. Rxg7 e2 51. Rd7+ Kc2 52.
Rc7+ Kd3 53. Re7 Rxh5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. Bg5 Bg7 8.
Qd2 Qa5 9. Rc1 h6 10. Bh4 Bf5 11. e3 Nc6 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Rfd8 14. Qb2 Qb6
15. Qa3 Qa5 16. Qxa5 Nxa5 17. Bxe7 Rdc8 18. Bxc5 Be6 19. Bb4 Nc4 20. e4 a5 21.
Be7 g5 22. d5 Bd7 23. Rfe1 b5 24. Nd4 Be5 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. exf5 f6 27. Red1 Kf7
28. d6 Ke8 29. Bxf6 Bxf6 30. d7+ Ke7 31. dxc8=N+ Rxc8 32. Rd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. Be3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ng4 12. Qxg4 exd4 13. Bg5 Qxg5 14. Qxg5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Nd2 O-O 10. c3 b5 11. a4 Rb8 12. axb5 axb5 13. b4 Bf6 14. Ra3 Ne5
15. Be2 d6 16. f4 Nc6 17. Bd3 Bd7 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Nf3 e5 20. f5 Qb7 21. Bc2 Ra8
22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bb3 Ne7 24. Bg5 Qc7 25. Rc1 Bc6 26. Rd1 Ra3 27. Bxf6 Rxb3 28.
Bxe7 Qxe7 29. Qd3 h6 30. Qxd6 Qa7+ 31. Kh1 Bxe4 32. Qxe5 Bxf3 33. gxf3 Qf2 34.
Qe4 Kh7 35. f6+ g6 36. Qd5 Kh8 37. Rg1 Rb2 38. Rxg6 Qxh2# 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Ng4 11. h3 Qb6 12. hxg4 Qxd4 13. g5 f5 14. Bf4 fxe4 15.
Qxd4 Bxd4 16. Rxe4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nc5 18. Rd4 Ne6 19. Bxd6 Nxd4 20. Bxf8 Nc2 21.
Rc1 Ne3 22. fxe3 Kxf8 23. e4 a5 24. Kf2 a4 25. Ke3 a3 26. Rb1 Ra5 27. Kf4 Kg7
28. Be2 h6 29. gxh6+ Kxh6 30. e5 Kg7 31. Bd3 Kf7 32. Rh1 Kg7 33. Rb1 Kf7 34. g4
g5+ 35. Kxg5 Rxe5+ 36. Kf4 Rc5 37. Rb3 Kf6 38. Rxa3 Rg5 39. Be2 Re5 40. Bf3 Rc5
41. Ra4 Be6 42. Rb4 b5 43. Be2 Re5 44. Rb2 bxc4 45. Bf3 Ke7 46. Kxe5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2566"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. Nd2 c6
9. a3 Bd7 10. b4 cxd5 11. cxd5 Nc7 12. O-O a5 13. b5 Be8 14. Rb1 Nd7 15. Nc4
Nc5 16. Be3 f5 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. b6 Na6 19. Nxa5 Nb8 20. Nc4 Nd7 21. Bd3 Rf6
22. Qb3 Ra6 23. a4 Nxb6 24. Nxe5 c4 25. Bxc4 Nxc4 26. Nxc4 b5 27. axb5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Rb1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Re8 11. Bf1 Qb6 12. Na4 Qc7 13. f3 Bd7 14. Nc3 d5 15.
cxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Rxe1 17. Qxe1 Bxd4+ 18. Be3 Qb6 19. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 20. Kh1 Re8
21. Qg3 Nb4 22. Rd1 Qe5 23. d6 Qxg3 24. hxg3 f5 25. Rd2 b5 26. Kg1 Kf7 27. a3
Nd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Rxd5 Ke6 30. Rd2 Rd8 31. Kf2 Bc6 32. Ke3 Rxd6 33. Rxd6+
Kxd6 34. Kd4 a5 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 h6 37. Bd3 Be8 38. Bc2 Bf7 39. Bd3 Be8 40.
Bf1 Bc6 41. f4 Be8 42. Bd3 Bc6 43. Be2 Be8 44. g4 fxg4 45. Bxg4 g5 46. fxg5
hxg5 47. g3 Bc6 48. Be2 Bd7 49. Ke4 Ke6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. b3 Kc8 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Rad1 a5 13. h3 h5 14. g3
Ra6 15. Bc1 Re8 16. Bg5 Bb4 17. Rd3 Ne7 18. Bxe7 Bxe7 19. Kg2 Bf5 20. Re3 Bxc2
21. Ne4 a4 22. Rc1 axb3 23. axb3 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 c5 25. Rf4 Rf8 26. g4 hxg4 27.
Rxg4 g6 28. h4 b5 29. Ng5 Ra3 30. Rg3 Kb7 31. Rf3 Kb6 32. Nh7 Re8 33. Rxf7 Rxb3
34. Rg7 Bxh4 35. Rxg6+ c6 36. f4 c4 37. Rh1 Rd8 38. Rxh4 Rd2+ 39. Kh1 Rb1+ 40.
Rg1 Rxg1+ 41. Kxg1 c3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
Bc6 9. Ba3 Na6 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bxc5 Nxc5 13. Rc1 Nb7 14. e4 O-O
15. Nd4 Rc8 16. Nxc6 dxc6 17. Qe2 Qc7 18. Rc2 Rfd8 19. Rfc1 h6 20. h3 Nd7 21.
Nf3 Qb6 22. e5 c5 23. Nd2 Na5 24. Nc4 Nxc4 25. Rxc4 Qc7 26. b4 Qxe5 27. Qxe5
Nxe5 28. Rxc5 Rxc5 29. bxc5 Rc8 30. c6 Rc7 31. f4 Nd7 32. Rd1 Nb6 33. Rd8+ Kh7
34. Kf2 g6 35. Ke3 Kg7 36. Kd4 Kf6 37. Re8 Re7 38. Rb8 Rc7 39. Rb7 Rxb7 40.
cxb7 Nd7 41. Bc6 Nb8 42. Kc5 Ke7 43. Bb5 f6 44. h4 g5 45. fxg5 fxg5 46. h5 e5
47. Kd5 Kd8 48. Kxe5 Kc7 49. Kf6 Kxb7 50. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. h3 a6 13. e4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Nd4 Ng6 16. Nf5 Bh2+ 17. Kh1 Be5 18. Be3 Nf4 19. Bc5 Rfd8 20. Bf1 g6 21. Nd4
Nd7 22. Be7 Re8 23. Bg5 Nf8 24. Nf3 Bg7 25. g3 N4e6 26. Be3 b4 27. Na4 c5 28.
Bg2 Rac8 29. Rac1 Qa5 30. b3 Nd4 31. Qd2 Bxe4 32. Nxd4 Bxg2+ 33. Kxg2 cxd4 34.
Bh6 Bxh6 35. Qxh6 Ne6 36. h4 Rxc1 37. Qxc1 Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qf3 39. Re1 d3 40. Nb2
Rd8 41. Re3 d2 42. Qd1 Qxd1+ 43. Nxd1 Rc8 44. Rd3 Rc2 45. Kf1 Rxa2 46. Ke2 Nc5
47. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 48. Kxd2 Nxb3+ 49. Kd3 Na5 50. Kd4 Nb7 51. Kd5 b3 52. Nb2 Kg7
53. Kc6 Nd8+ 54. Kb6 Kf6 55. Kxa6 Ke5 56. Kb5 Ke4 57. Kc4 Kf3 58. Nd3 b2 59.
Nxb2 Kxf2 60. Kd4 Kxg3 61. Ke5 Kxh4 62. Kf6 h5 63. Nd3 Kg3 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hug, Werner"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d5 7. O-O e6 8. Nc3
Nge7 9. e3 O-O 10. b3 b6 11. Qe2 a5 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Qd2 Nf5 14. Bf1 Bxf1 15.
Kxf1 Qd7 16. Ba3 Rfc8 17. Rac1 Rab8 18. Qe2 Nb4 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Na4 Nd6 21.
Nd2 Rc6 22. Nb2 Ra8 23. Nd3 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rxa2 25. Nxb4 Ra3 26. Kg2 Bf8 27. Nd3
Qb5 28. Rc2 Ne4 29. Nxe4 dxe4 30. Nc1 Qxe2 31. Rxe2 Ra1 {[#] WeiЯ laboriert an
seinem schlechten Springer und wьrde ihn wohl gern unter Bauernverlust und
Ьbergang ins Turmendspiel abtauschen.} 32. Rc2 (32. Na2 $5 f5 33. Rc2 Rb1 34.
b4 {und der Ьbergang ins Turmendspiel wдre nicht das schlechteste fьr WeiЯ.})
32... Rb1 33. Rc6 b5 (33... Ba3 34. Ne2 Rxb3 35. g4 $132 {[%csl Re4][%cal
Ge2g3]}) 34. g4 Rb2 35. Kg3 Bb4 36. Kf4 f5 37. g5 $2 (37. Ke5 $142 Rxf2 (37...
Kf7 38. Rxe6 Rc2 39. gxf5 gxf5 40. Rf6+ Ke8 41. Rxf5 Rxc1 42. Kxe4 $14) 38.
Kxe6 fxg4 39. Ke5 Rxh2 40. Kxe4 g3 41. Kf3 Be1 $19 {[%cal Rh2d2,Rg3g2]}) 37...
Rxf2+ (37... Rc2 $1 {[%csl Rc1,Rf4]} 38. Rxc2 Bd6#) 38. Ke5 Kf7 39. h4 Be7 40.
Ra6 Rf3 41. Ne2 Rxe3 42. Nf4 Rxb3 43. Rxe6 e3 44. Kd5 b4 45. Rb6 Rb2 46. Nd3 e2
47. Re6 (47. Ne5+ Kg8 (47... Ke8 48. Rb8+ Bd8 49. Nc6 e1=Q 50. Rxd8+ Kf7 51.
Ne5+ Qxe5+ 52. Kxe5 Re2+ 53. Kd6 $13) 48. Rb8+ Bf8 $19) 47... Ra2 48. Ne5+ Kf8
49. Nd7+ Ke8 50. Nf6+ Kf7 51. Nxh7 Ra5+ 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. exd4 d5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. c5
O-O 9. Bb5 h6 10. Bh4 Ne4 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Rc1 b6 13. c6 Nd6 14. O-O Qc7 15.
Ne5 f6 16. Ng4 a6 17. Bd3 Qxc6 18. Bb1 Qe8 19. Qd3 f5 20. Nxh6+ Kh7 21. Ng4 Kg8
22. Ne5 a5 23. Rfe1 Ba6 24. Qh3 Rc8 25. Re3 Rf6 26. Rce1 Rh6 27. Qf3 Ne4 28.
Qf4 g5 29. Rg3 Qh5 30. Nf3 Nxg3 31. Qxg3 g4 32. Ne5 Qg5 33. f4 Qh4 34. Nd7 Qxg3
35. hxg3 Nc6 36. Rd1 Kf7 37. Rd2 Rch8 38. Nxb6 Rh1+ 39. Kf2 Rf1+ 40. Ke3 Re1+
41. Kf2 Rhh1 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Unzicker, Wolfgang"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2432"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Rabinovich,Al"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 d5 8. Nc3
$6 {Rare continuation.8.cd5 is clearly better chance for white to fight for
opening advantage.The move in the text gives white at least nothing from the
opening.White finds himself uncapble to defend the c4-pawn and forced to
exchange on d5,after what black is ready to open the c-file and has a
promising position.} (8. cxd5 exd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 Ne4 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Qc2
Bf6 13. Nd2 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 Nd7 15. Nd3 Re8 16. Rac1 Nf8 17. Rc2 a5 18. h4 $14 {
[%cal Gf1c1,Gc1c7] 1-0 Pushkov,N-Loginov,V/Elista RUS 2001/The Week in Chess
339 (54)}) (8. Ne5 O-O 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bc3 Na6 11. Bb2 c5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nc3
Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qd5+ 16. Nf3 Bf6 17. Qd3 $1 {[%cal Ge2e4]} Qb7 18.
dxc5 Nxc5 19. Qe3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Bykhovsky,A-Psakhis,L/Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 (26)})
8... c6 $1 {Very presice move.After 8...0-0 white can play 9.cd5 and enter the
8.cd5 variation.} 9. Ne5 (9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qc2 Rc8 (10... dxc4 $5 $15) 11. e4
dxc4 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Bf4 h6 14. h3 Bb4 15. Nd2 b5 16. bxc4 bxc4 17. a3 Be7 18.
Na4 c5 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 $13 {1-0 Shariyazdanov,A-Prasad,D/Guntur, AP 2000/
CBM 77 (59)}) 9... Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 (10... Qxd7 $5 11. cxd5 cxd5 {[%cal
Gb8c6]}) 11. O-O (11. Rc1 Rc8 12. e4 $6 (12. cxd5 $5 {The game,probably.})
12... dxc4 13. Qe2 (13. bxc4 Bxc4 (13... e5 $5 $36) 14. Qa4 b5 15. Qxa7 c5 $17
{[%csl Ra7]}) 13... Nb8 $1 {Very nice move,holding an extra pawn.} 14. bxc4
Qxd4 15. Nb1 $17 {0-1 James,D-Rowson,J/Birmingham ENG 2001/The Week in Chess 
(26)}) 11... Rc8 {[%cal Gd5c4] Forcing white to exchange on d5.} 12. cxd5 cxd5
$15 {[%csl Rg2] Really harmless line for black.} 13. a4 $6 {[%csl Rb3,Rb4]} (
13. a3 $142 O-O 14. Re1 Nf6 15. b4 Bc4 16. Bf4 $11) 13... Nf6 14. Rc1 O-O 15.
Re1 (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qd2 Qe7 $17 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Ge7b4,Gb4d4,
Gb4b3,Gb4a3]}) 15... Qd7 16. Rc2 Rc6 17. Na2 (17. Qb1 Rfc8 18. b4 Rc4 19. b5
Bb7 $17 {[%cal Gc4d4,Gf6e4,Ge7b4,Gb4a3] The pin is very unpleasant for white.})
17... Rxc2 18. Qxc2 Rc8 {Black pieces take control all over the board.The B on
g2 which is usually one of white active pieces ,is out of the game.In addition
to that black controls the c-file and his bishops are placed very well.} 19.
Qb1 Ne4 $1 $17 20. Bxe4 $6 {White exepts the sacrafise.Black easily returns
the pawn and entering the winning ending.} (20. Bf4 $142 Bf6 21. Be5 Bxe5 22.
dxe5 Nc3 23. Nxc3 Rxc3 $17 {[%csl Rb3,Re5,Rg2]}) 20... dxe4 21. Qxe4 Bb7 22.
Qd3 Rd8 23. Be3 (23. Nb4 Qxd4 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. Nd3 Be4 $17 {[%csl Ge4,Ge7]})
23... e5 $17 24. d5 $6 (24. Rc1 exd4 25. Bf4 Bc6 {[%cal Gd7d5,Gf2f3,Gc6a4,
Gd5a2]} 26. f3 {With chances to hold the position.}) 24... Qxd5 25. Qxd5 Bxd5
26. Rb1 (26. Nc1 {[%cal Ge1d1]} Be6 $19 {[%cal Gd8c8,Gc8c3,Gc3c2]}) 26... Be4
27. Ra1 Bc2 28. b4 Rd1+ (28... Bxa4 $2 29. Nc3 Be8 30. Rxa7 Bxb4 31. Bxb6 Rd2
32. Ra8 Kf8 33. e4 $1 $11) 29. Rxd1 Bxd1 30. a5 {White prefers to loose the
pawn,but to leave pawns only on the K-side.} (30. Nc3 Bb3 31. b5 Bb4 32. Bd2 f6
$19 {[%cal Gg8f7,Gf7e6,Gb4c3,Gb3a4,Ga4b5]}) 30... Bxe2 31. axb6 axb6 32. Nc3
Bc4 33. b5 Bb4 34. Na4 Bxb5 35. Nxb6 f6 $19 {Now it is just the question of
technic.Black has a pare of bishops and an extra pawn,it is clearly enough.The
only thing black should be aware of is not to exchange too many pawns.} 36. Nd5
Bd6 37. Bd2 (37. f4 $142) 37... Kf7 38. Bb4 Bb8 39. Ba5 {White is trying by
force to exchange the dark-square bishops,that can make his difence easier,but
he falls in to the trap....} Bc4 40. Bc7 $4 (40. Ne3 $142 {And hope for
opponent mistakes.}) {[%tqu "En","Should black play 40...Ba7 or may be black
has something better?","","","b8c7","Very nice.Now white knight is in the trap.
",10]} 40... Bxc7 41. Nxc7 Ke7 {[%csl Ga6,Gb5,Gc4,Gd5,Ge6]} 42. Na8 Kd6 43. Nb6
Bb3 {[%csl Ga4,Gc4,Gd5]} 44. f3 (44. Nc8+ Kd7 45. Na7 {[%cal Gb3c4,Gb3a4]} Ba4
{[%csl Gb5,Gc6]} 46. f4 Kc7 $19 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Gc7b7]}) 44... Kc7 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 g6 {A passive system, if allowed
Black plans h5 and Bh6, exchanging his bad B. But this costs time and doesn't
fully compensate the weakening of Black's >>, as well as White's () and
chances to play on both flanks.} ({More usual is} 5... Be7 {later Black can
return to idea of the B-swap with 0-0, Ne8 and Bg5.}) 6. Be2 {White has more
than one way to get a comfortable position.} (6. Bd3 h5 $6 (6... Bg7 $142) 7.
Nge2 Bh6 8. Bxh6 Rxh6 9. Qd2 Rh8 10. O-O-O a6 11. Kb1 Qe7 12. Rdf1 Nbd7 13. g3
b6 14. Bc2 $1 Bb7 15. Ba4 O-O-O 16. Nc1 $1 h4 17. Nd3 Rh7 18. f4 hxg3 19. hxg3
Rdh8 20. Rxh7 Rxh7 21. Qe2 Kc7 22. Qf3 Ne8 23. Bxd7 Kxd7 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. b4
$1 cxb4 26. Na4 $40 {Stohl,I-Robatsch,K/AUT-chT2/1996/}) 6... a6 (6... h5 7.
Nf3 $142 (7. g3 Bh6 8. f4 (8. Bxh6 Rxh6 9. Qd2 Rh8 10. f4 h4 $132) 8... Nbd7 9.
Nf3 Qe7 10. Qc2 h4 11. Bd2 a6 12. O-O-O exf4 13. gxf4 Nh5 14. e5 Nxf4 15. exd6
Nxe2+ 16. Nxe2 Qxd6 17. Bxh6 Rxh6 18. Qd2 Rh8 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Nxh4 Bg4 21.
Rde1+ Kf8 $13 {Amura,C-Gonzalez Rodriguez,J/Matanzas/1992/}) 7... Bh6 (7... a6
8. O-O Be7 9. a3 h4 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Ne1 Nh5 12. Nd3 b6 13. Be3 Kf8 14. Rb1 Kg7
15. Qd2 g5 16. g3 Nf8 17. Qd1 $1 $18 {Dely,P-Koberl,F/HUN-ch Budapest/1965/})
8. Bxh6 Rxh6 9. Qd2 Rh8 10. O-O-O {[%cal Yf3e1,Ye1d3] /\Ne1-d3+/=}) ({More
often, but without great practical success Black plays} 6... Nbd7 7. g4 $5 (7.
Bg5 a6 8. a4 Be7 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Bh6 Re8 11. g4 $5 Kh8 12. Bd2 Ng8 13. h4 Bxh4
14. Qc1 Be7 15. a5 Ndf6 16. g5 Nd7 17. Na4 f6 18. gxf6 Ngxf6 19. Qc2 Ng8 20.
Ra3 Bg5 21. Nh3 Bxd2+ 22. Qxd2 $40 {Psakhis,L-Mestel,A/WChT U26 Graz/1981/})
7... h5 8. g5 Nh7 9. h4 Bg7 10. Nb5 Nb6 11. Be3 a6 12. Nc3 Rb8 13. a3 Nd7 14.
b4 b6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Bd3 f6 17. Nge2 fxg5 18. hxg5 Qd8 19. Qd2 O-O 20. Kd1 Rf7
21. Kc2 Rb7 22. Ng3 Ndf8 23. Be2 $36 {(),Azmaiparashvili,Z-Pons Sastre,S/
ESP-chT Cala Galdana/1994/}) 7. Bg5 $5 {A clever move, White tries to force
some concessions on the >> or prevent the aforementioned h5, Bh6 plan.} h6 (
7... Bg7 8. Qd2 (8. Nf3 $142 $5 h6 9. Bd2 $14) 8... h6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4
11. f3 Bc8 12. h4 $6 (12. g4 $13) 12... f5 13. g3 b5 $1 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Nxb5
fxe4 16. fxe4 Qd7 17. Nc3 Qg4 18. Nge2 Ba6 19. Rg1 Nd7 20. O-O-O Nf6 21. a3 h5
22. Rg2 O-O 23. Re1 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. Nc3 Qg4 $17 {Buj,P-Rossetto,H/
Buenos Aires/1958/}) (7... Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bh6 Re8 10. h3 $14) 8. Be3 h5 9.
Nf3 h4 $6 {Too ambitious.} (9... Bh6 $14 {can lead to a position we've already
mentioned above in the line with 6...h5.}) 10. Bg5 $1 Be7 {Loses a pawn, but
is hardly much worse than} (10... h3 11. g3 $16 {with a clear advantage.}) 11.
Bxh4 Bg4 $6 {Now White just remains with an extra pawn for no compensation.} (
11... Nxe4 $2 12. Bxe7 Nxc3 13. Bxd8 Nxd1 14. Bf6 $18) (11... Nxd5 $142 12.
Qxd5 (12. Nxd5 Bxh4 $13 {[%cal Yb8d4] /\Nc6-d4<=>}) 12... Bxh4 13. Nxe5 $1 Qe7
(13... O-O 14. Nxg6 Bxf2+ $5 15. Kxf2 Be6 16. Qxb7 fxg6+ 17. Ke1 $16) (13...
dxe5 $2 14. Qxe5+ $18) 14. Nf3 Be6 15. Qd2 Nc6 $16 {<=> was a better chance.})
12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nd2 $1 Bc8 $8 {Otherwise Bg4 exchanges the B.} 14. Bg4 Nd7
15. g3 Bg5 16. h4 Bh6 17. Qe2 (17. Bh3 $142 $5 $16 {/+- prevents even the
following move.}) 17... f5 $5 18. Bf3 (18. exf5 $143 Nf6 {/\gf5+/=}) 18... Nf6
19. h5 gxh5 (19... Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 g5 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. g4 $18) 20. Bxh5+ Kf8
21. Bf3 {White wants to play it safe.} (21. Bg6 $5 fxe4 22. Ndxe4 Kg7 23. Nxf6
Qxf6 24. Bd3 $40 {[%cal Rc3e4,Ye1g2] /\Ne4,Kf1-g2}) 21... Kg7 22. Kf1 f4 $5 {
Black rightly tries to keep the position closed.} (22... Bxd2 23. Rxh8 Qxh8 24.
Qxd2 $16 {/+-}) 23. Kg2 fxg3 (23... Bd7 $142 $1 $16 {/\Qe8-g6 is more in
keeping with the previous move and gives more chances to hold out.}) 24. fxg3
Bd7 25. Nf1 Qe8 26. Ne3 Qg6 (26... Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Qg6 28. Raf1 $16) 27. Nf5+ $1
$40 {[%mdl 1056] White prefers a huge strategical advantage to a material one.
After he returns the pawn in the ^- position his B will be a powerful
attacking piece.} Bxf5 28. exf5 Qxf5 29. Ne4 {[%csl Gf3,Rh6]} Qg6 (29... Nxe4
30. Bxe4 Qg5 31. Rh4 $40 {/\} Qd2 32. Qxd2 Bxd2 33. Rg4+ Kf8 34. Rf1+ Ke8 35.
Rg7 $18) 30. Nxf6 (30. Nxd6 $2 Bf4 $132) 30... Qxf6 31. Be4 Raf8 32. Raf1 Qg5
$8 (32... Qe7 33. Qg4+ Bg5 34. Rxf8 Rxh1 35. Rf5 $18) 33. Rh5 Qd2 $8 {Black's
moves are all forced, but even the _|_ is hopeless.} 34. Qxd2 Bxd2 35. Rxf8
Rxf8 (35... Rxh5 36. Rb8 a5 37. Rxb7+ Kf8 38. Rd7 Rh6 39. Kf3 Ke8 40. Ra7 $18)
36. Rh7+ Kg8 37. Rxb7 Be3 38. Rb6 Rf2+ 39. Kh3 a5 40. Kg4 $1 {The ><d6 won't
run away, White first improves his position.} a4 (40... Rf6 41. Bf5 Kf8 42. Be6
Ke7 43. Ra6 Bd2 44. Ra7+ Ke8 45. Rd7 e4 46. Rxd6 e3 47. Bd7+ $18) 41. a3 Kf7 (
41... Rf6 42. Bc2 $5 $18) 42. Rxd6 $18 Rxb2 43. Ra6 Rb3 44. Kf5 $1 Rxa3 45.
Ra7+ (45. Ra7+ Ke8 (45... Kg8 46. Kg6 Kf8 47. d6 Ke8 48. Bc6+ $18) 46. d6 {
/\Bc6,Ke6+-}) 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2827"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {McShane} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3
c5 8. a4 b4 9. Ne4 Nbd7 {Man beachte, dass nun mit Zugumstellung aus dem
angenommenen Damengambit eine Variante aus dem Semi-Slawisch entstanden ist.
Die "normale" Zugfolge zu dieser Stellung ist 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3
e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.a4 b4 10.Ne4 c5.} 10. Nxf6+ (10.
Ned2) 10... Nxf6 11. O-O (11. dxc5) (11. b3) 11... Bb7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Qe2
Qd5 14. Rd1 Qh5 15. h3 Rd8 16. Nd4 Qd5 17. Nf3 Ke7 $15 18. e4 $5 {Man kann
festhalten, dass die Erцffnung alles andere als ein Erfolg fьr WeiЯ gewesen
ist. Um seinen Figuren Luft zu geben, entschlieЯt sich Kramnik daher zu einem
Bauernopfer, dass von unerwartetem Erfolg gekrцnt ist.} Nxe4 19. Be3 Bxe3 20.
Qxe3 Qc5 21. Qe1 Nf6 22. Rac1 Qb6 23. Ne5 Rd4 $2 {Nun wendet sich das Blatt
dramatisch.} ({Nach} 23... Nd5 {muss WeiЯ erst noch die Kompensation fьr den
Bauern nachweisen.}) 24. Bxa6 $1 {Eine starkes Figurenopfer, aber es ging auch
prosaischer:} (24. Nc4 Rxc4 (24... Qc5 $2 25. Ne3 {nebst Nf5+.}) 25. Rxc4 $16 {
mit einer Mehrqualitдt, aber noch gewissen technischen Schwierigkeiten.}) 24...
Rxd1 (24... Bxa6 {McShane} 25. Rxd4 Qxd4 26. Nc6+) 25. Rxd1 Bxa6 (25... Qxa6
26. Qxb4+ Ke8 27. Rd6 Nd5 (27... Qa7 28. Qb5+ (28. Rb6 {McShane and Rb8 when
the bishop moves is decisive.}) 28... Ke7 29. Rb6 Rb8 30. Qc5+ Ke8 31. Rxe6+
$18) 28. Rxa6 Nxb4 29. Rb6 $18) 26. Qxb4+ {'!!' McShane.} Qxb4 27. Nc6+ Kf8 28.
Rd8+ Ne8 29. Nxb4 $18 {McShane: 'Kasparov is a piece for a pawn up but the
bishop is very short of squares and the a-pawn is a huge threat. Kramnik has a
winning position.' Fьr das Figurenopfer hat WeiЯ zwei schnelle Freibauern aum
Damenflьgel, gegen die die eingeklemmten schwarzen Figuren machtlos sind.} Be2
(29... Ke7 30. Nc6+ Kf6 31. b4 $18 {, und die weiЯen Bauern laufen durch.}) (
29... Bc4 30. Rc8 Bd5 31. Nxd5 exd5 32. a5 $18) 30. f3 {McShane: 'Preventing
Bh5 and adding the option of Kg1-f2'} h5 31. b3 $1 {McShane: 'A quiet move to
take the last square away from the bishop. Once material is equal again the
pawns can advance at leisure.'  Die einfachste Lцsung. Der Be2 wird einfach
abgeklemmt.} Rh6 32. Kf2 Rg6 33. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 34. Kd3 Rg3 35. a5 Rxf3+ 36. Kc4
1-0

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 36]} 1. d4 {Winants. Ftacnik} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 {Das ist eine kleine
Ьberraschung - Kramnik spielt selten die Katalanische Verteidigung.} d5 4. Bg2
Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {Auf GroЯmeisterebene wird dieser Zug oft gespielt.
Er bringt Schwarz in die Nдhe des Ausgleichs.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 {Winants:
'L'une des grandes variantes du dйbut catalan. Les Blancs contrфlent la grande
diagonale vers b7 et disposent d'un avantage d'espace.'} Bd7 {Winants: 'La
mйthode consacrйe : Les Noirs y projettent de contrecarrer l'action du Bg2
puis d'йliminer le pion central via c5.'} 9. Qxc4 (9. Rd1) 9... Bc6 10. Bg5 {
Natьrlich spielt ein so starker Spieler wie Kramnik nicht 10.Nc3?. Danach
kцnnte sich Schwarz mit 10...b5! bereits Vorteil verschaffen, denn nach dem
Zug der Dame wьrde b5-b4 mit Tempo folgen.} Bd5 11. Qc2 (11. Qd3 c5) 11... Be4
12. Qd1 {Es ist schwer zu beurteilen, welcher Zug besser ist - 12.Qc1 oder der
Textzug.} (12. Qc1) 12... c5 {Winants: 'Tout cela figure dans les manuels
thйoriques. Les Noirs ont pratiquement йgalisй.'} 13. dxc5 (13. Nbd2 Bc6 14.
dxc5 (14. Nb3 Nbd7 $11) 14... Bxc5 15. Nb3 Be7 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Na5 Bd5 18.
Ne5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Donev,I/Austria 1996/CBM 57 ext/[Donev] (53)}) 13...
Bxc5 {Dieser Zug ist - natьrlich - viel logischer als der Damentausch auf d1.
Es ist interessant, dass Kramnik in dieser Stellung selbst schon einmal 13..
Qxd1?! gespielt hat.} (13... Qxd1 $6 14. Rxd1 Bxc5 15. Nc3 $14 {1/2-1/2
Khalifman,A-Kramnik,V/Dortmund 2000/CBM 78 (15)} (15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Ne5 $14)) (
13... h6 $5) 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 {Winants: 'La partie semble s'acheminer vers une
nullitй ennuyeuse, mais il n'en est rien car les Noirs doivent encore rйsoudre
quelques problиmes de dйveloppement.'} 15. Nbd2 {Mit diesem Springerzug
gewinnt WeiЯ ein Tempo.} Bc6 {Winants: 'Ce Fou prend la case naturelle du Nb8'}
(15... Bd5 $2 16. e4 Bc6 17. e5 h6 18. Bh4 $16) 16. Nb3 Nbd7 {Ftacnik:
'Achieving any advantage for white in this tough variation is quite a
challenge.'} (16... Bb4 $5 17. Rfc1 Nbd7 18. Bd2 Bxd2 19. Nfxd2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2
Rdc8 $1 (20... Ne5 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Rxc4 Ne8 23. Rac1 Kf8 24. Rb4 Rab8 25. Nc5
$14 {1-0 Savchenko,S-Stefansson,H/2 IECC, Ohrid 2001 (38)}) 21. Nc4 Rab8 22.
Nca5 g5 23. Kf1 Kf8 24. Ke1 {1/2-1/2 Savchenko,S-Pigusov,E/Ohrid 2001/CBM
84_01 (24)}) (16... Be7 $5 17. Na5 ({Supposons :} 17. Rfc1 {Winants} Bd5 18.
Nfd4 Nc6 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Na5 {Et les Blancs conservent quelques atouts.})
17... Bd5 18. Ne1 {'?!' Winants.} Bxg2 19. Nxg2 Nc6) 17. Rfc1 (17. Nxc5 Nxc5
$11 {WeiЯ hat zwar das Lдuferpaar, aber der Pa4 ist schwach; zudem
kontrolliert Schwarz die wichtigsten Felder.}) (17. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} gxf6 18.
Rfd1 (18. Nxc5 {Ftacnik} Nxc5 19. a5 Nb3 20. Ra3 Bd5 $15) 18... Bb4 $11) 17...
Bb6 (17... Bb4 $5 {[%csl Gb4]}) (17... Ba7 $5) 18. Nfd2 $5 {'!' Winants. WeiЯ
hat nichts besseres - er muss seinen katalanischen Lдufer gegen den starken
Bc6 abtauschen.} (18. a5 {Ftacnik} Ba7 19. e3 h6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Nfd4 Bxg2
22. Kxg2 Nd5 23. Nc5 Rdc8 $15) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 $11 {WeiЯ hat nur eine
mikroskopische kleine Initiative - Schwarz hat keine Schwдchen. Ich mцchte
aber an dieser Stelle darauf hinweisen, dass Kramnik in solch "langweiligen"
Stellungen vielleicht der stдrkste Spieler der Welt ist. Winants: 'Menaзant
dйjа de s'infiltrer sur la septiиme traverse via a5, puis Rc7.'} Rdc8 {Winants:
'[#]'} (19... Rac8) 20. Bxf6 {'!' Winants. Winants: 'Kramnik prйpare le siиge
des pions de l'aile Dame (b7 et a6) : Donc cet йchange qui permet de jouer
avec deux piиces mineures contre une sur les cases blanches.'} Nxf6 (20... gxf6
21. Ne4 $14) 21. Nc4 Bc7 22. Nc5 {[%csl Gc4,Gc5]} Rab8 $6 {Dieser Zug ist ein
wenig passiv. Winants: 'Un choix difficile :'} (22... b5 $5 $11 23. Nd2 Bd6 24.
Ndb3 Kf8) (22... b6 {Winants йchouait sur le sacrifice du Cavalier :} 23. Nxa6
$3 {On voit de quelles pointes sont йmaillйes des coups d'apparences anodines.}
Rxa6 24. Nd6 Bxd6 ({Si} 24... Rd8 {Winants} 25. Rxc7 Rxd6 26. Rc8+ {et le mat
du couloir}) ({ou} 24... Raa8 {Winants} 25. Nxc8 Rxc8 26. Rc6 {avec un clouage
dйcisif.}) 25. Rxc8+ Bf8 26. Rd1 h5 27. Rdd8 Nh7 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Rxa8 Nf6 30.
b4 {Et le pion passй gagnera bientфt une qualitй.}) ({Cependant} 22... b5 $5 {
Winants valait peut-кtre mieux.}) 23. b4 {Winants: 'Les Noirs sont rйduits а
l'expectative. Remarquez comment les Cavaliers blancs parviennent а dominer le
Fou des Noirs.'} Kf8 24. Rab1 {Winants: 'Pour effectuer une percйe sur b5.'}
Ke7 (24... b5 25. Nxa6 {'!?' Ftacnik.} bxc4 26. Nxb8 Bxb8 27. b5 $16 {[%csl
Ga4,Gb5]}) 25. b5 Bd8 {Winants: 'Il ne lui reste que la huitiиme rangйe !'} (
25... axb5 26. Rxb5) 26. Nd3 {Winants: 'Vers l'avant-poste e5.'} axb5 27. Rxb5
$14 {[%csl Gb5,Gc1,Gc4,Gd3] WeiЯ hat eine aktive Figurenstellung und
Initiative am Damenflьgel.} b6 $6 (27... Nd7 $1 28. a5 Rc7) (27... Nd7 {
Winants Offrait de meilleures possibilitйs. Le coup choisi affaiblit c6
inutilement.}) 28. Nde5 {Winants: 'La tвche des Noirs se complique : Il faut
maintenant tenir compte de toute une sйrie de petites menaces dйsagrйables :
Le doublement des Tours sur la colonne -b-, le sacrifice sur f7, la fourchette
sur c6 etc.'} Kf8 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Ftacnik: 'Gelfand makes a serious mistake
and the punishment will be severe. In the endgame without a pawn black 's
chances for survival are not great.' Winants: 'Une faute dans une position
difficile. [#]'} (28... Ne4 $5 29. Rd1 {[%cal Rd1d7,Rd7e7]} f6 (29... Rb7 30.
Rd4 $16) 30. Rd7+ Ke8 (30... Kf8 31. Rxd8+ Rxd8 32. Nc6 $16) 31. Rd4 Nc3 32.
Nd6+ Ke7 (32... Kf8 $4 33. Nd7+ $18) 33. Nxc8+ Rxc8 34. Rd7+ $5 (34. Rc4 Rxc4
35. Nxc4 Nxb5 36. axb5 $11) 34... Ke8 35. Rb4 g5 $132 (35... fxe5 36. Rxg7 $36)
36. Rxd8+ Kxd8 37. Nd3 $11) 29. Nxb6 $1 {Mit diesem Zug gewinnt WeiЯ einen
Bauern. Winants: 'Premiиre rйcolte !'} Rxc1 {Winants: 'Le moindre mal : Si'} (
29... Bxb6 {Ftacnik} 30. Rxb6 Rxb6 31. Rxc8+ Ke7 32. Ra8 $16) 30. Nbd7+ {
[%cal Rd7b8,Rd7f8]} Nxd7 (30... Ke8 {Ftacnik} 31. Nxb8 Bc7 32. Nd3 $16) 31.
Nxd7+ Ke8 32. Nxb8 $16 {[%mdl 4096] WeiЯ hat einen Bauern mehr, und sein
a-Freibauer ist stark. Aber die Realisierung des Materialvorteils ist nicht
leicht, weil Schwarz mit seinen Turm und Lдufer einige Gegenchancen hat.} Rc8
33. Na6 Rc2 {Winants: 'Pour conduire la Tour derriиre le pion passй.'} (33...
Ra8 {Ftacnik} 34. Nc5 $16) 34. e3 Ra2 {[%csl Ga2][%cal Ga2h2,Ga2a4] Der
schwarze Turm steht aktiv auf a2. Er kontrolliert gleichzeitig den a-Bauern
und die weiЯen Bauern am Kцnigsflьgel. Ohne Springer und Lдufer wдre dieses
Endspiel ьbrigens theoretisch Remis.} 35. Nc5 {Winants: 'Sans les piиces
mineures, les Noirs auraient encore de bonnes chances nullitй. D'ailleurs la
faзon dont Kramnik parvient а forcer le gain en harcelant continuellement le
Fou se rйvиle particuliиrement instructive.'} Bc7 (35... Be7 $2 36. Rb8+ Bd8
37. Nb7 $18) 36. Rb7 Kd8 (36... Bd6 37. Ne4 Be7 38. Ra7 $16) 37. Rb4 Ke7 (37...
Bd6 38. Nb7+ Kc7 39. Nxd6 Kxd6 40. Rb7 $18 {[%cal Rb7h7]} Rxa4 41. Rxf7 Rg4 42.
f4 $18) 38. Ne4 f5 39. Rb7 {Winants: 'Voilа : la Tour doit abandonner la case
a2.'} Rc2 (39... fxe4 40. Rxc7+ Kf6 41. Rc4 (41. Ra7 $16) 41... Kf5 42. h3 $16)
(39... Kd7 $2 {Winants} 40. Nc3 Rc2 41. Nb5 {Et gagne.}) 40. Ng5 h6 41. Nf3 {
[%cal Gf3d4] Winants: 'Vers d4 puis b5'} Kf6 42. Nd4 Rc4 43. Nb5 (43. Nb3 $16 {
[%cal Ga4a5]}) 43... Be5 (43... Bd8 {Ftacnik} 44. Rf7+ Kg6 45. Ra7 $18) 44. f4
(44. a5 $16) 44... Bc3 {Winants: '[#]'} (44... Rc2+ {Ftacnik} 45. Kf3 Ba1 46.
h4 $18) 45. Rf7+ $1 {Ftacnik: 'Kramnik is right to exchange rooks, with light
pieces the proces of advantage conversion will be much easier.'} Kxf7 (45...
Kg6 46. Ra7 $16 (46. Rc7 $18 {Ftacnik})) 46. Nd6+ {[%cal Rd6c4,Rd6f7]} Ke7 47.
Nxc4 {[%csl Ga4] Wenn sich an beiden Flьgeln Bauern befinden, ist der Lдufer
gewцhnlich wertvoller als der Springer. Hier aber hat WeiЯ einen Mehrbauern
und dank seines entfernten Freibauerns gute Gewinnchancen.} Kd7 48. Kf3 Kc6 49.
e4 {Winants: 'Ouvre un second front pour prendre la dйfense а contre-pied.'}
Kc5 50. Ne5 fxe4+ (50... Kb4 51. Nd7 Kxa4 52. Nc5+ $16) (50... Bxe5 {Ftacnik}
51. fxe5 fxe4+ 52. Kxe4 Kc4 53. a5 Kb5 54. Kd4 $18) 51. Kxe4 Kb4 52. Nc6+ Kxa4
{Winants: 'Les Noirs ont йliminй le danger а l'aile Dame, mais les problиmes
surgissent de l'autre cфtй de l'йchiquier.'} 53. Nd4 Kb4 (53... Bxd4 54. Kxd4
$18) 54. Nxe6 {[%csl Rb4] WeiЯ hat einen Bauern mehr, aber das Material ist
reduziert. Das Hauptproblem fьr Schwarz besteht darin, dass sein Kцnig
hoffnungslos weit von seinen Bauern entfernt ist.} Kc4 (54... Kb5 55. Kf5 Kc6
56. Kg6 $18) 55. g4 Bf6 56. h3 {Winants: 'Zugzwang !'} Bb2 (56... Kb5 {Winants}
57. Kd5) (56... g6 {Winants} 57. g5 hxg5 58. fxg5 Be7 59. h4 {puis Nf4}) 57. h4
Bc3 58. f5 Bb2 {Winants: '[#]'} 59. Nxg7 $1 $18 {Ftacnik: 'The march of white
pawns is unstoppable, due to their ability to queen they are more valuable
than the knight.' Nach diesem Springeropfer ist Schwarz verloren - die weiЯen
Bauern gewinnen. Winants: 'Une conclusion йlйgante !'} (59. g5 $18 {Ftacnik})
59... Bxg7 60. g5 1-0

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sadvakasov, Darmen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 bxc6 {Kramnik
decides to go for this rare theoretical line.The main line starts with 6...dc.}
7. Nc3 Ne7 (7... d6 8. Bd3 Ne7 9. O-O Qh4 10. Na4 Bb6 11. Qg5 (11. Kh1 $5)
11... Qxg5 12. Bxg5 f6 13. Bd2 Kf7 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. a4 Ba6 16. a5 Bxd3 17.
cxd3 bxa5 18. Rxa5 Rhb8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sadvakasov,D-Timoscenko,G/Istanbul 2000/
EXT 2001 (45)}) 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Ng6 10. Na4 (10. Kh1 Bd4 11. f4 Bxc3 12. bxc3
d6 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Qxe5 15. Ba3 Rd8 16. Rae1 Qd5 17. c4 Qd4 18. Qb4 Be6
19. Bb2 c5 20. Qa3 Qd6 21. Qc3 Qd4 22. Qa3 Qd6 23. Qc3 {1/2-1/2 Borgo,
G-Skembris,S/Bozen 1998/CBM 65 ext (23)}) 10... Bd6 11. g3 Re8 $146 (11... a5
12. c3 Ne5 13. f4 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Ba6 15. c4 Qe6 16. b3 Be7 17. Bb2 f5 18. Qd4
Rf7 19. e5 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Rfc1 c6 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. Qxc5 $14 {1-0 Grosar,
K-Krivec,J/Porec 1998/EXT 99 (45)}) 12. Qe3 Bb7 13. Bd2 $6 (13. f4 Bf8 (13...
c5 14. c4 $14 {[%cal Ya4c3]}) 14. Bd2 d5 15. e5 Qe7 16. b4 {The whole game
revolves around the square c5. If white manages to control and blockade it, he
will have a better position.} f6 17. Nc5 Bc8 18. Rae1 fxe5 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20.
fxe5 $14) 13... Ne5 14. Bc3 (14. Be2 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Qe6 $132 {[%cal Ye5c4,
Ye5g4]} 15. Nc5 $2 Bxc5 16. Qxc5 {[%tqu "En","Please enter a move for black.",
"","","b7a6","",8]} Ba6 $1 17. Qe3 (17. Bxa6 Nf3+ 18. Kg2 Nxd2 19. Rfe1 Nxe4
20. Qd4 c5 21. Qd3 Qf5 $17) 17... Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Qc4 $17) 14... Qf3 $1 $11 15.
Qxf3 Nxf3+ 16. Kg2 Ne5 17. Bxe5 (17. Be2 $6 c5 18. f3 Bc6 $15) 17... Rxe5 18.
f4 Ree8 19. e5 Bf8 (19... c5+ $6 20. Kf2 Bf8 21. Nc3 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Yd3e4]})
20. Rae1 d6 21. Re3 Re7 22. Be4 {[%cal Ye3a3]} dxe5 ({Worse is} 22... Rae8 $6 {
as after} 23. Rfe1 g6 24. Bf3 Bg7 25. Rb3 Ba8 26. Ra3 $1 dxe5 27. Nc5 {[%csl
Ra8] black's light squares bishop may be in trouble.}) 23. fxe5 g6 24. Bf3 $6 (
{The most precise way to equality was} 24. Nc5 Rxe5 25. Nxb7 Rb8 26. Ree1 $1 {
This move was probably overlooked by Sadvakasov.} Rxb7 27. Bxc6 Rxe1 28. Bxb7
$11) 24... Re6 {[%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5]} 25. Rd1 (25. Rb3 $6 Ba6) 25... Rae8 26.
Rd7 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxc7 Re7 {Kramnik managed to exploit white's
inaccuracy and capture white's central pawn in exchange for one of his double
pawns. However with careful defense white should hold the position.} 29. Rxe7
Bxe7 {=/+^^} 30. Kf2 f5 31. c4 Kf7 32. c5 $1 a5 33. a3 ({White's king
shouldn't "rush" into the center, because after} 33. Ke3 Ke6 34. Kd4 {white
will get an annoying check} Bf6+ {and will have to go back...}) 33... Ke6 34.
b4 axb4 35. axb4 Ke5 (35... Bg5 $6 36. Nb2 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Gb2c4,Gc4a5]}) 36.
Ke3 Bg5+ 37. Kd3 Ba6+ 38. Kc2 (38. Kc3 $142 Bb5 39. Nb6 {and white shouldn't
be worse because of the weakness of Pc6.}) 38... Kd4 39. Nc3 $2 {A fatal
mistake after which white's position can not be saved.} (39. Bxc6 Kc4 40. Bd7
$1 (40. Nb2+ Kxb4 41. Nd3+ Kc4 42. Be8 Kd4 $17) 40... Kxb4 41. c6 {and a draw
is the most likely result.}) 39... Bd3+ 40. Kb3 Bc4+ 41. Kc2 Bd3+ 42. Kb3 Bd2
43. Nd1 (43. Ne2+ Ke3 44. Nf4 Bb5 45. Bd1 (45. Ne6 Kxf3 46. Nd4+ Kg2 47. Nxb5
f4 $1 48. Nd6 f3 49. Ne4 Be1 $19) 45... Kf2 46. Ne6 Be3 $19) 43... Be4 44. Be2
Bd5+ 45. Ka4 g5 46. b5 Kxc5 47. bxc6 Bxc6+ 48. Kb3 Kd4 {The difference between
the kings is amazing!} 49. Bf1 Be1 {The black pieces are totally dominating.}
50. Be2 g4 $1 51. Ba6 h5 52. Kc2 Be4+ 53. Kc1 Bf3 54. Bc8 f4 55. gxf4 h4 56. f5
g3 57. hxg3 hxg3 {[%mdl 4096] The main "chess" reason for white's loss in this
game was the fact that he was playing "without a king".} 0-1

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 c6 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bh4 Qb6 5. b3 (5. Qc1 g5 (5... Bf5 6. c4 e6 7.
Nc3 Be7 8. Bg3 Nf6 9. e3 (9. c5 Qd8 10. e3 O-O 11. h3 Nbd7 12. b4 Ne4 13. Nxe4
Bxe4 14. Nd2 Bg6 15. Qc3 Bh4 16. Bd6 Re8 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 e5 19. O-O a6
20. a4 e4 21. Qe2 Re6 $11 {1-0 Hodgson,J-Turner,M/Kilkenny IRL 1999 (38)}) 9...
Nbd7 (9... O-O 10. Be2 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. O-O Nd7 13. Nd2 Bg6 14. c5 Qd8 15.
b4 a6 16. Nb3 Bf6 17. Na5 $14) 10. c5 Qd8 11. Be2 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. b4 Bxf3
14. gxf3 Bh4 15. f4 Bxg3 16. hxg3 b6 17. g4 bxc5 18. bxc5 Qa5+ 19. Qd2 Qxd2+
20. Kxd2 Ke7 21. Rhb1 Rhb8 22. Rb3 Kd8 23. Ba6 Kc7 24. Rab1 $16 {Hodgson,
J-Abdulla,A/Scarborough 1999/CBM 71}) (5... Bg4 6. Nbd2 Nd7 7. e3 e6 8. c4 Be7
9. Bg3 Ngf6 10. Bd3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Qa5+ 12. Nd2 $14) 6. Bg3 g4 7. Ne5 Qxd4 8. c4
Bg7 9. e3 Qc5 10. Nd2 Nd7 11. Nd3 $14) 5... Bf5 6. e3 e6 (6... Qa5+ 7. Qd2
Qxd2+ 8. Kxd2 g5 9. Bg3 Nf6 10. Bd3 Ne4+ 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Ne1 Nd7 13. f3 Bh7
14. Nd3 e6 15. Nc3 Rg8 16. e4 f6 $11 {Thorfinnsson,B-Markowski,T/Reykjavik ISL
2000/The Week in Chess}) (6... Nd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Ngf6 9. O-O e6 10. Nbd2
Be7 11. c4 O-O $132) 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Be7 9. Bxe7 Nxe7 10. c4 Nd7 (10... O-O
11. c5 Qc7 12. b4 a6 13. Nc3 Nd7 $11 {[%cal Ge6e5]}) 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O Qa6 (
12... Rad8 13. Rfd1 dxc4 14. bxc4 e5 15. a4 $6 exd4 16. exd4 Ng6 {[%cal Gd7e5]}
(16... Nc5 17. dxc5 Rxd3 18. cxb6 Rxc3 19. Rd7 $16) 17. Ne4 Qa6 (17... Nde5 18.
Nxe5 Nxe5 $11) 18. Qb3 b6 19. a5 $5 $14 {Agdestein,S-Olafsson,H/Reykjavik 2000/
CBM 79}) (12... Rfd8 13. Rfd1 Nf6 14. Rac1 Ng6 15. h3 Qb4 16. Qb1 Qe7 $11 {
Adams,M-Dautov,R/Pula 1997/CBM 57}) 13. Rfd1 (13. a4 Rfd8 14. Rfd1 Rac8 15. a5
c5 16. Nb5 Nc6 17. Qc3 cxd4 18. exd4 Nf6 19. Qe1 Ne4 $15 {Rozentalis,E-Sulypa,
A/Bad Wiessee 1999/EXT 2001}) 13... Rfd8 (13... Rac8 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. cxd5
Qxd3 16. Rxd3 cxd5 17. Rdd1 Nf5 $11 {Gerber,R-Tukmakov,V/Geneve 1999/CBM 68}) (
13... Nb6 14. Rdc1 dxc4 15. Qf1 Nd7 16. bxc4 c5 17. d5 Rad8 18. Rab1 $14 {
Hodgson,J-Adianto,U/Amsterdam 1996/CBM 55}) 14. Rab1 $6 {Of course this move
is not a mistake, but rook has nothing to do b1 that's why deserves attention
14.Rac1 with Qb1 on the next move as was played by Hodgson.} (14. Rac1 Nf5 15.
Qb1 Ne7 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Qa5 18. c5 Qc7 19. Nd6 b6 20. b4 $14 {Hodgson,
J-Sergejev,R/Pula 1997/CBM 57}) 14... b6 15. Qf1 (15. e4 $5 dxe4 16. Qxe4 Nf6
17. Qe2 Nf5 $11) 15... Rac8 16. Rd2 $6 {[%csl Rd2] White starts to play
without plan and suddenly finds himself in inferior position. Morozevich can't
admit that there is no chanse to get an opening advantage and the draw is the
most logical rsult after such opening varition.} Nf6 17. Ne5 $6 (17. cxd5 Qxf1+
18. Kxf1 Nexd5 {[%csl Rc3]} 19. Nxd5 (19. Rc2 Nb4 20. Rd2 c5 $15) 19... cxd5
20. Rbb2 Rc1+ (20... Ne4 21. Rdc2 $11) 21. Ne1 Rdc8 22. Rbc2 $11) 17... dxc4
18. Nxc4 $6 (18. bxc4 $5 c5) 18... Ned5 $15 {White pieces lack coordination
and black siezes the initiative.} 19. Rc2 $2 {Missing 21th move of black. It
was time to simplify a position with} (19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Ne5 Qxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Ne4
$15 {and although black's chanses are preferable the player of Morozevich's
level should hold this endgame without too many problems.}) 19... Nxc3 20. Rxc3
c5 21. dxc5 b5 $1 $19 {[%cal Gf6e4,Ge4d2] There is no satisfactory defense
against Ne4-d2} 22. Ne5 (22. Nd6 Rxd6 23. cxd6 Rxc3 $19) 22... Ne4 23. Rd3 Nd2
24. Rxd8+ (24. Rxd2 Rxd2 25. b4 Qxa2 $19 {[%cal Ga2d5]}) (24. Qd1 Rxd3 25. Nxd3
Nxb1 26. Qxb1 Qc6 $19 {[%cal Gc6e4,Gc8d8]}) 24... Rxd8 25. Rd1 (25. Qd1 Qxa2
26. Rc1 (26. Nc6 Nf3+ $1 27. gxf3 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Qxb3 29. Rd8+ Kh7 30. Nxa7 Qa3
(30... Qa4 $5) 31. Nxb5 Qxc5 32. Rb8 Qg5+ $19) 26... Qb2 $1 27. c6 Nf3+ 28.
Nxf3 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qc2 $19) 25... Nxf1 26. Rxd8+ Kh7 27. c6 (27. Kxf1 Qxa2 28.
Nxf7 Qb1+ 29. Ke2 Qc2+ $19) 27... Qa5 $1 {[%cal Ga5e1]} 0-1

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sadvakasov, Darmen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4
Nc6 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. Rd1 Bd6 10. dxc5 {'!' Ftacnik.} Bxc5 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 e5
13. Nc3 $1 $146 {[%cal Gc3d5] Ftacnik: 'The novelty in a well known position,
white would gladly save a tempo usually used for a modest prophylactic move h3.
'} (13. h3 Qe7 (13... e4 14. Nfd2 (14. Ng5 h6 (14... Qe7 15. Nd2 Bf5 16. Nf1
Bg6 17. Ng3 Bb4 18. h4 Rfd8 19. Nh3 h6 20. Nf4 Bh7 21. Ngh5 Ne8 22. g3 Qc5 23.
Nd5 Bf5 24. Nhf4 $36 {1-0 Pigg,H-Wikman,B/FIN-ch corr 1997/Corr 2000 (36)}) 15.
Bxf6 hxg5 16. Bb2 Ne5 17. Nc3 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Be6 19. Nd5 Qc6 20. Rac1 Rad8 21.
Qc3 f6 22. Nxf6+ gxf6 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Qxf6 $18 {1-0 Zhukova,N-Skripchenko,A/
Belgrade YUG 2000 (37)}) 14... Ne5 15. Nc3 Nxc4 16. bxc4 Re8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18.
cxd5 Bd7 19. Rdc1 Rac8 20. Rc4 Bf5 21. Nb3 Qd6 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23. Ba3 b6 24.
Bxc5 bxc5 25. Qc4 Rd8 26. Rd1 Be6 27. Nxc5 Bxd5 28. Qd4 $18 {1-0 Magerramov,
E-Flear,G/Montpellier op-A 1999 (37)}) 14. Nc3 e4 $5 (14... Be6 15. Nd5 Nxd5
16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Rad8 18. Rad1 e4 (18... Bd6 19. Qc4 Bc7 20. e4 h6 21. g3
Kh7 22. Kg2 f6 23. Nh4 Rf7 24. Rxd8 $14 {Panczyk-Radulov/Polanica Zdroj/1982/0.
5 (36)}) 19. Ne5 Rxd5 20. Rxd5 Rd8 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Re5 Qd6 23. Rxe4 Qd1+ 24.
Qxd1 $16 {Pinter,J-Radulov,I/Baile Herculane zt/1982/1-0 (49)}) 15. Nd2 Bf5 16.
Nf1 Rad8 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Rd1 Nb4 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Nb1 Ne8 22.
Nd2 Nd6 23. Qg4 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Bf1 f5 $11 {1-0 Lutz,C-Huebner,R/Munich
1993/CBM 36/[Ftacnik] (32)}) 13... e4 $6 (13... Nb4 14. Ng5 (14. Rac1 e4 15.
Ng5 Bg4 16. f3 exf3 17. gxf3 Rae8 $1) 14... Bg4 15. f3 Bf5 $13) (13... Bg4 $5)
(13... Qe7 $5) 14. Ng5 Bd6 $2 (14... Bg4 15. Nd5 Bxe2 16. Nxc7 Bxd1 17. Nxa8
Bh5 (17... Bc2 18. Rc1 Nb4 19. Ba3 Nd3 20. Rxc2 Bxa3 21. Nb6 Ne5 $11) 18. Bxf6
(18. Nc7 Be7 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Nxa6 (20. Nce6 $36)) 18... Bg6 $1 {'!?' Ftacnik.}
(18... gxf6 19. Nxe4 Be7 20. Nb6 $18) 19. Bxg7 (19. Bb2 Rxa8 20. Rd1 Be7 21.
Nh3 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Nxd8 (22... Bxd8 23. Nf4 $16) 23. Nf4 Bf5 $14) 19... Kxg7 20.
Nc7 Kf6 21. Nh3 Rd8 22. Nf4 Na5 $132) (14... Qe7 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 b6 17.
Nxh7 Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Rg5 $18) 15. Nd5 $1 (15. h3 $5 $16) 15... Nxd5 16.
Rxd5 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'White piees are dangerously grouping on the
squares leading to the black's king.'} (16. Qh5 {Ftacnik} Bf5 17. Bxd5 Bg6 $14)
16... Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 Be5 (17... h6 18. Qh5 (18. Nxe4 Be5 19. Rad1 Bxb2 20. Qxb2
Be6 $11) 18... Be5 19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxe5 Qe7 21. Rad1 Be6 $14) 18. Qh5 Bf5 $2
(18... h6 19. Rxe5 (19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxe5 (20. Rxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 Qe7 22.
Qxf7+ Qxf7 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rc1 $16) 20... Qe7 (20... Nxe5 21. Rxe5 $18))
19... Nxe5 20. Nxf7 Rxf7 (20... Nxf7 21. Qg6 $18) (20... Nxc4 21. Nxh6+ Kh7 22.
Nf7+ Kg8 23. Qh8+ Kxf7 24. Qxg7+ Ke6 25. Qxc7 Nxb2 26. Qb6+ Kf7 (26... Ke7 27.
Qd4 Rxf2 28. Kg1 Re2 29. Kf1 $18) 27. Rc1 $18) 21. Bxe5 Qe7 22. Qxf7+ (22. Qg6
Qh4+ 23. Bh2 Qf6 (23... Qxf2 24. Rd1 $18) 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. Bf4 Bg4) 22... Qxf7
23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rc1 $16) 19. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 (19... Bxb2 20. Rxf5 g6 (20...
Bxa1 {Ftacnik} 21. Ng5+ (21. Ne5+ {Ftacnik} Kh8 22. Ng6#) 21... Kh8 22. Qxh7#)
21. Nd8+ (21. Qh6 gxf5 22. Nd8+) 21... Kg7 22. Ne6+ $18) (19... Qxf7 20. Rxe5
$18) 20. Qxf5 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The fight of the two players very
different in strength is resulting in an early decision.'} g6 (20... Bxb2 21.
Rd7 $18 Kh8 22. Qxf7 Qe5 23. Rad1 $18) (20... Rxf5 21. Rd8#) (20... Kh8 21.
Bxe5 $18) 21. Bxe5 1-0

[Event "Champions Club m 5'"]
[Site "Kasparovchess INT"]
[Date "2001.06.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2827"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.06.19"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 082 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Nxd5
exd5 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. b4 O-O 12. Bd2 Nd7 13. Rb1 Re8 14. O-O Nf6 15.
Qc2 Ne4 16. Rfc1 Rc8 17. Be1 Nd6 18. a4 a6 19. Nd2 Rc7 20. Nb3 b5 21. Nc5 Bc8
22. Ra1 Rce7 23. Bc3 Nc4 24. Ra2 Qd6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra8 Nb6 27. Ra2 h5 28.
Rca1 h4 29. Qd1 h3 30. g3 Nc4 31. Bf1 Bh6 32. Ra8 Bf5 33. Rxe8+ Rxe8 34. Bd2
Qf6 35. Bc1 Bg7 36. Ra6 Kh7 37. Qf3 Kg8 38. g4 Qg5 39. Bxh3 Bxd4 40. Kh1 Ne5
41. Qg3 Nxg4 42. Rxc6 Bxc5 43. Rxc5 Qh5 44. Bg2 Nf6 45. f3 Ne4 46. Qc7 Nxc5 47.
bxc5 Bh3 0-1

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 Kc8 12. Bb2 b6 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Rd2
c5 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Ne2 g5 17. h4 g4 18. Nh2 h5 19. Rd8+ Kb7 20. Rxa8 Kxa8 21.
Rd8+ Kb7 22. Nf4 Ng6 23. g3 c4 24. bxc4 $2 {A decisive mistake, allowing Black
to conclude the game in style:} Nxf4 $1 25. gxf4 {[%tqu "En","White's pieces
are poorly coordinated. How can Black exploit it?","Use the shaky position of
the enemy rook.","Try to disclose the white king.","g4g3","This pawn thrust
spells a quick end for White.",6]} g3 $1 {[%csl Rd8,Rf2,Rg1,Rh2][%cal Gf8c5,
Gh8d8]} 26. Nf1 (26. fxg3 Bc5+ 27. Rd4 Bxd4+ 28. Bxd4 Rd8 {is hopeless for
White.}) 26... gxf2+ 27. Kh2 ({If} 27. Kxf2 {then} Bc5+ {winning.}) (27. Kg2 {
fails to} Rg8+ 28. Kf3 Bg4+ 29. Kg2 Bd1+ 30. Kxf2 Bc5+) 27... Bxc4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Das ist interessant - bis jetzt spielte
Kramnik diese Variante auch mit WeiЯ.} 4. Qb3 (4. g3) (4. Qc2) 4... c5 5. g3
Nc6 6. a3 Ba5 {Schwarz schlдgt (noch) nicht auf c3. In der Folge muss WeiЯ
aber immer mit Bxc3 rechnen.} (6... Bxc3 7. Qxc3) 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O d5 (8...
Qe7 9. d3 h6 10. e3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 e5 12. b4 d6 13. Bb2 Re8 14. b5 Nb8 15. d4 e4
16. Nd2 Bf5 17. f3 cxd4 18. exd4 e3 19. Rae1 Nbd7 20. Ne4 d5 {1/2-1/2 Votava,
J-Berzinsh,R/Olomouc 1997/CBM 61 (34)}) (8... d6 9. d3 Qe7 10. Bd2 Rd8 11. Qa4
Bd7 12. Rab1 Be8 13. Rfc1 h6 14. Qd1 Rac8 15. Qe1 b6 16. e4 Ng4 17. Qd1 Bxc3
18. bxc3 Nf6 19. Qe2 $14 {Dzindzichasvili,R-Salov,V Manila izt 1990 CBM/19 49/
17}) 9. d3 h6 {Schwarz verhindert das mцgliche Bg5.} 10. Bf4 (10. Na4 Qe7 (
10... b6 11. Bf4 Bd7 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 d4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5
Ng4 (16... Rc8 $5) 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bc1 f5 20. f3 {1-0 Ehlvest,
J-Romanishin,O/Terrassa 1991/CBM 24/[Ribli] (30)}) 11. Qc2 d4 12. Rb1 (12. e3
e5 13. exd4 exd4 14. Bd2 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 (15. Qxd2 $5) 15... Bd7 16. Rfe1 Qd6 17.
b3 Rae8 {0-1 Nikolac,J-Kurajica,B/Cro Cup 2001/[1/2] (31)}) 12... Rd8 13. e3 e5
14. exd4 exd4 15. Bd2 Bxd2 16. Qxd2 Rb8 17. Qf4 b5 18. Rfe1 Qf8 19. Nd2 bxa4
20. Bxc6 {1-0 Milos,G-Van Riemsdijk,H/Buenos Aires 1990/CBM 20 ext (53)}) (10.
e3 b6 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne2 Qe7 14. Qa4 a6 15. b4 cxb4 16. Ned4
Rfc8 17. Bb2 bxa3 18. Bxa3 Qd7 19. Bb2 b5 20. Qb3 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 $44 {1-0
Ivanov,I-Lobo,R/USA 1990/EXT 2000 (43)}) 10... Re8 11. Na4 (11. Ne5 Nxe5 (11...
Nd4) 12. Bxe5 Nd7 (12... Ng4) 13. Bd6 d4 14. Na4 Bb6 15. Qc2 e5 16. b4 cxb4 17.
axb4 Bc7 18. c5 a6 19. f4 Rb8 20. Qa2 Bxd6 21. cxd6 Nf6 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Nc5
Qxd6 {1/2-1/2 Filippov,V-Kiriakov,P/Krasnoiarsk 1998/EXT 2000 (23)}) 11... b6 {
Dieser natьrliche Zug fьhrt zu Ausgleich.} (11... e5 12. cxd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4
14. Bc1 Bg4 $13) (11... dxc4 12. Qxc4 e5 13. Be3 e4 $13 (13... Nd4)) 12. Ne5
Bd7 (12... Bb7 $2 13. Nxc5 $16) 13. e3 $6 (13. Nc3 $5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 (14. Qxc3
d4 15. Qc2 Rc8 $11 (15... Nxe5 $6 16. Bxe5 Ng4 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bc1
f5 $44)) 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bc6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19.
Qxd5 Rad8 $11) 13... g5 $1 {Ein ausgezeichneter Zug! Schwarz schwдcht - von
sich aus - seine Kцnigsstellung, aber das hat keine Bedeutung. Wichtiger ist,
dass WeiЯ den Ne5 abtauschen muss. Danach bekommt Schwarz gutes Figurenspiel
und der weiЯe Bf4 Probleme.} (13... Rc8 $11) 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Be5 Ng4 $15 {
[%csl Re5]} 16. Bc3 (16. cxd5 Bxd5 (16... Bxa4 $6 17. Qxa4 Nxe5 18. dxe6 $13 {
[%cal Rb2b4,Rb4a5]}) 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. Nxc3 Rad8 $15
) 16... Bxc3 17. Nxc3 dxc4 18. dxc4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qe7 {[%cal Ge7b7,Gb7g2][%mdl
32] Auf den ersten Blick wirkt die Stellung ausgeglichen. Zwar ist die
Bauernstruktur in der Tat symmetrisch, aber Schwarz kann sich am Kцnigsflьgel
etwas Initiative verschaffen.} 20. Ne4 (20. Qc2 f5 21. Qe2 (21. e4 $6 f4 $36)
21... Qb7+ 22. f3 Ne5 $15 {[%cal Gg5g4]}) (20. Ne2 Qb7+ 21. f3 f5 22. h3 Nf6
$15) 20... f5 21. h3 Ne5 22. Qc3 Nd7 23. Nd2 Rad8 24. Rad1 Nf6 (24... e5 25. e4
$1 (25. Nf3 $6 e4 $15) 25... f4 26. Nf3 $11 {[%cal Gf3e5]}) 25. Nf3 (25. Qe5
Rd6 26. Nf3 Red8 27. Rxd6 Rxd6 $15 {Schwarz kontrolliert die d-Linie. In der
Folge kann er Nd7 und e6-e5 ziehen.}) 25... Rxd1 26. Rxd1 e5 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5,
Gg5]} 27. Qc2 (27. Qd2 Qb7 $15 {[%cal Gb7g2]}) (27. Ng1 Qb7+ 28. Kh2 Kf7 $15) (
27. Ne1) 27... e4 28. Ng1 {[%cal Gg1e2,Ge2c3]} Rd8 29. Ne2 Rxd1 30. Qxd1 Qd7
31. Qxd7 {WeiЯ muss die Damen tauschen.} Nxd7 {[%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat
Raumvorteil, und sein Springer bekommt einen ausgezeichneten Posten auf e5.
Ich muss hier anmerken, dass der weiЯe P auf a3 nicht glьcklich steht - eine
Bauernstruktur a2-b2-c4 wдre besser.} 32. b3 {Frьher oder spдter muss WeiЯ so
spielen, aber seine Bauern am Damenflьgel sind schwach.} Ne5 {[%csl Ge5][%cal
Ge5d3]} 33. Nc3 Kf7 34. g4 $6 {WeiЯ mцchte sich vom positionellen Druck am
Kцnigsflьgel befreien. Seine Stellung ist schwer zu halten, aber anstelle der
Partiefortsetzung hдtte eine passive Verteidigung vielleicht bessere
Rettungschancen versprochen.} (34. Nb5 a5 $5 (34... Nc6 35. g4 fxg4 36. hxg4
Ke6 37. f4 exf3+ 38. Kxf3 Ke5 $15) 35. a4 (35. Nd6+ $2 Ke6 36. Nc8 a4 $19)
35... Nf3 36. g4 (36. Nd6+ Ke6 37. Nc8 Nd2 38. Nxb6 Nxb3 39. Kf1 Nd2+ 40. Ke2
Nf3 {[%cal Rf3g1,Rg1h3]} 41. Kf1 Ne5 $17 {AnschlieЯend kann Schwarz Kd6-Kc6
ziehen, und WeiЯ verliert Material.}) 36... Nd2 37. Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nxf5 Nxb3 39.
Nxh6 Nd2 40. Nf5 Nxc4 $17) 34... fxg4 35. hxg4 Nxg4 36. Nxe4 (36. Nb5 a5 37.
Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nxe4 Ne5 39. Nc3 Nd3 40. Nd5 Nc1 41. Nxb6 Nxb3 $17) 36... Ke6 37.
Nc3 Ne5 38. f4 (38. Nb5 $142 Nc6 39. Kg3 h5 40. f4 gxf4+ 41. Kxf4 h4 42. Kg4
Ke5 43. Kxh4 Ke4 $17) 38... gxf4 39. exf4 Nc6 40. Nb5 h5 $1 $17 {Der entfernte
schwarze Freibauer entscheidet die Partie.} (40... a5 41. Kf3 h5 (41... Nd4+
42. Nxd4+ cxd4 43. Ke4 $11) 42. Ke4 h4 43. Nc7+ $17) 41. Kg3 (41. Kf3 $2 Nd4+
42. Nxd4+ cxd4 43. Ke4 h4 $19) 41... a5 42. Nc7+ Kf5 43. Nd5 Nd4 44. Kh4 (44.
b4 cxb4 45. axb4 a4 46. Nc3 a3 $19) (44. Nxb6 Nxb3 45. Nd7 (45. Nd5 Nd2 46.
Ne3+ (46. Nb6 h4+ 47. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19) 46... Ke4 47. f5 Kxe3 48. f6 Ne4+ $19 {
[%cal Re4f6,Re4g3]}) 45... h4+ 46. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19) 44... Nxb3 45. Kxh5 Nd2 46.
Nxb6 Kxf4 47. Na4 (47. Kg6 Ke5 $19) 47... Ne4 $1 $19 (47... Nb3) (47... Ne4 $1
48. Kg6 Ke5 49. Kf7 Kd4 50. Ke6 Kxc4 51. Ke5 Kb3 52. Nb6 Nd2 $19 {[%cal Rc5c4]}
) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 a6 {Dieses Manцver ist hier
nicht besonders wirksam. Ьblich ist} (5... e6 {Nach den weiteren Zьgen} 6. Bd3
Bxd3 7. Qxd3 {wьrde man wohl kaum auf den Zug} a6 {verfallen; die Stellung
nach diesem Zuge entsteht aber in der Partie.}) 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 8. O-O
Be7 9. e4 O-O ({Nach} 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 (10... c5 {wird mit} 11. Qb3 {
beantwortet}) 11. Qxe4 Nd7 12. Bf4 {hat WeiЯ leichten Vorteil. Laut V. Kramnik
("SChach" 9/2001, S.8) ist es wichtig, daЯ dem Schwarzen hier die Mцglichkeit
zu Dd8-a5-a6 mit Druckspiel gegen den Bauern auf c4 fehlt.}) 10. Rd1 b5 ({Nach
} 10... dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nd7 13. Bf4 {entsteht eine ganz дhnliche
Stellung wie sie in der vorigen Anmerkung gezeigt wurde. WeiЯ steht bequemer.})
11. c5 (11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e5 Nfd7 13. a4 bxa4 {fьhrt laut Kramnik ("Schach" 9/
2001, S.8) zu etwa gleichem Spiel.} (13... b4 14. Ne2 {ist dagegen seiner
Meinung nach sehr vorteilhaft fьr WeiЯ.})) 11... dxe4 ({Auf} 11... b4 {folgt
laut Kramnik} 12. e5 bxc3 13. exf6 Bxf6 (13... cxb2 {scheitert an} 14. fxe7
bxa1=Q 15. exd8=Q Rxd8 16. Qc2 {, und WeiЯ gewinnt.}) 14. Qxc3 Qc7 15. g3 Nd7
16. Bf4 {mit Vorteil fьr WeiЯ. Freilich scheint es mir, daЯ Schwarz nach} Qb7 {
gefolgt von Lf6-d8-c7 noch nicht zu verzweifeln braucht.}) 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 ({Nach
} 12... Nbd7 {schlдgt Kramnik} 13. Nc3 {vor} ({oder auch} 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Rc8 15. a4 {In der Tat ist die Schwдche des Bauern auf c6 stets lдstig fьr
Schwarz.})) 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Qxd5 {Nach anderen Zьgen folgt 14...Sd7, und
Schwarz hat keinerlei Probleme.} cxd5 ({Nach} 14... exd5 15. Re1 Bf6 (15... Re8
16. a4 {ist ebenfalls sehr lдstig fьr Schwarz.}) 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 Nd7 18.
Re7 Nf6 19. Rae1 Rae8 20. Nf3 Ne4 21. Ra7 Ra8 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Ne5 Rc8 24. f3
Nf6 25. Re3 {hat WeiЯ die prдchtigsten Gewinnaussichten.}) 15. Bf4 Nc6 ({Auf} 
15... f6 {folgt} 16. Re1 Kf7 17. Re2 Re8 18. Bxb8 Raxb8 19. b4 {mit Vorteil
fьr WeiЯ.}) 16. Ne5 Nb8 ({Nach} 16... Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Rfc8 18. b4 ({Zu unklarem
Spiel fьhrt die Folge} 18. a4 b4 19. a5 f6 20. Bg3 e5) 18... Kf8 (18... a5 {
scheitert an} 19. a4) 19. a4 {dьrfte Schwarz nicht ьberleben.}) (16... Rfc8 17.
Nxc6 (17. Nd7 Ra7 {bringt nichts ein.}) 17... Rxc6 18. b4 Bf6 19. a4 {fьhrt zu
дhnlichen Bildern.}) ({Schwarz hat andere Mцglichkeiten als den Textzug, um
Springertasusch zu vermeiden.} 16... Na7 17. Nd7 Rfe8 18. Nb6 Rad8 19. Bc7 {
kostet die Qualitдt. Nach} Nc6 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 {schlдgt Kramnik ("Schach" 9/2001,
S.8)} 21. b4 (21. Rac1 Bf6 22. Kf1 Kf8 23. Rd3 {sollte auf die Dauer zum
Erfolg fьhren;} Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Nxd4 25. c6 Nxc6 26. Rxc6 Ke7 27. a4 {ьberlebt
Schwarz nicht.}) (21. Kf1 {ist weniger genau; Schwarz kann} Nxd4 {antworten.})
21... Bf6 22. a4 {vor, doch scheint mir nach} Bxd4 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra3 e5 {
die Sache nicht so klar zu sein.}) (16... Na5 {kam dagegen in Betracht; nach}
17. Bd2 ({nach} 17. b3 f6 {erreicht Schwarz sein Ziel, nдmlich die dauerhafte
Blockade des c-Bauern mit dem Springer;}) (17. b4 Nc4 {ist ebenfalls recht
unklar.}) 17... Nc4 18. Nd3 Nxd2 19. Rxd2 Bf6 20. Ne1 Rfc8 21. Nf3 h5 {hat
Schwarz gute Ьberlebensaussichten.}) 17. Rd3 {Dieser Zug bereitet vor allem
die Mцglichkeit vor, die Tьrme auf der e-Linie zu verdoppeln, die wichtig ist,
falls Schwarz f7-f6 spielt.} (17. c6 Bd6 18. Rdc1 Ra7 {sieht nicht gesund fьr
WeiЯ aus.}) (17. a4 f6 18. axb5 fxe5 19. Bxe5 Nd7 20. bxa6 Nxe5 {(Kramnik) ist
ganz selbstmцrderisch.}) 17... Rc8 (17... f6 {war konsequent. Nach} 18. Nf3 Nc6
(18... Kf7 19. Bxb8 Rfxb8 20. Re1 Rc8 {ist vielleicht auch gar nicht so
schrecklich fьr Schwarz}) 19. Re1 Kf7 20. Rde3 Nxd4 ({Auf} 20... Nd8 {folgt}
21. Bc7 Re8 22. Bb6 {mit andauerndem Druck.}) 21. Nxd4 Bxc5 22. Rd3 Bxd4 23.
Rxd4 e5 24. Bxe5 fxe5 25. Rxd5 {schдtzt Kramnik das Endspiel als kaum haltbar
fьr Schwarz ein, doch scheint mir nach} Rfe8 {der Schwarze ьber ansehnliche
Remisaussichten zu verfьgen, zum Beispiel} 26. Rdxe5 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Rc8 28. Kf1
Rc1+ 29. Re1 Rc2 30. Rb1 b4 {(Vgl. "Schach" 9/2001, S.9).}) (17... g5 18. Bg3
f6 19. Nf3 g4 20. Bxb8 Rfxb8 (20... gxf3 21. Bf4 fxg2 22. Bh6 Rf7 23. Re1 {
ist verderblich fьr Schwarz.}) 21. Nd2 {wird ebenfalls von Kramnik untersucht,
aber eine solche MiЯhandlung der Bauernstruktur verdient natьrlich kein
Vertrauen.}) 18. Re1 Bf6 $6 {Schwarz erreicht den Abtausch des Lдufers gegen
den gegnerischen Springer, doch muЯ er eine bцse Schwдchung seines
Kцnigsflьgels dafьr in Kauf nehmen. Es gab eine Vielzahl anderer Mцglichkeiten:
} (18... a5 19. Rb3 b4 20. a3 Na6 ({In Betracht kommt auch} 20... Bf6 21. axb4
axb4 22. Rxb4 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 Nc6 24. Rb5 f6 25. Bd6 Nxd4 26. Rb7 e5 27. b4 Nf5 {
und Schwarz dьrfte sich halten kцnnen.}) 21. Nd7 {wird von Kramnik angegeben,
doch ist die Lage nach} Ra7 22. Nb6 Rc6 23. axb4 Nxb4 {schwer zu durchschauen.}
) (18... Bd8 {mit der Absicht Ld8-c7xe5 gefдllt mir persцnlich in dieser
Stellung fьr Schwarz am besten.}) 19. Ng4 Nc6 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bg3 {WeiЯ
beeilt sich, den wunden Punkt f6 anzugreifen. Nach} (21. Bd6 Kh8 {nebst
Tc8-g8-g6 hat Schwarz nichts zu befьrchten (Kramnik, loc. cit.).}) 21... Kg7 {
Kramnik gibt diesem Zug ein Fragezeichen; er hдlt ihn fьr den entscheidenden
Fehler in der Partie. Ich bin der Meinung, daЯ erst der folgende Zug die
Partie verdirbt.} (21... f5 {wird von Kramnik ebenfalls verworfen, denn} 22.
Be5 ({Nach} 22. Bh4 Kg7 23. Rg3+ Kh6 24. Bf6 Rg8 {ist laut Kramnik, wenn ich
seine Angaben richtig deute (denn er gibt keine Stellungsbewertung an), die
Lage nicht deutlich. Mit 23.Tee3 an Stelle von 23.Tg3+ kann WeiЯ jedoch in die
Variante ьberlenken, die Kramnik in seiner Anmerkung zum 22. Zuge von Schwarz
als gьnstig fьr den Anziehenden beurteilt. Ich bespreche die Angelegenheit
dort weiter.}) 22... Nxe5 23. Rxe5 {fьhrt seiner Meinung nach zu klarem
Vorteil fьr WeiЯ.}) (21... h6 {war laut Kramnik das richtige Verfahren. Er
gibt folgende Varianten ("Schach" 9/2001, S.25):} 22. Bf4 (22. Bh4 f5 23. Bf6
Kh7 24. h4 (24. Rg3 Rg8) 24... Kg6 25. Be5 Nxe5 26. Rxe5 {Schwarz steht besser
als in der oben unter 21...f5 angegebenen Variante, doch hat auch hier WeiЯ
betrдchtlichen Vorteil.}) 22... Kh7 23. Ree3 (23. Rh3 $6 Nxd4 24. Bxh6 Kg6 25.
Be3 Nf5) 23... Rg8 24. Rh3 Rg6 25. Bd2 Kg7 26. Rh5 {mit der Absicht h2-h3,
g2-g4 und f2-f4-f5; ich glaube aber, daЯ WeiЯ nach} f5 {Mьhe haben wird,
diesen Plan zu verwirklichen.}) 22. Bh4 Ne7 $2 {Schwarz durfte den prдchtigen
Blockadeposten mit dem Springer nicht aufgeben.} ({Das mutige} 22... f5 {
war angewiesen:} 23. Ree3 (23. Rg3+ Kh6 24. Bf6 ({Nach} 24. Bg5+ Kg7 {kann
WeiЯ nicht auf andere Weise weiterkommen, als den Lдufer doch nach f6 zu
bringen.}) 24... Rg8 25. Ree3 Rg4 26. Rh3+ Kg6 27. f3 Kxf6 28. fxg4 fxg4 {
mit unklarer Stellung.}) 23... f4 (23... Rg8 {was Kramnik hier als einziges
angibt, ist jetzt ungenau, weil nach} 24. Rg3+ Kh6 25. Bf6 Rg4 26. Rh3+ Kg6 27.
f3 Kxf6 28. fxg4 fxg4 29. Rxh7 {der d-Bauer des WeiЯen gedeckt ist; er steht
auf Gewinn.}) 24. Re1 (24. Rf3 {wird mit} e5 {beantwortet.}) ({Nach} 24. Rh3
Kg6 25. g3 Rg8 26. gxf4 Kf5+ 27. Kf1 f6 {ist mir unklar, wer besser steht.})
24... Kg6 {Ich sehe keinen nennenswerten Vorteil fьr WeiЯ.}) 23. g4 Ng6 (23...
Nc6 {gewдhrt keinen Ausgleich mehr:} 24. Rf3 f5 25. Rf4 (25. gxf5 Nxd4 26. Rg3+
Kf8 27. fxe6 Nxe6 28. f4 {ist laut Kramnik nicht klar; in der Tat whrt sich
Schwarz mit} Re8 29. Bf6 Nxf4) 25... fxg4 26. Rxg4+ Kh6 27. Rf4 Rg8+ 28. Kf1
Kh5 29. h3 (29. Bf6 $2 Rg4) 29... h6 30. Bf6 Kg6 31. Ke2 {(Kramnik, "Schach" 9/
2001, S.9).}) (23... h5 {wird auch noch von Kramnik analysiert:} 24. Rf3 ({
Er gibt auch} 24. gxh5 {an;} Nf5 25. Bg3 $16 {lautet seine Einschдtzung, doch
scheint mir die Sache nach} Rc6 26. Kg2 Rh8 27. Kf3 Rxh5 {gar nicht klar zu
sein.}) 24... hxg4 25. Rf4 $16 {aber auch hier kann Schwarz mit} Kh7 26. Bxf6
Nf5 27. Rxg4 Rg8 28. f3 Rg6 {Widerstand leisten: WeiЯ kann den Bauern auf d4
nicht halten.}) 24. Bg3 a5 $6 {Jetzt kann WeiЯ den Springer an der Rьckkehr in
bewohnte Gegenden hindern.} (24... Ne7 {war zдher. Nach} 25. Rf3 Nc6 (25... a5
26. Bh4 Ng8 27. Ree3 {sieht nicht vertrauenerweckend fьr Schwarz aus.}) 26. Bh4
f5 27. Rf4 fxg4 28. Rxg4+ Kh6 29. Rf4 Rg8+ 30. Kf1 Kh5 31. h3 {geht das Spiel
in eine schon oben angegebene Variante ьber; WeiЯ hat erheblichen Vorteil.})
25. Bd6 h5 {Schwarz цffnet das Spiel. Er will das Feld f5 fьr seinen Springer
freikдmpfen; aber er beschleunigt damit seinen Untergang.} 26. gxh5 Nh4 27.
Rg3+ Kh6 28. Be7 Nf5 29. Bxf6 Nxg3 30. fxg3 {Die Stellung des Schwarzen ist
strategisch verloren.} Rg8 31. Kg2 Kxh5 32. h3 Kg6 33. Rf1 Kh7 34. g4 b4 35.
Kg3 b3 36. a3 Rac8 37. h4 Rg6 38. h5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik. McShane} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6
7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd2 Na5 (11... Nb4 12. Ne5
h6 13. Bh4 Nbd5 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. f4 Rd8 17. Qe3 b5 18. f5 Qb6 19.
fxe6 Bxe6 20. Ng6 Ra7 21. Rfe1 Bxb3 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxe7 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 Rxd4
$19 {0-1 Colas,J-Sansas,A/FRA-ch21 corr 1956/Corr 2000 (37)}) (11... h6 12. Bf4
(12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Rad1 Na5 14. Bc2 b5 15. b3 Bb7 16. Ne4 Rc8 17. Bb1 Bxe4 18.
Bxe4 Nc6 19. Rfe1 Ne7 20. Bb1 Nd5 21. Qd3 g6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Shirov,A/
New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 81/[Hecht] (72)}) 12... Re8 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. Ne5 Ne7
15. Qd3 Ned5 16. Bc1 b5 17. Qg3 Bb7 18. Bxh6 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Ne4 20. Qg4 Nf6 21.
Qg5 Qe7 22. Rd3 Ne4 23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qg5 Ne4 25. Qg4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,
V-Anand,V/Mainz GER 2001 (25)}) (11... Nd5 12. Bxe7 Ncxe7 13. Rac1 b6 14. Nxd5
Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Rc7 a5 17. Rfc1 Bb7 18. Qf4 Rad8 19. a3 h6 20. h3 Ba8
21. Ra7 Rd7 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Rc7 Qd5 24. Ra7 Qc6 25. Rc7 Qd5 26. Ra7 Qc6 {
1/2-1/2 Sundararajan,K-Arnold,L/Budapest HUN 2001/ (26)}) 12. Bc2 b5 (12... Nc4
$6 {Huzman} 13. Qe2 b5 $140 $2 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qe4 $18) 13. Qf4 Ra7 {'!?'
McShane. McShane: 'White's isolated queen's pawn guarantees him an initiative.
Black aims to exchange pieces and soak up the initiative, hence this
prophylactic move.'} (13... Bb7 14. Rad1 g6 15. Bh6 Nh5 16. Qg4 f5 17. Qh3 Rc8
18. d5 $1 $16 {1-0 Tkachiev,V-Lesiege,A/New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 81/[Huzman] 
(39)}) 14. Rad1 Bb7 {'?!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Combined with the move 13...Ra7
this natural move makes a very strange impression. '} (14... Nc4 15. Qh4 $1 (
15. Ne5 Nxb2 16. Nc6 Nxd1 17. Nxd8 Nxc3 18. Qf3 Rxd8 19. Qxc3 Rad7 $44) (15. b3
{Ftacnik} Na3 16. Bd3 b4 $13) 15... g6 (15... h6 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Qxh6 Nxb2
18. Ng5 Nxd1 19. Bh7+ Kh8 20. Bf5+ Kg8 21. Nce4 $1 $18) 16. Ne5 (16. d5 Nxd5
17. Be4 Ne5 $1) 16... Nd5 17. Bxe7 (17. Ne4 f6) 17... Qxe7 18. Qg3 (18. Qxe7
Rxe7 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. Rfe1 Bb7 $11) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Rc7 $132) (14... Rc7 {
Anand} 15. d5 $5 exd5 (15... Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 (16... Rxe7 17. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7
18. Qh4+ Kg8 19. Ng5 $18) 17. Rxd5 Rxc3 18. Bxh7+ $18) 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Rxd5
Rd7 (17... Bd7 18. Rfd1 $16) 18. Rfd1 $36) 15. d5 $1 {[%mdl 68] McShane: 'This
thematic move opens more lines for the White pieces.'} Bxd5 (15... Nxd5 16.
Bxh7+ (16. Qd4 {McShane} Nc6 17. Qh4 g6 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Rfe1 {with huge
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) (16. Nxd5 {Ftacnik} Bxd5 (16... Bxg5 {
Ftacnik} 17. Nxg5 Bxd5 18. Bxh7+ $18) 17. Rxd5 $1 $18) 16... Kxh7 17. Qh4+ Kg8
(17... Kg6 18. g4 $1 $18) 18. Rxd5 $1 Bxd5 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Ng5 Qxg5 21. Qxg5
$16) (15... exd5 16. Qh4 h6 (16... g6 17. Rfe1 $18 (17. Ne4 $1 $18 {Ftacnik}))
17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 $18 {[%cal Gf3g5,Gd1d4,Gd4h4]}) 16. Nxd5 exd5 $2 (16...
Nxd5 $142 17. Rxd5 {'!' McShane. '!' Ftacnik.} (17. Qh4 g6) (17. Qe4 g6 18. Bh6
Bf6 (18... Re8 19. Qd4 $18) 19. Bxf8 Qxf8 $44 {/+/=}) 17... exd5 (17... Qxd5
18. Bxe7 (18. Qh4 {McShane wins the bishop, as Qxh7 and Bxe7 are both
threatened.}) 18... Rxe7 19. Qh4 $18) 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Qh4+ Kg8 (19... Kg6
20. Ne5+ Kf5 21. Qg4+ Kxe5 22. Bf4+ Ke4 (22... Kd4 {McShane} 23. Bd6+ Kd3 24.
Rd1+ Kc2 25. Qe2#) (22... Kf6 {McShane} 23. Re1 Nc4 {to stop Be5 mate} 24. Bg5+
Kg6 25. Bxe7+ {wins.}) 23. Bc7+ Kd3 24. Rd1+ Kc2 25. Qe2#) 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21.
Ng5 Qxg5 {McShane: 'otherwise Black is mated.'} 22. Qxg5 Rd7 23. Rd1 (23. h4 d4
24. h5 Rd6 $44 {/+/=}) 23... Rc8 (23... d4 24. Qc5 Rfd8 25. b3 $16 {[%csl Ra5]}
) 24. Kf1 $16) 17. Qh4 (17. Rfe1 $5 {Ftacnik}) 17... h5 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Excellent defensive move full of orignality, but despite this spirited idea
black position is quite shaky.'} (17... h6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qxh6 {[%cal Gf3g5,
Rf3d4,Rd4f5,Rd1d3,Rd3h3,Gd1d4,Gd4h4]} Rc7 (19... Re8 20. Rd4 Bf8 21. Rg4+) (
19... Nc4 20. Rd4 $18) 20. Nd4 $1 Rxc2 (20... Re8 21. Rd3 $18) 21. Rd3 Ng4 22.
Rg3 Qd7 23. Qh5 $18) (17... g6 18. Rfe1 $18) 18. Rfe1 {'!' Ftacnik.} (18. Nd4
$5 Ne4 (18... Rc7 19. Bb1 Re8 20. Nf5 $44) 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qxh5 $16) (18.
Bxf6 $2 {Ftacnik} Bxf6 19. Qxh5 g6 20. Qxd5 Qxd5 21. Rxd5 Bxb2 $11) 18... Nc6 (
18... Qc8 {[%cal Yc8g4]} 19. Nd4 Qg4 20. Qxg4 hxg4 21. Bd2 $1 (21. Bf5 Rc7 22.
Bxg4 Nc4 23. Nf5 Bd8 $132 {[%cal Yf6g4,Yc4b2]}) 21... Bd8 (21... b4 22. Rxe7
Rxe7 23. Bxb4 $18) 22. Bb4 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. Bf5 $16) (18... Rc7 {Ftacnik}
19. Nd4 Nc4 20. Nf5 Nxb2 21. Rc1 Re8 $13) 19. g4 $1 Qd6 (19... Rc7 20. gxh5 Nh7
(20... Ne5 21. Rxe5 Rxc2 22. Nd4 Rc4 23. b3 $18) 21. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 22. h6 g6
23. Rxe7 $1 Nxe7 24. Bf6 $18) (19... Re8 $142 20. Bxf6 (20. gxh5 $5 Nh7 21.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qf4 Kg8 23. h6 $40) 20... Bxf6 21. Qxh5 Re6 (21... g6 22. Bxg6
Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kf8 25. Re6 $18) 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Re1 Qd7 24.
Bf5 Nd8 25. Re2 $16 {/+-}) (19... Rd7 {McShane: is also a plausible defence,
but after} 20. gxh5 Ne4 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxe4 {White has a
healthy advantage}) (19... Nxg4 $2 {McShane} 20. Qxh5 $18 {wins.} f5 21. Rxd5
$1 Qxd5 22. Bb3 $16) 20. gxh5 Qb4 (20... Nh7 21. Bf4 $1 Qc5 (21... Qb4 22. Qg3
Qxb2 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Ne5 Nd8 25. Nd7 $1 $18) 22. Bxh7+ Kxh7 23. Qg4 d4 24.
Ne5 $36) 21. h6 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Kramnik very correctly insists, that
in order to attack one does not necessarily needs queens on the board.'} Qxh4
22. Nxh4 Ne4 (22... gxh6 23. Bxh6 Rc8 (23... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 24. Nf5 $16) 24. Kh1
(24. Nf5 {McShane} Bc5 25. Kh1 $1 {wins after} Bxf2 26. Rg1+ $1) 24... Kh8 (
24... Bf8 25. Rg1+ Kh8 26. Bg5 $1 Nh7 27. Be3 $16) 25. Nf5 Ng4 26. Bg7+ Kg8 27.
Re2 $18 {[%cal Gd1g1]}) 23. hxg7 Rc8 (23... Rd8 $5 {Ftacnik} 24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25.
Nf5 Re5 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Rxd8+ Nxd8 28. Ng3 f5 29. f3 $16) 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25.
Bxe4 dxe4 26. Rxe4 Kxg7 27. Rd6 $1 {/\28.Re7 McShane: 'White's initiative
continues into the endgame.'} (27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. Nf5+ Kf6 29. Nxe7 Kxe7 30. Rd3
Rc2 31. Rb3 $16) 27... Rc5 (27... Rc2 $1 28. Rg4+ Kh7 29. Rd3 (29. Nf3 Rxb2 30.
Ng5+ Kg7 $13) 29... Ng6 $16) 28. Rg4+ Kh7 29. Nf3 $1 {Ftacnik: 'The Anand's
main worry is not so much the missing pawn, but rather a coordination of white
pieces.'} Ng6 (29... Rc2 30. Ng5+ Kg7 31. Ne6+ Kf6 32. Nd8+ Kf5 33. Rg7 $18)
30. Ng5+ Kg7 31. Nxf7 (31. h4 $5) 31... Rxf7 (31... Kxf7 32. Rdxg6 $18) 32.
Rdxg6+ (32. Rgxg6+ $1 Kf8 33. Rc6 $1 $18) 32... Kh7 (32... Kf8 33. Rxa6 Rc2 34.
Ra8+ Ke7 35. Ra7+ Kf8 36. Rxf7+ Kxf7 37. Rb4 $18) 33. R6g5 Rxg5 (33... Rc1+ 34.
Kg2 Kh6 35. f3 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Rxb2 37. f4 $18) 34. Rxg5 Rc7 35. a3 b4 (35... Rc2
36. b4 $18) 36. axb4 Rc1+ 37. Kg2 Rb1 38. Ra5 Rxb2 39. Ra4 $1 {[%cal Gg2b7]}
1-0

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E44"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Bb7 6. a3 Be7 7. d5 O-O 8. Ng3
Re8 9. Be2 Bf8 10. e4 d6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Be3 c6 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. dxe6 fxe6 15.
f4 Qe7 16. Rad1 Rcd8 17. Kh1 Qf7 18. Qc2 Kh8 19. b4 e5 20. Nf5 d5 21. exd5 cxd5
22. Nb5 Qg6 23. Bf3 Rc8 24. Qb1 e4 25. Nh4 Qf7 26. Be2 a6 27. Nc3 dxc4 28. Qb2
b5 29. Nf5 Nd5 30. Nxd5 Qxf5 31. Nc3 Nf6 32. h3 Rcd8 33. Rxd8 Rxd8 34. Rd1
Rxd1+ 35. Bxd1 Qd7 36. Be2 Bc6 37. Qc1 g6 38. Qg1 Bg7 39. Bd4 Kg8 40. Be5 Nd5
41. Bxg7 Qxg7 42. Nxd5 Bxd5 43. Qc5 Qa1+ 44. Kh2 Bf7 45. Bg4 Kg7 46. Qc7 Qf6
47. Bd1 h5 48. a4 Qd4 49. Bc2 e3 50. f5 e2 51. fxg6 e1=Q 52. Qxf7+ Kh6 0-1

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bd3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Be3 Nd5 (11... O-O 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. Nd2 h6
14. Rac1 Bb7 15. Ne4 $1 $146 (15. Be2 a5 16. Rfd1 Rfc8 17. Nb3 Ba6 18. Bf3 a4
19. Nc5 Bb5 20. g3 {1/2-1/2 Huzman,A-Yakovich,Y/Pula 1997/CBM 57 ext (20)})
15... Nd5 16. Qe2 Rfd8 17. Rfd1 a5 18. Nc5 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Bd6 20. h3 (20. Qh5 {
Gelfand,B} Bxc5 21. Qxc5 Rd5 22. Qc3 $14) 20... a4 21. Be4 Ra5 22. Nxb7 Qxb7
23. Rxc6 $6 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Anand,V/Biel 1997/Inf 70/[Gelfand,B] (32)} (23.
Bxc6 $1 $16)) 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rc1 {[%csl Rc6]} Nxe3 $6 (13... a5 $5 14. Ne4 Ba6
) 14. fxe3 c5 $2 (14... Bg5 $5 15. Qf3 e5 $132) 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7
17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Qxc5 $16 {/+-} Bb7 19. Rcd1 Rc8 20. Rxd8 Rxc5 21. Rd7 (21.
Rfd1 $5) 21... Bc8 22. Rd6 a5 23. e4 Bb7 24. Rfd1 g5 25. Rb6 Bc6 26. Rd6 Rc8
27. Kf2 {[%cal Gf2d4]} Kg7 28. Ke3 Be8 29. Rb7 Kf6 30. Ra6 $1 {[%csl Ra5]} Kg7
31. Rba7 $18 Rb8 32. Rxa5 Rxa5 33. Rxa5 Rxb2 34. Rxg5+ Kf6 35. h4 Rc2 36. e5+
Ke7 37. Kd3 Rb2 38. h5 Rb4 39. g3 Rb2 40. Rg4 f5 41. exf6+ Kxf6 42. Ne4+ Ke7
43. h6 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT1"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "2002.02.01"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tregubov, Pavel V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2002.02.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Clichy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nge2 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. f3
Kh8 9. O-O a6 10. c5 Bc7 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. b4 b6 13. Na4 bxc5 14. bxc5 a5 15.
Rab1 g6 16. Nb6 Bxb6 17. cxb6 Bb7 18. Nc3 c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Be2 Rc8 21. Qb2
d4 22. exd4 Qxd4+ 23. Kh1 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Qxd3 25. Bh6 Rf7 26. Nb5 Rc2 27. Qe5 Qe2
28. Qxe2 Rxe2 29. Nd6 Kg8 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31. Rfd1 Rxa2 32. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Bb3 e5 14. Nc3 Kh8 15.
Rad1 b6 16. d5 Bb7 17. h4 Nc5 18. d6 Qd7 19. h5 Nxb3 20. axb3 g5 21. e4 Rad8
22. Ne2 Qe6 23. Ng3 Rxd6 24. Nf5 Rdd8 25. Nh2 c5 26. Ng4 a5 27. Nge3 Rfe8 28.
Nd5 Rd7 29. Nfe3 Red8 30. Qe2 f5 31. exf5 Qc6 32. Ne7 Qf6 33. Ng6+ Kh7 34. Rxd7
Rxd7 35. Qb5 Rd4 36. b4 Rxb4 37. Qd7 Bc6 38. Qc7 g4 39. Ne7 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Nh5 8. Be5
f6 9. Bg3 Qb6 10. a3 Bd7 11. Bd3 Na5 12. b4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qc6 15.
Nxd5 Qxc4 16. Nf4 Bb5 17. Nd2 Qc3 18. Qh5+ Ke7 19. Qxb5 Qxa1+ 20. Ke2 Qxh1 21.
Qxb7+ Ke8 22. Qc6+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. e3 c5 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Bxf1 9. Kxf1 d6 10. g3 O-O 11. Kg2 Nbd7 12. Re1 a6 13. a4 Ne8 14. e4 Bf6 15.
Bf4 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Nd6 18. a5 Nc4 19. axb6 Nxe3+ 20. Rxe3 Qxb6 21.
Na4 Qb5 22. Rb3 Qc4 23. Nb6 Qxe4+ 24. f3 Qf5 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Rxa6 Rd8 27. Qd3
Qd7 28. d6 Qe6 29. d7 Qe7 30. Rc6 e4 31. fxe4 Bd4 32. Rb8 Rxb8 33. Rc8+ Qd8 34.
Qa6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. b3 Bf8 14. d5 c6 15. c4
Nb6 16. Bd3 Nfd7 17. Ba3 cxd5 18. cxd5 f5 19. exf5 Nxd5 20. Ne4 N7f6 21. Nfg5
Nf4 22. Bc1 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 d5 25. Ng3 e4 26. Qd2 d4 27. Bb2 Bc5
28. Rac1 Bb6 29. Qf4 Qd5 30. Rc2 e3 31. fxe3 Rac8 32. Rd2 Rxe3 33. Rxe3 dxe3
34. Re2 Rc2 35. Qg4 Rxb2 36. f6 g6 37. f7+ Qxf7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 12. Nxe5 gxf4 13. Nxd7 O-O-O 14. Qd4
Qxd7 15. Qxf4 Bd6 16. Qc1 a5 17. O-O Be5 18. Nb5 Qe7 19. Na7+ Kb8 20. Nxc6+
bxc6 21. Qxc6 Ka7 22. Qb5 Bc8 23. Qxa5+ Ba6 24. Rac1 Rc8 25. b4 Bc7 26. Qf5
Rhe8 27. b5 Bb7 28. Bxb7 Kxb7 29. Qd5+ Kb8 30. b6 Bxb6 31. Rb1 Qe6 32. Qxe6
Rxe6 33. a5 Rcc6 34. e3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 Bb7 8.
Bb2 d6 9. g3 Nbd7 10. Bg2 c5 11. O-O Qe7 12. d3 Rfc8 13. b5 d5 14. a4 a6 15. e4
Qf8 16. Rfe1 axb5 17. axb5 Rxa1 18. Bxa1 Ra8 19. Bb2 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Ne8 21. Qb3
Nd6 22. Nd2 Ra5 23. Bc3 Rxb5 24. Qa4 e5 25. Nc4 Bc6 26. Bh3 h6 27. Bxd7 Bxd7
28. Nxe5 Be8 29. Qa2 Qe7 30. Nc4 Qe6 31. f4 Bc6 32. Re2 h5 33. Kf2 h4 34. Ke1
Qh6 35. Kd2 Qe6 36. Kc1 Qh6 37. Kc2 hxg3 38. hxg3 Qh5 39. Kd2 Qh6 40. Qa7 Rb3
41. Kc2 Rxc3+ 42. Kxc3 Nb5+ 0-1

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. Nc4 h6 10. b4 Ba7 11. Qe2 c5 12. Na5 cxb4 13. cxb4 Bd7 14. Bd2 Rb8 15.
a3 c5 16. h3 cxb4 17. Bxb4 Nh5 18. Qd2 Qf6 19. Kh2 Nf4 20. Ng1 Qg6 21. f3 Be3
22. Qc2 Rfc8 23. Nc4 d5 0-1

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 c5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Bxb4 cxb4 10. Qd3 d5 {an attempt to solve all the problems immediately.
However, by closing his 'b7' bishop black allows white a very unpleasant
domination.} ({the more common is:} 10... d6 {in all lines white gets a small
but steady edge.} 11. Nbd2 {and now:} Re8 (11... Qe7 12. e4 e5 13. Ne1 $1 {
A very strong knight transfer} Re8 14. Nc2 a5 15. Rfe1 Nbd7 16. Rad1 Rad8 17.
Nf1 $14 {1-0 Chuchelov,V-Villeneuve,A/Le Touquet 1993/EXT 97 (29)}) (11... a5
12. Nh4 Bxg2 13. Nxg2 Nc6 14. Ne4 a4 15. Ne3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Qd7 17. d5 Na5 18.
dxe6 fxe6 19. Nc2 $14 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 69 ext 
(88)}) 12. Rad1 Nbd7 13. Nh4 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 e5 15. e4 Nf8 16. Ne3 Ne6 17. dxe5
dxe5 18. Nd5 Nc5 19. Qb1 a5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Dautov,R-Nikolic,P/Moscow RUS 2001/
The Week in Chess 369 (42). (41)}) 11. Nbd2 Qe7 12. Rfc1 Nbd7 13. Ne5 Nxe5 (
13... dxc4 14. Ndxc4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 {[%csl Rc6] the weakness of c6 is extremely
important here, determining whites advantage.}) (13... Rfc8 {was worth
considering}) 14. dxe5 Nd7 {[%csl Re5]} 15. cxd5 exd5 ({an attempt to win a
pawn fails to:} 15... Nxe5 16. Qe3 exd5 (16... Ng4 17. Qd4 $16 {[%cal Gd5d6]})
17. f4 Ng6 18. Qxe7 Nxe7 19. Rc7 {winning}) 16. f4 Nc5 17. Qd4 {[%csl Rd5]} Ne6
18. Qf2 Rfc8 $6 ({better was:} 18... g6 {preventing white from gaining more
space.}) 19. f5 $1 Nf8 20. Qd4 $14 {white has a complete domination now} Rc5 $1
{black must fight for the 'c' file.} 21. Nf3 ({the pawn, of course, is
untouchable:} 21. Qxb4 $4 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Qxb4) 21... Rac8 22. Re1 Rc3 23. Kh1 {
Prophylaxis.. white is removing the king from potential dangers on the g1-a7
diagonal.} Re8 24. f6 gxf6 $2 (24... Qc5 25. Qg4 Ne6 26. Ng5 g6 {with an
approximate equality}) 25. exf6 Qe4 26. Rad1 {black king will be weak even in
the endgame.} Re6 (26... Rc2 $142 27. Qxe4 dxe4 (27... Rxe4 28. Nd4 $16) 28.
Nd4 Rc5 29. Rf1 $14 {/+/-}) 27. Rf1 Ba6 28. Qxe4 Rxe4 (28... dxe4 29. Nd4 (29.
Ng5 {leads only to a draw} Re5 30. Nxe4 Bxe2 31. Nxc3 bxc3 32. Rde1 c2 $1 33.
Rc1 Bxf1 34. Bxf1 Rc5 35. Bd3 Nd7 $11) 29... Re5 30. Nf5 $16) 29. Nd4 Re5 30.
Nf5 $1 {[%cal Gf5h6] after this black's position is falling apart} Ng6 (30...
Bxe2 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nxf7+ Kg8 33. Nxe5 $18) 31. Rxd5 (31. Nh6+ Kf8 32. Rxd5 {
-the game}) 31... Rxd5 32. Bxd5 {[%csl Rf7]} Ne5 33. Nh6+ Kf8 34. Rf5 Re3 (
34... Nd7 35. Nxf7 Bxe2 36. Ng5 $18) 35. Rg5 {[%cal Gg5g8]} Ng6 (35... Ke8 36.
Rg8+ Kd7 37. Nxf7 Nxf7 38. Bxf7 {black's position is hopeless}) 36. Bxf7 Rxe2
37. Bxg6 Bb7+ 38. Kg1 Rg2+ 39. Kf1 Rxh2 40. Bh5 {the mate is inevitable} 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "McShane,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 3]} 1. Nf3 {Huzman} d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. O-O
a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd2 {A new but natural
looking move. In these positions with an isolated queen's pawn, White must use
his lead in development to create pressure, whereas Black aims to soak this up
and eventually exploit the weakness of the pawn.} Na5 (11... Nd5 {Huzman} 12.
Bxe7 Ncxe7 13. Rac1 b6 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Rc7 a5 (16... Bb7 {
Huzman} 17. Rfc1 Rad8 18. Qf4 Rd7 19. h3 h6 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Ne5 Qd6 22. Rc3
f6 23. Ng6 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Cheparinov,I-Husnutdinov,D/Oropesa del Mar 2001/
EXT 2002 (33)}) 17. Rfc1 Bb7 18. Qf4 Rad8 19. a3 h6 20. h3 Ba8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Sundararajan,K-Arnold,L/Budapest 2001/CBM 83 ext (26)}) (11... Nb4 {Huzman} 12.
Ne5 h6 13. Bh4 Nbd5 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. f4 Rd8 17. Qe3 b5 18. f5 Qb6
19. fxe6 Bxe6 20. Ng6 Ra7 21. Rfe1 Bxb3 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxe7 Bxd1 24. Rxd1
Rxd4 $19 {0-1 Colas,J-Sansas,A/FRA-ch21 corr 1956/Corr 2000 (37)}) (11... h6 {
Huzman} 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. Ne5 (14. Be5 {Huzman} Nxe5 15. Nxe5 b5 16.
Qf4 Qc7 17. Rc1 Qe7 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Bb7 20. Qg4 Rad8 $15 {0-1 Bluvshtein,
M-Lesiege,A/Montreal CAN 2002/The Week in Chess 404 (56)}) 14... Ne7 15. Qd3
Ned5 16. Bc1 (16. Nxd5 {Huzman} Nxd5 17. Bc2 f5 18. Qg3 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Bd6 20.
Rfe1 $16 {1-0 Barsov,A-Lesiege,A/Montreal CAN 2002/The Week in Chess 404 (79)})
16... b5 17. Qg3 Bb7 18. Bxh6 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Ne4 20. Qg4 Nf6 21. Qg5 Qe7 22. Rd3
Ne4 23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qg5 Ne4 25. Qg4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Mainz GER
2001 (25)}) 12. Bc2 b5 13. Rad1 (13. Qf4 {Huzman} Ra7 (13... Bb7 {Huzman} 14.
Qh4 g6 15. d5 Bxd5 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Ra7 18. Rad1 Nd5 19. Rfe1 f6 20. Bh6
Re8 21. Qg4 Bf8 22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Qxg6+ Bg7 24. Rxd5 $18 {1-0 Pert,N-Ganguly,S/
Torquay ENG 2002/The Week in Chess 405 (31)}) 14. Rad1 Bb7 15. d5 $1 Bxd5 16.
Nxd5 exd5 $2 17. Qh4 h5 18. Rfe1 Nc6 19. g4 $1 Qd6 20. gxh5 Qb4 21. h6 Qxh4 22.
Nxh4 Ne4 23. hxg7 Rc8 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Rxe4 Kxg7 27. Rd6 $1 $18
{1-0 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Dortmund 2001/CBM 85/(39)}) 13... Nc4 (13... Bb7 {Huzman
} 14. Qf4 b4 15. d5 bxc3 16. Qh4 h5 17. dxe6 Qc7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxh5 g6 20.
exf7+ Rxf7 21. Qxg6+ Kf8 $13 {0-1 Epishin,V-Hort,V/Hoogeveen 2001/CBM 84 ext 
(39)}) 14. Qf4 Ra7 $5 {[%cal Ya7c7,Yc7d7]} ({If} 14... Nxb2 15. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6
16. Qe4 $1 {[%csl Ra8,Rh7][%cal Ye4a8,Ye4h7] threatening mate and the rook on
a8, wins.}) (14... Bb7 {is also playable, but Anand plans to swing the rook
across instead.}) 15. Ne5 Rc7 (15... Nxb2 {Huzman} 16. Nc6 Nxd1 $1 (16... Qd7 {
Huzman} 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qh4 h6 19. Ne4 $1 $18) 17. Nxd8 (17. Qh4 {Huzman} h6
18. Bxh6 Nxc3 19. Bxg7 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Kxg7 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qh6+ $11) 17... Nxc3
18. Qf3 Rxd8 19. Qxc3 Rad7 $44) 16. Nxc4 bxc4 (16... Rxc4 $2 {Huzman} 17. Qh4
g6 (17... h6 {Huzman} 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Rd3 $1 Nh7 20. Rg3+ Ng5 (20... Bg5 {
Huzman} 21. Qxh6 f5 22. h4 $18) 21. Qxh6 f5 22. h4 $16) 18. Ne4 Nd5 19. Bb3 f6
20. Bh6 f5 21. Ng5 Rc7 22. Rfe1 $16) 17. Bxf6 {'!' Huzman.} (17. d5 {Huzman}
Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Qxc4 Bb7 20. Be4 Rd7 $11) 17... Bxf6 18. d5 $1 {[%csl
Gd5] Maintaining an edge, as Black's pieces are not well placed to deal with
this advance.} e5 (18... Bxc3 {Huzman} 19. dxe6 $1 (19. d6 {Huzman} Rc5 20.
bxc3 Bb7 $13) 19... Qe7 20. bxc3 Bxe6 21. Rd6 (21. Rfe1 $5 {Huzman}) 21... Bc8
22. Rfd1 $14) (18... exd5 {Huzman} 19. Nxd5 Rb7 20. Rfe1 $1 $16) 19. Qf3 {
'!' Huzman.} Rb7 (19... g6 {Huzman} 20. d6 Rb7 21. d7 $1 Rxd7 22. Rxd7 Bxd7 23.
Rd1 $16) (19... Be7 {Huzman} 20. Qe4 f5 21. Qxe5 Bd6 22. Qd4 $16) 20. Qe4 g6
21. Qxc4 Rxb2 22. Bb3 {[%csl Rb2][%cal Yc3a4] '+/-!' Huzman. Now Black is
further inconvenienced by the threat of Nc3-a4, trapping the rook.} Bg5 {
'[]' Huzman.} 23. d6 Be6 24. Qa4 (24. Qxa6 {Huzman} Bg4 $1 (24... Bxb3 {Huzman}
25. axb3 Rxb3 26. Ne4 $16) 25. Na4 Bxd1 (25... Be2 {Huzman} 26. Qc6 Rxb3 27.
axb3 Bf4 28. Nc5 $18) 26. Nxb2 Bg4 27. Nd3 $16) 24... Bxb3 {'?' Huzman.} (24...
Bd7 {Huzman} 25. Qxa6 $16 (25. Qa3 $5 {Huzman} Rd2 26. Ne4 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 $16))
(24... Bf5 {Huzman} 25. Qa3 Rd2 26. Nd5 $1 $16 Be4 27. Rxd2 Bxd2 28. Ne7+ Kg7
29. Qxa6 Qd7 $16) 25. axb3 {[%csl Gd1,Gd6] The d-pawn is now extremely strong.
Nevertheless, Kramnik must continue to play with energy to prevent it being
blockaded and rounded up.} Qb6 26. Qg4 {'!' Huzman.} Bf4 (26... Qxb3 {Huzman}
27. Qxg5 Qxc3 28. d7 f6 29. Qg4 Rbb8 (29... Qc7 {Huzman} 30. Qe6+ Kg7 31. Qe7+
$18) (29... Rd2 {Huzman} 30. Rxd2 Qxd2 31. Rd1 $18) 30. Qe6+ Kg7 31. d8=Q Rfxd8
32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Qe7+ $18) (26... Qd8 {Huzman} 27. Qc4 Qd7 (27... Rc2 {Huzman}
28. Qd3 Rb2 29. Ne4 $16) 28. Ne4 $16) 27. Nd5 Qd8 (27... Qxd6 28. Nxf4 Qb4 29.
Nd5 $1 {[%csl Rg4,Rg8][%cal Yd5f6] and White will regain the queen with a
winning fork on f6.}) 28. Nxf4 exf4 29. d7 Rxb3 30. Qxf4 {[%csl Gd7] The pawn
ties Black down completely, and Kramnik closes in.} Rb8 31. Rfe1 Qb6 32. h4 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Yh4h6]} h5 {White threatened to advance the pawn to h6,
creating mate threats on g7, but now there are additional possibilities to
sacrifice a rook on g6.} 33. Rd6 Qc5 34. Qf6 Qf5 (34... Qc7 35. Re7 Rbd8 {
and now for instance} 36. Qe5 {threatening Rxg6+} Qc2 37. Rxa6 {and White will
win easily.}) 35. Qxf5 gxf5 {Black's kingside is now damaged beyond repair.}
36. Rxa6 Rfd8 37. Rd6 {[%csl Rf5,Rh5] It won't take Kramnik long to mop up the
kingside.} 1-0

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Bb7 (7...
c6 {leads to the main lines.}) 8. Nc3 d5 9. O-O O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bf4 Na6
12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 {white is taking measures to prevent black from playing
c5, or at least make it difficult.} (13. Qb2 Qc8 14. Rfd1 Qe6 15. Rac1 h6 16.
a3 c5 17. Be3 Ne4 18. Ne1 Bf6 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qb1 cxd4 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4
Nc5 23. Rc3 Qe5 $15 {0-1 Roeder,M-Aseev,K/Berlin 1992/EXT 98 (48). (48)}) 13...
c6 14. a3 (14. Qb2 Nc7 15. b4 Ne6 16. Be5 Nh5 17. Bh3 Bf8 18. Bg4 Nf6 19. Bxf6
Qxf6 20. Qb3 Rad8 21. Bh3 Ba8 22. Bg2 $14 {1-0 Salov,V-Hjartarson,J/Rotterdam
1989/CBM 13 (55)}) 14... Nc7 15. Bxc7 $6 (15. b4 Ne6 16. Be5 {was better.})
15... Qxc7 16. b4 Bd6 {after white has exchange his dark bishop, black has a
clear and natural plan of playing on the K side.} 17. e3 Qe7 {[%cal Ga7a5]} 18.
Qb3 Rad8 {over protecting d5. Now c5 becomes an option.Black is by no means
worse.} 19. Ne1 {preventing c5, but...} h5 $1 {white forces are disorganized,
and Kramnik begins a thematic attack on the kingside.} 20. b5 (20. h4 {[%csl
Rg4]} Ng4 $17) 20... h4 21. bxc6 hxg3 22. hxg3 (22. cxb7 gxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxe3+
24. Kf1 Ng4 {[%cal Ge3f2,Gg4h2] with a mate on next move}) 22... Bxc6 23. Nc2
Ng4 $1 {[%csl Rf2,Rg1][%cal Ge7f6,Gf6h6] black goes after white's king, and a
pawn doesn't matter.} 24. Nxd5 (24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Nxd5 (25. Qxd5 Bxg3 $19)
25... Qg5 {white king is doomed.}) 24... Qg5 25. Nf4 Bxf4 $1 {leading to a
forced win} 26. Bxc6 $8 (26. exf4 Qh6 27. d5 $8 Re2 $1 $19) (26. gxf4 Qh4 $19)
26... Qh6 27. Bg2 Bxg3 $1 28. fxg3 Qh2+ 29. Kf1 Qxg3 30. Rd2 (30. Kg1 Qf2+ 31.
Kh1 Rd6 $19) 30... Rd6 {white is helpless against all the threats to his king.}
0-1

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O a6 6. Ba4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3
d6 9. Bd5 Nxd5 10. exd5 Ne5 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Ne2 Nc4 14. Nbc3 Bf6
15. Rb1 Re8 16. Qd3 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 Qf6 18. Bd2 Qg6 19. Qxg6 hxg6 20. Bf4 b4 21.
Re4 Rxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxd5 23. Nd2 Nb6 24. Re1 Be6 25. Nf3 a5 26. b3 Nd5 27. Bd2 c5
28. Ng5 Bf5 29. Ne4 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 a4 31. Re1 axb3 32. axb3 Ra2 33. Rc1 Kf8 34.
Kf1 Ke7 35. Ke2 Kd7 36. Kd3 Ne7 37. g4 Nc6 38. f4 Ra8 39. h4 Rh8 40. Rh1 d5 41.
Be3 Kd6 42. Rh2 Re8 43. Bd2 Re4 44. h5 gxh5 45. Rxh5 Nd4 46. Rh7 Nf3 47. Be3
Ne1+ 48. Kd2 Nxc2 49. Kxc2 Rxe3 50. Rxg7 Ke6 51. Rg8 Re2+ 52. Kd3 Rb2 53. Re8+
Kd7 54. Re5 Rxb3+ 55. Kc2 Rc3+ 56. Kb2 Kd6 57. Rf5 Rg3 58. g5 c4 59. Rxf7 Rg2+
60. Kc1 b3 61. Rb7 d4 62. g6 Ke6 63. Rb4 Rc2+ 64. Kb1 d3 65. f5+ Kf6 66. Rb6+
Kxf5 67. g7 Rg2 68. Rc6 d2 0-1

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.30"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 a5 {This variation
became popular last 3 years. Black delays temporarily usual e7-e5 move.} 7. O-O
(7. Bg5 Bd7 (7... Na6 8. O-O h6 9. Bh4 Bg4 10. Nd2 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 $14 {Schatzl,
F-Gampersberger,H/Graz op-B 1996/1-0 (62)}) 8. Qd2 a4 9. Bh6 Nc6 10. h4 Bxh6
11. Qxh6 Ng4 12. Qd2 h5 13. Ng5 Kg7 $132 {Malay,S-Dimitrov,M/BUL-ch sf 1992/
1-0 (42) (18)}) 7... Na6 8. e5 {Cannot be recommended.This forward move leads
to prosaic PP exchange: e4 for e7 or c7.} ({Interesting is} 8. Be3 Qe8 9. Nd2
e5 10. d5 Bd7 11. b3 h5 12. f3 Kh7 13. Qe1 Qe7 14. a3 Bh6 15. Bd3 Bxe3+ 16.
Qxe3 h4 17. Rab1 $14 (17. Qg5 $2 Nxd5 $17 {0-1 Pelletier,Y-Podzielny,K/Essen
2000/CBM 77 (43)})) ({Standard} 8. Re1 {is nod bad as well:} Nd7 9. Be3 e5 10.
Qd2 Re8 11. Bf1 Nb4 12. Rad1 Nc6 13. b3 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nde5 15. f3 Nxd4 16. Bxd4
Bd7 17. Be3 Bc6 18. Nd5 $14 {Lipsanen,E-Sammul,J/Kaleva op 1989/1-0 (51)}) (8.
Bf4 Qe8 9. Qd2 $5) (8. h3 e5 9. dxe5 {leads to equal position.} dxe5 10. Be3
Nd7 11. a3 Nac5 12. b4 Ne6 13. c5 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nd4 16. Qa2 Nb8
$132 {1/2-1/2 Kocsis,L-Istratescu,A/Sovata 1998/EXT 99 (18)}) ({Interesting is
} 8. Bg5 $1 {preventing e7-e5 and creating Nf6's pin.} Qe8 9. Qd2 e5 10. dxe5
dxe5 11. Rfe1 c6 (11... Qe6 $5) 12. Qd6 Be6 13. Nxe5 Rd8 14. Qa3 Nb4 15. Rac1
Ra8 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Be3 Bg4 18. Qb3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 $16 (19. Bxf3 $2 Ne5 (19...
Nd3 20. Qxb7 N7e5 $1 $17) 20. Rcd1 Qe6 21. Be2 $16 {0-1 Lautier,J-Fressinet,L/
Paris 2002/CBM 90_01 (38)})) 8... Ng4 (8... Nd7 9. Bf4 ({Worth of attention} 9.
exd6 cxd6 $14) 9... Qe8 10. Qd2 dxe5 11. dxe5 (11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Bxe5 13.
dxe5 Be6 14. Nd5 b6 15. Rfd1 $14 {0-1 Rodgaard,J-Istratescu,A/Elista 1998/CBM
66 ext (29)}) 11... Ndc5 {-see commented game  1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Istratescu,A/
Krynica 1998/CBM 67/[Huzman] (29)}) 9. exd6 cxd6 {This position is quite
similar to Alekhine defence.} 10. h3 Nf6 11. Be3 d5 12. c5 Bd7 {[%cal Gb7b6,
Gd7c6]} 13. Qb3 Bc6 14. Ne5 {[%cal Ge5c6]} Nd7 15. Nxc6 bxc6 {White recieves
pair of BB, but Pb7 was moved to c6, so Pd5 now is protected and Black can
play e7-e5.} 16. Qa4 $6 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Ga4c6] Inaccurance.} (16. Na4 $142 e5
17. Qd1) 16... Qc7 {[%cal Gc7c6]} 17. Qd1 {White recognizes previous
non-precise move.} e5 18. Na4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Rfe8 {[%csl Re2]
[%cal Ge8e2]} 21. Bxa6 ({Badly is} 21. Nb6 $2 Rxe2 22. Nxa8 Qb7 23. Nb6 Re4 24.
Qd2 Ndxc5 25. Qxa5 Rb4 $17 {[%csl Rb6]}) 21... Re4 22. Qd1 Rxa6 23. Re1 Qe5 $11
{Eventually Black equalized, but White continues to play...} 24. Qd2 Nf6 25.
Nc3 Rd4 $1 26. Rxe5 (26. Qc2 Qg5 $132) 26... Rxd2 27. Re2 Rd4 28. b3 Ra7 29.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1 Ne4 31. Nb2 Nc3 (31... Nxc5 32. Rc2 Ne6 33. Rxc6 Rc7 $11)
32. Re8+ Kg7 33. Rc8 Ra6 34. a4 Kf6 35. Nd3 Ke6 (35... Ne2+ 36. Kf1 Nd4 {
[%csl Rb3]} 37. Rb8 Kf5 $132) 36. Rc7 Ne2+ 37. Kf1 Nd4 38. Rb7 Ra8 39. Rb6 Re8
$6 (39... Kf5 $132) 40. b4 $1 axb4 41. Nxb4 Rc8 $4 $18 {Terrible mistake. Now
white Pa4 became very strong.} (41... Ra8 $1 42. Nxc6 Nxc6 43. Rxc6+ Ke5 44.
Rc7 Ke6 $11) 42. a5 {[%csl Ya5][%cal Ga5a8]} Kd7 43. a6 Rc7 44. g4 g5 45. Kg2
Ne6 46. Nd3 f6 47. Kg3 Ra7 (47... Nd4 48. Nb4 Ne6 (48... Kc8 49. f4 Kd7 50. f5
h5 51. Kf2 hxg4 52. hxg4 Nb5 53. Rb8 $18) 49. a7 $1 $18 {-see below.}) 48. Nb4
$1 Nxc5 (48... Rc7 49. a7 $1 Rxa7 50. Rxc6 Ra3+ 51. f3 d4 52. Rd6+ Ke7 53. Nd5+
Kf7 54. c6 (54. Rd7+ Kf8 55. c6 $18)) 49. Rxc6 Nd3 (49... Ne6 50. Rb6 d4 51.
Kf3 $18) 50. Rxf6 1-0

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 {In der Variante 4...dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7
besitzt Schwarz auch gute Ausgleichchancen.} 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 {Schwarz
spielt die klassische Variante. Er nimmt den Bauern und wдhrend WeiЯ ihn
zurьckgewinnt, kann er die Entwicklung des Damenflьgels beenden.} 7. Qc2 a6 8.
a4 {Dieser Zug ist viel populдrer in der letzten Zeit als die klassische
Fortsetzung 8.Qc2, die auch nicht schlecht ist. Mit dem Textzug verhindert
WeiЯ die Mцglichkeit b7-b5 (und Bb7), aber der Textzug schwдcht das Feld b4.}
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc5 {Dieser genьgsame
Zug bietet WeiЯ keinen Vorteil. Nach meiner Meinung ist die Fortsetzung 13.
Nbd2 chancenreicher.} Bxc5 {GroЯmeister Kramnik spielt diese Variante mit
beiden Farben. Das Nehmen des c5-Bauern ist logischer als sein frьherer Zug 13.
..Qxd1.} (13... Qxd1 {Dieser Zug gefдllt mir nicht, er bringt den weiЯen Turm
mit Tempo ins Spiel.} 14. Rxd1 Bxc5 15. Nc3 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Kramnik,V/
Dortmund 2000/CBM 78 (15)} (15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Ne5 $14)) 14. Nc3 Bc6 {Die
Bauernstellung ist symmetrisch - WeiЯ hat einige Initiative, aber Schwarz kann
das (leicht) neutralisieren.} 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 h6 $146 {[%mdl 4] Schwarz
wartet mit seiner weiteren Entwicklung - zuerst "befragt" er den g5-Lдufer.} (
16... Bd4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Akopian,V-Georgiev,K/Epinal 2002/CBM
86 ext (18)}) 17. Bxf6 $6 {Dieser Zug ist zu optimistisch - es wдre sicherer
die Damen zu tauschen.} (17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nd3 (19. Nf3 Nc6 $11 {
[%cal Gc6b4]}) 19... Nd7 $11 (19... Be7 $11)) 17... Qxf6 18. f4 {WeiЯ
befestigt seinen e5-Springer - der Nachteil des Zuges ist, dass sein
Kцnigsflьgel geschwдcht wird.} (18. Nf3 Bb4 $15 (18... Nc6 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Nxc5
Qxc5 $15 {[%csl Yb4]})) (18. Nd3 Bd4 $15) 18... Qe7 (18... Rd8 {18...Nc6? wдre
ganz schlecht wegen 19.Nd7.} 19. Qb3 Qe7 $11) 19. Ne4 $6 {Dieser Springerzug
gefдllt mir nicht - es wдre besser zuerst die Schwerfiguren ins Spiel bringen.}
(19. Qb3 $5 $11) 19... Rd8 20. Qb3 Bd4 $15 {[%csl Gd4] Der d4B steht aktiv und
die weiЯen Springer haben keine Stьtzpunkte im Zentrum.} 21. Nf3 (21. Nc4 Nc6
$15) (21. Nd3 Nc6 $15) 21... Nc6 22. a5 $2 {[%csl Ra5][%mdl 16384] Mit diesem
Zug schwдcht WeiЯ ohne Not seinen a-Bauern. Wir kцnnen in diesem Fall nur
sagen - das ist Rapidschach...} (22. Rfd1 Na5 23. Qa2 Qb4 $15) (22. Rac1 $15)
22... Rd5 $1 $17 {[%cal Gd5b5,Gb5b2,Ga8d8,Gd8d1,Rd5a5] Mit diesem einfachem
Zug bekommt Schwarz eine starke Initiative - der a5P hдngt, er kann auf der
d-Linie verdoppeln und in einigen Varianten (spдter in der Partie) wird Rb5
mцglich.} 23. Qa3 (23. Nxd4 Rxd4 (23... Nxd4 24. Qc4 Rad8 $15 {[%cal Gd4f5,
Gf5e3]}) 24. Nc3 Rad8 $17 (24... Qc7 $17)) (23. Ra4 Rad8 $17 (23... Rxa5 $4 24.
Nxd4 $18) (23... Nxa5 24. Rxa5 Rxa5 25. Nxd4 $14)) 23... Qxa3 24. Rxa3 Ba7 $5 {
Schwarz nimmt nicht auf b2 (was auch vorteilhaft fьr ihn wдre) - er spielt
stattdessen auf dauerhaften positionellen Druck.} (24... Bxb2 25. Rb3 Bd4 (
25... Bf6 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Rxb7 Nxa5 $15) 26. Rxb7 Nxa5 $17) 25. Rfa1 Rb5 26.
R1a2 $2 {Nach diesem Zug verliert WeiЯ die Qualitдt.} (26. b3 Rd8 $17 {[%csl
Ra1,Ra3,Ga7,Gc6][%cal Gd8d1,Gb5b3,Gb5a5] Schwarz hat ausgezeichnetes
Figurenspiel.}) 26... Nb4 $19 (26... Nb4 27. Ra1 Nc2 $19 {[%cal Rc2a1,Rc2a3]})
0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bf4 e6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 {This leads to
quick simplifications after which White's chances are minimal.} (13. Kb1 {
is the more complex main line.} O-O (13... Qb6 {Hamdouchi-Bareev, Cap d'Agde-A
2002 CBM 92}) 14. c4 (14. Ne5 Qa5 (14... Rc8 15. Qf3 Qa5 16. c4 Rfd8 17. Rd3
Qa6 $1 {- Glek-Bareev, RUS-ch St Petersburg 1998 CBM 67}) 15. Ne4 {-
Topalov-Bareev, Candidats semifinal Dortmund 2002 CBM 90}) 14... b5 $5 {
- Vescovi-Macieja, FIDE World Cup-A 2002 CBM 92} (14... Qa5 {-
Galliamova-Chiburdanidze, Europa-Tartarstan m 2001 CBM 85})) 13... Nxe4 14.
Qxe4 Nf6 (14... a5 15. Kb1 a4 16. Ne5 Nf6 17. Qe2 {- Yegiazarian-Haroutjunian,
ARM-ch Yerevan 2001 CBM 86}) 15. Qd3 (15. Qe5 $6 {The Q is only vulnerable
here.} O-O 16. Kb1 a5 17. Rhg1 Qd5 18. Qxd5 cxd5 {Now the P structure clearly
favors Black and White has no attacking chances.} 19. g4 Ne4 20. Rg2 b5 21. Ne5
Rfc8 $15 {Westerinen-Rogers, Troll Masters Gausdal 1996}) (15. Qe2 Qd5 (15...
Qa5 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Ne5 c5 $2 18. Ng6 $3 Rfe8 {was the safe try!} (18... fxg6
$6 {accepting the sacrifice allows White a wonderful firework!} 19. Qxe6+ Kh8
20. hxg6 Rae8 21. Bxh6 $1 {The second sacrifice...} gxh6 22. Qe3 $1 Ng4 (22...
Ng8 23. Rxh6+ Kg7 24. Rh7+ Kxg6 25. Qe4+ $18) 23. Rxh6+ $1 {The third was easy.
..} Kg7 24. Rh7+ Kxg6 25. Qe4+ $18 {Smolkov-Rumiantsev, St Petersburg 2002}))
16. c4 Qe4 {- 15.Qd3}) 15... Qd5 (15... a5 16. c4 O-O 17. Kb1 b5 {Black wants
to create a stronghold for his N on d5.} 18. Ne5 (18. c5 $5 Nd5 19. Bd2 Nb4 {
/\ Qd5}) 18... bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nd5 20. Nxc6 Qd7 {Black is happy to sacrifice the
weak c P, because he has good play on the opened lines against the enemy K.}
21. Bd2 a4 22. Rhe1 Bf6 23. Ne5 Qb7 24. Rc1 Rfb8 25. Rc2 {(A.Rodriguez-Lobron,
Luzern ol (Men) 1982)} Rc8 26. Qd3 Rxc2 27. Qxc2 Rb8 28. Rc1 Nb6 $44) 16. c4
Qe4 $11 {This _|_ is about equal, but it contains some venom, as we will see
it.} 17. Qxe4 ({avoiding the _|_ may lead to problems only for White:} 17. Qd2
b5 18. Rde1 Qh7 19. c5 Nd5 20. Be5 a5 21. Qc2 Qxc2+ 22. Kxc2 {and the strong
blockading N on d5 is a super-power.} Bf6 23. Nd2 Nb4+ 24. Kb1 Nd3 $15 {
Jonkman-Grant, Mondariz zt 2000}) 17... Nxe4 18. Be3 Nd6 $6 {This is a bit
careless, although it looks logical to provoke c4-c5 weakening >< d5.} (18...
O-O-O 19. Ne5 Rhf8 20. Rhe1 (20. d5 {leads only to unnecessary exchanges.} Bd6
21. Nd3 exd5 22. cxd5 c5 23. Rh4 Rfe8 $11 {Jonkman-Grooten, Leeuwarden op 1997}
)) (18... Nf6 19. Ne5 Bd6 20. f3 Rd8 21. Kc2 a6 22. g4 Nd7 23. Nd3 {This type
of _|_ is not so easy for Black from a practical point of view.} Rc8 24. a4 O-O
25. f4 f6 26. Rhe1 Rfe8 27. Bd2 c5 28. dxc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 30. Bc3 Kf7 31.
Rd7+ Re7 32. Rxe7+ Bxe7 $11 {L.Bronstein-Tempone, ARG-ch Buenos Aires 1983})
19. b3 (19. d5 {is again useless because of} Nxc4 20. dxe6 Nxe3 (20... fxe6 21.
Bd4 O-O 22. Rhe1) 21. exf7+ Kxf7 22. fxe3 Rhd8 $11) 19... Bf6 20. g4 b5 $1 {
This is Black's main idea to take control over the light squares.} (20... Rd8
21. Kc2 $14) 21. Nd2 {White wants to keep the structure.} (21. c5 $6 Nc8 {
/\ Ne7-d5 is the right route for the N for a revival.} (21... Ne4 $6 {The N is
only vulnerable here and cannot find his way to d5.} 22. Kc2 b4 23. a3 a5 24.
Ra1 Ke7 25. axb4 $1 (25. Kd3 $14) 25... axb4 26. Ra4 $1 Rxa4 27. bxa4 Ra8 28.
Kb3 Nc3 29. a5 $16) 22. Nd2 Ne7 23. Ne4 Nd5 24. Nd6+ Ke7 $11) 21... Kd7 (21...
Ke7 $2 22. f4 $1 $16) 22. Kc2 (22. c5 $6 {is still anti-strategy:} Ne8 23. Ne4
Nc7 24. Nd6 Rhf8 25. Bf4 Nd5 26. Be5 a5 $11) 22... Bd8 23. Nf3 Bf6 (23... bxc4
24. Ne5+ Kc7 25. bxc4 f6 (25... Bf6 26. Bf4 Bxe5 27. Bxe5 f6 28. Bg3 Kd7 29.
Kd3 $16) 26. Ng6 Re8 27. Bf4 $16) 24. Ne5+ Kc7 25. c5 $5 {Finally White
decides for this advance, the main idea is the control of the d <->, and space
advantage on both flanks.} (25. Bf4 $14 {keeping the tension was also possible.
}) 25... Bxe5 26. dxe5 Nc8 (26... Nb7 {The N is far from d5 here.} 27. Rhg1 $14
) 27. Rh3 $1 Ne7 28. Rf3 Rhf8 29. Rd6 $1 a5 (29... Nd5 30. Bd2 a5 $14) 30. g5
$1 {widening the battlefront for the B.} hxg5 (30... Nf5 {is met by a
promising positional exchange sacrifice eliminating the strong blockader.} 31.
Rxf5 $1 exf5 32. gxh6 gxh6 33. Rxh6 $1 (33. Bxh6 Rh8 34. Rf6 Kd7 $1) 33... Rh8
34. Rf6 Kd7 (34... Rxh5 35. Rxf7+ $18) 35. h6 $16 {and Black's pieces are
still rather passive.}) 31. Bxg5 Nf5 (31... Nd5 {is impossible because of} 32.
h6 $18) 32. Rd1 {The d <-> is in White's hands, but it is not easy to improve
the position.} a4 (32... Rh8 33. Rfd3 Raf8 34. Rd7+ Kc8 $14) 33. b4 Kc8 $2 {
Now White will penetrate on the d <->.} (33... Rh8 34. Rfd3 Raf8 {connecting
both rooks was much better.} 35. Rd7+ Kb8 $14) 34. Rfd3 Ra7 35. Rd8+ Rxd8 36.
Rxd8+ Kb7 {Now the black R remains very passive.} 37. Kc3 Ka6 38. Kd3 $1 Rc7
39. Ke4 Kb7 40. Rd1 Kc8 41. Rd8+ Kb7 42. Kf4 $1 Rc8 43. Rd7+ Rc7 44. Rd3 Kc8 (
44... Rc8 45. Bd8 $16) 45. Rd8+ Kb7 {[#]} 46. Bf6 $3 {[%mdl 512] This is a
beautiful sacrifice in order to create a lethal o^!} g6 (46... gxf6 47. exf6
Rc8 (47... Nh4 48. Kg4 $1 Nf5 49. Kg5 $18 {/\ h6}) 48. Rxc8 Kxc8 49. Kg5 Kd7
50. h6 Nxh6 51. Kxh6 e5 52. Kh7 $1 {The fight for the reserve tempo begins.} e4
(52... Ke6 53. Kg7 a3 54. f3 $22 $18) 53. Kg7 Ke6 54. a3 $22 $18) 47. hxg6 fxg6
48. Kg5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 32] Kramnik nowadays regularly plays 1.e4. Is this a deception
before his match against Leko?!} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Open Ruy Lopez? No, thanks...}
3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O (6... Ba7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. h3 O-O 9. Nf1
d5 {- Y.Gonzales-F.Gomez, CUB-ch Holguin City 2002 CBM 89}) 7. O-O (7. Nbd2 {
can also be met by the push in the [+].} d5 8. Qe2 (8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Ne4 Ba7 10.
O-O {- 7.0-0}) 8... Be6 9. O-O (9. h3 Nh5 10. Nf1 h6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. d4 Nf6
13. dxe5 Nxe4 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Re8 $11 {Rybak-Jaracz, POL-ch (Women) 1994}
) 9... Re8 10. Re1 h6 11. h3 Qd7 12. Nf1 dxe4 {This exchange followed by the
occupation of the d <-> equalizes easily.} 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Rad8 15. b4
Ba7 16. Ng3 Qd3 $11 {Zaichik-A.Ivanov, World op Philadelphia 2000}) 7... d5 8.
exd5 (8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. h3 (9. exd5 Nxd5 {- 8.exd5}) (9. Re1 Re8 10. exd5 {- 8.ed}
) 9... Re8 (9... dxe4 10. dxe4 Qe7 11. Nh2 Be6 12. Qf3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Rad8 14.
Nc4 {White has some pressure on the light squares, especially on f5, but the d
<-> is in Black's hands.} h6 15. Re1 Qe6 16. Nf1 Rd7 17. Ng3 Rfd8 18. Nf5 Rd3
19. Qe2 Kh7 20. Rf1 b5 21. Nce3 Bxe3 22. Bxe3 R3d7 {1/2:1/2 Beshukov-J.Geller,
Krasnodar 2001}) 10. Re1 h6 11. Qe2 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nh5 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. N3h2 Nf4
15. Qf3 Ne7 {/\ Neg6} 16. Be3 Neg6 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Ne3 Nh4 19. Qg3 c6 $13 {
Varini-Mikac, Portoroz op 1997}) 8... Nxd5 9. h3 {against Bg4.} (9. Nxe5 {
is harmless.} Bxf2+ 10. Rxf2 Nxe5 11. Qh5 Nxd3 12. Rxf7 Be6 13. Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.
Be3 Nxe3 15. Bxe6+ Kh8 16. Qe2 Qf4 17. Nd2 Rd8 18. Nf3 c5 19. b3 h6 $11 {
Lakos-Jaracz, EU-ch U20 Girls 1995}) (9. Nbd2 Ba7 (9... Bg4 $5 {is the real
question.} 10. h3 Bh5 11. Ne4 Ba7 12. Re1 f6 {/\ Bf7 neutralizing the pressure
on the a2-g8 /^.} (12... Bg6) 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Bf7 15. Qd2 Qe7 $5 (15...
h6 16. d4 f5 17. Nc5 e4 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Ne7 {(Svidler-Ernst, Peer Gynt
Gausdal 1991)} 20. Bxf7+ Rxf7 (20... Kxf7 21. e6+) 21. Nd7 $14)) 10. Nc4 (10.
Re1 Nf4 $142 $5 {looks crisper.} (10... Re8 11. Nc4 $142 {- 10.Nc4} (11. d4 {
again allows the pin by} Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nf1 e4 14. Ng3 Bg6 15. Nh2 Qd6 16.
Ng4 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. Ne3 Na5 {/\ c5 freeing the passive B.} 19. Bc2 c5 20.
d5 Rad8 21. Qg4 Qxg4 22. hxg4 b5 23. Rad1 Bb8 24. Nef5 Bxg3 25. Nxg3 Nc4 $11 {
Dolmatov-Salov, SU-FL Irkutsk 1986}))) (10. Ne4 Kh8 11. h3 h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13.
Re1 Qd6 14. Nh4 (14. Qe2 Rfe8) 14... Rad8 15. Qf3 {(Tkachiev-A.Ivanov, New
York op 1995)} Nde7 $11 {fighting for >< f5 and targeting >< d3.}) 10... f6 (
10... Re8 11. Re1 (11. Ng5 h6) 11... f6 $5 (11... Bg4 $6 12. h3 Bh5 {is simply
met by} 13. g4 {and >< e5 falls.} Bg6 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 $16) (11... Qf6
$6 {runs into} 12. d4 $1 e4 (12... Bg4 13. Ncxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3
Rxe5 16. Rxe5 Qxe5 17. Bd2 $16) 13. Ncd2 Bf5 14. Bxd5 exf3 15. Bxf3 $16 {
with a clear P up for White, Svidler-Steingrimsson, Gausdal Int 1991.}) 12. d4
{This is now stronger than before because of the pin on the e <->.} exd4 (12...
e4 13. Nfd2 f5 14. Ne3 Nce7 15. f3 $16 {successfully blowing up Black's [+],
Gerthold-Zoebish, AUT 1998.}) 13. Nd6 $1 (13. Rxe8+ Qxe8) 13... cxd6 14. Bxd5+
Kh8 $14) 11. d4 (11. Ne3 Be6 $11) (11. Be3 $5 Be6 (11... Nxe3 12. fxe3 Kh8 (
12... Be6 13. Ncxe5 Bxe3+ 14. Kh1 $14) 13. d4 {Now Black has problems with his
entombbed B on a7.} Bg4 14. Qe1 e4 15. Nfd2 (15. Nh4 Ne7 $1 (15... Qd7 16. Qf2
$14 {Berzinsh-Jirka, Friendship 2001})) 15... b5 16. Na3 f5 17. Qg3 Qd7 18. Bd1
Bxd1 19. Raxd1 $14 {and the d4 P in the [+] keeps the black pieces passive.})
12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Ne3 Kh8 $11) 11... exd4 12. Re1 $5 (12. cxd4 Be6 {Black can
blockade the isolani on d5.} 13. Re1 Bf7 14. Ne3 Nce7 $11 {Belmonte-Bulgarini,
Santiago 1994})) 9... Nb6 $6 {The N is usually badly placed here.} (9... Ba7
10. Re1 Be6 (10... Re8 {is again met by the standard plan} 11. d4 $1 e4 12. Ng5
Bf5 (12... e3 13. Bxe3 Rxe3 14. Rxe3 Nxe3 15. Qh5 $18) 13. Nxf7 $1 {
(Felgaer-Jirka, Yerevan 2000)} Qd7 (13... Kxf7 14. Qh5+ $18) 14. Qh5 $1 $16) (
10... Qd6 11. Nbd2 (11. Qe2 Bf5 $5 $13) 11... Nf4 12. Nc4 (12. Ne4 Qxd3) 12...
Qxd3 (12... Qg6 13. Bxf4 exf4 14. Nce5 $16) 13. Bxf4 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 exf4 15.
Nce5 {and White has a lead of development.} Nxe5 16. Nxe5 (16. Rxe5 $14) 16...
Bf5 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Re7 Bg6 19. Rdd7 Raf8 20. Rxc7 $14) 11. Qe2 $5 (11. Ng5
Bf5 12. Qf3 Nde7 $13) 11... Re8 (11... f6 12. d4 $14) 12. Ng5 $14) 10. Re1 $1 (
10. Ng5 Bf5 11. Ne4 Be7 $13) 10... h6 (10... a5 $5 {/\ a4 is met by} 11. a4 {
securing the a2-g8 /^ for the B.} (11. Nbd2 a4 12. Bc2 Re8)) 11. Nbd2 (11. Nxe5
$143 {is always answered by} Bxf2+ $1 12. Kxf2 Nxe5 13. d4 Qh4+ 14. Kf1 (14.
Kg1 Nd3) 14... Ng6 15. Qf3 Be6 $1 16. Re4 (16. Qxb7 Rae8 $44) 16... Qd8 $11)
11... Qxd3 12. Nxe5 Qg3 13. Qf3 Qxf3 14. Ndxf3 {White has now serious threats
against >< f7.} Ne7 $6 {[#]} (14... Nxe5 {was the lesser evil, although after}
15. Nxe5 Bd6 16. Ng6 Rd8 17. Ne7+ Kf8 18. Nxc8 Raxc8 19. Be3 $14 {White has a
strong ^^ in an open position.}) 15. Nd3 ({missing the "small combination a la
Capablanca"} 15. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 16. Rxe7 $1 (16. Ne5 $2 Bxf2+ 17. Kf1 Ned5 18.
Re2 (18. Nxf7 Bxe1) 18... Bc5+ $19) 16... Bxe7 17. Ne5 $16 {winning a P.})
15... Bd6 16. Bf4 $14 Ng6 {By this way Black can finish his development, but
the weakness of d6 remains a long-lasting one.} 17. Bxd6 cxd6 18. Re4 {/\ Rd4}
(18. Nb4 {activating the N was the alternative.} a5 19. Nd5 $16) 18... a5 (
18... Bf5 19. Rb4 $16) 19. Rd4 Rd8 20. Rd1 d5 (20... a4 21. Bc2 a3 22. b3 $16)
21. Nc5 $16 Ne7 22. a4 Re8 23. R4d2 Nd7 (23... Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 {Black has
changed the P structure, but now the penetration on the d <-> is nasty.} 25.
Rd8 Bf5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nxb7 $18) 24. Nxd7 Bxd7 25. c4 $5 {White usually
fights against the isolated P not exchanging it, but this activates the white
pieces dramatically.} (25. Re1 Kf8 26. Nd4 $16 {looks more thematic, although
>< a4 may pose some problems for White.}) 25... dxc4 26. Rxd7 cxb3 27. Rxb7
Rab8 28. Rdd7 {The penetration on the 7-th rank wins a P at least.} Nc6 (28...
Rxb7 29. Rxb7 $16) 29. Rxf7 Rxb7 30. Rxb7 Re4 31. Rxb3 Rxa4 {If Black can
exchange the pawns on the <<, the _|_ is drawish.} 32. Rb6 Rc4 33. g3 (33. b3
Rc2 34. Kh2 Rc3 35. Rb7) 33... a4 34. h4 Nd4 35. Ne5 (35. Kg2 Nxf3 36. Kxf3)
35... Rc5 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. Nd7 Rb5 38. Ra8 Ne2+ 39. Kg2 Rxb2 40. h5 {Even in
endgames there are chances for a mating ->!} (40. Rxa4 Nc3 41. Ra7 Nd1) 40...
Nc3 41. Ne5 {/\ Ng6 and mate!} Rb5 42. f4 Ne4 (42... Rd5 43. g4 {/\ Ng6}) 43.
g4 $1 {White concentrates only to the >>.} (43. Ng6 {allows Black to sacrifice
the exchange.} Rxh5 44. g4 Kxg6 45. gxh5+ Kxh5 46. Rxa4 Nd6 (46... Nf6 47. Kf3
Kg6 48. Ra5) 47. Kf3) 43... Nf6 (43... Rb2+ 44. Kf3) 44. Ng6 $18 Ng8 {The N is
now more or less paralyzed.} 45. Nf8+ Kh8 46. Ng6+ Kh7 47. Kf3 Rb3+ 48. Ke4 a3
49. Nf8+ Kh8 50. Ng6+ Kh7 51. g5 $1 hxg5 52. fxg5 Rb4+ 53. Kf5 Rb5+ 54. Kg4
Rb4+ 55. Kf5 Rb5+ 56. Kg4 Rb4+ 57. Nf4 a2 58. Rxa2 Ne7 59. Ra8 Ng8 {and the N
has to return again!} 60. Ra7 Kh8 61. Ra8 Kh7 62. Rf8 Kh8 63. Kf3 Rb3+ 64. Ke4
Rb4+ 65. Ke5 Rb5+ 66. Nd5 Ra5 67. Rd8 Kh7 68. g6+ Kh8 69. h6 $1 Ra7 70. Ne3
gxh6 71. Nf5 {Total domination!} Ra5+ 72. Kf4 Ra4+ 73. Kf3 Ra3+ 74. Kg4 Ra4+
75. Kh5 Ra7 76. Rf8 Rb7 77. Kh4 Rb4+ 78. Kg3 Rb6 79. Ne7 Kg7 80. Rf7+ {and
mate!} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Rb1 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Bd2 Rfb8 13. Qc2 Ne8 14. Rfe1 {
White wants to make as many useful moves as possible before changing the
structure on the << and thus limits Black's <=>.} (14. a4 $5 Qc7 (14... c4 15.
Nb5 Qb6 16. Be3 Nc5 17. Qxc4 Bxb5 18. axb5 Qxb5 19. Qxb5 Rxb5 20. Nd4 Rb7 21.
b4 Na4 22. Rb3 $16 {Gustafsson,J-Szieberth,A/Budapest/2001/}) (14... Qb6 15. b3
Nc7 16. Rfd1 $14) 15. b3 Ra7 16. Rfe1 Nef6 17. h3 Rab7 18. e4 Ne8 19. Bf1 (19.
Na2 $5 $14 {[%cal Yd2c3] /+/-,/\Bc3}) 19... Bxf1 20. Kxf1 Qc8 21. Kg2 c4 22.
Nb5 cxb3 23. Qxb3 Nc7 24. Qc2 Nxb5 25. Qxc8+ Rxc8 26. Rxb5 Rxb5 27. axb5 Rb8
28. Rb1 Nc5 $132 {Drasko,M-Cmiel,T/Porz/1991/}) (14. b3 Qa3 $142 $1 (14... Nc7
15. a4 Qb6 16. Rfd1 (16. Rfe1 {-14.Rfe1}) 16... Qa7 (16... Bb7 17. e4 Na6 18.
Na2 Rc8 19. Be3 Nb4 20. Nxb4 Qxb4 21. Bh3 Rd8 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Be3 Qa5 24. Bd2
Qa7 25. Be3 Qa5 26. Bd2 Qa7 27. Bc3 Bxc3 28. Qxc3 Nf6 29. Qe3 $14 {Shaidullina,
S-Pogonina,N/RUS-chW Elista/2002/}) 17. e4 Rb6 18. Bg5 Re8 19. Na2 e6 20. Nc3
$6 (20. dxe6 $5 Nxe6 21. Be3 $16) 20... exd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Re2 $44 {
Gustafsson,J-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2001/}) 15. Bc1 Qa5 16. Bb2 (16. Bd2 $11)
16... c4 17. Rfd1 Nc5 18. Ba1 Rb4 19. Nd2 cxb3 20. axb3 Nc7 21. Bf1 Bc8 22. e4
Qa7 $44 23. Na4 Nxa4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. bxa4 Rxa4 26. Qc3+ Kg8 27. Rdc1 Ne8 28.
Nc4 Ra2 29. Nb6 Rb8 $11 {Epishin,V-Krivoshey,S/Graz op/2001/}) 14... Nc7 {
[%cal Yc7b5] /\Nb5} 15. a4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] Doesn't allow Black to exchange
the important Nc3, which cements the <<.} (15. e4 Nb5 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Bf1 (
17. Bc3 Qd3 18. Rbc1 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qxc2 20. Rxc2 Bc4 21. Ra1 Bd3 $15 {Varga,
Z-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2000/}) 17... Qb7 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. a3 Qa4 $44 20. b3 $6
Qxa3 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. Qxc3 Qb4 23. Qe3 f6 $15 {Krstev,R-Jacimovic,D/Skopje op/
1998/}) 15... Qb6 16. b3 {The pawn sacrifice is the point of the previous move.
} (16. e4 $6 Qb3 $1 $44) 16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Nxd5 18. Ne5 $1 {Connects
strategy with tactics. White gets a better P-structure.} Nxe5 $8 {Otherwise
Black loses material, or heavily compromises his position.} (18... N7f6 19. Nc4
(19. Bxd5 $16) 19... Qa7 20. Bxf6 $16) (18... dxe5 19. Bxd5 $16) 19. Bxd5 Bb7 {
A difficult choice-give your opponent a permanent advantage, or a dangerous
attack?} (19... Nc6 20. Qe4 Bb7 21. Qf4 Nd8 22. a5 $40) 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxe5
dxe5 22. Rec1 $14 {/+/-} f6 23. Qe4 (23. Qxc5 $2 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxa4 $11) 23...
Kg7 24. Rc3 Rab8 25. Qc2 Qe6 (25... Rc7 $2 26. b4 $18 {[%csl Ga4,Gb4] o^a,b})
26. a5 Kf7 (26... Rb5 $5 27. Rxc5 (27. Ra1 Qd6 28. a6 Ra8 $14) 27... Rxb3 28.
Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxb3 Rxb3 30. Rc7 $14 {/+/-}) 27. Ra1 Rxb3 28. Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxc5
Qb2 30. Qc4+ Kg7 31. Qa2 $5 {White decides to go for further simplification,
but even a major piece _|_ was promising.} (31. Ra2 Qd4 $16 (31... Qb1+ 32. Kg2
Qb7+ 33. f3 $16)) 31... Qxa2 32. Rxa2 $16 {[%mdl 4352] White has transposed
into an ideal R_|_, he supports his o^ from behind. But despite this it's not
easy to demonstrate a forced win, Topalov continues to defend tenaciously.} Ra8
33. a6 Ra7 34. Kg2 Kf7 (34... e4 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke1 (36. Ra4 $5) 36... Ke6 37.
Kd2 $16) 35. Kf3 Ke6 36. g4 Kd6 (36... Kd5 37. h4 Kc6 38. Ke4 $16) 37. h4 h6
38. g5 ({Even after} 38. h5 {Black retains drawing chances:} gxh5 $142 (38...
g5 $6 {loses time and keeps more vulnerable P on the board:} 39. Ke4 e6 40. Ra3
Kd7 41. Kd3 Kc6 42. Kc4 Kb6 43. e4 Kc6 (43... Rc7+ 44. Kb4 Ka7 45. Rf3 Rf7 46.
Kc5 $18) 44. Rf3 Rf7 45. a7 Rxa7 (45... Kb7 46. Kc5 Kxa7 47. Kd6 $18) 46. Rxf6
Kd6 47. Rxh6 Rf7 48. Rg6 $18) 39. gxh5 e6 (39... f5 40. e4 e6 41. Ra5 $16 {/+-}
) 40. Ke4 Kc6 41. Ra3 (41. Kd3 Kb5 $1 $11) 41... Kb6 (41... Kd6 $5) 42. Rf3 Rf7
43. Rg3 Kxa6 44. Rg6 Kb5 45. Rxh6 Kc6 46. Rg6 Kd6 $14 {[%cal Yf6f5] /=,/\f5})
38... hxg5 39. hxg5 f5 (39... Kc6 40. Ke4 Kb6 41. gxf6 exf6 42. Kd5 {[%cal
Rd5e6] /\Ke6+-}) 40. e4 (40. Ke3 e6 41. Ra5 Kc7 42. f3 Kb8 $14) 40... e6 41.
Ra5 Kc7 42. Ke3 Kb8 43. Rxe5 {This seems to be premature.} (43. f3 $5 {keeps
the tension, White's K strives to enter via c5, e.g.} f4+ (43... Kc7 44. Kd3
Kb6 45. Rxe5 Rd7+ 46. Kc4 Rd6 47. Rb5+ Kxa6 48. Kc5 $1 Rd3 49. Rb6+ Ka7 50.
Rxe6 Rxf3 51. e5 $18 {[%csl Ge5,Gg5] o^e,g}) 44. Kd3 (44. Ke2 $5 $16) 44...
Rd7+ (44... Kc7 45. Kc4 Kb6 46. Kb4 $22 $18) 45. Kc4 (45. Kc3 Rd6 46. Ra3 Rc6+
47. Kb4 Ka7 48. Kb5 Rc8 49. Rd3 Rd8 $5 50. Rc3 Rb8+ 51. Ka5 Rc8 $1 $14) 45...
Rd4+ (45... Rd6 $6 46. Ra3 Ka7 47. Kc5 Rd1 48. Kc6 {[%cal Ra3a5] /\Ra5} Rg1 49.
Kd7 Rxg5 50. Kxe6 $18) 46. Kc5 (46. Kc3 Rd6 {-45.Kc3}) 46... Rd3 47. Rb5+ Ka7
48. Rb7+ Kxa6 49. Rg7 Rxf3 50. Rxg6 $14 {/+/-}) 43... Rxa6 44. Rc5 (44. exf5
exf5 45. Re7 Kc8 46. Kf4 (46. Rf7 Re6+ 47. Kf3 Kd8 $11) 46... Kd8 47. Rf7 Re6
48. Rf6 Ke7 49. Rxe6+ Kxe6 50. Ke3 Kd5 51. Kd3 Ke5 52. Ke3 f4+ 53. Kd3 Kf5 54.
f3 Kxg5 55. Ke4 $11) 44... Kb7 45. Kf4 Kb6 46. Rc8 fxe4 47. Kxe4 (47. Rg8 Kc6
48. Rxg6 Kd7 $5 $14 (48... Kd5 49. Rg8 $1 Ra2 50. Rd8+ Kc6 51. Kg3 Ra7 52. Kg4
Ra2 53. Rf8 $16)) 47... Kb7 48. Rg8 (48. Rc3 Ra5 (48... Ra4+ 49. Ke5 Ra5+ 50.
Kf6 Rf5+ 51. Kxg6 Rxf2 52. Re3 $18) 49. f4 Rb5 50. Rh3 Kc7 51. Rh6 Kd6 52. Rxg6
Rb4+ 53. Kf3 Ke7 {leads only to the game position anyway.}) 48... Kc6 49. Rxg6
Kd6 50. f4 (50. Rg7 Ra4+ 51. Ke3 e5 52. Rg6+ Ke7 $14) 50... Ra4+ 51. Kf3 Ke7
52. Rg7+ Kf8 53. Rb7 Rc4 $2 {Only this can be identified as the losing mistake.
} ({After} 53... Ra1 $1 {Black's position is holding:} 54. Kg4 (54. g6 $2 Rg1)
(54. Ke4 Re1+) 54... Rg1+ 55. Kh5 Rf1 56. Kh6 (56. Rb8+ Kg7 $11) (56. Rb4 Kg7
$11) 56... Rxf4 57. Rb8+ Ke7 58. g6 Rh4+ 59. Kg5 (59. Kg7 e5 $132) 59... Rh1
60. g7 Rg1+ 61. Kh6 Rh1+ 62. Kg6 Rg1+ 63. Kh7 Rh1+ 64. Kg8 e5 65. Rb5 Rh5 66.
Ra5 Ke8 $11 {and because the Pe5 shields Black's K from frontal checks, White
has no way to extricate his K from g8.}) 54. g6 $1 $18 Rc1 (54... Rc5 55. Rf7+
{[%cal Rf3g4] /\Kg4+-} (55. Kg4 $143 Rf5)) 55. Kg4 Rc5 (55... Rg1+ 56. Kh5 Rg2
(56... Kg8 57. Re7 $18) 57. Kh6 Rh2+ 58. Kg5 Rf2 59. f5 $1 (59. Rf7+ Ke8 (59...
Kg8 60. Re7 $18) 60. Kh6 Rh2+ 61. Kg7 $18) 59... Rxf5+ (59... exf5 60. g7+ Kg8
61. Kf6 $18) 60. Kh6 Rf6 61. Kh7 $18) 56. Rf7+ Ke8 (56... Kg8 57. Rf6 Rc6 58.
Kg5 $18 {[%cal Rf4f5,Yg5h6,Yg6g7] /\,f5,Kh6,g7}) 57. f5 $1 (57. f5 exf5+ 58.
Rxf5 Rc1 (58... Rxf5 59. Kxf5 Ke7 60. Ke5 Ke8 61. Ke6 Kf8 62. Kf6 $18) 59. Kg5
Rh1 (59... Ke7 60. g7 $18) 60. g7 Ke7 61. Kg6 Rg1+ 62. Kh7 Rh1+ 63. Kg8 $18 {
and White has reached a simple Lucena position.}) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2594"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8.
Qe2 Bd6 9. Qg4 Ne7 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 Be5 12. Qh5 Rxg2 13. Ne2 d5 14. f4 Bd6
15. Bd2 Rb8 16. O-O-O c5 17. e5 Qb6 18. Bc3 d4 19. exd6 dxc3 20. Qh8+ Rg8 21.
Qxc3 Nd5 22. Qe5 Kd7 23. f5 Bb7 24. fxe6+ fxe6 25. Rhf1 Qxd6 26. Rf7+ Kc6 27.
Qxd6+ Kxd6 28. Bh7 Rg2 29. Nf4 Rxh2 30. c4 1-0

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. h3 Bg7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8.
Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. O-O Qe7 11. a3 Nf8 12. b4 Ne6 13. Na4 b6 14. Nh2 f5 15. f3
f4 16. Bf2 h5 17. bxc5 b5 18. Nb2 g5 19. d4 exd4 20. Nd3 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22.
Rfd1 Be6 23. Qb4 Qb6 24. a4 c5 25. Qxb5+ Qxb5 26. axb5 Kf7 27. Ra5 Rhb8 28. Nf1
Be5 29. Rda1 d3 30. Rxa7+ Kf6 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxa8 dxc2 33. Rf8+ Kg6 34. Re8
Kf7 35. Rf8+ Kg6 36. Re8 Bc4 37. Rxe5 c1=Q 38. Rxc5 Qxf1+ 39. Kh2 Qxf2 40. Rxc4
g4 0-1

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3
cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 $5 {A rare move. Usually
white plays 11. h4 here with complicated struggle. The idea behind 11.Qf2 is
very simple and logical- white intends to develop a bishop to d3 followed by
Qh4 later on.} Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qc7 13. Bd3 (13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. Bd3 f6 15. exf6
Rxf6 16. g3 Bd7 17. Qd4 $14 {Schmid,G-Janka,H/Koetzting 1988}) (13. g4 $5 b5
14. Bd3 b4 15. Qh4 h6 16. Ne2 f6 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. g5 $36 {
Kosmol,H-Uiess,H/ICCF-Cup corr 1994}) 13... b5 {This is Radjabov's last
opportunity to exchange the queens off and to jump into slightly worse endgame.
} (13... Bxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 (14... Qc5 15. Ne2 b6 (15... Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17.
Rhe1 $14) 16. Kb1 Bb7 17. c3 Bc6 18. Bc2 Bb5 19. Qd2 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Rfd8 21. f5
$14 {Hossain,E-Vakhidov,T/Dhaka 2003}) 15. Rhe1 Qb6 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 17. Ne2 b4
18. Nd4 a5 19. b3 $14 {Pedzich,D-Aaberg,A/Copenhagen 1991}) 14. Qh4 {This is
white's idea - to create a couple weaknesses on the King side and to push
pawns to open up a position of the black king. Ftacnik: 'Kramnik is trying for
a new solution in a well known variation with the preparation of the kingside
attack.'} (14. Ne2 Be7 15. Kb1 Bb7 16. Rhe1 Rae8 17. Qg3 f5 18. exf6 Bxf6 19.
Qh3 $14 {Moreda,L-Kovacevic,B/Nova Gorica 2001}) 14... h6 (14... g6 {Ftacnik}
15. Ne2 Bb7 16. Kb1 $14) 15. Ne2 f6 (15... Bb7 16. g4 $1 {[%csl Rg8][%cal
Gg4g5]} (16. Kb1 {Ftacnik} Rac8 17. g4 $14) 16... f6 17. g5 fxe5 18. gxh6 $1
$18 exd4 $140 19. hxg7 Rf6 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. g8=Q#) 16. Qg4 {At this point it's
pretty obvious that Kramnik won the theoretical discussion. White has
developed very dangerous initiative on the kingside, while Radjabov is
deprived of any counterplay on the other part of the board.} Bxd4 (16... f5 17.
Qf3 (17. Qg6 {Ftacnik} Rf7 18. h3 Nf8 19. Qh5 $14) 17... Qb6 18. Qe3 $1 $16 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Gh1g1,Gg2g4] Next g2-g4 will be coming soon with very
unpleasent threats over the g-file.}) 17. Nxd4 (17. Qxe6+ {Ftacnik} Kh8 (17...
Rf7 18. Nxd4 Nxe5 19. Qe8+ Rf8 20. Bh7+ Kxh7 21. Qxf8 $16) 18. Qf5 (18. Nxd4
Nxe5 19. Qxd5 Nxd3+ 20. Rxd3 Qxf4+ $11) 18... Be3+ 19. Kb1 g6 20. Qxg6 (20. Qh3
Nxe5 21. Qxe3 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Bf5 $11) 20... Nxe5 21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Nc3 $14)
17... Nc5 (17... fxe5 $2 {Ftacnik} 18. Qxg7+ Kxg7 19. Nxe6+ Kf7 20. Nxc7 $18)
18. Qg6 {Forcing black to take on d3.} Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Qc4 $2 {Ftacnik: 'Only
the youth has the ability to feed the hope into desperate counterattack on the
queenisde. In fact white's advantage after the correct and logical move 19...
Qf7! would be rather symbolic.'} (19... fxe5 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Qxe6+ Qf7 22.
Qxe5 (22. Qxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kxf7 23. fxe5 Ke6 24. Re1 Rf2 $11) 22... Qxf4+ (22...
Rad8 {Ftacnik} 23. g3 $14) 23. Qxf4 Rxf4 24. Rxd5 Rf2 25. Rd2 Raf8 26. Re1 $1
$16) (19... Qf7 $1 {Ftacnik} 20. Qxf7+ (20. Qg3 fxe5 21. fxe5 Qf4+ 22. Qxf4
Rxf4 23. Rdd1 Bd7 $11) 20... Rxf7 21. exf6 Rxf6 (21... gxf6 $2 22. Re1 $16) 22.
g3 g5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Nf3 Rg6 $11) 20. Rhd1 Ra7 {It is fruitless to attempt
to win a pawn after} (20... fxe5 21. fxe5 Qxa2 22. Ra3 Qc4 23. Rg3 $1 Qc7 24.
Nxe6 Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rc3 Qf7 27. Qxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxd5 $16 {and white
emerges with a pawn up.}) (20... Qxa2 {Ftacnik} 21. Rg3 Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Qa5+ 23.
Ke2 Rf7 24. exf6 $16) 21. Kb1 Qc7 22. f5 $1 $16 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Kramnik is ready with all the pieces and thus it makes no sense to wait with
direct attack. '} Qb6 $6 (22... Qf7 23. Qxf7+ Raxf7 24. fxe6 Re7 25. Re3 Bxe6
26. Rde1 $16) 23. Rh3 $1 {[%csl Rg8] Preparing Rh6. Black has no defense
against white's mating attack.} fxe5 24. Rxh6 $1 Rf6 (24... exd4 25. Qh7+ Kf7
26. f6 Ke8 27. fxg7 $18) 25. Qe8+ {Ftacnik: 'White even got few words of
criticism for this solution, since the banal continuation of the attack via h
file was winning more quickly. In reality is the choice of world champion very
safe and convincing despite few more moves.'} (25. Qh7+ {Ftacnik} Kf8 (25...
Kf7 26. fxe6+ Bxe6 (26... Ke8 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Qg8+ Ke7 29. Nf5#) 27. Rxf6+
Kxf6 28. Rf1+ Ke7 (28... Kg5 29. h4+ Kg4 30. Qg6+ Kxh4 31. Nf3#) 29. Nxe6 $18)
26. Qh8+ Kf7 (26... Ke7 27. Qxg7+ Rf7 28. Qg5+ Kd6 29. fxe6 $18) 27. Rh7 $18
Ke7 28. Rxg7+ Rf7 29. Rxf7+ Kxf7 30. fxe6+ Bxe6 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Qxe5 $18)
25... Rf8 26. Rh8+ Kxh8 27. Qxf8+ Kh7 28. Nf3 $18 ({Another possibility was} 
28. Rd3 $5 exf5 29. Qxc8 exd4 30. Qxf5+ Kg8 (30... g6 31. Rh3+ Kg7 32. Qe5+ $18
) 31. Qc8+ {and the black king has no escape - Rf3 or Rh3 is coming next.})
28... Qc7 29. fxe6 {The queen with the knight is the best combination of
pieces in the mating attack. Espacially when they are attacking king which is
left alone!} e4 30. Ng5+ (30. Rxd5 $5) 30... Kh6 31. h4 Kh5 32. Qf5 g6 33. g4+
Kxh4 34. Rh1+ Kg3 35. Rg1+ Kh4 36. Qf6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 a5 9. a4 Ng4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. Qh4 d6 12. Nd5 Re8 13. Rd1 Nxb3 14. Bb6 Qd7
15. cxb3 Ra6 16. Bd4 Qd8 17. O-O Be6 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nf4 Qc8 20. Rd3 Rc6 21.
Qg3 f6 22. Ne2 Bf7 23. Nd4 Rc1 24. Qe3 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 Qd7 26. Rc3 Rc8 27. f3
Rxc3 28. Qxc3 e5 29. Ne2 d5 30. exd5 Qxd5 31. b4 axb4 32. Qxb4 Qb3 33. Qxb3
Bxb3 34. Nc3 b6 35. Kf2 f5 36. g3 Kf6 37. f4 g5 38. fxe5+ Kxe5 39. Ke3 h5 40.
Kf3 f4 41. gxf4+ gxf4 42. Ne2 Bd5+ 43. Kf2 Bc6 44. b3 f3 45. Ng1 Kd4 46. b4
Bxa4 47. Kxf3 Kc4 48. Kf4 Kxb4 49. Ke3 Bd1 50. Nh3 Kc3 51. Nf4 b5 52. Nd5+ Kc4
53. Nb6+ Kc5 54. Nd7+ Kd6 55. Nf6 Ke5 56. Nd7+ Kf5 57. Nc5 Bc2 58. Na6 Kg4 59.
Nb4 Bf5 60. Kf2 Kf4 61. Ke2 Bg4+ 62. Kd2 Kf3 63. Nd5 Kg2 64. Kc3 Kxh2 65. Kb4
h4 66. Kxb5 Kg3 67. Ne3 h3 68. Kc5 Be2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 a6 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. Nb3 Rc8 11. Kb1 b5 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. g4 Bc6 14. g5 Nd7 15.
Qf2 g6 16. Rhf1 Bg7 17. f5 Ne5 18. Bb6 Qd7 19. Be2 Qb7 20. Na5 Qb8 21. f6 Bf8
22. a3 Nxc2 23. Kxc2 Bxe4+ 24. Kb3 Ba8 25. Ba7 Qc7 26. Qb6 Qxb6 27. Bxb6 h6 28.
Nxb5 Kd7 29. Bd4 Bd5+ 30. Ka4 axb5+ 31. Bxb5+ Bc6 32. Bxe5 Bxb5+ 33. Kxb5 Rc5+
34. Kb6 Rxe5 35. Rc1 Rxa5 36. Rc7+ Kd8 37. Rfc1 Rc5 38. R1xc5 dxc5 39. Kc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Bd3 Nb4
15. Bd4 Rc8 16. Kb1 Qa5 17. a3 Nc6 18. f5 Ndxe5 19. Bb6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. b3 Bf5 7. Ne5 h6 8. g4 Bh7
9. Bg2 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. f4 Nfd7 12. cxd5 Nxe5 13. d6 Qxd6 14. dxe5 Qc7 15.
Ne4 O-O 16. Bb2 Nd7 17. Rc1 c5 18. g5 hxg5 19. Nxg5 Bxg5 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 21. fxg5
Nxe5 22. Qd4 f6 23. Qf4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. b3 Rc8 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Rac1 Ne4 13. Qe3 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Nf6
15. Ne1 Qd7 16. Bd4 Rfd8 17. Qd2 Bxg2 18. Nxg2 Qb7 19. Ne3 Ne4 20. Qd3 Nc5 21.
Qb1 Bh6 22. f4 Ne6 23. Ng4 Bf8 24. Be3 f5 25. Nf2 Bg7 26. Qd3 Nc5 27. Qd5+ Qxd5
28. cxd5 Nd7 29. Nd3 Bc3 30. Kg2 Nf6 31. Nf2 Bb2 32. Rb1 Ba3 33. Bc1 Bxc1 34.
Rbxc1 Rxc1 35. Rxc1 Nxd5 36. e4 fxe4 37. Nxe4 h6 38. Kf3 Kf7 39. h4 Rd7 40. h5
gxh5 41. Rh1 Kg6 42. f5+ Kg7 43. Rxh5 Rc7 44. Rh2 Rc1 45. Rd2 Nf6 46. Re2 Rf1+
47. Nf2 Kf7 48. g4 Rg1 49. Rc2 h5 50. gxh5 Rg5 51. Rc7 Rxf5+ 52. Ke2 Ra5 53. a4
Nxh5 54. Ne4 Ke6 55. Rb7 Nf4+ 56. Ke3 Nd5+ 57. Kd4 Nb4 58. Nc3 Nc6+ 59. Kd3 Rh5
60. Nb5 Rh3+ 61. Kc2 Rh2+ 62. Kc3 Rh3+ 63. Kc2 Rxb3 64. Rc7 Rxb5 65. axb5 Nd4+
66. Kd3 Nxb5 67. Rc1 Kd5 68. Rb1 Nd4 69. Kc3 Kc5 70. Re1 e5 71. Kd3 a5 72. Rc1+
Kd5 73. Rc8 b5 74. Ra8 Nc6 75. Kc3 a4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Rb1 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Bd2 Rfb8 13. Qc2 Ng4 14. a4 Nge5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. b3 Qd8 17. Rfe1 Ra7 18. h3 Rab7 19. Na2 Qc8 20. f4 Nd7 21.
Kh2 Nb6 22. e4 Nxa4 23. e5 Nb6 24. Nc3 Ra7 25. Rbd1 Rba8 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. exd6
Bxd5 28. dxe7 Rxe7 29. Qxc5 Qxc5 30. Nxc5 Rxe1 31. Bxe1 Bxg2 32. Kxg2 h5 33.
Bf2 Ra2 34. Kf3 Rc2 35. Rd8+ Bf8 36. Nd3 Rc6 37. b4 Kg7 38. b5 Re6 39. Bd4+ f6
40. f5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 d5 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 dxe4 12. fxe4 Nxe4 13. Qd3 Nc5 14. Qc4
Nd7 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Qg4 g6 17. Be2 O-O 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Rhf1 f5 20. Qd4 e5 21.
Bc4+ Kh8 22. Qh4 Nf6 23. Bg5 Ng8 24. Bf7 Rf8 25. Bd5 Qc7 26. Qb4 Re8 27. Qb3 h6
28. Bxg8 hxg5 29. Bf7 Rf8 30. Bxg6 Kg7 31. Bh5 Rh8 32. g4 Rh6 33. Rde1 Be6 34.
Qe3 Kf6 35. h4 Rg8 36. gxf5 Bc4 37. Bg6 Rxh4 38. Rg1 Rf4 39. Qg3 Rxf5 40. Bxf5
Kxf5 41. Qc3 Rg7 42. Rg3 e4 43. Rge3 Re7 44. Kb1 Bb5 45. Qh8 Rh7 46. Qd4 Bc6
47. Rf1+ Kg4 48. Rxe4+ 1-0

[Event "FRA Cup final"]
[Site "Senat"]
[Date "2003.06.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Degraeve, Jean Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2003.06.07"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.07.09"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.07.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. Be3 h6 13. Nf3 Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Be6
15. Kh1 Kh7 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Rae1 Qh3 18. Qg2 Qxg2+ 19. Kxg2 a6 20. f4 Rac8
21. Bf2 Rfd8 22. Bh4 b5 23. b3 Ng8 24. Bg3 Rd7 25. a4 b4 26. Nd5 Rc6 27. Ne3
Bf6 28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Bd8 30. Nc4 Bc7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.07.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2648"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14. O-O O-O
15. Qf3 {A critical line against 10...Bg7. Since Anand's novelty against
Kasymdzhanov from 2002 Black is facing big problems here.} d5 {Just like that.
Black sacrifices a weak pawn in order to use later either square d6 or the
sixth rank for his pieces. It is amazing that a similar idea, although in a
latter situation was used by Kramnik in his game versus Shirov.} (15... Re8 16.
Rfe1 b4 17. Nc2 f4 18. Be2 Rb8 19. b3 Kh8 20. Qh5 d5 21. cxd5 Rb6 22. Rad1 a5
23. d6 Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Rd1 Qg6 26. Qxg6 hxg6 27. Bc4 Be6 28. Bxe6 Rxe6
29. Rd5 Rc6 30. Ne1 Rc1 31. Kf1 f5 32. f3 Bf6 33. Kf2 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,
A-Kramnik,V/Linares 2000}) (15... f4 16. cxb5 d5 17. exd5 f5 {would be nice
too, but White has} 18. d6 $1) 16. cxd5 f4 $146 (16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 Qd6 (17...
Ra7 18. Qd3 (18. g4 Qg5 19. Bf5 e4 $1) 18... f5 19. d6 Qf6 $44 {1-0 Egger,
J-Enhbat,T/Manila 1992 (57)} (19... fxe4 20. dxe7 exd3 21. exf8=R+ Kxf8)) (
17... f5 18. d6) 18. g4 Bh6 (18... f5 19. gxf5 Qf6 20. Nc2 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qxf5
22. Bxf5 Rxf5 23. Ne3 Rf4 24. Rac1 $16 {1-0 Bakre,T-Ortiz,W/Roque Saenz Pena
1997 (61)}) (18... h5 19. h3 Bh6 20. Nc2 hxg4 21. hxg4 f5 22. gxf5 Ra7 23. Kh1
Rh7 24. Rg1+ Bg7+ (24... Kh8 25. Rg6 {[%cal Gh1g2]}) 25. Kg2 Rh4 26. Kf1 Rf7
27. Rg4 $18 {1-0 Vukovic,Z-Parezanin,D/Herceg Novi 1999 (43)}) 19. Nc2 Kh8 20.
Kh1 Bf4 21. Ne3 Qh6 22. h3 $16 {1-0 Sprenger,J-Sclacmender,J/Cappelle la
Grande 2002 (36)}) 17. Rfc1 Kh8 18. Nc2 Bd7 {Both sides are improving their
pieces and in the end it turned out that White achieves more.} (18... Rg8 $5
19. Be2 Bf8 20. Ne1 Qd8 $5 {[%cal Gf8d6]} (20... Qh4 21. Qh5 Qe7) 21. Qh5 (21.
Nd3 Bd6) 21... f5 $5 {[%cal Gf8d6,Ya8a7,Ya7g7]}) 19. Ne1 Rg8 20. Be2 Bf8 21.
Nd3 $1 {[%cal Gg1f3,Gf3d4,Gd4b5,Gb5a3,Ga3c2,Gc2e1,Ge1d3] One third of all
White's moves were made by this knight. With his last move White in fact also
offers a queen "sacrifice".} Re8 (21... Bg4 22. Qxg4 Rxg4 23. Bxg4 $16 {
White has a huge advantage. The control over light squares and open c-file
must be enough for a relatively easy win.}) 22. Rc7 $16 Qd8 23. Rac1 Rg6 (23...
Bg4 24. Qxg4 Rxg4 25. Bxg4 $16) 24. Qh5 Bd6 25. Ra7 Qe7 26. h3 $18 {[%cal
Ge2g4]} f5 (26... Reg8 27. Bg4 Bxg4 28. Qxg6 Rxg6 29. Rxe7 Bxh3 (29... Bxe7 30.
hxg4 $18) 30. Rxf7 $18) 27. exf5 Rf6 28. Nc5 Rc8 (28... Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30.
Rxd7 Re7 31. Rd8+ Kg7 32. Qg5+ Kf7 33. Qg8#) 29. Rxd7 Rxc5 30. Rxe7 Rxc1+ 31.
Kh2 (31. Kh2 Bxe7 32. Qe8+ Bf8 33. d6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 b5 11. Qe2 h6 12. a3 Nbd7 13. Nh4 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Rfd1 Qc7 16. Qf3 Kh7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Nf6 20. Rd2 Re6 21. g4
Qb7 22. Ng3 Rc8 23. h4 g6 24. g5 Ne8 25. h5 Ng7 26. hxg6+ fxg6 27. gxh6 Nh5 28.
Nxh5 gxh5 29. Qf5+ Rg6+ 30. Kh1 Qe7 31. f3 Qf6 32. Qxh5 Rg3 33. Rf2 d5 34. Rg1
Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 d4 36. Bg5 Qg6 37. Qxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rg2 Kh7 39. Bf6 Bd6 40. Bg7 a5
41. Kf1 a4 42. Ke1 Rb8 43. Kd1 b4 44. axb4 Rxb4 45. Kc1 Rb7 46. Rg5 a3 47. bxa3
Bxa3+ 48. Kd2 Bb2 49. Rxe5 d3 50. Rg5 dxc2 51. Kxc2 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. a4 b6 10. Bc4 Bb7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. O-O Qc7 13. Rfd1 h6 (13... Rfc8 14.
Nd2 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Bb3 Bf8 17. Nf1 Bc6 18. f3 b5 19. Ne3 Qb6 20. Kh1 bxa4
21. Nxa4 Qb7 22. Qd2 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,A-Balashov,Y/Riga 1970/ (53)}) 14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 (15... Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Rac8 17. Qxa6 Nxd5 18. exd5 f5 19.
c3 Bg5 20. Qe2 Ra8 21. Qb5 Rfc8 22. Kf1 Kh7 23. a5 bxa5 24. Nxa5 {1-0 Schmid,
L-Niephaus,W/Nuremberg 1959/ (31)}) 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 {Kramnik playes for
a small but lasting advantage due to the weakness on d5 and a chance of
transferring a knight to it.} b5 18. c3 (18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Rxb5
Ra2 21. c4 (21. c3 Qxc3 $1 $15) 21... Ra4 22. Nd2 Bg5 23. b3 Ra2 24. Rd5 Qb6
$11) 18... Qc4 (18... bxa4 19. Rxa4 Rfb8 (19... f5 20. exf5 Qc8 21. g4 h5 22.
h3 $16) 20. Nc1 $14) 19. Qc2 (19. Qxc4 bxc4 20. Nd2 Rfc8 21. Rb1 Rab8 $11)
19... Rfb8 (19... bxa4 20. Na5 Qc7 21. Rxa4 $16) 20. Nd2 (20. Na5 Qc7 21. b4
bxa4 22. Rxa4 Rb5 $14) 20... Qc6 21. a5 Rc8 (21... b4 22. c4 Bg5 23. Nf3 b3 24.
Qc3 $16) 22. Qd3 Rab8 (22... b4 $5 23. c4 (23. cxb4 Rab8 24. b5 Rxb5 25. Rxb5
axb5 26. Nf1 Bg5 $14) 23... Qb7 24. Rc1 $14) 23. g3 Qb7 (23... b4 24. c4 Qb7
$14) 24. Nf1 Rc4 (24... Bg5 25. Rxd6 Rd8 26. Rd5 $16) 25. b3 Rc6 26. Ne3 (26.
h4 Qc7 $1 27. Rc1 Qxa5 $15) 26... g6 {[%mdl 32] Gelfand is not alert enough
and he doesn't fight proerly against the positional thread of Nd5.} (26... Bg5
$1 27. Nf5 (27. Nd1 Qc7 28. Ra2 $11) (27. Nc2 Rbc8 $17) 27... Qc7 28. Rxd6 Rxc3
29. Qd5 Rc5 30. Rd7 Rxd5 31. Rxc7 Rd3 32. h4 Bd8 33. Ra7 Rxb3 34. Rxa6 b4 $11)
(26... Rbc8 $5 27. c4 bxc4 28. bxc4 Qa7 $13) 27. h4 h5 $6 (27... Rbc8 $1) 28.
Qd2 Bf8 29. Nc2 $1 (29. Qe1 Bh6 30. Nc2 Rbc8 31. Rd3 Rc5 32. Nb4 $16) 29... Rc5
(29... Rbc8 30. Rd3 f5 $5 (30... R6c7 31. Nb4 Qxe4 32. Nd5 $16) 31. exf5 e4 32.
Re3 Rc5 33. fxg6 Bh6 34. Qxd6 Bxe3 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Nxe3 $18) 30. Nb4 Rbc8 (
30... Rxd5 31. Nxd5 Bg7 32. Rd1 $16) 31. Rd3 $1 (31. Rxc5 dxc5 32. Nd5 Be7 $14)
31... Kh7 (31... Qxe4 32. Nxa6 R5c6 33. Nb4 Rc5 34. Nd5 Qf5 35. a6 $16) 32. Nd5
Bh6 33. Qd1 Rf8 34. Nf6+ Kg7 35. Qf3 b4 $2 {In a rapid chess a tedious defense
is even more difficult, black burns the bridges and goes under.} (35... Qe7 $1
36. Nd5 Qe6 37. Rad1 (37. Nb4 Qxb3 38. Nxa6 Rc4 39. Rxd6 Rxc3 40. Qf6+ Kg8 $11)
37... f5 38. Kg2 $14) 36. cxb4 Qxb4 (36... Rc6 37. Rad1 Qxb4 38. Nd7 Rfc8 39.
Qf6+ Kg8 40. Rf3 $18) 37. Nd7 f5 (37... Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Qxa5 39. Nxf8 Kxf8 40.
Rxd6 $18) 38. Nxf8 Kxf8 39. Rxd6 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.27"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Qc2 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e4
$1 {Kramnik very correctly opens up the center with a bang, since black is ill
prepared for the early opening of the files with 6...c5.} (8. Bf4 Bd6 9. Bxd6
Qxd6 10. e3 O-O 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. O-O Rac8 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Rd2
Rfd8 16. Rad1 Nb6 {1/2-1/2 Umanskaya,I-Rakitskaja,M/St Petersburg 2003/ (43)})
8... cxd4 (8... dxe4 9. Bb5+ Bc6 10. Ne5 (10. Qa4 Bxb5 11. Nxb5 Nbd7 12. Ne5 a6
13. Qb3 Nxe5 14. dxe5 axb5 15. exf6 Qd3 16. Qc3 O-O-O 17. Bg5 Rd5 18. Bh4 g5
19. Bg3 Bd6 {1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Frick,C/Germany 1997/ (31)}) 10... Bxb5 11. Qb3
Qe7 12. Qxb5+ Nbd7 13. Qc6 Qd8 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. O-O Be7 16. dxc5 Rc8 17. Qa4
Rxc5 18. Rd1 Qc8 19. Be3 Ra5 20. Qd4 Nf6 $11 {0-1 Ryskin,A-Aseev,K/Sochi 1993/
(34)}) 9. Bb5+ Nbd7 (9... Bc6 10. Nxd5 Bxb5 11. Nc7+ Ke7 12. Nxb5 $18) 10. e5
$5 {Taking a risky path in a fight for the whole pointy, other would be
tempted to be satisfied with more conservative 10.Nxd4.} (10. Nxd4 dxe4 (10...
Nxe4 11. Nc6 Bxc6 12. Bxc6 Rc8 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4+ Qe7 15. Be3 $14) 11. Nc6
Bxc6 12. Bxc6 Rc8 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Qe2+ Qe7 16. Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.
Be3 Rhd8 18. O-O $14) 10... dxc3 11. exf6 Qc7 (11... Qxf6 $5 12. O-O (12. Bg5
Qd6 13. O-O f6 14. Rfe1+ Kd8 15. Be3 $13) 12... h6 (12... cxb2 13. Bxb2 Qd6 14.
Rfe1+ Kd8 15. Ng5 Qf4 16. Qc1 $18) 13. Re1+ (13. bxc3 Bd6 14. Qa4 O-O-O 15. Be3
Ne5 $11) 13... Kd8 14. bxc3 Bd6 $13) 12. Qe2+ Kd8 13. fxg7 (13. Bxd7 Kxd7 14.
Ne5+ Kd8 15. Bg5 g6 16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Nxf7+ Qxf7 18. Bxd6 cxb2 19. Be7+ Kd7 20.
Qxb2 Qe6+ $11) 13... Bxg7 14. O-O Re8 (14... a6 15. Bxd7 Kxd7 16. bxc3 Qxc3 17.
Rb1 $40) (14... cxb2 15. Bxb2 Re8 16. Qd2 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Qf4 18. Rfe1 Rg8 19.
Qe2 $40) 15. Bg5+ $1 f6 16. Be3 {[%mdl 128] For all her suffering black has
only won a pawn and the king remained in the center.} a6 (16... cxb2 17. Qxb2
Re7 18. Rfe1 Nc5 19. Bd4 $36) 17. Bxd7 (17. Bd3 Ne5 $1 18. Nxe5 fxe5 $11) 17...
Kxd7 (17... Qxd7 $2 18. Bxb6+ Kc8 19. Qc2 Qc6 20. Bd4 $18) 18. Nd4 (18. bxc3
Re4 (18... Qxc3 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. Nd4 Re4 21. Qh5 $18) 19. Nd2 $1 (19. Nd4)
19... Rh4 20. g3 Ra4 21. Qh5 $16) 18... Re4 (18... cxb2 19. Qg4+ $5 (19. Qxb2
f5 20. Rac1 Qd6 21. Qc2 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Re4 $11) 19... Kd8 20. Rab1 Bc8 21. Qh5
$14) 19. bxc3 Qe5 (19... Rae8 20. Qh5 Kd8 21. Rfb1 $1 $14) 20. Rfb1 $1 b5 (
20... Qc7 21. Nf5 Bf8 22. Qh5 $18) 21. a4 {Now the defender can claim no
compensation for the horrendous suffering, white must be winning.} Bh6 (21...
Bc6 $2 22. axb5 axb5 23. Nxc6 $18) 22. axb5 a5 (22... Bxe3 23. fxe3 Rxe3 24.
Qg4+ f5 25. Nxf5 Re4 26. Qh5 $18) 23. Qf3 (23. Re1 $16) 23... Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rg8
(24... Rxe3 25. Qg4+ Kd8 26. Qg8+ Qe8 27. Qxh7 $18) 25. Qh3+ Reg4 (25... Ke8
26. Qxh7 Qg5 27. Qh3 Rxe3 28. Re1 $18) 26. Rxa5 Kd6 (26... Ke8 27. Rb2 $18) 27.
Ra2 Bc8 (27... Qe4 28. Rf1 Bc8 29. Qf3 $18) 28. Qf3 Rh4 (28... Re4 29. Rf2 Rxe3
30. Qxf6+ Qxf6 31. Rxf6+ Ke5 32. Rh6 Rxc3 33. Nc6+ Ke4 34. Rxh7 $18) 29. g3 Re4
30. b6 Rxe3 31. b7 $1 {Nice tactical shot, that aims to shorten the burden of
poor black king.} Re1+ (31... Rxf3 32. b8=Q+ Ke7 33. Ra7+ Bd7 34. Rxd7+ Kxd7
35. Rb7+ $18) 32. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 33. Kg2 Bxb7 34. Qxf6+ Kc5 (34... Kd7 35. Qf7+ $18
) 35. Re2 (35. Nb3+ Kb5 36. Ra5+ Kc4 37. Qd4+ Kxb3 38. Qb4+ Kc2 39. Ra2+ Kc1
40. Qb2+ Kd1 41. Qc2#) 35... Qb1 (35... Qxc3 36. Rc2 (36. Ne6+ Kc4 37. Qe7 $18)
36... Qxc2+ 37. Nxc2 $18) 36. Ne6+ Kb5 37. Qf7 Ka5 38. Qc7+ (38. Qc7+ Ka6 39.
Nc5+ Ka7 40. Nxb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. Nf1 Bxc1 8.
Rxc1 Nge7 9. Ne3 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. f4 exf4 12. Rxf4 Ng6 13. Rf2 Qg5 14. Qd2
Nge5 15. b3 Nd4 16. Rcf1 Nxc2 17. Rf4 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Ng6 19. R4f3 Qxe3+ 20. Rxe3
a6 21. a4 Ne7 22. h3 Rad8 23. Rb1 Rd7 24. Rf1 h6 25. Kh2 Rb8 26. Rg3 Nc6 27.
Rf6 Nd4 28. Rxh6 g6 29. Rh4 Kg7 30. Bxe6 Nxe6 31. Nd5 b5 32. Rf3 Rh8 33. Rxh8
Kxh8 34. axb5 axb5 35. b4 Ra7 36. Rf2 Kg7 37. Rb2 Ra3 38. bxc5 Nxc5 39. d4 Nxe4
40. Rxb5 Rd3 41. Rb4 g5 42. Nc7 Nf6 43. Nb5 g4 44. Kg1 g3 45. Kf1 Nd5 46. Rb2
Nf4 47. Ke1 d5 48. Rc2 Rb3 49. Nc3 Nxg2+ 50. Ke2 Nf4+ 51. Kf1 Ra3 52. Ne2 Ra1+
53. Rc1 g2+ 54. Kf2 Nd3+ 0-1

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. Nf3 Na6 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8.
a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 h6 $5 $146 {[%csl Yg5][%cal Yh6g5] Black is covering the g5
square, but in some cases it may become just a loss of tempo.} (9... b6 $6 10.
Ng5 $1 $36 {- see the classic game Reshevsky,S-Euwe,M/Amsterdam 1950 [Ftacnik]}
) (9... d6 10. e3 Bd7 11. b3 Nfe4 12. Be2 e5 13. O-O Bf5 $11 {1-0 Feletar,
D-Palac,M/Pula 2000/CBM 75 (40)}) (9... Nce4 10. Bxf6 (10. Bd4 b6 11. e3 Bb7
12. Be2 Qe7 13. O-O Rfd8 14. Rac1 d6 15. b3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Baburin,A-Leroy,A/
Gifhorn 1992/EXT 2001 (59)}) 10... Nxf6 11. e4 d6 12. Bd3 e5 13. O-O Bg4 14.
Nd2 (14. Ne1 Qc7 15. b3 Rac8 16. f3 Be6 17. Rf2 Nd7 $11 {1-0 Jacimovic,
D-Pinter,J/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (54)}) 14... Nd7 15. f3 Be6 16. Kh1 a5 $11 {
0-1 Jacimovic,D-Crisan,A/Tekija 2001/EXT 2002 (48)}) 10. e3 a5 {This move is
typical, but does not prevent from white to play b2-b4.} ({More solid is} 10...
b6 {[%cal Gc8b7]}) 11. b4 Nce4 12. Bd3 (12. Bb2 $6 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1
Qe7 $132) 12... Nxc3 13. Qxc3 b6 14. O-O Bb7 (14... d5 15. c5 $14) 15. Be2 Ne4
16. Qd4 d6 17. Nd2 Ng5 $2 {Grischuk needed only a win in order to stay in the
tournament, therefore he avoids the exchange. However, after this move, white
is getting strong pressure.} ({After} 17... Nxd2 18. Qxd2 Qg5 19. f3 d5 {
black can equalize, but no more.}) 18. f4 Nh7 (18... e5 19. Qd3 $16) 19. Rfb1 {
Forcing black to make a concession on the queenside.} a4 20. Rd1 Qc7 21. Nb1 $1
{Transfering the knight to an active outpost.} Rfd8 22. Nc3 $16 Bc6 23. e4 Nf6
$6 ({The last practical chance was} 23... e5) 24. Qe3 Bb7 (24... Qb7 25. Bf3
$16) 25. Rac1 Rd7 $6 ({Probably more stubborn was} 25... Ne8 {, but of course,
black's position is very unattractive.}) 26. e5 $1 $18 {Typical strike in the
centre, which yields white the decisive advantage.} dxe5 27. fxe5 Ne8 28. Nb5 (
28. Rxd7 Qxd7 29. Qxb6 Qd2 30. Rd1 Qxc3 31. Qxb7 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 $18) 28... Qc6
29. Bf3 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Qc8 31. Nd6 {The decisive invasion.} Nxd6 32. exd6 Bxf3
33. Qxf3 Ra7 34. c5 $1 bxc5 35. Qe3 Rd7 36. Qxc5 {White could get nice
connected passed pawns, but the move in the text is even more convincing.} Qb7
37. b5 Kf8 38. Rc1 Rd8 39. Qc7 Qb8 40. b6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 {Switching to Dragon is fully justified here for
two reasons. First of all White won't be able to play the system with long
castle and bishop on f1 (traditionally representing the most unpleasant plan
against Dragon in the last decade). Secondly, like in the present game Black
has an additional possibility to avoid main lines with Bc4.} 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4
Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O (7... d6 8. f3 Qb6 {is less attractive for Black.} 9.
Nf5 $5 $36) 8. Bb3 {A rather sad necessity. If Black would have had the pawn
on d6 instead of castle, then White could play 8.f3, followed by 9.Qd2 and
0-0-0, leaving the bishop on c4 for the moment.} (8. f3 $6 Qb6 $1 $132) 8... d6
9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 {After White's early retreat with the bishop to b3 this
is the most optimal decision for Black - he gets sufficient chances in all
lines.} 11. Bxd4 b5 12. a4 (12. O-O-O a5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Bc6 $14 {/=.
With a precise play Black equalizes in the endgame}) (12. h4 {is the most
principled answer. After} a5 13. h5 (13. a4 bxa4 14. Nxa4 Be6 $11) 13... a4 {
Black gets reasonable chances in complication, though.}) 12... a6 {A rare, but
natural continuation.} (12... b4 {Black has a safe equality after this 
(although in the game he could hardly complain either).} 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxg7
(14. exd5 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 a5 $11) 14... Kxg7 15. exd5 Qb6 $11) (12... bxa4 {
is another playable option.}) 13. O-O Bc6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Na2 $1 {With the
knight on b4 White can claim a slight plus.} Bb7 16. Nb4 Nd7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18.
Rae1 {In this position White can combine two possible plans. One is to use
square d5 and some pressure in the cente, eventually forcing Black to take on
d5 and then get a target on e7. The second possible idea is to advance the
f-pawn and try to create some attack on the kingside. Neither of these should
bring Black any real problems, because he is able to prevent them or get
counterplay. However, Kramnik succeeded to implement an unexpected third idea
to conquer the a-file and obtain a slight, but lasting advantage.} Qb6+ 19. Kh1
Nf6 20. Bd5 Rac8 {Black keeps the other rook on f8 in hope that it might be
useful there. It is true that on the a-file Black had no perspectives at all,
but one could hardly guess that White will soon take over the control of
a-file.} (20... Rfc8 $5 $14 {/=}) 21. Re3 $1 {Does the rook go to g3 or h3?}
Rc5 22. Ra3 $1 $14 {[%cal Ga1e1,Ge1e3,Ge3a3] No, it goes back to the a-file!
So White conquered the a-file by transferring the rook a1 to a3 via e3. It's a
rare case of reaching something out of nothing.} Rd8 23. Rfa1 Rd7 24. Bxb7 Qxb7
25. c3 Rc4 26. Qe3 Qc8 27. Ra5 {[%csl Rb5] Black still has a very solid
position with only one weakness on b5. But it's pretty unpleasant to sit and
wait in passivity. However, this was probably the right thing to do.} Rb7 28.
Ra8 Qd7 29. Qd3 Qc7 30. g3 {Improving the position on the kingside and
unexpectedly provoking Black to start activity there.} h5 $5 {It is well-known
that Loek is not a "sitting duck". One doesn't need to provoke him twice.} (
30... Rb8 31. R8a7 Rb7 $14) 31. Kg2 Qc5 32. Qd2 h4 {Basically, White did
nothing after doubling on the a-file. But Loek didn't wish to see if White can
break his position or not and starts an interesting play himself.} 33. g4 Nxe4
$5 {It's amazing that now Black is trying to do the same - to create something
out of nothing. Apparently there are no real motifs for such sacrifice,
nevertheless Black will get three pawns for the knight and have a certain
initiative.} 34. fxe4 Rxe4 35. Nd5 (35. Kf3 $5 f5 36. g5 Rg4 $13 {[%csl Rg5]
[%cal Ge7e5,Ge5e4]}) (35. h3 $6 Qe5) 35... Rxg4+ 36. Kh3 Re4 $2 {A sad blunder.
} (36... f5 $8 $13 37. Rh8 $2 Kxh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Ra8+ Kf7 40. Qh7+ Ke6 41.
Qg8+ Ke5 {The only moves for Black, but enough to escape with the king and win.
}) 37. Rh8 $1 f6 (37... Kxh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Ra8+ {with mate.}) 38. Rxh4 (38.
Qh6+ Kf7 39. Rh7+ Ke6 40. Qxg6 $18) 38... Rxh4+ 39. Kxh4 e6 40. Nb4 Rb8 41. Kg3
d5 42. Kg2 {Back home. Two pawns for the knight are obviously not enough. The
initiative is lost as well.} Rh8 43. Nd3 Qb6 44. Nf4 g5 45. Qd4 (45. Qd4 $1
Qxd4 46. Nxe6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. O-O-O Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 Be7 12. Na4 Bd7 13. Nb6 Rd8 14. Nxd7
Rxd7 15. Be2 h6 16. Bh4 Nh5 17. Bxh5 Bxh4 18. Rhd1 Bf2 19. R4d3 Ke7 20. Kb1 Rc8
21. Bg4 Rc4 22. Bf3 g6 23. b3 Rcc7 24. Be2 Rd8 25. g4 Bc5 26. Rh3 Rh8 27. Kb2
Rcc8 28. a3 Rcd8 29. b4 Bf2 30. a4 d5 31. Rf3 Bb6 32. exd5 Rxd5 33. Rxd5 exd5
34. Rd3 Bc7 35. Bf3 Bxf4 36. h3 b6 37. Kb3 Kf6 38. Bxd5 Re8 39. c3 a5 40. bxa5
bxa5 41. Rf3 g5 42. Kc4 Re3 43. Rxe3 Bxe3 44. Kb5 Ke5 45. Bxf7 Kd6 46. c4 Bf2
47. Be8 Ke7 48. Bc6 Kd6 49. Bb7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zhang, Zhong"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2639"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b4 c5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. d4 Ne4 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Rad1 Qc7
15. Nd2 Nef6 16. Rc1 a5 17. Rfd1 e5 18. Bf1 axb4 19. axb4 h6 20. Ba1 Rec8 21.
Bb2 Re8 22. dxc5 dxc5 23. Nb1 cxb4 24. Qxb4 Nc5 25. Nc3 Rbd8 26. Rb1 Bc6 27.
Ba1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rd8 29. Nb5 Bxb5 30. Bxe5 Qxe5 31. Rxd8+ Be8 32. Qxb6 Qe7 33.
Rc8 Nfd7 34. Qc7 Kf8 35. g3 Ne6 36. Qc6 g6 37. Bh3 f5 38. Bg2 Kg7 39. Bd5 Nec5
40. Qa8 Bf7 41. Qa1+ Qf6 42. Qa7 Qa6 43. Qxa6 Nxa6 44. f3 Nac5 45. Kf2 Kf6 46.
Rc6+ Be6 47. Ke2 Ke5 48. f4+ Kf6 49. Kd2 Ke7 50. Bf3 Nb3+ 51. Kc3 Na5 52. Ra6
Nxc4 53. Rxe6+ Kxe6 54. Kxc4 {[#] The bishop cannot display its true strength
in endings with pawns on one wing, especially since the queening square of the
h-pawn is of the wrong colour for it. Black should keep his forces close
together and above all place the knight on a safe square which gives it a good
field of action. The greatest enemy for Black is zugzwang, by means of which
White can gain space.   [#] Der Lдufer kann in Endspielen mit Bauern auf einem
Flьgel nicht seine wahre Stдrke ausspielen, zumal das Umwandlungsfeld des
h-Bauern nicht zur Felderfarbe des Lдufers passt. Schwarz sollte seine Steine
auf engem Raum zusammenhalten und insbesondere den Springer auf ein sicheres
Feld bei groЯem Aktionsradius stellen. Der grцsste Feind des Schwarzen ist der
Zugzwang, mit dessen Hilfe WeiЯ Raum gewinnen kцnnte.} g5 {This could have
been omitted. Das konnte erst einmal unterbleiben.} (54... Nf6 $1 55. Kd4 Kd6 {
[%csl Yg4,Yh5][%cal Yg4h2,Yh5g3]} 56. h3 g5 57. g4 (57. Bb7 Nh5) 57... gxf4 58.
exf4 fxg4 59. hxg4 Ke6 {and in my opinion Black has nothing to fear. und
Schwarz kann m.E. nichts passieren.}) 55. Bd5+ Kf6 $6 {Heading into danger,
since space is conceded and the knight will also have to make do with poorer
squares. Begibt sich in Gefahr, weil Raum aufgegeben wird und der Springer
gleichzeitig auf schlechtere Felder zu stehen kommt.} (55... Kd6 $1 56. Kd4 Nf6
57. Bb7 gxf4 58. exf4 Ng8 $14) 56. Bc6 Nf8 57. Kd5 Ng6 58. Kd6 Ne7 59. Bb7 Ng6
60. Bf3 Nf8 61. Bd5 Ng6 62. Bc6 Nf8 63. Bd7 Ng6 64. h3 h5 $5 (64... Nf8 $1 65.
Bb5 Ng6 {and it is impossible to see how White can progress. e.g. und es nicht
zu erkennen, wie WeiЯ Fortschritt machen kann. z.B.} 66. Bd3 Nf8 67. g4 gxf4
68. exf4 fxg4 69. hxg4 Ne6 $11) 65. fxg5+ Kxg5 66. h4+ Kg4 (66... Kf6 {is a
small step to the edge of a dangerous precipice. ist ein sehr schmaler Grad
mit groЯer Absturzgefahr.} 67. Be8 (67. Ba4 f4 68. gxf4 Nxf4 69. Bc2 $1 {
[%csl Yf5,Yg6] and here the e-pawn could be decisive. und hier kцnnte der
e-Bauer entscheiden} (69. exf4 Kf5 $11) 69... Ng2 70. e4 Nxh4 71. e5+ $18)
67... Ne5 {[%csl Re3][%cal Re5g4,Re5c4]} 68. Kd5 Ng4 69. Kd4 Nh2 {[%csl Rg3]
[%cal Rh2f1]} 70. Bxh5 Nf1 71. e4 fxe4 72. g4 Ng3 73. g5+ (73. Be8 Nf5+ 74.
gxf5 Kxf5 $11 {[%cal Gf5f6,Gf6g7,Gg7h8]}) 73... Kf5 74. Bd1 Kf4 75. g6 Nf5+ 76.
Kc3 Ke5 77. h5 Kf6 $11) 67. e4 $1 Kxg3 68. exf5 Nh8 {This really seems to lose
the game. Das scheint wirklich zu verlieren.} ({Another narrow path to a draw
may have been Ein weiterer schmaler Remispfad war wohl} 68... Nxh4 $1 69. f6
Kf4 70. f7 (70. Ke7 Kg5 71. Kf7 Ng6 72. Kg7 Ne5 $11) 70... Ng6 71. Ba4 (71. Bh3
h4 72. Ke6 Kg5 73. Bf1 Kh6 74. Kf6 Nf8 75. Bh3 Nh7+ 76. Ke7 Kg7 77. Bd7 Nf8 78.
Bf5 h3 79. Bxh3 Ng6+ 80. Ke8 Nf8 81. Bf5 Kh8 $1 $11 {is a further nice little
draw. ist ein weiteres nettes Remisspielchen}) 71... h4 72. Bc2 Nf8 73. Ke7 h3
$11) 69. Ke7 Kxh4 70. Kf6 Kg4 71. Kg7 Kg5 72. f6 h4 73. Bc8 (73. Be6) 73... Kh5
74. Bf5 Kg5 75. Be6 Ng6 (75... Kh5 76. Kxh8 Kg6 77. f7 $18) 76. f7 $18 Nf4 77.
Bc8 Nh5+ 78. Kh7 1-0

[Event "GER-Kramnik"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.01.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2004.01.29"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O Bb7 6. b3 Nbd7 7. c4 bxc4 8. bxc4
dxc4 9. Na3 c3 10. Nb5 Bb4 11. Qb3 a5 12. Nxc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Qb2 Bxc3 15.
Qxc3 Qc8 16. Bf4 O-O 17. Rfc1 Nb6 18. Rab1 Ra6 19. Rb5 Be4 20. Rxa5 Nbd5 21.
Qe1 c3 22. Rc5 Qa8 23. Nh4 Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Ne4 25. Rb5 Rxa3 26. Ne3 Qa6 27. Rbb1
Nxe3 28. Bxe3 Ra2 29. Ra1 Qxe2 30. Rxa2 Qxa2 31. Bf4 Qd5 32. f3 Nd2 33. Bxd2
cxd2 34. Qxd2 Qxf3 35. Qf4 Qxf4 36. gxf4 Rd8 37. Kf2 h6 38. Ke3 Rd5 39. Rc2 Rh5
40. Kf3 Rh3+ 41. Ke4 f5+ 42. Ke5 Re3+ 43. Kd6 Kf7 44. Rf2 g5 45. Kc5 Re4 46.
fxg5 hxg5 47. Kc4 Kf6 48. Kd3 g4 49. Rf1 Kg5 50. Ra1 e5 51. dxe5 Rxe5 52. Ra8
Kf4 0-1

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. O-O-O h5 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 g6 (12... Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6
14. Na5 (14. Kb1 g6 15. Bd3 Bh6 16. Qe1 (16. Qe2 O-O 17. h4 b4 18. g4 Be3 19.
Nd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 Nxd5 21. Ka1 Qe3 22. Be4 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Ne3 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 25.
Re1 {1-0 Seps,M-Kradolfer,C/Scuol 2001/ (45)}) 16... O-O 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. Rhe1
a5 19. a3 Rfb8 20. Nd2 Bxd2 21. Rxd2 Qc5 22. Qf2 Qxf2 23. Rxf2 Ra7 24. Rd2 Rc7
25. Be2 Nd7 26. Bd1 Nc5 27. b3 f5 {0-1 Sanchez,J-Chiong,L/Quezon City 1999/ 
(67)}) 14... Rc8 15. Kb1 Rc5 16. c4 bxc4 17. Nxc4 Qb7 18. Bd3 Be7 19. Ne3 g6
20. Rc1 Nd7 {1-0 Leyva,R-Quesada,R/Holguin 1999/ (39)}) 13. Kb1 Nb6 $6 {
Topalov will learn to regret this standard move, since Kramnik comes out with
a strong new idea.} (13... Bg7 14. Na5 Qc7 15. Nc6 Nb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Bd3
Rc8 18. Be4 $14) 14. Qc3 $1 Be7 (14... Rc8 15. Bxb6 $18) (14... Nbxd5 15. Rxd5
$1 Rc8 16. Qd2 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Bh6 18. Bxh6 Rxh6 19. Bd3 $16) 15. Qc6+ Nbd7 16.
Bb6 $3 {[%mdl 64] The situation is geting more serious, since tactics works
miraculously for white.} Qxb6 (16... Qc8 17. Bc7 Ra7 (17... O-O 18. Bxd6 Bxd6
19. Qxd6 Rd8 20. Na5 $16) 18. Bxd6 Qxc6 19. dxc6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Ke7 21. Rxd7+
Nxd7 22. cxd7 Rxd7 23. Be2 $16) 17. Qxa8+ Nb8 (17... Bd8 18. Qc6 $18) 18. Na5
$1 Nfd7 (18... O-O 19. Nc6 Nxd5 20. Nxb8 Nc7 21. Qc6 $16) 19. Nc6 Bg5 20. Qa7
Nxc6 (20... Qxa7 21. Nxa7 Nb6 22. Nc6 $16) 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. dxc6 Ke7 23. Rd3
Rc8 $2 {Serious innacuracy drags black into difficult position, much stronger
move 23...Nc4! promised chances for survival.} (23... d5 24. Ra3 Ra8 25. c7 $1
Kd7 26. Rxa6 $1 Rxa6 27. Bxb5+ Kxc7 28. Bxa6 $18) (23... Nc4 $1 24. g3 Rc8 25.
f4 exf4 26. Bg2 Ne5 27. Re1 h4 $14) 24. Ra3 Na4 (24... Rxc6 25. Rxa6 $18) (
24... Ra8 25. c7 Kd7 26. Rxa6 $1 $18) 25. c4 $1 Rxc6 26. Be2 (26. cxb5 $4 Rc1#)
26... Rb6 27. cxb5 axb5 28. Bxb5 $1 {Kramnik is ruthless in the endgame and
black notices with horror that knight on b2 would be trapped.} Rxb5 (28... Nxb2
$2 29. Rb3 $1 $18) 29. Rxa4 f5 30. Rd1 Be3 (30... d5 31. Ra7+ Ke6 32. Ra6+ Kf7
33. a4 $18) 31. a3 d5 (31... Bd4 32. b4 g5 33. Ra8 $18) 32. b4 d4 33. Ra5 $1
Rxa5 34. bxa5 Kd6 35. Kc2 e4 (35... Kc5 36. Rb1 e4 37. a6 d3+ 38. Kd1 Kc6 39.
Rb7 $18) 36. fxe4 fxe4 37. Re1 $1 {There is no defense against transfer into
pawn ending.} (37. Re1 $1 Kc5 38. Rxe3 dxe3 39. Kd1 Kb5 40. Ke2 Kxa5 41. Kxe3
$18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. Qh5 e4
15. Be2 Bg7 16. c3 Rc8 $146 {In this concrete situation this move is a novelty.
Kramnik transfers the rook to c5 before castling.} (16... O-O 17. Nc2 Rc8 (
17... f4 18. Qg5 {is the main line, where White keeps a slight plus}) 18. Ne3 (
18. Rad1 Rc5 19. Ne3 f4 20. Nf5 Ng6 21. Rfe1 Re8 22. f3 e3 23. Bd3 $14 {
/= 1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Grischuk,A/Cap d'Agde 2003 (47).}) 18... f4 19. Nf5 Ng6 (
19... Rc5 {would transpose to the Leko-Kramnik game!}) 20. f3 e3 21. g3 b4 {
and Black had good play in Sadvakasov,D-Eljanov,P/Kharkov 2003.}) (16... b4 {
is an old move first played by Sveshnikov in 1982 and then rediscovered by
Leko in 2003. There are just two games available with it.}) 17. Nc2 Rc5 18. Ne3
(18. Rad1 $2 Nxd5) (18. f3 {The plan with f3 is less impressive when the
bishop left the diagonal b1-h7.} O-O 19. fxe4 fxe4 20. Ne3 Qb6 21. Kh1 Rxc3 22.
bxc3 Qxe3 $13) 18... f4 19. Nf5 O-O (19... Nxf5 $2 20. Qxf5 $16) 20. a4 $14 (
20. Rad1 Ng6 {transposes to Shirov-Grischuk, given above.}) 20... Nxf5 (20...
b4 21. cxb4 Rc2 22. Bxa6 $16) (20... Nxd5 {this is risky, but not entirely
clear:} 21. b4 (21. axb5 Qf6 $1 $13 {[%cal Gf4f3]}) 21... Rxc3 22. Nxg7 f3 23.
Nf5 Qf6 $44) 21. Qxf5 Qe7 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qxf4 Rxd5 24. Rfd1 {White is
better thanks to weaknesses in Black's pawn structure. Even if the position
has drawish tendencies, Blac's task might be unpleasant. The only chance for
Black to avoid a long suffering is to create some counterplay on the kingside.}
Re5 (24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 b4 26. cxb4 $14 Be5 27. Qf5 Bxb2 28. b5 $16) 25. Qe3
{After a long thought Leko comes with an interesting plan. He allows Black to
have the initiative on the kingside, but considers that it won't fully
compensate the loss of a pawn.} (25. Ra6 $5) 25... f5 26. Qb6 {The logical
follow-up of the previous move.} f4 27. Qxd6 Qg5 28. f3 e3 29. Ra7 Kh8 30. Qd7
$2 {The completely wrong plan, missing some counterplay ideas.} (30. Rd7 $1 {
[%csl Rh7][%cal Ge2d3,Gd7h7]} Rg8 31. Bd3 {It is not easy for Black to create
counterplay as long as White keeps pressure on pawn h7. Besides, White is very
well centralized and keeps everything under control. Everywhere the position
is close to draw, but the same thing - Black faces unpleasant defence. However,
according to Kramnik Black always had a good position in the game.} e2 (31...
Qh4 $2 32. Rxg7 $18 {[%csl Re5]}) 32. Re1 Qh4 33. Rxe2 Rxe2 34. Bxe2 Qe1+ 35.
Bf1 Qe3+ 36. Kh1 Qf2 37. Qd3 Qxb2 38. Rc7 $16) 30... Rg8 31. Qh3 $2 {A
terrible mistake, which unexpectedly completely changes the evaluation from
slightly better to almost lost.} (31. Kh1 {was necessary. Then the postion is
unclear:} Qg6 32. Bd3 Qh5 $13 {[%cal Ge3e2]}) 31... Qg6 $1 {[%cal Gg6c2] Now
suddenly Black obtains a strong initiative. It turns out that the queen on h3
is not stable (Black has ...Rh5), while the weaknesses of the light squares on
the queenside can be exploited by Black.} 32. Rad7 {Black wins by force after
this, but the position was difficult anyway.} (32. Bd3 e2 $19) (32. Rd3 Rh5 33.
Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 $19) (32. Kh1 Qc2 (32... Rh5 33. Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 35.
Bd3) 33. Re1 Rd5 $17 {[%cal Gd5d2]}) (32. Raa1 Rh5 (32... Qc2 33. Bd3 Qf2+ 34.
Kh1 h6 35. Ra6 h5 36. Bf5 h4 37. Qg4 $18) 33. Rd6 Bf6 34. Rxf6 Rxh3 35. Rxg6
Rxg6 36. Ra8+ Kg7 37. Ra7+ Kf8 (37... Kh6 38. Bd3 Rxf3 $140 39. Bxg6 e2 40. Ra1
) 38. Ra8+ Ke7 39. Ra7+ Kd8 $17) (32. Rc1 Rh5 33. Ra6 Bf6 34. Rxf6 Rxh3 35.
Rxg6 Rxg6 $17) (32. Re1 Rh5 33. Ra6 Bf6 34. Rxf6 Rxh3 35. Rxg6 Rxg6 36. Bxb5
Rxf3 $17) 32... Rh5 $19 33. R7d6 (33. Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 35. Bf1 e2 $19) 33...
Bf6 34. Rxf6 Qc2 $1 35. Qxh5 Qxe2 36. g4 Qf2+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. g4 Nb6 12. g5 Nfd7 13. Na5 Rc8 14. Kb1 Be7 15.
Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qxa5 18. Bd3 Qc7 19. h4 Qc6 20. Be4 Qxd5 21.
Bxd5 Rc7 22. h5 h6 23. g6 fxg6 24. hxg6 Nf6 25. Be6 Rc6 26. f4 Bd8 27. fxe5
dxe5 28. Bf7+ Ke7 29. Bd2 Bb6 30. Rde1 e4 31. Bg5 hxg5 32. Rxh8 g4 33. Rb8 g3
34. Rb7+ Kd6 35. Bb3 Bc7 36. a4 Kc5 37. axb5 axb5 38. c4 bxc4 39. Ba4 e3 40.
b4+ Kd6 41. Rd1+ Nd5 42. Rb5 Ke6 43. Rbxd5 Rd6 44. Rxd6+ Bxd6 45. Bb5 Bxb4 46.
Bxc4+ Ke5 47. Kc2 Bd2 48. Rg1 Kf4 49. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 b4
9. Nce2 e5 10. Nf5 g6 11. Nfg3 h6 12. Bg2 Be6 13. h3 h5 14. Qd2 Nbd7 15. O-O d5
16. g5 h4 17. gxf6 d4 18. Bg5 hxg3 19. Nxg3 Nxf6 20. f4 d3 21. Qxd3 Qb6+ 22.
Kh1 Rd8 23. Bxf6 Rxd3 24. cxd3 Rxh3+ 25. Bxh3 Bxh3 26. fxe5 Qe3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. a3 O-O 8. h3 a6
9. Ba2 Be6 10. Nd5 Nd4 11. Ne3 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe3 15.
fxe3 Qd5 16. Nc4 b5 17. b3 bxc4 18. dxc4 Qd7 19. exd4 cxd4 20. c3 Bc5 21. b4
Ba7 22. c5 d3 23. Rd2 Rad8 24. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. b3 d5 8. e3
dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 10. Bb2 Nc6 11. Qe2 Nb4 12. Ne1 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qd7 14. Rd1 Rfd8
15. d3 a6 16. a3 Nc6 17. a4 Qb7 18. Kg1 Rd7 19. f4 Rad8 20. Nf3 Ng4 21. h3 Nh6
22. Kh2 f6 23. Rd2 Nb4 24. d4 Nf7 25. Rfd1 Bf8 26. Ba1 Qc6 27. f5 exf5 28. d5
Qc7 29. Nh4 Nd6 30. Qf1 Re7 31. Re1 Qd7 32. Rf2 Rde8 33. Nxf5 Nxf5 34. Rxf5 Nc2
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Nde2 O-O 9. O-O Ne5 10. Bf4 d6 11. h3 Bd7 12. a3 Bc5 13. b4 Ba7 14. c5 Bb8 15.
Bxe5 dxe5 16. Nc1 b6 17. Nb3 Ba7 18. Bxa6 bxc5 19. bxc5 Qe7 20. Rc1 Bc6 21. Qe2
Rab8 22. Bb5 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Na5 Bxc5 25. Nc6 Qg5 26. Qxe4 Rxb5 27. h4
Qd2 28. Qc4 Bxa3 29. Qxb5 Bxc1 30. Qc5 Bb2 31. Ne7+ Kh8 32. Ng6+ hxg6 33. Qxf8+
Kh7 34. Qxf7 Bd4 35. Qxe6 Qf4 36. Qh3 e4 37. g4 Bc5 38. h5 g5 39. Qg2 Bd4 40.
Re1 e3 41. fxe3 Bxe3+ 42. Kh1 Qc4 43. Rxe3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Bb5+
c6 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. Na4 Qc7 11. O-O Nd7 12. e4 Nf4 13. Bc2 O-O 14. Be3 Rad8 15.
Nc3 c5 16. Qc1 Nh5 17. Rd1 cxd4 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. Bxd4 Ne5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5
Qxe5 22. Nc3 Nf6 23. Qe3 Ng4 24. Qg3 Qxg3 25. hxg3 Ne5 26. Nb5 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1
Rc8 28. Bb3 Ba6 29. Nd6 Rc5 30. f4 Nd3 31. f5 Nxb2 32. Rd2 Nd3 33. fxe6 fxe6
34. Bxe6+ Kf8 35. e5 Nxe5 36. Ne4 Rc1+ 37. Kh2 Re1 38. Nc3 Nf3+ 39. gxf3 Rxe6
40. Ne4 Re7 41. Kg2 Bb7 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Kf2 Rc7 44. Nd6 Bc6 45. Rb8 Rd7 46.
Ne4 Rd3 47. a4 Ra3 48. Ng5 h6 49. Ne6+ Kf6 50. Nd4 Bxa4 51. f4 Bd1 52. Rd8 Rd3
53. Rd6+ Kf7 54. Rd7+ Ke8 55. Rd5 Bg4 56. Re5+ Kd7 57. Rd5+ Kc8 58. Rd6 h5 59.
Rc6+ Kb7 60. Rc4 a6 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 a5 10. h3 a4 11. Rd1+ Ke8 12. a3 h6 13. Bf4 Be6 14. Ne4
Ra5 15. g4 Bd5 16. Re1 Ne7 17. e6 Bxe4 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Ng6 20. Bxc7 Rb5
21. Ne5+ Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Bc5 23. Bc3 Ra8 24. Rd1 Bf8 25. Rd7+ Kg8 26. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Be7 9. f3 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 Qc7 12. Kb1 b5 13. g5 Nh5 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
exd5 Nb6 16. Rg1 Rac8 17. Na5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxa5 19. Rg4 Qc7 20. Bd3 Qc6 21.
Qxc6 Rxc6 22. a4 bxa4 23. Rxa4 d5 24. Rxa6 Rc7 25. c3 g6 26. Ra5 Rb8 27. Rxd5
Rxc3 28. Rxe5 Ba3 29. Bd4 Rcb3 30. Rd2 Nf4 31. Bc4 R3b4 32. Rc2 Nd3 33. Ree2
Ra4 34. b3 Bf8 35. Re3 Nf4 36. Be5 Rba8 37. bxa4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 a5 8. Bb2
axb4 9. axb4 Rxa1+ 10. Bxa1 c5 11. g3 cxb4 12. Qxb4 Nc6 13. Qc3 Ba6 14. Bg2 b5
15. cxb5 Bxb5 16. d3 Qa5 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nd4 Ba4 20. Kd2 Rc8
21. Ra1 Nb3+ 22. Nxb3 Bxb3 23. Ra3 Rc2+ 24. Ke3 Ba2 25. f4 e5 26. f5 d5 27. Bf3
Rb2 28. h4 h6 29. Ra7 Kg7 30. Ra5 d4+ 31. Kf2 Bb1 32. Be4 Bc2 33. Ra7 Bd1 34.
Bf3 e4 35. Bxe4 Bxe2 36. Ke1 Bg4 37. Ra4 Rb1+ 38. Kd2 Rd1+ 39. Kc2 Rg1 40. Rxd4
Rxg3 41. Rd8 Rh3 42. Kd2 Rxh4 43. Ke3 Rh2 44. d4 h5 45. d5 Re2+ 46. Kf4 Rf2+
47. Kg3 Rf1 48. d6 Bxf5 49. d7 Bxe4 50. Re8 Rf3+ 51. Kh2 Rf2+ 52. Kg3 Rf3+ 53.
Kh2 Rd3 54. d8=Q Rxd8 55. Rxd8 Kh6 56. Rg8 Bg6 57. Kg3 Kg5 58. Kf3 h4 59. Rb8
f5 60. Rb4 Bh5+ 61. Kg2 f4 62. Rb8 Kg4 63. Rg8+ Bg6 64. Rh8 Be4+ 65. Kf2 h3 66.
Rg8+ Bg6 67. Rh8 Bh5 68. Rg8+ Kh4 69. Rb8 f3 70. Rb4+ Bg4 71. Kg1 Kg3 72. Rb2
Bf5 73. Rg2+ Kf4 74. Rb2 Ke3 75. Kf1 Bd3+ 76. Ke1 Kf4 77. Rd2 Kg3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.04.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Ba4 d5
15. e5 Ne4 16. Be3 f6 17. Qc2 Nb4 18. Qb3 Ba5 19. Nd2 c6 20. Na7 Bf5 21. Nxe4
Bxe4 22. f3 Bg6 23. Qa3 fxe5 24. Nxc6 Nxc6 25. Bxc6 Bb4 26. Qa7 e4 27. Qa2 Kh8
28. Qxd5 Qc7 29. fxe4 Bf7 30. Qd7 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Paehtz, Elisabeth"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. a4 b6 10. Bc4 Bb7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. O-O Qc7 13. Rfd1 h6 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15.
Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Rac8 17. c3 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Qc4 19. Qxc4 Rxc4 20. Nd2 Rc6 21.
Kf1 g6 22. Ke2 Kg7 23. Kd3 Rfc8 24. g3 Kf6 25. c4 Bd8 26. b3 Ke6 27. f4 f5 28.
Re1 Bf6 29. Nf3 fxe4+ 30. Rxe4 Rc5 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Nd4+ Ke7 33. Ne2 Rxd5+ 34.
cxd5 Kd6 35. Nc3 h5 36. Rc4 Kd7 37. Ne4 Bd8 38. Rxc8 Kxc8 39. Nd6+ 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT poule haute"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "2004.05.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2631"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2004.05.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Monaco"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 c6 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Nh2 d5 16. Qf3 Qc7 17. Bg5 Re6 18. Qg3 g6 19. Nf3 c5 20. Nh6+ Bxh6 21. Bxh6 c4
22. Ba2 dxe4 23. Ng5 Rd6 24. dxc4 bxc4 25. Rad1 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rc8 27. b3 Nc5
28. Qc3 e3 29. Qxe3 Nd5 30. Qd2 f6 31. b4 Na4 32. Ne4 Qe7 33. c3 Kf7 34. Qc2
Nab6 35. a4 Bc6 36. a5 Ba4 37. Qd2 Bxd1 38. axb6 Rd8 39. Bxc4 1-0

[Event "FRA Cup"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2004.05.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.05.22"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bd2 Qb6 6. Nf3 c6 7. Bc4 Bf5 8.
Qe2 e6 9. O-O-O Bb4 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. d5 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 cxd5 14.
Rxd5 O-O-O 15. Rdd1 Nf6 16. f3 h5 17. b3 Qc5 18. Kb2 Rhg8 19. a4 Nd5 20. Bd4
Qa5 21. g4 Bg6 22. Rhg1 hxg4 23. fxg4 Rh8 24. Bxg7 Rh3 25. Bd4 Qc7 26. Be5 Qc5
27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. Bxg3 Ne3 29. Rxd8+ Kxd8 30. Qd2+ Ke7 31. Bb5 Qxc2+ 32. Qxc2
Nxc2 33. Bf2 b6 34. Kc3 Na3 35. Bd3 Nb1+ 36. Kc2 Na3+ 37. Kc3 Nb1+ 38. Kc2 Na3+
39. Kd2 Nb1+ 40. Ke3 Nc3 41. Bh4+ Ke8 42. Bxg6 fxg6 43. Kd4 Ne2+ 44. Ke5 Kf7
45. Bg5 Ng1 46. Ke4 Ne2 47. Be3 Kf6 48. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. h3 h6 12. a3 Bd7 13. Be3 b6 14. Rad1
Kc8 15. Kh2 Be7 16. Ne4 Re8 17. Bd2 Bf8 18. Bc3 c5 19. g4 Bc6 20. Kg3 Kb7 21.
h4 f6 22. h5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 fxe5 24. Nh4 Rad8 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Ng6 Bd6 27.
Nxd6+ cxd6 28. f4 e4 29. f5 d5 30. Ne5 Re8 31. Kf4 Kc7 32. c3 Bb7 33. b4 d4 34.
cxd4 cxd4 35. Rd1 e3 36. Rxd4 e2 37. Rc4+ Kd6 38. Rd4+ Bd5 0-1

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Be2 Ke7 10. b3 b6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Nd2 {/\13.Nd3 Bd6 14.Nc4+/-}
Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Bb2 f6 15. Nd3 Bxd3 16. Bxd3 $14 Nd7 17. Rfd1 a5 18. Kf1
h6 19. Ke2 Rhd8 20. Bb5 Nf8 21. f4 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rc1 Nd7 24. a3 g5 25.
g3 f5 26. Rc4 {[%cal Gb3b4]} gxf4 27. Rxf4 (27. exf4 Nf6 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4
Bd6 30. Bc6 b5 $1 $11) (27. gxf4 Rg8 28. Kf3 Rg1 $132) 27... Nf6 28. Rh4 h5 (
28... Ne4 29. Bd3 Nf2 $1 30. Bc2 Ng4 31. e4 Ne3 32. Bd3 (32. Bb1 Rd1 33. Bd3
Rg1 $132) 32... Nd1 33. Be5 Nf2 $1 $132) 29. b4 axb4 30. axb4 Bd6 31. Bc6 Ng4
$2 (31... e5 $5 32. Rc4 Ke6 33. Bb7 b5 34. Rc8 Rd7 35. Bc6 Ra7 36. Bxb5 Rb7 $11
) 32. Rxh5 $2 (32. b5 $1 Be5 (32... Bc5 33. Rxh5 Nxe3 34. Rh7+ Kf8 35. Bf6 Rb8
36. Be5 Rd8 37. Bf4 $18) (32... Bb4 33. Bc1 $18 {[%csl Rh5]}) 33. Ba3+ Bd6 34.
Bxd6+ Rxd6 35. Rxh5 $16) 32... Bxb4 33. Rh7+ Kd6 34. Bb5 Bc5 (34... Ra8 $1 35.
Bc4 (35. Rd7+ Kc5 36. Bd3 Nxh2 $17) 35... b5 36. Bb3 Bc5 $17) 35. h3 Ne5 (35...
Nxe3 36. Bf6 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf6e7]}) 36. Ra7 Rg8 37. Kf2 Rh8 (37... Bxe3+ $6 38.
Kxe3 Rxg3+ 39. Kd4 Nf3+ 40. Ke3 Ne5+ 41. Kd2 Rxh3 $13) (37... Kd5 38. Ra1 Ke4
39. Ra4+ Kd5 40. Bf1 $14) 38. Ra1 $2 (38. Bf1 $142 $14) (38. Rd7+ Nxd7 39. Bxh8
$14) 38... Kd5 $2 (38... Ng4+ $1 39. hxg4 Rh2+ 40. Kf3 Rxb2 $17) 39. Bf1 (39.
Rd1+ Ke4 40. Ba4 $1 Nd3+ 41. Rxd3 Rxh3 42. Rb3 $1 $18) 39... Bd6 40. Bg2+ (40.
Rc1 $1 Bb8 41. Ba3 $1 Ke4 42. Rd1 $18) 40... Kc4 41. Rd1 Bb8 42. Bf1+ Kb3 43.
Bd4 Rc8 44. Rb1+ Ka2 45. Rb2+ (45. Rxb6 Rc2+ 46. Ke1 Nf3+ 47. Kd1 Rc8 48. Ba6
$1 Rd8 49. Bc4+ Ka3 50. Bxe6 $16) 45... Ka3 46. Rxb6 Rc2+ 47. Be2 (47. Ke1 $5
Bc7 48. Ra6+ Kb4 49. Kd1 Rf2 50. Be2 $16) 47... Nd3+ $2 (47... Nc6 48. Bg7 Bc7
49. Ra6+ Kb3 50. g4 fxg4 51. hxg4 Nb4 52. Ra1 $16) 48. Kf1 Rc1+ 49. Kg2 Rc2 50.
Kf1 Rc1+ 51. Bd1 $1 Rxd1+ (51... Nb4 52. Rxb8 Rxd1+ 53. Ke2 Rc1 54. g4 $18) 52.
Ke2 Rh1 (52... Rc1 53. Kxd3 Bc7 54. Rxe6 Bxg3 55. Rf6 Rd1+ 56. Kc4 Rc1+ 57. Kd5
Rh1 58. Rxf5 Rxh3 59. Kc4 Bc7 60. Rf7 Ba5 61. Ra7 Ka4 62. Bc3 $18) 53. Kxd3
Bxg3 54. Kc4 Rc1+ 55. Bc3 Ka2 56. Ra6+ Kb1 57. Kb3 Rxc3+ 58. Kxc3 e5 59. Rf6 f4
60. Kd3 fxe3 61. Kxe3 Kc2 62. Rg6 Be1 63. Rg4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 {Although
Hedgehog set-ups are nowadays popular, in this concrete position the text-move
is hardly ideal. More active and flexible continuations are deservedly more
popular:} (6... Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 {or especially}) ({the main move} 6... Qc7 $5 {
Black postpones the deployment of his Bf8, it can be sometimes effectively
developed not only to e7, but also b4 or even d6.}) 7. Be2 Nbd7 $6 {While
Black's previous move was still more or less a matter of taste, this already
prematurely commits the N and allows White to use the most effective plan in
this modification of the Hedgehog.} (7... Be7 $142 {Here it's more difficult
to employ the motif from the game, e.g., after} 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 b6 (9... Qc7
10. f3 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Rfc1 b6 13. a4 h5 14. a5 bxa5 15. Nb3 h4 16. Nxa5
h3 17. g3 Ne5 {Black shows a similar plan, as in the note to move 15, but his
position is already compromised.} 18. Nd1 $1 $36 (18. Na4 Bd7 19. Nb6 Rab8 20.
Nxd7 Qxd7 21. Ra2 Red8 22. b4 d5 23. exd5 Bxb4 $13 {Kovalevskaya,E-Koneru,H/
FIDE WChw Elista/2004/})) 10. a4 Bb7 11. f3 {Black can play} Nc6 $1 $132) 8.
Be3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. f3 Be7 11. a4 $1 ({White shouldn't hesitate with this
move:} 11. Qd2 O-O 12. a4 Rc8 13. a5 Ne5 $5 14. axb6 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Nb3
Rb4 17. Na5 Ba8 18. Na4 Rb5 19. Nc3 Rb4 20. Na4 Rb5 21. Nc3 $11 {1/2,Adams,
M-Van Wely,L/Tilburg/1997/}) 11... O-O (11... d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nf5 $16) (
11... Qb8 12. a5 Bd8 13. axb6 Bxb6 14. Na4 Ba7 15. b4 O-O 16. Qd2 Rd8 17. Rfc1
Nc5 18. Rcb1 Qc8 19. Nb3 Nxa4 20. Bxa7 Rxa7 21. Rxa4 e5 22. Qe3 Ra8 23. Na5 Bc6
24. Ra3 $16 {Izoria,Z-Tosic,M/Yerevan zt/2000/}) (11... Rc8 12. a5 Ne5 $2 13.
axb6 {/\} Nxc4 14. Qa4+ $18) 12. a5 $36 {[%csl Ra6,Rd6][%mdl 32] A very
dangerous strategic plan, White disrupts his opponent's << and creates
permanent targets for his pieces on a6 and d6.} bxa5 (12... d5 13. exd5 exd5
14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Bf2 N7f6 17. Nc6 Qe8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Bc4
Rfd8 20. Qe1 b5 21. Bb3 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Nxb4 23. Rfd1 Nd3 24. Bb6 Rd7 25. Rd2 $16
{Stohl,I-Varga,Z/CRO-chT2/1998/}) 13. Nb3 Rb8 14. Nxa5 Ba8 15. Qd2 Qc7 (15...
Re8 {is a modern wrinkle, but it can hardly substantially change the
evaluation of the position.} 16. Kh1 $5 (16. Ba7 Rc8 17. Bf2 Rb8 18. Kh1 Nc5
19. Rfb1 Rb4 $6 20. Nd1 Qb8 21. Be1 Ra4 22. Rxa4 Nxa4 23. b4 Nb6 24. Nc3 Nbd7
25. Qa2 $16 {Short,N-Cvitan,O/EU-chT Leon/2001/}) 16... Qc7 17. Rfc1 Ne5 18.
Bd4 h5 19. b4 h4 20. b5 h3 21. g3 axb5 22. cxb5 Qd8 {Agrest,E-Nisipeanu,L/
EU-chT Batumi/1999/} 23. Qd1 $1 $16 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Rd1f1] /\Qf1,><h3 Agrest})
16. Rfc1 Nc5 $6 {Losing another tempo in an inferior position puts Black on
the brink of defeat.} (16... Ne5 17. Na4 Bc6 18. b4 Bxa4 19. Rxa4 Nfd7 20. Raa1
Rfc8 21. Nb3 Ra8 22. g3 h5 23. Kg2 Qb8 24. Rab1 Nf6 25. Nd4 Qb7 26. c5 d5 27.
Bf4 Ng6 28. e5 Ne8 29. Bd3 Nxf4+ 30. gxf4 $1 $40 {Ivanchuk,V-Adams,M/Dortmund/
1992/}) ({Better is the patient} 16... Rfc8 $142 $14 {, when White shouldn't
be too impetuous:} 17. b4 d5 $5 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. cxd5 Qd6 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21.
Rxa6 Qxb4 22. Qxb4 Rxb4 23. dxc6 Nf8 24. c7 Ne8 25. Bf4 g5 26. Bg3 Nxc7 {
Cvetkovic,S-Cabrilo,G/Igalo/1994/} 27. Rac6 Nfe6 28. Bc4 Nf4 29. Ba6 $44 {/=})
17. b4 $1 Ncd7 (17... Rxb4 18. Nb5 axb5 19. Qxb4 bxc4 20. Nxc4 Nfd7 21. Qa5
Qxa5 22. Nxa5 f5 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Nb3 $16 {/+/=,Ibragimov,I-Ermenkov,E/Chania/
1993/ Sacrificing the exchange perhaps gives Black more chances to fight for a
draw, but with good technique White should convert his advantage-the position
still isn't too simplified to create -> chances.}) 18. b5 $5 {[%csl Rd6]
Kramnik flexibly changes his plan and doesn't play against the ><a6 anymore.
Black's misplaced forces (e.g. Ba8) offer him a welcome opportunity to use the
b5-square and decisively increase his pressure against d6.} ({Black is in
trouble even if White quietly improves his position with} 18. Na4 Rfd8 19. Qe1
Re8 20. Rab1 Bd8 21. Kh1 h6 22. Qd2 Ne5 23. Bf1 g5 24. Bd4 Ng6 25. Qe3 Nd7 26.
c5 $1 dxc5 27. Nxc5 Nxc5 28. Bxc5 Qe5 29. Nc4 $16 {Doettling,F-Vuckovic,A/
Bundesliga 0304/2004/}) ({However, White has also an effective tactical
solution:} 18. Nd5 $1 exd5 (18... Qd8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Bf4 e5 21. Be3 h6 22.
Rd1 Ne8 23. c5 $18 {Rausis,I-Freckmann,M/Baden-Baden/1993/}) 19. cxd5 Qd8 20.
Nc6 Qe8 21. Rxa6 $5 $16) 18... Nc5 $8 (18... axb5 19. Nxb5 Qd8 20. Nxd6 $16)
19. bxa6 $1 Nxa6 $2 {Very natural, even more so in a blitz game. However, now
White will gain more time by attacking the unprotected N and Black's defence
will collapse.} ({The last chance to resist was the tactical} 19... Qb6 $142 $5
20. a7 (20. Nb5 Qxa6 21. Rd1 $14) 20... Qxa7 21. Nc6 Qb7 22. Nxe7+ (22. Nxb8
Nb3 23. Qc2 Nxc1 24. Qxc1 Qxb8 $8 25. Ra7 $36) 22... Qxe7 23. Rcb1 $36 {/\} Nb3
$2 24. Rxa8 $1 $18) 20. Nb5 Qd7 (20... Qd8 21. Nb3 Bb7 (21... Nc5 22. Nxc5 dxc5
23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 24. Ra7 $16) 22. Rd1 $16) 21. Nb3 Bb7 (21... Nc7 22. Ra7 (22. e5
$6 dxe5 $1 $13) 22... Rfc8 (22... Rb7 23. Rxb7 Bxb7 24. e5 $1 $18) 23. Rca1 $16
(23. Bf4 $16)) 22. Rd1 Rfd8 ({Slightly better, but insufficient to save the
game was} 22... Qc8 23. Nxd6 (23. Na5 $5 $16) 23... Bxd6 24. Qxd6 Bxe4 25. Nd4
$1 $40) 23. Ba7 $1 Ra8 24. Bb6 $18 Rdb8 25. Nxd6 $6 ({An cleaner solution was} 
25. c5 $1 {/\} d5 26. e5 Ne8 27. N3d4 $18) (25. e5 Qc6 $1 26. Ba7 $16) 25...
Bxe4 $2 {Now the tactics work for White.} (25... Bd5 26. Bd4 $5 Bxd6 (26...
Qxd6 $2 27. e5 $18) 27. cxd5 Rxb3 28. Rxa6 $16) (25... Bxd6 $142 26. Qxd6 Qxd6
27. Rxd6 Ne8 $1 28. Rd2 (28. Rdd1 Bc6 $5 (28... Bxe4 29. c5 Bc2 30. Rdc1 Bxb3
31. Bxa6 $16) 29. c5 Nxc5 30. Rxa8 Bxa8 31. Bxc5 Rxb3 32. Rd8 Bc6 $14) (28. Rd3
Bxe4 29. fxe4 Rxb6 30. c5 Rbb8 $14) 28... Bxe4 29. fxe4 Rxb6 30. Nc5 Rc6 31.
Nd7 $5 $36) 26. Nxe4 Qxd2 27. Nexd2 Rxb6 28. c5 $1 (28. c5 Rc6 29. Bb5 $18 {
nets White at least a piece.}) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
h3 c5 9. Be3 Qa5 10. Bd2 e6 11. Be2 Nc6 12. O-O Rd8 13. a4 Qc7 14. Bg5 Rd7 15.
Rc1 h6 16. Be3 Qd8 17. Bb5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 g6 (4... Nd4 5. e5 Nxb5 6. Nxb5 Nd5) 5.
h3 (5. Qe2 $5) 5... Bg7 (5... Nd4 6. e5 Nxb5 7. Nxb5 Nd5 8. Qe2 Nc7 9. d4 Nxb5
10. Qxb5 cxd4 11. Bg5 $1 h6 12. Bf4 $14 {Egin,V-Tukmakov,V/URS/1979}) 6. e5 Ng8
7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. O-O {Back in the seventies white didn't hurry with the castle:}
(8. d3 $5 Nh6 (8... b6 9. a4 a5 10. Bf4 h5 11. Ng5 Bf5 12. Qf3 Qc8 13. O-O-O
$16 {Grigorov,J-Popov,P/Sofia 1989}) 9. g4 $1 f5 10. exf6 exf6 11. Qe2+ $1 Qe7
12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. Be3 $14 {Kuzmin,G-Timoscenko,G/Baku 1977}) 8... Nh6 9. Ne4
b6 10. d4 $5 Nf5 $5 11. dxc5 (11. c3 Qd5 12. Re1 cxd4 13. cxd4 O-O 14. Nc3 Qd7
15. g4 Nh6 16. Bf4 Kh8 17. Qd2 Ng8 18. Rad1 $14) 11... Ba6 12. Re1 $2 {Serious
mistake after which white is on defensive till the end of the game.} (12. Qxd8+
$142 Rxd8 13. Re1 $16) 12... Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Be2 14. Re1 $6 {I can understand
Svidler who didn't want to give up an exchange at such an early stage, bit it
was worth a try.} (14. Bf4 Bxd1 15. Rxd1 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Kxd8 17. g4 Nh6 18. Nd4
Kd7 19. a4 Rd8 $15) 14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd4 $15 {[%csl Rc2,Rf3]} 16. Rd1 Nxf3+
17. Kg2 Nxe5 18. Be3 O-O (18... f5 19. Ng5 Nc4 20. Bd4 $15) 19. b3 $6 {It was
better to take on b6 with good chances to save the game.} (19. cxb6 axb6 20.
Bxb6 Nc4 21. Bd4 Nxb2 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rd7 Rfe8 24. Rc7 Rac8 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26.
a4 $132) 19... f5 20. Ng5 f4 21. Bd4 bxc5 22. Bxc5 (22. Bc3 f3+ 23. Kg3 Rf5 24.
Ne6 Bf6 25. Nxc5 Nd7 26. Ne4 Bxc3 27. Nxc3 Nf6 28. Rd3 Rf8 $17) 22... f3+ 23.
Kh1 (23. Kg3 $2 Nd3 $1 24. cxd3 Be5+ 25. Kh4 Rf4+ 26. Kg3 Rf5+ 27. Kg4 h5+ 28.
Kh4 Rf4+ 29. Kg3 h4+ 30. Kh2 Rf5+ 31. Kh1 Bxa1 $19) 23... Rf5 24. Ne4 Rh5 25.
Kh2 Ng4+ 26. Kg3 Bxa1 27. hxg4 Be5+ 28. Kxf3 Rf8+ (28... Rh3+ $5) 29. Ke2 Rh4
30. Bxe7 (30. f3 Rh2+ 31. Nf2 Bg3 32. Rd7 h5 33. gxh5 gxh5 34. Rxe7 h4 $19)
30... Rxg4 31. f3 $1 (31. Bxf8 Rxe4+ 32. Kf3 Rf4+ $19) 31... Rg2+ 32. Kf1 Rxc2
(32... Rg3 $5 33. Nxg3 Rxf3+ 34. Ke2 Rxg3 35. Rd7 $17) 33. Bxf8 Kxf8 34. Rd7
Rxa2 35. Rxh7 Bg7 $1 36. Ng5 $6 (36. Rh4 Rb2 37. Rg4 Rxb3 (37... Kf7 38. Nd6+
Kf6 39. Ne4+) 38. Rxg6 Rb6 39. Rg5 $15) 36... Kg8 37. Rh4 Ra5 38. Ne6 Rf5 39.
Kf2 (39. Nxg7 Kxg7 (39... Rxf3+ 40. Ke2 Rf6 41. Nh5 gxh5 42. Rxh5 $11) 40. Ke2
Rb5 41. b4) 39... Bf6 40. Rc4 c5 41. Ra4 (41. Ke3) 41... Kf7 42. Nc7 Bd4+ 43.
Kg2 (43. Ke2 Re5+ 44. Kd2 Re3 45. Nb5 Rxf3 46. Nxd4 cxd4 47. Rxd4 Rxb3 48. Rd7+
Kf6 49. Rxa7 Rf3 50. Ke2 Rf4 51. Ra5 g5 52. Ra1 $11) 43... Rg5+ 44. Kf1 Rg3 45.
Ke2 Rg2+ 46. Ke1 $2 {[%csl Re1]} (46. Kd3 Rf2 47. Ke4 Re2+ 48. Kd5 $15) 46...
Kf6 47. Nb5 Ke5 48. Rxa7 Kf4 {[%csl Re1][%cal Gf4e3,Ge3d3]} 49. b4 Rb2 $1 50.
Nxd4 cxd4 51. Rg7 Ke3 52. Kd1 d3 53. Re7+ Kxf3 54. Rd7 Ke4 55. Re7+ Kf4 56. Rd7
Rxb4 57. Rxd3 Re4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 c6 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. Qe2 O-O 7. O-O a5 8. a4 b6
9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qe1 Qc7 11. e5 dxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. e6 fxe6 14. Ng5 Rf6 15.
Nxe6 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.09.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Kramnik wants to build up the Russian Game as an
unbreakable wall, similarly to the Ruy Lopez Berlin against Kasparov.} 3. Nxe5
d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5
11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 $1 (
16... h6 17. c4 $16) (16... Bf6 17. Nh2 $1 Qa5 18. Bd2 (18. Ng4 Qxc3 19. Nxf6+
gxf6 20. Be3 Rcd8 $132 {Huzman}) 18... Rcd8 (18... Ne7 19. Ng4 (19. Bf3 Rcd8
20. Ng4 (20. Bxb7 c5 (20... c6 $5) 21. Ng4 Bxg4 22. hxg4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qc7 $11)
20... Bxg4 21. hxg4 $1 h6 {(Shirov-Bologan, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2004 CBM 99)}
22. Bxb7 $1 {winning the P was simple!} c5 23. dxc5 $5 (23. Be4 cxd4 24. cxd4
Qb6 25. Rb1 Qxd4 26. Ba5 Qxd1 27. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $14) 23... Qxc5 24. Qa4
$1 $16 {Huzman}) 19... Bxg4 20. Bxg4 Rcd8 $14 {and White has at least the ^^
in an opened position.}) 19. Bf3 h6 (19... Qa6 20. Ng4 Be7 21. Ne3 Bd3 22. Nd5
Bd6 23. Bf4 $36) 20. Ng4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 (22... Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1
Qxg5 24. Rb1 $16) 23. Qc1 $1 (23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qd3 Nd8 {1/2:1/2
Timman-Karpov, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003} 25. g3 c6 26. Kg2 Ne6 27. Rb1 Re7 28.
c4 $14 {Kramnik-Anand, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003 CBM 93}) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1
$14 {/\ Rb1 Anand}) 17. Be3 (17. Nd2 $5 {deserves attention.} Bxg2 18. Bg4 $1 (
18. c4 Qf5 19. Bg4 Qxf4 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. Kxg2 Qxd4 $44) 18... f5 (18... Bh1 $5
19. f3 f5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Kxh1 gxh5 22. Qb1 $1 $44) 19. Be2 b5 20. c4 (20. a4 a6
21. axb5 axb5 22. c4 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qd6 24. Kxg2 f4 25. Ne4 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 fxe3
27. cxb5 Nb4 $11 {Huzman}) 20... Qxd4 21. Be3 Qd6 22. Kxg2 f4 23. Ne4 Qg6+ 24.
Ng3 Rcd8 25. Qb3 Qf7 26. Bh5 g6 27. Bf3 bxc4 28. Qb5 Nb8 29. Bxa7 fxg3 30. fxg3
Rd2+ 31. Re2 c6 32. Rxd2 cxb5 33. Bd5 $14) 17... Na5 $1 {[%mdl 8] Kramnik's
strong novelty is based on a positional Q sacrifice after which Black wants to
bulid up a fortress.} (17... Rcd8 18. Nd2 (18. c4 Qf5 $132) 18... Bg6 19. Qa4
$5 {/\ Bf3} (19. Bf3 Qd7 20. Qa4 (20. Qb3 Na5 $11) 20... Ne5 $1 21. Qxd7 Nxf3+
22. Nxf3 Rxd7 23. Ne5 Rd5 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. a4 Kf7 26. Reb1 {1/2:1/2
Leko-Bologan, Dortmund rapid 2004})) 18. c4 (18. Nd2 $5 {was the last chance
to avoid the "fortress" position.} Bf5 (18... Bxg2 $2 19. c4 Qc6 20. d5 Bxd5 (
20... Qg6 21. Bh5) 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Qa4 $18) (18... Bg6 19. c4 Qd8 20. Bg4 Ra8
21. Qa4 Nc6 22. Rad1 Bf6 23. d5 Ne5 24. Be2 b6) 19. Qa4 (19. c4 Qd7) 19... Bd7
20. Bf3 (20. Qc2 Bf5) 20... Bxa4 21. Bxd5 c6 22. Bf3 Bb5 $13) 18... Nxc4 $1 19.
Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nd2 Qd5 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Bg5 Qxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Bxg5 24. Qa5 (24.
Qb4 $5 b6 25. d5 Be7 26. Qa4 a5 27. Re1 Kf8 $44) 24... Bf6 $1 25. Qxa7 (25. Rd1
a6 26. d5 Be5 $44 {and it is very difficult to find a breakthrough here.})
25... c5 $1 {Even this was a home preparation of Kramnik.} 26. Qxb7 Bxd4 27.
Ra2 c4 {The o^ c4 is very strong.} 28. Re2 (28. a4 g6 (28... c3 29. Re2 $1 (29.
Rc2 Rb8 30. Qc6 Rec8 31. Qd7 (31. Qe4 Rc4 $1 32. Kh2 (32. Qf4 Re8) 32... Rxa4
33. Rxc3 Bxc3 $11) 31... Rd8 32. Qf5 g6 $11) 29... g6 (29... c2 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8
31. Qc6 $18) 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Kf1 $16) 29. a5 (29. Rc2 c3) 29... c3 30. Rc2
Rb8 31. Qd7 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Be5+ 33. f4 (33. g3 Rb2) 33... Rb2 $11) 28... Red8 $1
29. a4 (29. Rd2 Bf6 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qc6 c3 32. a4 h6 33. a5 Rd2 34. a6 Bd4
35. a7 Bxa7 36. Qxc3 Rxf2 $11) 29... c3 30. Qe4 Bb6 $1 31. Qc2 $6 {White
pushes it too hard.} (31. Rc2 Ba5 (31... Rd2 $4 32. Rxc3 $18) 32. g3 g6 33. Kg2
Rd2 $11) 31... g6 32. Qb3 Rd6 33. Rc2 Ba5 34. g4 Rd2 35. Kg2 Rcd8 36. Rxc3 (36.
Rc1 Rb2 37. Qc4 Rdd2 38. Qc5 Bb6 39. Qxc3 Rxf2+ 40. Kg3 Rfe2 41. Qc8+ Kg7 42.
Rc3 Rg2+ 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Kg3 Rb1 $132) 36... Bxc3 37. Qxc3 R2d5
$15 {The roles have been changed, now it is Black who can try to win.} 38. Qc6
Ra5 39. Kg3 Rda8 40. h4 R5a6 41. Qc1 Ra5 42. Qh6 Rxa4 (42... R8a6 43. Qd2 Rxa4
44. h5) 43. h5 (43. f3 R4a5 44. Qd2 (44. h5 g5 45. Qf6 h6 $17) 44... Ra2 $15)
43... R4a5 {[#] /\ g5} 44. Qf4 $4 {This blunder loses the game.} (44. hxg6 $1 {
was the only chance for a draw.} hxg6 45. g5 Rf5 46. f4 {building up the
fortress.} Ra4 47. Qh4 Kf8 (47... Rfxf4 48. Qxf4 Rxf4 49. Kxf4 Kg7 (49... Kf8
50. Ke4 Ke8 (50... Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 51. Kd4 Kd8 52. Ke4 $11) 50. Ke5 $11) (
47... Re4 48. Kf3 $11) 48. Qh8+ $1 (48. Kf3 $2 Raxf4+ (48... Ke7 49. Qe1+ Kf8)
49. Qxf4 Ke7 $3 (49... Rxf4+ $2 50. Kxf4 Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 50. Qxf5 gxf5 51. Ke3
Kd6 $19) 48... Ke7 49. Qb8 $1 Raxf4 (49... Rfxf4 50. Qe5+ $11) 50. Qc7+ $1 {
The black K has to retreat.} (50. Qxf4 $2 Rxf4 51. Kxf4 Kd6 $1 $19) 50... Kf8 (
50... Ke6 51. Qc6+ Ke5 52. Qc5+ $11) 51. Qxf4 Rxf4 52. Kxf4 $11 {and the P _|_
is draw!}) 44... g5 $1 45. Qf6 h6 $1 $19 {Probably this move was overseen by
Leko. The Q can be trapped on h6!} 46. f3 (46. f4 Ra3+ $1 47. Kf2 Ra2+ 48. Kf1
(48. Kf3 R8a3+ 49. Ke4 Ra4+ $19) 48... Rc8 $19) 46... R5a6 47. Qc3 Ra4 $1 {
The f3 P will soon or later fall and the P _|_ is already lost.} 48. Qc6 (48.
Qf6 R8a6) 48... R8a6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50. Qb5 R4a5 51. Qb4 Rd5 52. Qb3 (52. f4 Rd3+
53. Kf2 Ra2+ 54. Ke1 Rh3 $19) 52... Rad6 53. Qc4 Rd3 54. Kf2 Ra3 55. Qc5 (55.
f4 Rd2+ 56. Ke1 Rh2 $19) 55... Ra2+ 56. Kg3 Rf6 $1 {/\ Ra4-f4} 57. Qb4 Raa6 58.
Kg2 Rf4 59. Qb2+ Raf6 60. Qe5 Rxf3 61. Qa1 Rf1 62. Qc3 R1f2+ 63. Kg3 R2f3+ 64.
Qxf3 Rxf3+ 65. Kxf3 Kf6 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.18"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] Welche Fehler hat Leko in der letzten, entscheidenden Partie
gemacht? Meine Analyse besagt: 7...e6, 17...Nf4 und 24...Nf4.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4
d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Nd2 {Ich bin nicht sicher, ob diese
Neuerung wirklich gut ist.} c5 {Ohne den geht es nicht.} 7. dxc5 (7. c3 $2 Nc6
{und WeiЯ hдtte Probleme mit der Deckung des Pd4.}) 7... e6 $6 {In Folge
dieses Zuges gibt Schwarz einfach das Lдuferpaar auf, vor allem aber ist nun
die Bedrohung von g4 durch den Bd7 nicht mehr da und WeiЯ kann sich bequem
entwickeln.} ({Nach} 7... Nc6 8. f4 (8. Nb3 Nxe5 9. Qxd5 Bxg4 10. Bb5+ Nc6 11.
Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qxc6+ Bd7 $13) 8... e6 9. Nb3 Bxc5 10. Nxc5 Qa5+ 11. c3 Qxc5 {
wдre eine Stellung auf dem Brett, die Kramnik in der Partie vermieden hat.}) ({
oder} 7... Qc7 {muss sich WeiЯ um den Pe5 kьmmern.}) 8. Nb3 Bxc5 {Ohne diesen
Zug wьrde Schwarz den Bauern so schnell nicht zurьckbekommen.} 9. Nxc5 Qa5+ 10.
c3 Qxc5 {Hier sehe ich relativ deutlichen Vorteil fьr WeiЯ, der im Unterschied
zum Winawer-Franzosen keinen Doppelbauern auf der c-Linie hat. Im Gegensatz
dazu haben Kramnik und Leko verlauten lassen, dass Schwarz hier
zufriedenstellend steht.} 11. Nf3 (11. Be3 {/\ 12.f4 (Fritz)}) 11... Ne7 12.
Bd3 $6 {Dieser Zug leistet eigentlich wenig und verhindert Ne7-g6 nicht.
Sicher hat Kramnik das auch gesehen, aber ich vermute stark, dass er die Idee
d5-d4 nicht richtig gewьrdigt hat. Ein Indiz dafьr ist, dass 12.Bd3 recht
schnell kam, danach fing Kramnik an lдnger zu ьberlegen.} ({Ich weiЯ nicht,
was gegen} 12. h5 {spricht. M.E. steht WeiЯ auf beiden Flьgeln besser.}) 12...
Nbc6 {/\ d5-d4, Ne7-g6 Man muss erwдhnen, dass es fьr WeiЯ nichts bringt, wenn
er auf Ne7-g6 mit Bd3xg6 reagiert.} 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 $1 {WeiЯ ist
eigentlich ьberhaupt nicht am Damentausch und am Tausch seines
schwarzfeldrigen Lдufers interessiert, doch nur so lassen sich die beiden
Drohungen d5-d4 und Ne7-g6 gleichzeitig abwehren.} (14. Qc2 $6 Rc8 $1) 14...
Ng6 (14... d4 $5 15. cxd4 {Schwarz hat das schцne Feld d5, aber ob das
ausreicht, um einen ganzen Bauern zu kompensieren, halte ich fьr fraglich.
Dennoch war diese aktive Spielweise aus nachtrдglicher Sicht wohl angeraten.})
15. Bd4 $1 (15. Bxg6 fxg6 $11) 15... Nxd4 ({Wenn Schwarz an dieser Stelle
nicht die Damen tauschen will, so kommt auch} 15... Qc7 {in Frage.} 16. Qe3
Nxd4 17. cxd4 ({Allerdings kann WeiЯ auch} 17. Qxd4 {spielen.} Ne7 18. Qe3 Nc6
19. O-O-O $13) 17... Qb6 $13) 16. cxd4 {Der Verlauf der Partie nach dem 10.
Zug war nicht gьnstig fьr WeiЯ und Schwarz hat hier nahezu ausgeglichen.} Qxd2+
(16... Qb6 {kam auch gut in Frage.}) 17. Kxd2 $14 Nf4 $2 {Vermutlich ist der
Springerzug schlecht, wenn Schwarz nicht im nдchsten Zug den Bd3 tauschen darf
(und das ist m.E. der Fall).} (17... Ne7 $142 {/\ Nc6, f6} 18. Rac1 (18. Ke3
Nc6 19. Nd2 (19. g5) 19... f6 20. f4 $13) 18... a6 19. h5 Nc6 20. Ke3 f6 {
(Shipov)}) 18. Rac1 $1 h5 {Stattdessen konnte Schwarz fast zwangslдufig in ein
N/B-Endspiel gehen; dessen Ergebnis ist auch maЯgeblich fьr die Bewertung von
17...Nf4 bzw. 18...h5.} (18... Nxd3 $6 19. Kxd3 Bb5+ 20. Ke3 Kd7 21. h5 Rac8
22. Nh2 $1 {Dieser Springerzug verhindert praktisch das reine N/B-Endspiel.
Ich habe auch 21.Nh4 analysiert, aber dann kann Schwarz beide Tьrme tauschen
und vermutlich remis halten.} Rhf8 (22... Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 $2 24. Rxc8 Kxc8
25. f4 Kd7 26. g5 hxg5 (26... Ke7 27. gxh6 gxh6 28. Ng4 $18) 27. fxg5 Ke7 28.
h6 gxh6 29. gxh6 Kf8 30. Kf4 Kg8 31. Kg5 Bd3 (31... Be2 32. Kf6 Bh5 33. Nf1 Kh7
34. Ne3 Kxh6 35. Ng2 $18) 32. Kf6 $18) 23. f4 a5 24. Nf3 $16 {WeiЯ kann g5
oder f5 spielen; der Gewinn ist noch weit.}) 19. Rhg1 Bc6 (19... Nh3 20. Rg3 $1
(20. Rg2 Nf4 21. Rg3 Bc6 {Das wдre die Idee von 19...Nh3 - wenn WeiЯ auf h5
schlдgt, gewinnt Schwarz ein Tempo mit Nxh5.}) 20... Nxf2 21. gxh5 {Das ist
eine schwierige Stellung fьr Schwarz.}) (19... Rc8 {wьrde die Situation von
Schwarz nicht verbessern; ich gebe eine "Fritz-Variante" an:} 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8
21. gxh5 Nxh5 22. Ke3 Bd7 23. Rc1 Kd8 24. Ng5 Rf8 25. Be2 g6 26. Bxh5 gxh5 27.
Nh7 Rg8 28. Nf6 Rg6 29. Rh1 Rh6 30. f4 Bb5 31. Rg1 Rg6 32. Rg5 $18) 20. gxh5
Nxh5 (20... Kf8) 21. b4 $1 $16 {Von jetzt an steht nur noch die Frage, ob der
erhebliche weiЯe Vorteil auch zum Gewinn ausreicht.} a6 22. a4 $1 Kd8 {Dies
wurde kritisiert, doch WeiЯ ist auch bei anderen Zьgen nahe an einer
Gewinnstellung.} (22... Bxa4 23. Rc7 Bb5 24. Bb1 $1 Bd7 (24... O-O 25. Rg5 Nf4
(25... g6 26. Bxg6 fxg6 27. Rxg6+ Kh8 28. Ng5 $18) 26. Ke3 Ne2 27. Bd3 Bxd3 28.
Kxd3 Nf4+ 29. Ke3 Ng6 30. h5 Nh8 31. h6 g6) (24... b6 25. Ng5 O-O 26. Bh7+ Kh8
27. Bc2 Be8 28. Bd1 Nf4 (28... g6 29. Bxh5 gxh5 30. Ra1)) 25. Ng5) (22... Ke7
$5 23. b5 axb5 24. axb5 Bd7 25. Rc7 b6 26. Ke3 Ra3 27. Rb7 Rc8 28. Rb1 {/\ Ne1}
(28. Rd1 Rcc3 29. Ne1) 28... Nf4 29. Kxf4 Rxd3 30. Ra1 $1 Rcc3 31. Raa7 Rxf3+
32. Kg4 Ke8 33. Rxd7 $16) 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5 $5 (24. Ke3 g6 25. Rc2 Rc8 $1 (
25... Ng7 $2 26. Rgc1 Rxh4 27. Rc7 Rh1 28. Rxh1 Kxc7 29. Bxg6 $18) 26. Rxc8+
Kxc8 27. b5 Ng7 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. Bxa6+ Kb8 30. Bd3 Rxh4 31. Nf3 Rh3 32. a5 $16
) 24... Nf4 $6 {Definitiv der letzte Fehler.} (24... axb5 25. Bxb5 {Besser
gefдllt mir} b6 {was auch Ra7 vorbereitet.} (25... Nf4 $6 {Schwarz kann sich
in einigen Varianten in ein Doppelturmendspiel retten, aber seine Figuren
stehen so passiv, dass eine Rettung fraglich ist.} 26. Ke3 Ng6 (26... f6 27.
Nf7+ $1 Bxf7 28. Rxg7 Ng2+ 29. Rxg2 fxe5 30. dxe5 Be8 31. Bxe8 Kxe8 32. Rg4 $18
{Hier steht Schwarz zu passiv.}) 27. Bxe8 Kxe8 28. Nxe6 fxe6 29. Rxg6 Kf7 30.
Rg4 Rh7 (30... Rhc8 31. Rcg1 Rg8 32. a5 Rxa5 33. Rc1) 31. Rc7+ Kf8 32. Rxb7
Rxa4 33. Rf4+ Ke8 34. Rbf7 Ra3+ 35. Ke2 Ra4 36. Kf3 Rb4 37. Rf8+ Kd7 38. R4f7+
Kc6 39. Rc8+ Kb5 40. Rb7+ Ka4 41. Rxb4+ Kxb4 42. Kg4 $18) 26. Ke3 (26. Rc3 Nf4
27. Rg4 Ng6 28. Rf3 (28. Nxe6+ fxe6 29. Bxe8 Kxe8 30. Rxg6 Rxh4 31. Rxe6+ Kf8
$13) 28... Ra7 29. Bxe8 Kxe8 30. Nxe6 Rh7) 26... Ra7 $1 27. Rb1 (27. Bxe8 Rxe8
28. Rc6 Rxa4 29. Nxf7+ Kd7 30. Rgc1 Ra3+ 31. Kd2 Ra2+ 32. Ke1 Rea8 33. Rxb6
R8a7) (27. Rc3 Bxb5 28. axb5 Ke7 29. Rgc1 Rd8 30. Rc7+ Rd7 31. Rxd7+ Rxd7 32.
Rc6 Rb7) 27... g6 (27... Bxb5 28. Rxb5 Ke7 29. Rxb6 Rc8) 28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Rxb6
Ng7) 25. b6 $3 $18 {Nun ist Schwarz chancenlos.} Nxd3 (25... Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Kxc8
27. Rc1+ Kb8 28. Rc7 $18) 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rc1+ Bc6 29. Nxf7
Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1 Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4 Ra2+ (34...
Rxd4 35. f5 $1 exf5 36. e6 Re4+ $8 37. Nxe4 fxe4 38. Rc7 $1 $18) 35. Kf3 (35.
Kd3 {gewinnt auch:} Ra3+ 36. Kc2 Ra2+ 37. Kb3 Rf2 38. f5 exf5 39. Nxb7+ Bxb7
40. Rxb7 Re2 41. Rf7 $18) 35... Ra3+ 36. Kg4 Rd3 (36... Ra1 37. Rh7 Rg1+ 38.
Kf3 Rf1+ 39. Ke3 {/\ 40.f5+-}) 37. f5 $1 Rxd4+ 38. Kg5 exf5 39. Kf6 Rg4 40. Rc7
Rh4 41. Nf7+ (41. Nf7+ Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. d5 Rc8 14. Nbd2 Qc7 15.
Bd3 Nd7 16. Nf1 Nc5 (16... f5 {This is the main idea in this line and it is
best played immediately.} 17. Ng3 (17. exf5 Nc5 18. Ng5 (18. Bb1 Nc4 19. a3 Bf6
20. Ne3 e4 $132 {0-1 Moreno Carnero,J-Kuzmin,A/Port Erin 2003/CBM 096 ext (40)}
) 18... Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Qc4 20. Qg3 Qxd5 $13 {1-0 Ivanov,A-Alonso,R/Linares 1992/
CBM 033 ext (44)}) 17... f4 18. Nf5 Rxf5 (18... Bd8 19. b3 Nc5 20. Bb2 Rxf5 21.
exf5 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qc2 23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Ba3 $14 {1-0 Solovjov,S-Kuzmin,A/St
Petersburg 2004/CBM 102 (38)}) 19. exf5 Nf6 20. Ng5 Bxd5 21. Be4 $1 Bxe4 22.
Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 Qc2 24. Qd5+ Kf8 25. Bd2 $14 {1-0 Hermansson,E-Ong,K/
Gothenburg 2004/CBM 101 ext (39)}) (16... Nc4 {is logical given the problems
with Na5, but Black is cramped after:} 17. b3 Ncb6 18. Ng3 {1-0 Velimirovic,
D-Mihos,T/Athens 2000/EXT 2001 (39)}) 17. b3 $1 {[%csl Ra5] The offside N on
a5 is the main weakness in Black's position.} (17. Bb1 Na4 18. Ng3 g6 19. h4
Qxc1 $5 20. Qxc1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Nxb2 $13 {0-1 Golubev,M-Mahesh Chandran,P/Paris
2004/CBM 101 ext (46)}) 17... f5 {Make or break - this has to be played.} (
17... Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Ba8 19. Ne3 Nb7 20. b4 $16 {[%csl Rb7] 1-0 Szelag,
M-Sendera,J/Lubniewice 2003/EXT 2004 (30)}) 18. exf5 Bf6 $146 (18... Bxd5 19.
Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nc6 21. Ne3 Kh8 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Be3 $16 {was terrible for
Black in 1-0 Sax,G-Tseshkovsky,V/Wijk aan Zee 1989/CBM 011 (40)}) 19. Be4 Qf7 (
19... Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Qf7 21. Ne3 {and Black is completely without play.}) 20.
Ng3 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Qxd5 {Optically Black has a lot going for him here: pair of
B:s on good diagonals, centre P:s and a centralized Q. So what does the world
champion see for White here?} 22. Bd2 $1 {He sees a misplaced N on a5 and two
centre P:s that are fairly weak at the moment. He has also seen White's
overweight on the K-side which can be an important trump if handled well.} (22.
Nxd6 $2 e4 $17) (22. Ba3 Qxd1 23. Raxd1 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Nb7 25. Re2 a5 $1 $13)
22... Nc6 23. Bg5 $1 {Winning the d6-P and putting pressure on Black to find
compensation.} Nb4 (23... Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Qd2 Rce8 (26...
d3 27. Re3 $16) 27. f3 $16 {[%csl Rd4,Rd6,Rf6][%cal Ya1d1] Solid White
advantage due to Black's weak P:s.}) 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nxd6 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 Bxf3
27. gxf3 Rc3 28. a4 $5 {[%mdl 128] Aggressive move, but to win in chess you
have to set problems for your opponent that he cannot handle.} (28. Kg2 Nd3 29.
Ne4 Nf4+ 30. Kg3 Rc6 (30... Rc7 31. Rd6 $1 $36) 31. Rd7 Rf7 32. Rad1 $14) 28...
Rxb3 $2 (28... Rxf3 29. axb5 axb5 30. Kg2 Rxb3 31. Kh2 Kg7 32. Rg1+ Kh6 33. Rg4
Rb2 34. Ne4 (34. Ra7 Rxf2+ 35. Kg3 Rf4 36. Nf7+ Rxf7 37. Rxf7 Nd5 $14) 34...
Nc6 35. Rag1 {Strong attack for White, but is it winning? Not clear.}) 29. axb5
axb5 30. Kh2 Kg7 31. Rg1+ Kh6 32. Rg4 Nc6 (32... Rb2 33. Ra7 Rxf2+ 34. Kg3 $18)
33. Rag1 Kh5 $2 {The final mistake.} (33... Rb4 $1 34. Nxb5 Rd8 35. Nc7 $14)
34. Rg7 h6 35. Ne4 Rxf3 36. R1g4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. O-O Ne5 11. f4 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Bg5 h6
15. Bh4 exd4 16. e5 dxc3 17. Qxd8+ Kxd8 18. exf6 g5 19. Bg3 Be6 20. Rac1 Bxc4
21. Rfe1 Kd7 22. Re7+ Kc6 23. Rc7+ Kd5 24. Rd1+ Ke6 25. Rxc4 Rac8 26. Bc7 Kxf6
27. Rxc3 Rhe8 28. Rf3+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qd3 d5 8. exd5
exd5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O dxc4 11. Qxc4 Ba5 12. Rd1 b5 13. Qb3 b4 14. Na4 Re8 15.
Bg5 Qe7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qd5 Bc7 18. Qxa8 Bb7 19. Qa7 Nc6 20. Qc5 Nxd4 21.
Qxe7 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 Rxe2 23. Re1 Rd2 24. Rad1 Rc2 25. Rc1 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Be5 27.
b3 Bd5 28. Rc5 Be4 29. Ra5 Bd3 30. Nc5 Be2 31. Nxa6 Bc3 32. Nc7 Kg7 33. Nd5 Bd2
34. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Be6 8.
O-O Bd5 9. d3 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 Qd5+ 11. f3 O-O-O 12. c4 Qe6 13. Be3 Bb4 14. Rb1 f5
15. Rb3 b6 16. c5 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18. Rb5 c4 19. Rc5 Nb4 20. Qd2 cxd3 21.
Qxb4 dxe2 22. Rb1 $2 (22. Re1 e4 23. Rxe2 {offered more resistance.}) 22... Qb6
23. Rb5 Rd1 24. Rxb6 axb6 25. Kf2 e1=B+ 26. Qxe1 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Re8 28. g4 fxg4
29. fxg4 Kd7 30. Re3 Rf8+ 31. Ke2 Rf4 32. h3 Kd6 33. Rd3+ Rd4 34. Rf3 Re4+ 35.
Kd2 Rf4 36. Re3 b5 37. Ke2 Kd5 38. Rb3 c6 39. a3 e4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 Nc5 14. Ba2 h6 15.
Nh2 Bc8 16. b4 Ne6 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Ng4 c6 19. Bd2 Kh7 20. Qf3 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Qf6
22. Qh3 Nf4 23. Qh2 g6 24. Ne3 Be6 25. Bb1 d5 26. g3 dxe4 27. dxe4 Rad8 28. Bc3
Qg5 29. f3 Bd6 30. Kh1 c5 31. gxf4 exf4 32. Nf5 Bf8 33. Rg1 Rc8 34. Bd2 Qf6 35.
c3 gxf5 36. gxf5 Bc4 37. Bxf4 Qxc3 38. Qg3 (38. Qh5 $1 Qxa1 (38... Be2 39. Bd3
$1) 39. f6 {with the threat Qg4 and Qg8# wins immediately}) 38... Qg7 (38...
Bd6 {should be considered}) 39. Qxg7+ (39. Qh4 Qxa1 (39... Qc3 40. Qh5 $1) 40.
f6 {once again with the deadly threat Qg4 and Qg8#, winning}) 39... Bxg7 40. f6
Bf8 41. e5+ Kh8 42. Bf5 Be6 43. Bxe6 Rxe6 $2 44. Rg4 $2 (44. Ra2 {and there is
no good defence against Ra2 with mate to follow}) 44... cxb4 45. axb4 Rc4 46.
Rd1 Re8 47. Rd7 h5 (47... Rxb4 48. Rxf7 h5 49. Rg6 Rxf4 50. e6 Rxf3 51. e7 {
also wins}) 48. Rg5 Rxf4 49. Rxh5+ Kg8 50. Rd1 Rg4 51. fxg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O Nxe4 8.
Bxe4 Nf6 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. Bf3 O-O 12. a4 a6 13. Re1 Qc7 14. c3 Re8
15. Qb3 Rb8 16. g3 Bd7 17. a5 Bc5 18. Rad1 Qxa5 19. Bf4 Bxd4 20. Bxb8 Bxf2+ 21.
Kxf2 Rxb8 22. Rd4 Qf5 23. Red1 e5 24. g4 Nxg4+ 25. Rxg4 Bc6 26. Rd5 h5 27. Re4
Re8 28. c4 Qh3 29. Kg1 Re6 30. Qd1 f5 31. Bg2 Rg6 32. Re2 Qf3 33. Rf2 Qe4 34.
Kh1 Qh4 35. Rxf5 Rxg2 36. Kxg2 Qxc4 37. Rfxe5 h4 38. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. h3 d6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. e5 Nd5 10. Re1 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Be6 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. Qd2 f6 14. exd6 exd6
15. Bh6 Rae8 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. c4 d5 18. cxd5 Qxd5 19. Qf4 c4 20. Re3 cxd3 21.
Rxd3 Qc5 22. Qd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 Bd5 24. Ra3 Rf7 25. Rc1 Re4 26. c3 c5 27. Nc2
Re2 28. Ra5 Rc7 29. Ne3 Bf7 30. Rc2 Re1+ 31. Kh2 f5 32. Kg3 Be6 33. c4 g5 34.
Nd5 f4+ 35. Kf3 Rf7 36. Rxc5 h5 37. g4 fxg3+ 38. Kxg3 h4+ 39. Kg2 Bf5 40. Rc3
Be4+ 41. f3 Re2+ 42. Kf1 Rxa2 43. Ne7 Kh6 44. Re5 Rxf3+ 45. Rxf3 Bxf3 46. Re6+
Kh5 47. Re3 g4 48. Re5+ Kh6 49. hxg4 Bxg4 50. Nf5+ Kg5 51. Ne3+ Kf4 52. Nxg4
Kxg4 53. Kg1 a5 54. Re4+ Kf3 55. Rxh4 Kg3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. g3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. Bg2 c5 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rc1 h6 11. Bf4 d6 12. Qd2 Qe7 13. e4 Ng4 14. a3 g5 15. b4
Bxf2+ 16. Rxf2 gxf4 17. Re2 fxg3 18. Bh3 Nge5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Qxh6 Nf3+ 21.
Kg2 Qg5 22. Qxg5+ Nxg5 23. Kxg3 Nxh3 24. Kxh3 Rfd8 25. c5 dxc5 26. bxc5 Rd3+
27. Kh4 Rc8 28. Nb5 Rxc5 29. Rxc5 bxc5 30. Nxa7 Rd4 31. Nb5 Rxe4+ 32. Rxe4 Bxe4
33. a4 Bc6 34. Nc3 Kg7 35. Kg5 f6+ 36. Kf4 Kg6 37. a5 e5+ 38. Kg3 Bb7 39. Kf2
f5 40. Nb5 c4 41. Ke1 f4 42. Kd2 e4 43. Nc3 e3+ 44. Ke2 Kg5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.31"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 Bg5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4
Bh4+ 22. Kf1 f5 23. b4 fxe4 24. Rah2 g5 25. b5 Ne5 26. Qd4 Rb7 27. Rxh4 gxh4
28. Ke2 Re8 29. fxe5 Rxe5 30. Nf4 Qg5 31. Qxd6 Bg4+ 32. Ke1 Qxf4 33. Qd8+ Kg7
34. Qg8+ Kh6 35. Rxh4+ 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT Top 16 GpB"]
[Site "Port Barcares"]
[Date "2005.05.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kogan, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2592"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2005.05.04"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b4 c5 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. d4 Ne4 13. Qd3 Qf6 14. Nd2 Qg6 15.
f3 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 d5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. e4 Bb7 21.
Rfd1 Nf8 22. Qe3 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 cxb4 24. Rxc8 Bxc8 25. axb4 a6 26. Qc5 Qh6 27.
Bc1 Qh4 28. g3 Qd8 29. Be2 h5 30. Kf1 h4 31. gxh4 e5 32. Qxe5 Qxh4 33. Bc4 Qh3+
34. Kf2 Qh4+ 35. Ke2 Ne6 36. Be3 Kh7 37. Qb8 Qd8 38. Bd3 Qd7 39. f4 Nc7 40. f5
Nb5 41. Qe5 f6 42. Qc5 Qe8 43. Bf4 Kh8 44. Ke3 Bb7 45. Bg3 Bc6 46. e5 fxe5 47.
Bxe5 Nc7 48. Qd6 Nd5+ 49. Kd4 Qxe5+ 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 c5 11. O-O Nf6 12. Qh4 cxd4 (12... Qc7 {-
Ivanchuk-Karpov, Dortmund 1997 CBM 60}) 13. Re1 {The whole variation looks a
little bit better for White.} Bd7 14. Nxd4 (14. Qxd4 $5 Bc6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16.
Qxe5 Qd5 $14 {Bologan-Svidler, Poikovsky 2005}) 14... Qa5 15. Be3 g5 $5 (15...
Kf8 $6 {- Lautier-Karpov, Credit Suisse 1997 CBM 60}) (15... O-O-O $2 {loses
the a7 P.} 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. Bxa7 g5 18. Qh3 e5 19. Qf3 $18) (15... O-O $6 {
founders on} 16. Bxh6 $1 $16) (15... Rd8 $2 {runs into} 16. Nf5 $1 Bf8 {
This is a sad retreat.} 17. Bd4 Bc6 18. Qg3 Kd7 19. Nxg7 $18 {L.
Dominguez-Rasmussen, Copenhagen 2002}) (15... Qh5 16. Qxh5 Nxh5 17. Nf5 Bf8 (
17... exf5 $2 18. Bc5+) 18. Rad1 {White wants to get the ^^, which is a big
advantage in an open position.} Nf6 (18... O-O-O $6 {is met by the witty} 19.
Bxa7 $3 exf5 20. Bb6 $1 Nf6 (20... Bd6 $2 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 22. Be2 $18) (20... g6
$2 21. Bxd8 Kxd8 22. Bb5 Nf6 23. Rxd7+ Nxd7 24. Rd1 $18) 21. Bxd8 Kxd8 22. Bxf5
g6 (22... Kc7 $6 23. Bxd7 Nxd7 24. Re8 $16) 23. Bxd7 Nxd7 24. Re3 Rh7 $1 25.
Rde1 $14 {White has a R and two pawns for B and N, so the _|_ is better for
him.}) 19. Bf4 O-O-O 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. Bxd6 $14 {White's ^^ is very strong.})
16. Qh3 O-O-O (16... Be5 17. c3 Qd5 18. Rad1 $14) 17. Qf3 (17. Nb3 {deserved
attention as well.} Qa4 (17... Qd5 18. Rad1 Bc6 19. Be2 $16) 18. Bd4 $1 {
White gives up the ^^, but ruins Black's P structure.} (18. Qf3 Be5 19. Nc5 Qc6
20. Qe2 $13) 18... e5 19. Qf3 exd4 (19... Ng4 20. Bc5 $16) 20. Qxf6 Qc6 $1 (
20... Be6 21. Bf5 $16) (20... Bc6 21. Qxf7 $16) 21. Qxf7 (21. Qxd4 Kb8) 21...
Qc7 22. Nxd4 Bxh2+ 23. Kf1 Qb6 24. c3 Kb8 25. Qb3 Qf6 26. Be4 Qa6+ 27. Re2 Rhe8
$14 {with some compensation for the sacrificed P.}) 17... Be5 (17... Qe5 $5 {
was the critical question.} 18. g3 g4 {deserved attention.} (18... Nd5 19. Nf5
$1 (19. Qxf7 Nxe3 20. c3 (20. fxe3 h5) 20... Rdf8 21. Qg6 Be8 22. Qxe6+ Qxe6
23. Nxe6 Nd5 24. Rad1 $44) 19... g4 (19... exf5 20. Bxa7 $16) 20. Nxd6+ Qxd6
21. Qxf7 (21. Qxg4 Nxe3 22. Rxe3 Bc6) 21... Nxe3 22. Rxe3 Qd4 23. Rd1 $16) 19.
Qe2 Qh5 (19... Bc5 20. c3 h5 $13) 20. c4 Kb8 $13) 18. a4 $1 Nd5 $6 (18... Qd5
19. c3 g4 (19... a6 20. Qe2 $36) 20. Qe2 Qd6 21. g3 $14) 19. Nb5 $1 {This is
the point! The N is very annoying, and as we will see, Black cannot get rid of
him easily.} (19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Bxa7 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Be5 {is not that clear.})
19... a6 (19... Bxb2 $2 20. Nd6+ Kb8 21. Nc4 Qc3 22. Rab1 $18) (19... Nxe3 20.
Qxe3 Bf4 21. Qxa7 Qxa7 22. Nxa7+ Kb8 23. Nb5 Bxb5 $14 {leads to ^-, but White
has an extra P and the rooks are still on the board.}) 20. c3 $1 {The N
doesn't want to leave this excellent square.} Nxe3 (20... axb5 $2 21. axb5 $18)
21. Qxe3 (21. b4 $1 {is the phantastic zwischenzug!} Qb6 22. a5 Bc6 (22... g4
23. Qe4 Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 g3+ 25. fxg3 f5 26. axb6 fxe4 27. Nd6+ Kb8 28. Bxe4 $18)
23. Qh5 Bxh2+ 24. Qxh2 Ng4 25. axb6 Nxh2 26. Na7+ Kb8 27. Nxc6+ bxc6 28. Be2
$18) 21... Bc7 22. b4 Qb6 23. Qxb6 Bxb6 24. Nd6+ Kb8 (24... Kc7 25. Nxf7 Rhf8
26. Nxd8 Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Bxe1 28. Nxe6+ $1 Bxe6 29. Rxe1 Rd8 30. Bf1 {It is
advisable to avoid the R _|_.} (30. Rxe6 Rxd3 31. h4 Rxc3) 30... Bb3 31. a5 Rd2
32. Kg1 $14) 25. Nxf7 Rhf8 ({missing the liquidation to the R _|_ after} 25...
Bxf2+ $1 26. Kxf2 Rhf8 27. Bg6 Be8 28. Rxe6 Bxf7 29. Bxf7 Rxf7+ 30. Ke2 Rdf8 {
and Black has the well-known drawing chances in the R _|_.}) 26. Nxd8 Bxf2+ 27.
Kh1 Bxe1 28. Nxe6 $1 {This important zwischenzug White the edge in the _|_.} (
28. Rxe1 Rxd8 29. a5 Bc6 $11) 28... Bxe6 29. Rxe1 $16 Bb3 (29... Rd8 30. Bf1 $5
(30. Rxe6 Rxd3 31. h4 gxh4 32. Rxh6 Rxc3 33. Rxh4 $16) 30... Bb3 31. a5 Rd2 32.
Kg1 Rc2 33. Re3 $16) 30. a5 Rc8 31. Rc1 Bc4 $6 (31... Rd8 $5 32. Bf5 Rd2 33.
Kg1 Bc4 $14) 32. Be4 $1 {White still wants to avoid the R _|_.} (32. Bxc4 Rxc4
33. Kg1 Kc7 34. Kf2 Kc6 35. Ke3 Rh4 $14) 32... Re8 33. Bf3 Kc7 34. Kg1 Re3 35.
Kf2 Rd3 36. Be4 Rd6 37. Ke3 Bb5 (37... h5 38. Rc2 h4 39. Rf2 $18) 38. Rc2 (38.
c4 Bc6 39. Bxc6 Rxc6 40. Kd4 Rd6+ 41. Kc3 Re6 $16) 38... Bc6 {Now finally
Black exchanges the bishops, but White has significantly improved his K.} 39.
Bxc6 Rxc6 40. Kd4 Rf6 41. Ke5 Rf1 42. h3 Kc6 43. Rd2 Re1+ (43... Kb5 44. Rd6
Rf2 45. g4 Kc4 46. Rxh6 Kxc3 47. Rb6 Rf7 48. Ke6 Rh7 49. Kf6 $18) 44. Kf5 Rc1
$2 (44... Re3 {looks more persistant.} 45. Rd8 $1 (45. c4 Rb3 46. Kg6 Rxb4 47.
Kxh6 Rxc4 48. Kxg5 Rc5+ 49. Kg6 Rxa5 50. h4 Ra4 $1 51. h5 Rg4+ 52. Kf5 Rh4 53.
Kg5 Rh2 $1 54. h6 b5 $132) (45. Kg6 Rxc3 46. Kxh6 Rg3 $132) 45... Rg3 $1 (45...
Kc7 46. Rh8 Rxc3 47. Rh7+ $18) (45... b6 46. axb6 Kxb6 47. Kg6 Rxc3 48. Kxh6
Rg3 49. Rb8+ Kc7 50. Rg8 Rxg2 51. h4 $1 $18) (45... Kb5 46. Rd7 Rxc3 47. Rxb7+
Ka4 48. Rb6 Rg3 49. Rxa6 Kxb4 50. Rxh6 Kxa5 51. Rg6 Rxg2 52. Rxg5 Rh2 53. Kg4+
Kb6 54. Rd5 $1 $18) 46. c4 Rxg2 47. Rh8 Rf2+ 48. Kg6 $1 (48. Ke5 Rb2 49. Rxh6+
Kc7 50. Rb6 Rb3 $11) (48. Ke4 Rf4+ $1) 48... Rb2 49. Rxh6 Rxb4 50. Kxg5+ Kc7
51. h4 $1 Ra4 (51... Rxc4 52. Rf6 $18) 52. Rf6 Rxa5+ 53. Kg6 $18) 45. Rd3 $1
$18 Kb5 46. Rd7 Rxc3 (46... Kc6 47. Rh7 Rxc3 48. Rxh6+ $18) 47. Rxb7+ Ka4 48.
Kg6 Rg3 (48... Rb3 49. Kxh6 Rxb4 50. Rxb4+ Kxb4 51. Kxg5 $18) 49. b5 $1 {
Kramnik's technique is excellent.} axb5 (49... Kxa5 50. bxa6 Kxa6 51. Rb2 $18)
50. a6 Re3 51. Kxh6 Re6+ 52. Kxg5 Rxa6 53. h4 Ra8 54. g4 Rg8+ 55. Kf4 Rf8+ 56.
Kg3 Ka5 (56... b4 57. h5 b3 58. h6 $18) 57. h5 Ka6 58. Re7 b4 59. h6 b3 60. Re3
1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Ne4 11. Qc2 f5 12. b4 Rf6 {Larsen and later Smyslov
made this line popular for Black;} 13. d5 Rg6 14. Nd4 $1 {The only way for
White to fight for the opening advantage. White allows Black to get his queen
to g5, while White manages to repulse Black's attack there. Kramnik was
definitely familiar with this line, not sure about Judit..} Qg5 {That's a
novelty, and definitely an improvement of Matveeva-Maric game where Black got
in trouble very soon.} (14... exd5 15. f3 Qg5 16. Bd3 dxc4 17. Bxc4+ d5 18. Bb5
c6 19. fxe4 $16 cxb5 20. exf5 Rc8 21. Qf2 Rf6 22. Bb2 Rf7 23. Ne6 Qg4 24. h3
Qh5 25. Bd4 g6 $2 26. Qg3 Rc2 27. Nd8 {1-0 Matveeva,S-Maric,A/Budva 2003/CBM
096 ext}) 15. g3 exd5 {15...Nf8 is the way to keep tension in the centre,
although this doesn't bring black an equal play.} (15... Nf8 16. Bb2 $14) 16.
cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bc4 {Exchanging Black's bishop, White gets access to Black's
queenside.} Bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Kh8 19. Qc6 $1 {Important accuracy- Black's rook is
worse on d8 than on a8;} (19. Qxc7 Ne5 {same as in the game, but Black's queen
doesn't need to guard the rook;}) 19... Rd8 20. Qxc7 Ne5 {Black pawns are
targets, but he still has some hopes on the kingside;} 21. Ra2 $1 {Bringing
the rook to a defense- white intends f4 now. Immediate f4 would lead to a draw
only.} (21. f4 Qxg3+ $1 22. hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kh1 (23. Kh2 Ng4+) 23... Rh3+ 24.
Kg1 $11) 21... Rf8 (21... Ng4 22. Nf3 $16) (21... Nd3 22. Qxa7 Nxc1 23. Rxc1 f4
24. exf4 Qxf4 25. Qc7 Rg8 26. Rd1 {and again Black fails to create any serious
threats against the white king;}) 22. f4 {This move freezes Black's attack, as
well as Ra2 joins the defense;} Qg4 23. Qe7 (23. fxe5 $2 Nxg3 24. Rg2 Ne2+)
23... Rg8 24. Rg2 Nd3 (24... Nc4 25. Qxa7 {The same idea as in the game -
Black doesn't have anything on the kingside, so white can safely grab pawns;} (
25. Qf7 d5 26. Qxf5 Qxf5 27. Nxf5 $16)) 25. Qxa7 {White is safe on the
kingside, so Vlad simply picks Black pawns;} h5 (25... Qh3 26. Qa6 (26. Qxb6 $4
Nxg3 {and Black even wins here!} 27. Rxg3 (27. hxg3 Rh6) 27... Rxg3+ 28. hxg3
Qxg3+ 29. Kh1 Qh3+ 30. Kg1 g5 $19) (26. Qb7 $5 {the move which wasn't
mentioned by any other commentators of this game.} h5 27. Rd1 {[%cal Gb7g2]
and again black doesn't have anything;}) 26... Nxc1 (26... Nxg3 27. Qxd3 Nxf1
28. Qxf1 $18) 27. Rxc1 Nxg3 28. hxg3 Rxg3 29. Rxg3 Qxg3+ 30. Kf1 Qxe3 31. Ne2
$1 $16) 26. Qa6 {My Fritzy doesn't understand why Kramnik didn't grab another
one....} (26. Qxb6 h4 27. Qb5 hxg3 28. hxg3 Nxc1 29. Nxf5 $1 $18) 26... Nxc1
27. Rxc1 h4 28. Qe2 {An extra pawn for Kramnik in endgame means a point in the
crosstable in the most cases;} Qxe2 29. Rxe2 hxg3 30. Nxf5 gxh2+ 31. Kh1 Rg1+
32. Rxg1 hxg1=Q+ 33. Kxg1 {White has an extra pawn, all black pawns are weak...
And Vlad is sitting in front of you... sounds bad.} Ra8 34. Ra2 Nc3 (34... Kg8
35. Ne7+ Kf7 36. Nd5 b5 37. Kg2 {[%cal Gg2f3]}) 35. Rh2+ Kg8 36. Rg2 Kf7 (36...
Rxa3 37. Rxg7+ Kf8 38. Rb7) 37. Nxd6+ Ke6 38. Nc4 b5 39. Na5 Kf6 40. Rd2 $1 {
following with Rd3. Vlad makes it looking easy.} g5 {Pawn exchanges are
favoing the weaker side, but here nothing can help Black;} 41. Rd3 Ne4 42.
fxg5+ Kxg5 43. Kg2 Rf8 44. Rd5+ Kg4 45. Rd4 Kf5 46. Nc6 Rg8+ 47. Kf1 Ra8 48.
Ne7+ Ke5 49. Nc6+ Kf5 50. Ne7+ Ke5 51. Ng6+ Kf5 52. Nh4+ Ke5 53. Nf3+ Kf5 54.
Nh4+ Ke5 55. Nf3+ Kf5 56. Rd5+ Kf6 (56... Kg4 57. Kg2 Rxa3 58. Ne5+ Kf5 59.
Nc4+ Ke6 60. Rxb5 $18) 57. Rd3 Rh8 58. Ke2 Ke7 59. Nd4 Rh2+ (59... Rh5 60. Kf3
Nf6 61. Rc3 {[%cal Gc3c5]}) 60. Kf3 Nd6 61. Rc3 Rh3+ 62. Kg4 {The pawn b5
falls as well.... One more very long and exhausting game for both players in
Sofia; From Sofia reports: "Both players looked very tired at the press
conference and agreed that one additional day of rest would have been a good
idea."} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Eine sehr populдre Variante in
GroЯmeisterturnieren. Schwarz stцrt die weiЯe Entwicklung.} 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2
O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 (9... Bb7 10. Rc1 Nh5 11. Be3 (11. Bxb8 Qxb8
$5 12. Ne5 Nf6 13. e3 Rd8 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. f4 g6 16. g4 Nd7 17. Qe1 {1/2-1/2
Khalifman,A-Adams,M/Izmir 2004/CBM 104}) 11... Nf6 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. cxd5 cxd5
14. Rc2 Nb8 15. Ne5 Nbd7 16. Nd3 Nb8 17. Nb4 Qd6 18. a3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20.
Rfc1 Qd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Sargissian,G/Moscow 2005/(25)}) 10. cxd5 cxd5
11. Rc1 Nc6 $6 {Dieser extravagante Springerzug wurde zuerst in der Partie
Ponomariov,R - Topalov,V Sofia 2005 gespielt. Wahrscheinlich bieten die
Alternativen 11...Qe8, oder 11...Bb7!? Schwarz ohne Komplikationen viel
bessere Ausgleichchancen.} (11... Qe8 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. Qa4 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Na6 15.
a3 Rac8 16. Nc3 Nc7 17. Nd3 Nfe8 18. Rfd1 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G-Karpov,A/
Brussels 1987/CBM 02 (52)}) (11... Bb7 $5 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nc7 Ra7 14. Qa4 Ne4
15. Nb5 Ra8 16. Nc3 b5 17. Qd1 Nc6 18. Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Prusikin,M-Gyimesi,Z/
Miskolc 2004/(18)}) 12. Nxd5 {Die konsequente Fortsetzung, um
Erцffnungsvorteil zu erlangen.} (12. Qa4 Bb7 $11) 12... Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14.
Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 (15. Kh1 $6 Nxd5 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Qd7 Rab8 $40) 15... Bxe2
16. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Bis jetzt ist nach 11...Nc6?! alles forciert.} (16... Bxf1 17.
Rc7 $1 $16) 17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1 Ba6 $146 {Diese Neuerung
entspringt wohl der hдuslichen Analyse Topalovs.} (19... Bc5 {[%csl Gc5]} 20.
Bd2 f6 $5 (20... a5 $1 21. Rxc5 (21. b3 f6 22. Nc4 a4 23. b4 Bd4 $132) 21...
bxc5 22. Rxc5 Rb8 23. Bxa5 f6 24. Nf3 Be2 $11) 21. b4 $1 Bf8 22. Ng4 Rd8 $6 (
22... Kf7 $142) 23. Rc8 Rd7 {[#]} 24. Nh6+ $1 {Ein wirklich unerwartetes
Springeropfer.} gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26. Rd8 {[%csl Rf7,Rf8,Rg8] Die schwarzen
Figuren sind gefesselt.} Ne7 27. Rc7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R-Topalov,V/Sofia 2005/
CBM 107/[Ribli Zoltan] (40)}) 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 $1 $14 {[%cal Gc4e3,Ge3d5]
[%mdl 32] WeiЯ verfolgt eine sinnvolle Strategie: er mцchte den starken
d5-Springer tauschen.} (21. Nc6 Bd6) 21... Rd8 22. a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 $2 (23...
Bd6 $142 $1 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Bf4 (25. Bb4 Bb8) 25... Bxf4 26. gxf4 d4 27. Rc7+
Ke6 $1 28. Rxa7 Be2 $132) 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 $1 Bd8 (25... Bxb4 26. axb4 $16
{[%cal Gc2c7]}) 26. Rc6 $1 {[%cal Gc6d6,Gd6d5,Gd6d8] Um mit 27.Rd6 die Tьrme
zu tauschen.} Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 $16 {[%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat nur einen
Bauern fьr die Qualitдt und mit guter Spieltechnik kann WeiЯ seinen Vorteil
verwerten.} Ke8 29. Bb8 $1 {Mit diesem Zug provoziert WeiЯ die Schwдchung des
schwarzen Damenflьgels.} a5 30. Bc7 Bf3 31. Rc3 (31. Bxd8 Kxd8 32. Rc3 $16)
31... Bd5 32. f4 Kd7 33. Bxd8 Kxd8 34. Kf2 Kd7 35. Ke3 e5 (35... Kd6 36. Rc8
$16) (35... Bb7 $142) 36. fxe5 fxe5 37. Rc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1f1,Gf1f8]} a4 (37...
g6 38. Rf1 Ke7 39. b4 axb4 40. axb4 Bb7 41. Ra1 Kd6 42. Ra7 Kc7 43. h4 Kc8 (
43... Kb8 44. Ra1 Kc7 45. Rf1 $1 $18) 44. b5 Kc7 45. Rxb7+ $1 Kxb7 46. Ke4 $18)
38. Rf1 {[%cal Rf1f5,Rf5h5,Rf5e5]} Ke6 39. Rf8 $18 {[%csl Gf8][%cal Rf8b8,
Rb8b6] Das Eindringen des Turms auf der schwarzen Grundlinie entscheidet die
Partie.} b5 40. Rg8 Kf6 41. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 Nc6
8. Qd2 Bg4 9. Be2 Qd7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Rhe1 O-O-O (11... O-O 12. h3 Bf5 13. g4
Bg6 14. Bd3 {1/2-1/2 Bengtsson,B-Andersson,J/Sweden 1998/EXT 2000 (14)}) 12. h3
Be6 13. c4 Kb8 (13... d5 14. Nd4 $1 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Qa4 16. Kb1 $36 dxc4 $140 17.
Qa7 $18) (13... h6 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qa3 $36) 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qa3 $1 $36 {
[%cal Gc4c5] White starts to develop his initiative on the queen's side using
the better position of his pieces.} Qe7 16. Be3 h5 17. Kb1 {I think that White
lost an important tempo with this move.} (17. b4 $1 {[%cal Gb4b5]} Na7 (17...
d5 18. Bc5 Qe8 19. b5 $16) 18. b5 g5 19. bxa6 b6 20. Nd4 $16) 17... g5 $1 $132
{[%cal Yg5g4]} 18. b4 {[%mdl 4]} g4 19. Nd2 Nd4 20. Bd3 d5 $1 (20... Bg7 21. b5
Nf5 22. bxa6 Qf6 23. Nb3 $36) 21. c5 Bg7 {[%cal Ye7f6]} 22. hxg4 hxg4 23. Nb3
Nxb3 (23... Nc6 24. b5 axb5 25. Bxb5 $36) 24. axb3 c6 $2 (24... Qf6 $1 25. c6 (
25. b5 axb5 26. c6 (26. Bxb5 d4 27. Bc1 Qxf2) 26... bxc6 $17) 25... d4 26. Bc1
Bd5 27. cxb7 Bxb7 $132) 25. Bf4+ Ka7 (25... Kc8 26. Qa5 Bc3 27. Qb6 $1 Bxe1 28.
Bxa6 Kd7 29. Bd6 $18) 26. b5 cxb5 27. Bxb5 $40 Rc8 (27... Bc3 28. Bd6 Qg5 29.
c6 Bxe1 30. Bc5+ Kb8 31. Bb6 $1 $16) (27... d4 28. Bd6 Qg5 29. Bd3 $16) 28. Bd6
Qf6 29. Be5 $5 (29. c6 $1 Qa1+ 30. Qxa1 Bxa1 31. Kxa1 axb5 32. c7 $16) 29...
Qg5 30. Bxg7 Qxg7 31. c6 Qf8 32. b4 Qd6 (32... Rc7 $142 33. cxb7 (33. Rd4 Qd6
34. Kb2 $14) 33... Qd6 34. Rd4 Rxb7 35. Bd3 Rh2 $132) 33. Rd4 Rc7 34. Kb2 Rhc8
(34... Rh2 $1 35. Ra1 Kb8 36. Qa5 (36. cxb7 Qb6 $19) 36... Rxg2 37. Qb6 Rxc6
38. Bxc6 Qxc6 39. Qxc6 bxc6 40. Rf4 Kb7 $11) 35. c3 Rxc6 $2 (35... Kb8 36. cxb7
(36. Ra1 bxc6 37. Qxa6 Rb7 38. Qa8+ Kc7 39. Qa5+ Rb6 (39... Kd7 40. Ba6 Ra8 41.
Bxb7 Rxa5 42. bxa5 c5 43. Rd2 d4 $132)) 36... Kxb7 37. Ra1 Ra8 38. Bd3 $16) 36.
Bxc6 Rxc6 37. g3 $18 Rc4 38. Red1 Qe5 39. Qb3 Rxd4 40. Rxd4 Qe1 41. Qc2 b5 42.
Rd1 Qe5 43. Qd2 Kb7 44. Re1 Qf5 45. Qe3 Qf6 46. Rh1 Qf5 47. Rh8 Qf6 48. Re8 Bd7
49. Re7 Kc8 50. Qc5+ Kd8 51. Re2 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qd3 {White is
intending to castle long, while the knight on c3 won't be pinned anymore.
Still, this move looks somewhat awkward to me, compared to the more common
move 6.Qd2.} Nc6 (6... d5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nd7 9. e5 Qe7 10. f4 Nb6 11. Qe3
Bd7 12. Nf3 c5 13. Bd3 Rc8 14. O-O cxd4 15. cxd4 Nc4 16. Qc1 $14 {1-0 Nijboer,
F (2529)-De Jong,M (2299)/Dieren NED 2005/The Week in Chess 563 (53)}) ({
The following game was played in the same tournament just few rounds earlier:} 
6... d6 7. O-O-O O-O 8. Nf3 c5 9. e5 Qf4+ 10. Kb1 Bxc3 11. g3 Qf5 12. Qxf5 exf5
13. bxc3 {and white got a stable advantage - 1/2-1/2 McShane,L (2625)-Agopov,M
(2389)/Saint Vincent 2005/CBM 110_01 (72)}) (6... c5 7. e5 Qe7 8. a3 cxd4 9.
axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nf3 Rd8 12. Qe4 f5 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Bd3 Nc6 15. O-O
$16 {1-0 Palliser,R (2402)-Van Voorthuijsen,P (2249)/Cork IRL 2005/The Week in
Chess 546 (32)}) 7. Nf3 (7. O-O-O Bxc3 8. Qxc3 d6 9. Kb1 Bd7 10. Qe3 e5 11. d5
Ne7 12. g3 $14 {1-0 Legky,N (2503)-Spiridonov,N (2182)/Sautron 2002/EXT 2003 
(51)}) (7. Nge2 O-O 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 d5 10. e5 Qe7 11. f4 $14 {1/2-1/2
Polaczek,R (2426)-Roeder,P/Dos Hermanas 2004/EXT 2005 (20)}) 7... O-O $146 (
7... d6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Kb1 O-O-O 10. Qe3 Kb8 11. e5 $6 dxe5 12. dxe5 Qe7 13.
Ne4 Ba5 14. Bc4 Bb6 15. Qe2 a6 $15 {[%csl Gb6] 0-1 Michaud,C (2074)-Sokolov,A 
(2568)/Crans Montana 2001/EXT 2002 (33)}) 8. O-O-O d6 {The position is
balanced. White's space advantage is compensated by black's pair of bishops.}
9. Kb1 {A useful move, moving the king out of possible check along the h6-c1
diagonal.} Qg6 10. h4 f5 {Kramnik is not intending to stay in passivity and is
opening the "f" file for the rook.} 11. h5 Qf7 12. exf5 (12. e5 $6 Rd8 {
is fine for black.}) 12... Qxf5 13. Qc4 $5 {McShane avoids the exchange of
queens.} ({A playable alternative would have been} 13. Qxf5 Rxf5 14. Ne4 {
with approximate equality.}) 13... Qa5 $1 {[%csl Rc3]} 14. Ne2 Qd5 $1 15. Qxd5
{In this case white is practically forced to exchange queens.} (15. Qd3 $6 e5
$1 16. dxe5 Qxd3 17. Rxd3 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 $15 {Open files and diagonals
give black more than sufficient compensation for the Pe5 weakness.}) 15... exd5
16. Rh4 $1 {This unusual rook manoeuvre is quite typical for a Trompowsky.} Ne7
17. Nf4 c6 18. g3 Bf5 19. Bh3 Be4 20. Bg4 $1 {White's pieces are crowded on
the kingside, but black can not really take advantage of it. Black's Bb4 is
misplaced.} Ba5 21. Rh2 {After white has established his knight on f4, the
rook has nothing to do anymore on h4.} Nf5 (21... Rae8 22. Nd2 Bxd2 $6 (22...
Nf5 {see the game.}) 23. Rxd2 Bf5 24. Bxf5 Nxf5 25. c3 $14) 22. Nd2 Rae8 23.
Nf1 Bb6 24. Ne2 {[%csl Re4][%cal Gf2f3]} Ne7 {Black has to step back in order
to save his bishop.} 25. Ne3 Nf5 $11 26. Ng2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] I guess that
McShane was still optimistic about his chances, since he declined the option
of repeating the position... The move in the text loses on the spot.} (26. Nf1
Ne7 $11) {[%tqu "En","Find the winning strike for Black.","","","f5d4","That's
it. White's position collapsed like a sand-house.",10]} 26... Nxd4 $1 {[%cal
Gf8f2] That's it. White's position collapsed like a sand-house.} 27. Ngf4 (27.
Nxd4 Rxf2 $19) 27... Bxc2+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow exh m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Minkov, Andrey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2005.12.16"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.03.10"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.03.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. O-O c6 6. Bc4 d6 7. Nxd4 exd4 8.
Ne2 Nxe4 9. d3 Nc5 10. Nxd4 d5 11. Bb3 Be7 12. Qh5 O-O 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Be3 Ne6
15. Nxe6 Bxe6 16. d4 Qd7 17. Qf3 Rfe8 18. c3 Bf5 19. Rac1 Re7 20. Bc2 Bxc2 21.
Rxc2 Rae8 22. Rce2 Re4 23. Bf4 Qe6 24. Re3 a6 25. a4 g6 26. Rxe4 dxe4 27. Qe3
Qb3 28. f3 Qxb2 29. fxe4 Qa2 30. Bd6 Qxa4 31. e5 Qc4 32. Qg3 Be7 33. Bxe7 Rxe7
34. Re3 a5 35. Qg5 Qe6 36. Rf3 Re8 37. Qc1 a4 38. Qa3 Qb3 39. Qxb3 axb3 40. c4
Rd8 41. Rxb3 Rxd4 42. Rxb7 Rxc4 43. Kf2 c5 44. Rc7 Rc2+ 45. Kf3 c4 46. Rc8+ Kg7
47. Rc7 Kf8 48. h3 c3 49. g3 Rc1 50. Ke2 c2 51. g4 Rh1 52. Rxc2 Rxh3 53. Rc7 h5
54. gxh5 Rxh5 55. Rc5 Kg7 56. Ke3 Kh6 57. Kd4 Rh4+ 58. Ke3 Rh5 59. Kd4 Rf5 60.
Rc6 Kh5 61. Ke4 Kg4 62. Kd5 g5 63. Rc1 Rf2 64. Ke4 Rf4+ 65. Kd5 Kh3 66. Rc3+
Kh4 67. Rc8 g4 68. Rh8+ Kg3 69. Ra8 Kh3 70. Rh8+ Kg2 71. e6 fxe6+ 72. Kxe6 g3
73. Ke5 Rf7 74. Rd8 Kh2 75. Ra8 g2 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Volkov, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "Babula,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 c6 3. Bf4 {Volkov is a specialist in the Slav with
a7-a6, so Kramnik chooses a clever move order to avoid his opponent's known
positions.} Qb6 $5 {[%csl Rb2,Rd4] A natural answer, other options are} (3...
d5 4. e3 {- D10}) (3... d6) 4. Qd2 d5 {Black tends to the known structure.} ({
But a logical continuation of the previous move is} 4... Ne4 $5 5. Qc2 {
and now it deserves attention} d6 $5 {[%cal Ye7e5]} (5... d5 6. f3 e5 (6...
Qa5+ 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Qd8 9. e3 g6 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. Ne2 $14 {0-1
Chiburdanidze,M-Stefanova,A/Elista 2004/CBM 100 ext (55)}) 7. Bxe5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. e4 b5 11. Ne2 $13 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Kramnik,V/Sanghi
Nagar 1994/CBM 042/[Gelfand] (76)}) (5... Qxd4 $4 6. e3 $18) {for example} 6.
f3 Nf6 7. Qd2 e5 8. Be3 (8. dxe5 $6 dxe5 9. Bxe5 Bc5 {[%cal Gb6g1]}) 8... Qa6
$132 {1/2-1/2 Zhukova,N-Stefanova,A/Krasnoturinsk 2004/CBM 103/[Wells] (19)})
5. Nc3 Bf5 6. f3 $5 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Yg2g4] A more ambitious move than the
normal} (6. e3) ({The double attack} 6. Bxb8 $6 Rxb8 7. Qf4 {[%csl Rb8,Rf5]
doesn't work because of easy} Rd8 8. Qxf5 $2 Qxb2 {[%csl Ra1,Rc3]}) 6... e6 ({
Black has no time to avoid the g2-g4 advance by} 6... h5 $6 {due to} 7. cxd5
cxd5 $2 (7... Nxd5 $142 8. Bg3 $5 $14) 8. Bxb8 Rxb8 9. e4 $1 $16 dxe4 $140 $2
10. Qf4 $18 Rd8 11. Qxf5 Qxb2 12. Qb5+ $1) 7. g4 Bg6 8. h4 h5 $5 ({Possible is
also} 8... h6 {, which keeps the knight on f6. The choice is a matter of taste.
}) 9. g5 Nfd7 {A key to Black's counterplay is the e6-e5 (or even c6-c5)
advance, from here the knight can support it.} ({Too passive is} 9... Ng8 $6
10. e4 $14 Bb4 $140 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 dxe4 $6 13. d5 $1) 10. e3 Be7 11. Nh3
{[%csl Rg6,Rh5][%cal Yh3f4]} O-O 12. Bg3 {White has a space advantage, on the
other hand Black leads in development. To convert it to something real and to
get counterplay, Black needs generally to open the position.} Re8 $6 {And he
misses a good moment for it.} (12... e5 $142 $1 {with the complicated play,
for example} 13. cxd5 (13. dxe5 Bc5 14. Na4 (14. Bf4 $2 Nxe5 $1 $17 15. Bxe5
Bxe3 16. Qh2 Re8) 14... Bxe3 15. Nxb6 Bxd2+ 16. Kxd2 axb6 $11) 13... exd4 (
13... Bb4 $5 14. dxe5 cxd5 $13) 14. exd4 Bb4 $5 $13 (14... cxd5 $6 15. Nf4 $1
$14)) 13. Be2 $6 {White gives Black for nothing the chance again.} (13. Nf4
$142 $5 $14 e5 $140 $2 14. Nxg6 exd4 15. Nxe7+ Rxe7 16. Na4 $18 dxe3 17. Qc3
$18) 13... dxc4 $6 {And Black misses it over again!} (13... e5 $142 $1 14. cxd5
(14. dxe5 Bc5) 14... Bb4 $13) 14. Nf4 Bd6 15. Bxc4 $14 {Now Black has to
suffer under positional pressure.} Na6 (15... Bxf4 16. Bxf4 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5
18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. e4 (19. O-O-O $5 $14) 19... Nd7 20. O-O-O $14) (15... c5 $5
16. d5 $1 $14 (16. Nb5 $2 Bxf4 17. Bxf4 cxd4 $1 $36 18. Nc7 Nc6 $1 19. Nxa8
Rxa8)) 16. O-O-O $5 Rad8 17. e4 {[%csl Rg6] Closing the working diagonal of
the Bg6.} Nf8 18. Nxg6 Nxg6 (18... Bxg3 $2 19. Nxf8 Kxf8 20. g6 $16 {weakening
the Black's king} f6 21. f4) 19. f4 Qb4 20. Be2 {White's centre is well
protected and Black can't successfully attack it.} Bc5 (20... c5 21. e5 cxd4 (
21... Bf8 $2 22. d5 $16) 22. Qxd4 $14) 21. Bxa6 bxa6 (21... Rxd4 $4 22. Bd3 $18
) 22. Ne2 Qb7 $2 {Black keeps wrongly the queens on the board.} ({Without them
he can hope for some counterplay on the kingside, for example} 22... Qxd2+ $142
23. Rxd2 Bb6 24. Rhd1 f5 $1 25. gxf6 gxf6 26. Rc2 $14 f5 $140 27. Rxc6 fxe4 28.
d5) 23. Qc2 $16 Bb6 24. Kb1 Ne7 25. Bf2 g6 26. Ng3 $5 {[%csl Ge4] Kramnik
doesn't give his opponent any chance. He defends the e4 pawn and plans to
double his rooks on the d file.} (26. Rd3 c5 $5 27. dxc5 Qxe4) 26... Bc7 27.
Be3 Rd7 28. Rd3 Red8 29. Rhd1 a5 30. Ne2 Bb6 31. Ng1 $18 {[%cal Yg1f3,Yf3e5] A
strong maneouvre, after which Black can't resist for long.} Qa6 32. Nf3 Bc7 33.
Rc3 Qb7 34. Ne5 Bxe5 35. fxe5 Rc7 36. Rc5 Qb4 37. a3 Qb6 $6 38. d5 $1 {[%cal
Ge3b6] A small trick finishes the game.} exd5 39. Rcxd5 Qxe3 40. Rxd8+ Kg7 41.
Qd3 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2564"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. h3
b6 9. g4 Bb7 10. g5 Ne8 11. h4 f5 12. Nd4 Qe7 13. Bg2 Rc8 14. f4 Bc5 15. Nce2
Nd6 16. Nf3 dxc4 17. h5 Bb4 18. h6 g6 19. O-O cxb3 20. axb3 a5 21. Rad1 c5 22.
Ba1 Kf7 23. d3 Ke8 24. Nc3 b5 25. Na2 Ba3 26. Qd2 b4 27. Nc1 Kf7 28. Ne2 Kg8
29. Ne1 Bd5 30. Nc2 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 e5 32. Nxa3 bxa3 33. Qc3 Nf7 34. Ng3 Nb6 35.
e4 fxe4 36. dxe4 c4 37. fxe5 cxb3 38. Qxb3 Nc4 39. e6 Qxe6 40. Rf6 Qe7 41. Rdf1
$2 (41. Rd5 $5 Qb4 42. Qd3 Nb6 (42... Nb2 $2 43. Qa6 $18 Qe7 44. Rxg6+ Kh8 45.
Rg7 Rc2+ 46. Kh3 Rc3 47. g6 Rxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Qc7+ 49. Kh3 Qc3+ 50. Qd3 Qxd3+ (
50... Nxd3 51. Bxc3 $18) 51. Rxd3 Nxh6 52. Rxh7+ Kg8 53. Rxa3 $18) 43. Qa6 Rb8
44. Rb5 Qe1 45. Rf1 (45. Rbxb6 Rxb6 46. Rxf7 (46. Rxb6 Qxa1 47. Rxg6+ hxg6 48.
Qxg6+ Kh8 $19) 46... Kxf7 (46... Rxf7 47. Qa8+ Rf8 48. Qd5+ Rf7 49. Qa8+ $11)
47. Qxb6 Qxa1 48. Qb3+ Ke7 49. Qb7+ Ke8 50. Qb8+ $11) 45... Qd2+ 46. Rf2 Qd1
47. Bg7 Nc4 48. Bxf8 Ne3+ 49. Kh2 Rxb5 50. Qxb5 Ng4+ 51. Kg2 Ne3+ 52. Kh2 (52.
Kh3 Qg4+ 53. Kh2 Qh4+ 54. Kg1 Qxg3+ 55. Kh1 Qxf2 $19) 52... Ng4+ 53. Kg2 $11)
41... Qb4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O dxc4 7. Nxd4 Nd5 $146
(7... Bc5 8. Qa4+ Qd7 9. Nb5 O-O 10. Qxc4 Qe7 11. N5c3 a6 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Ne4
Ba7 14. Nbc3 $16 h6 15. Bd2 (15. Bf4 $1 e5 16. Bd2 {Polugaevsky}) 15... Rb8 16.
Rac1 (16. a4 $16 {Polugaevsky}) 16... Rd8 17. Rfd1 b5 18. Qc7 Bb6 19. Qd6 Qxd6
20. Nxd6 Ne5 21. Nxc8 Rdxc8 22. Be1 Ba5 {1/2-1/2 Polugaevsky,L (2620)
-Ljubojevic,L (2605)/Amsterdam 1981/MCL}) (7... Qb6 8. Nc3 $1 Bd7 9. Be3 $5 Bc5
$6 (9... Ng4 $5) 10. b4 $3 cxb3 11. Rb1 $1 $16 {xb7, Mikhalevski,V (2535)
-Murey,J (2420)/Israel 1997/CBM 061}) 8. Qa4+ Nd7 9. Qxc4 N7b6 10. Qb3 Bd7 11.
Nc3 Bc5 (11... Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Rc8 13. Qd3 Nd5 14. Rd1 Be7 15. Nf5 O-O 16. Nxe7+
Qxe7 17. e4 Nb6 18. Be3 $14 {[%csl Ye3,Yg2] ^^}) 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Nf5 O-O 14.
Nxg7 Nf6 (14... Kxg7 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Qc3+ $16) 15. Bh6 Qe7 16. Qf3 Bc6 17.
Qf4 Kh8 (17... Bxg2 $2 18. Nf5 $1 $18) 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Rac1 Bd6 20. Qh4 Ng8
21. Qxe7 Bxe7 22. Nxe6 Nxh6 23. Nxf8 Bxf8 24. Rxc6 $18 Rd8 25. Rfc1 Kg7 26.
R1c2 Nf5 27. e3 a5 28. Ra6 Rd5 29. e4 Rd1+ 30. Kg2 Nd4 31. Rc7 Nb5 32. Rb7 Nd6
33. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 a6 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
Bg5 Bxf3 16. exf3 b5 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Rc7 20. Rc6 Rxc6 21.
dxc6 Rc8 22. Rc1 e6 23. Bd2 Qc7 24. a4 d5 25. axb5 axb5 26. Qb4 Rb8 27. Qa3 Bd4
28. Qa6 Be5 29. f4 Bd6 30. Ba5 Qc8 31. Qa7 Ra8 32. Qb6 Rb8 33. Qd4 b4 34. c7
Ra8 35. Qb6 Bf8 36. Bxb4 Bxb4 37. Qxb4 Qe8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 Be7 12. b3 h5 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Nd4
Bd7 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5+ Ke8 17. e6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Bc8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.06.03"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qd2 Bb4 9. Rc1 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Qxa3 13. e4 Ne7 14. Bd3 Ng6
15. Bg3 e5 16. O-O Re8 17. Rfe1 Qa5 18. Qb2 Qd8 19. Bb1 a5 20. Rcd1 a4 21. Ba2
Qe7 22. Qc1 Ra5 23. Qd2 exd4 24. Nxd4 Qc5 25. Bc7 Ra8 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qa2+
Kf8 28. Ne6+ Rxe6 29. Qxe6 Ne7 30. Re3 Ke8 31. Rf3 Qh5 32. Bd6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. Qc2
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b4 Be7 11. e4 Nc6 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Rd1 Qc8 14. e5 $2 {
[%mdl 8192]} Nxb4 $1 15. axb4 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.06"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 {
In this opening variation White is counting on his pair of bishops and a
slight superiority in the center. On the other hand, black's setup is rather
flexible and out of weaknesses.} b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 ({Another main line is} 8.
e3) 8... h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14.
Bf2 {Both players, especially Kramnik, have big experience in this theoretical
endgame. The position is very close to be equal. White's only trump is the
pair of bishops.} c5 (14... f5 15. Bb5 c6 16. Bd3 c5 17. Ne2 Rac8 18. O-O cxd4
19. Nxd4 Ne5 20. Be2 Nc4 21. Rfc1 Ncxe3 22. Nxe6 Rfe8 23. Rxc8 Bxc8 24. Nd4 Bd7
25. Bxe3 Nxe3 $11 {1-0 Kasparov,G (2815)-Kramnik,V (2780)/Moscow 1998/CBM 067
ext (62)}) 15. e4 (15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. e4 Nc7 $1 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. dxc5 f5 $1 19.
cxb6 axb6 20. Ne2 fxe4 21. fxe4 Bxe4 22. O-O Rd2 23. Nc3 Bb7 $15 {1/2-1/2
Kramnik,V (2770)-Kasparov,G (2849)/London 2000/CBM 080 (38)}) 15... Ne7 ({
A bit worse is:} 15... Nf4 $6 16. Be3 Ng6 {The knight on g6 is misplaced.}) 16.
Ne2 {The knight is heading to b5 via c3.} ({The exchange of light-squared
bishops promises nothing for White:} 16. Bb5 Bc6 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Ne2 cxd4 19.
Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Rac8 21. Kd2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2739)
-Leko,P (2713)/Cannes 2002/CBM 088 (26)}) 16... Rac8 17. Nc3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Nc5
{[%csl Yb3]} 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Be3 (20. Bb5 Nb3 21. Be3 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Nc6 23.
Bxc6 Bxc6 24. Kc2 Na5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L (2679)-Leko,P (2749)/Wijk aan
Zee 2005/CBM 105 (38)}) 20... Rxd1+ 21. Kxd1 e5 22. b4 $1 $146 {This plan was
probably prepared by Kramnik at home. White is driving away the black knight
from its active position and preparing to hide his monarch on b2. Black is not
able to make use of his temporary advantage in development.} (22. Kc2 Na4 23.
Bb5 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Bc6 25. a4 f5 26. Bxc6 Rxc6 27. Rd1 fxe4 28. fxe4 Rc7 29. Rd6
Kf7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gyimesi,Z (2602)-Almasi,Z (2646)/Szekesfehervar HUN 2006/The
Week in Chess 592 (38)}) 22... Ne6 23. Kc2 Nc6 (23... f5 {does not really
bother White.} 24. Kb2 $14) 24. Kb2 Kf8 (24... Ncd4 25. Nb5 $1 $14) 25. Bc4
Ncd4 26. Bxe6 $1 Nxe6 27. Nb5 Ra8 {The only way to protect the Pa7.} 28. a4 (
28. Nd6 Ba6 29. b5 Rd8 $1 (29... Bc8 $6 {is too passive.}) 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31.
bxa6 Rd3 32. Re1 Nc7 33. Rc1 Nxa6 34. Rc3 $14) 28... Ba6 $2 {Surprisingly,
this move is the source for Black's troubles.} ({Much stronger would have been
} 28... Bc6 {. In this case White is not able to perform the manoeuvre
Nb5-a3-c4, because the Pa4 is hanging.}) 29. Na3 $1 Rc8 30. b5 Bb7 {Now it's
clear that 28...Ba6 was a mistake. Black actually lost two tempoes.} 31. Rc1
Rxc1 32. Kxc1 Ke7 ({An attempt for immediate active counterplay does not work:
} 32... f5 33. exf5 Nf4 34. g3 Ng2 35. Bf2 Bxf3 36. Nc4 e4 37. Kd2 $18 {
[%csl Rg2]}) 33. a5 bxa5 34. Bxa7 {[%csl Ra5,Gb5,Re5][%cal Ga3c4]} f5 $1 {
The only chance. Passive defense would lose for sure.} (34... g6 35. Nc4 $18 {
[%csl Ra5,Re5]}) (34... a4 35. Nc4 f6 36. Kb2 Nf4 37. g3 Nd3+ 38. Ka3 f5 39.
Nd2 $18) 35. exf5 Nf4 36. g3 Nh3 37. Nc4 Ng5 {It's already clear that Black
will have to sacrifice his bishop for "b" pawn. The main question is: will
Black manage to exchange or capture white's remaining kingside pawns?} 38. Nxa5
(38. f4 $2 exf4 39. gxf4 Nf3 40. Nxa5 Bd5 41. b6 Kf6 42. Nc4 $1 (42. b7 Bxb7
43. Nxb7 Kxf5 $11) 42... Ke7 $1 (42... Kxf5 $4 43. Ne3+ $18) (42... Nxh2 $6 43.
Nd6 h5 44. b7 Bxb7 45. Bb6 $1 {threatening 46.Bd8 mate!}) 43. h3 (43. Na5 Kf6 {
is a repetition.}) 43... Kd7 {with good drawish chances.} (43... Ng1 $2 44. b7
$18 {[%cal Ga7g1]})) 38... Bd5 $2 {Looks like the decisive mistake. It's
understandable that Leko wanted to take on f3 with the knight, but, in fact
the move in the text loses a vital tempo.} (38... Bxf3 39. b6 (39. Be3 Nf7 40.
b6 Nd8 $11 {[%cal Ge7f6] stopping the pawn.}) 39... Kf6 40. Kd2 $1 {The most
troublesome move for Black.} (40. g4 Nf7 41. b7 Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Kg5 $11) (40. b7
Bxb7 41. Nxb7 Kxf5 $11 {White's pieces are in offside, Black will easily
neutralize all white's remaining pawns.}) 40... Kxf5 41. Ke3 Kg4 (41... Bd5 42.
b7 Bxb7 43. Nxb7 Kg4 44. Bb8 Kh3 (44... Nf3 $145 $1 45. Nc5 h5 46. Ne4 Nxh2 47.
Bxe5 g5 $11) 45. Bxe5 Kxh2 46. Nd6 $18) 42. Bb8 Kh3 (42... Nf7 43. b7 Bxb7 44.
Nxb7 Kh3 45. Nd6 Nxd6 46. Bxd6 Kxh2 47. Bxe5 Kh3 48. Kf4 g6 49. Kf3 g5 50. g4
Kh4 51. Bh2 Kh3 52. Bg3 h5 53. gxh5 $18) 43. Bxe5 Kxh2 44. Kf2 (44. Bf4 Kg2 $11
) 44... Bd5 45. b7 Bxb7 46. Nxb7 Kh3 47. Nc5 h5 48. Bf4 Kg4 (48... Nf7 49. Kf3
g5 50. Bc7 g4+ 51. Kf2 h4 52. Ne6 hxg3+ 53. Bxg3 {and 54.Nf4 mate.}) 49. Bxg5
Kxg5 50. Kf3 Kf5 {White cannot win this.}) 39. b6 Nxf3 40. h3 $3 $18 {A
brilliant decision based on precise calculation. Leko obviously underestimated
this move.} (40. b7 $2 Bxb7 41. Nxb7 Nxh2 {Black's knight is quite active in
this case; White won't be able to keep all his pawns.}) (40. h4 $2 Kf6 41. b7
Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Kxf5 $11 {[%cal Gf5g4]}) 40... Ng5 41. b7 Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Nxh3 43.
Bb6 $1 Kd7 $6 {Good or bad, the only chance was 43...Kf6.} (43... Kf6 44. Nd6
Kg5 45. Bd8+ $1 (45. Kd2 $2 Kg4 46. Ke3 Kxg3 47. Ke4 Ng5+ 48. Kxe5 h5 49. Ne8 (
49. Ne4+ Kg4 (49... Nxe4 $2 50. Kxe4 h4 51. Bd4 h3 52. Bxg7 h2 53. Be5+ $18)
50. Nxg5 Kxg5 51. Ke6 h4 52. Bc7 h3 53. Bh2 Kg4 $11) 49... h4 50. Nxg7 h3 51.
Bc7 Kg2 52. Kf6 Ne4+ 53. Kg6 Ng3 54. f6 h2 55. f7 h1=Q 56. f8=Q Qb1+ $11) 45...
Kg4 46. Be7 Kxg3 47. Bf8 h5 48. Bxg7 Ng5 49. Bxe5+ Kg2 50. f6 h4 51. Nf5 h3 52.
Nh4+ Kg1 53. Bf4 Nf7 54. Kd2 $18) 44. Be3 $1 {The point of 40.h3. Black's
knight is easily cut off by the white bishop. The rest is easy.} Ke7 45. Nc5 g6
46. fxg6 Kf6 47. Bxh6 Kxg6 48. Be3 {[%mdl 4096] Perfect endgame technique by
Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The match had a promising start: 75 moves of uncompromising battle, abrupt
changes in the course of the game and... a decisive result. It could have all
ended in an "interesting draw" right after the first time control if Black had
been any other player than Topalov. For Kramnik, the general pattern must be
quite familiar. Two years ago in Brissago, he also won the first game of his
match with Leko after his opponent overstepped the limit of admissible risk.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {This line is
rarely seen in normal tournaments, but has been submitted to some intense
theoretical discussion in recent high level events. What makes Topalov's
choice more interesting is that Kramnik had employed this line with Black, too.
} 7. Qc2 ({The other popular continuation is} 7. O-O O-O {is better.} ({
Now, it is premature to defend the c4-pawn before it is attacked:} 7... b5 $2
8. a4 $1 Bxd2 (8... c6 9. axb5 {[%csl Yb4][%cal Ra1a8] /\Bxb4} Bxd2 10. Nfxd2
$1 {[%cal Rg2a8]}) 9. Nfxd2 Ra7 10. axb5 Qxd4 11. Na3 Bb7 12. Bxb7 Rxb7 13.
Ndxc4 $16 {1-0 Genov,P-Kuzev,J/BUL-ch 1995/EXT 97 (29)}) 8. Nc3 (8. Qc2 {
1/2-1/2 Karpov,A (2710)-Piket,J (2615)/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 070/[Piket] (43)})
8... Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd5 11. Bd2 b5 12. e4 Nb6 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Qc2 Ne7
15. Rad1 $44 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E (2709)-Kramnik,V (2754)/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM
105 ext (36) White has adequate compensation for the exchange due to his
strong pawn centre and pair of bishops. However, Black's position is quite
solid.}) (7. Na3 {looks like a tempting alternative. 'Ribli'} Bxa3 8. bxa3 O-O
(8... a4 $1 {as suggested by Psakhis would have allowed Black to consolidate
his queenside by a further ...b5, without fearing the undermining of the
b5-pawn.}) 9. Qc2 b5 10. a4 (10. Ne5 Nd5 11. Rb1 c6 12. O-O $44) 10... c6 11.
Rb1 Ba6 12. a3 $1 $44 (12. Ne5 b4 $132) 12... Nbd7 13. O-O Rb8 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15.
e4 h6 (15... Rfe8 16. e5 Nd5 17. Ng5 $44) 16. Bc3 (16. Bf4 b4 $1) 16... Qc7 17.
axb5 cxb5 18. d5 {/\Nd4} e5 19. Nh4 Kh7 20. Qd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Marin,M-Psakhis,L/
rpd. 25', WorldChessNetwork.com 2005 (32)}) 7... Bxd2+ {Facing White with the
task of taking an early decision.} (7... Nc6 {leads to a position that is
usually achieved from the Bogo-Indian defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 4.
Bd2 a5 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.Qc2 dxc4 8.Qxc4 Qd5 9.Qd3.}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {This move
is in slight contradiction with the general rules of development: White moves
for the second time in a row with an already developed piece. Even more
paradoxical is the justification of such a decision: White intends to
effectuate a new series of 3 consecutive moves with the queen in order to win
the pawn back! In fact, moving around with the queen before the development of
the other pieces has been completed is quite typical for the Catalan, the most
recent example in Kramnik's practice being his game against Naiditsch from
Dortmund 2006. The explanation why such radical deviations from the normal
course of the game are viable is probably connected with what I would call
"The quality of development". Indeed, the Catalan bishop is sometimes so
strong that it can compensate for a delay in the mobilization of the other
forces.} ({The more natural} 8. Nbxd2 {allows Black maintain his extra pawn
with} b5 {and although White certainly gets compensation for it, for instance}
9. a4 c6 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 O-O 12. O-O Ba6 13. Nc5 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 $44 {
1/2-1/2 Avrukh,B (2614)-Eljanov,P (2629)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (23). it was
just sufficient for a draw.}) 8... c6 ({Black cannot achieve complete equality
by means of such neutral moves as} 8... b6 9. Ne5 Ra7 10. Na3 Bb7 11. Bxb7 Rxb7
12. Naxc4 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 14. Rfd1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A (2554)-Gulko,B 
(2585)/San Diego 2006/CBM 112 (31). with better development and an advantage
of space in the centre for White.}) 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {We can see
a similar sortie by the queen in the Queen's Indian: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 b5 6.cxb5 Bxb5 7.Bg2 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 a5 9.Bxb4 axb4 10.Qd2 Nc6 and
now, precisely on the same 11th move, 11.Qg5, hitting g7 and b7, just like in
our game.} O-O {From structural point of view, both attacked pawns were quite
important, because the elimination of any of them would be equivalent to a
chronic weakening of the structure on that side.} ({Although for the purpose
of ensuring the safety of the king, the g7-pawn is of crucial importance,} 
11... b4 {is not completely out of place. Black's aim would be to maintain a
strong queen side majority.} 12. Ne5 (12. Qxg7 Rg8 13. Qh6 Bb7 {leaves Black
with viable play in a rather unbalanced position.}) 12... Ra7 13. Nxc4 Qxd4 $5
14. Nd6+ $5 Qxd6 15. Qxg7 Rg8 16. Qxf6 Nd7 17. Qh4 Qe5 $13 {with a fairly
unbalanced position.}) 12. Qxb5 {From the static point of view, White has a
great position. His structure is more compact and his queen's knight has a
perfect blocking square on c3. Black's chances consist mainly of dynamic play.}
Ba6 $146 {This novelty could hardly have come as a surprise to Kramnik, since
it is Fritz' first option. Black intends to win some time for his development
by chasing the enemy queen.} (12... Na6 $6 {fails to question the viability of
the enemy queen's incursion.} 13. Qxc4 Nb4 14. Qb3 e5 15. Nxe5 Rb8 16. O-O Qxd4
17. Rxa5 Be6 18. Qc3 Qd8 19. Rc5 $16 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2719)-Moiseenko,A (2662)/
Sochi 2006/CBM 111 ext (102)}) 13. Qa4 {With his development as yet incomplete,
White does not feel ready to embark in forced tactical battles.} ({However,
since after the game continuation he will not manage to obtain an advantage,} 
13. Qxa5 {deserves to be taken into consideration.} Bb7 14. Qxd8 Rxa1 $1 15.
Qxf8+ {White has to return the material, otherwise he would end up under very
dangerous attack.} (15. Qb6 $2 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 c3+ $1 $17 {and a fork on d5 will
soon win the queen.}) (15. Qc7 $2 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 Rxb2+ 17. Kc1 c3 18. Qxc3 Rxe2
$17 {with very strong threats in conditions of approximate material equality.})
15... Kxf8 16. O-O {This is the most natural move, but removing the king from
the centre is a far from one-sided decision from the perspective of the
approaching endgame.} ({An interesting alternative would be} 16. Kd2 Ra2 17.
Rc1 {in order to maintain the e2-pawn defended with the king. However, this
would leave the g2-bishop undefended, which would restrict White's active
possibilities.}) 16... Ra2 {Black will most likely win his pawn back, but
White can count on a small achievement, too: he has almost completed his
development and maintained the control of the c3-square at the same time.} 17.
Ne5 (17. Nbd2 {is met by} Bxf3 $1 {when each way to re-capture has its
drawbacks. In principle, it would be desirable to maintain the c4-pawn under
pressure, but} 18. Bxf3 {allows} c3 $1 19. Nc4 cxb2 20. Kg2 Ra4 $11 {with
complete simplifications and a draw.}) (17. Rc1 Rxb2 18. e3 {leaves the
f2-square vulnerable, for instance} Nbd7 19. Nbd2 Ng4 $1 {and White cannot
free himself easily.}) 17... Ba6 (17... Bd5 18. Nc3 Rxb2 19. e4 $14) 18. Nc3
Rxb2 19. Rb1 {It is important to exchange or at least drive back the active
black rook.} Rxb1+ (19... Rb3 20. Rc1 Nfd7 21. f4 $14 {followed by the
centralisation of the king.}) 20. Nxb1 Nd5 21. Bxd5 (21. e4 $2 c3 $1 $19) 21...
exd5 22. Nc3 $14 {White has a minimal but stable advantage. The main
achievement of the early queen's manoeuvre, namely the control of the
c3-square, has been preserved until very deep in the endgame. However, it is
not easy to evaluate whether he has real chances for a win. Black has a passed
pawn after all, which considerably restricts White's active possibilities.})
13... Qb6 14. O-O ({The immediate} 14. Nbd2 {deserves to be mentioned.} Bb5 $1
(14... Qxb2 $2 15. Rb1 Qc3 16. O-O $18 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Gf1c1]}) (14... Nc6 $6
15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Rfc8 17. O-O Ne7 18. Qa2 Rc2 19. Qa3 Ned5 (19... Ra7 $6
20. b4 $1 a4 21. Rfc1 Rxe2 $6 22. Bf1 Re4 23. Bd3 Rg4 24. h3 $16 {traps the
rook.}) 20. Rfc1 Rxe2 21. Qxa5 Qxa5 22. Rxa5 Rd8 23. Rb5 Ne4 24. Ne5 $14 {
Black does not seem to have enough for the pawn.}) 15. Qa2 (15. Qa3 Nc6 16. Rc1
Rad8 17. e3 Qa6 {In this line, we can notice the main drawback of the
development of the knight to d2: the c3-square is not blocked, which makes
castling slightly problematic.}) 15... Nc6 16. Nxc4 Qd8 $11 17. Rd1 $2 Nb4 18.
Qb3 Nfd5 $1 {/\a4} 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Nfd2 Nb6 $17) 14... Qxb2 15. Nbd2 Bb5 16.
Nxc4 {A forced move, but I cannot help thinking that after capturing this pawn,
White will not anjoy stability on c3 for his knights any more.} Bxa4 17. Nxb2
Bb5 {Finally, the piece in which White has invested 5 tempi of development has
been exchanged. White has a nice pawn structure and, after the next move,
strong pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. However, Black's a-pawn should not
be underestimated. In order to block it or simply capture it, White will need
to concentrate a considerable amount of resources on the queenside, leaving
the other wing slightly weakened. Compared with the final position of the
variation given in the notes to White's 13th move, the relation between the
black bishop and the white queen's knight is reversed. Here, the bishop is
dominating the knight.} 18. Ne5 Ra7 19. Bf3 Nbd7 20. Nec4 {One important
aspect is that all the outposts for the minor pieces offered by the central
chain of pawns are a bit too far from the passed pawn. The knight only enjoys
relative stability on c4.} (20. Nxd7 Nxd7 (20... Bxd7 21. Ra3 $14 {[%csl Ga5]
[%cal Yf1a1,Yb2d3,Yd3c5]}) 21. Rfb1 $5 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Yb2d1,Yd1c3]} Rc8 {
Apparently, the only way to maintain the balance even. The bishop needs
support along the c-file.} (21... a4 22. Nd1 Bc4 23. Ne3 $16 Bb3 $2 24. Rxb3
$18) (21... Rb8 22. Nd1 Rb6 23. Ra3 $14) (21... e5 22. Nd1 e4 23. Rxb5 exf3 24.
exf3 Rfa8 25. Nc3 Kf8 26. Ra4 Ke7 27. Kf1 $16) 22. Nd1 Bc6 (22... Bc4 23. Ne3
$16 {/\Rb7}) 23. Rc1 Rac7 (23... Bb7 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nc3 Nf6 26. Kf1 Bd7 27.
Ke1 Kf8 28. Kd2 Ke7 29. e4 Bc6 30. Kd3 $14 a4 $6 31. Ra3 Rb7 32. Bd1 $16 Rb2
$140 33. Ke3) 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 $11 {Now, the position has been
simplified even further and White's advantage in space becomes less relevant.
Black should not face too big a problem.} 26. Rxa5 $2 Rc1 27. Ra8+ Nf8 $19)
20... Rb8 {Defending the a5-pawn by indirect means.} ({As pointed out by GM
Lupulescu, this is an attempt to take over the initiative already. Black could
have forced a draw with} 20... Rc7 {for instance} 21. Ne3 (21. Nxa5 Bxe2 22.
Bxe2 Rc2 $15 {leaves White with a weak pawn on d4, while his piece activity is
of temporary nature.}) 21... e5 $1 22. Rxa5 exd4 23. Nf5 Rc5 24. Nxd4 Bxe2 $1
25. Rxc5 Bxf1 $11 {Lupulescu}) 21. Rfb1 ({Kramnik could hardly have considered
the possibility of starting the (probably successful) fight for a draw with} 
21. Rxa5 {at such an early stage of the game and match.} Rxa5 22. Nxa5 Bxe2 $15
) 21... g5 $5 {A multi-purpose move. Black avoids any back rank problems,
opens a path for the king's activation and questions White's stability on the
kingisde. In the long run, the operation initiated by the advance of this pawn
will put White under serious pressure.} 22. e3 ({White could have prevented
the further advance of the g-pawn by means of} 22. h3 h5 23. Ne3 {. However,
it is not clear how he would have continued if Black had just gradually
improved his position by means of} a4 (23... e5 {is premature because of} 24.
dxe5 g4 25. hxg4 hxg4 26. Bg2 Nxe5 27. Nbc4 $14 {when Black will most likely
lose his a-pawn.}) 24. Ra3 Kg7 $13) 22... g4 23. Bd1 {The most consequent
continuation. White intends to prove that placing the bishop on f3 was just an
intermediate phase in the process of its further activation. Among others, the
a4-square is taken under control. The main drawback of the bishop retreat
consists of the fact that it leaves the long diagonal undefended.} ({However,
in the case of} 23. Bg2 {followed by an eventual move with the c4-knight,
Black could play ...Be2 followed by ...Bf3, with a similar situation as in the
game.}) 23... Bc6 24. Rc1 ({Again, the pawn is taboo.} 24. Nxa5 $2 Be4 $17)
24... Be4 25. Na4 {Finally, White has reached some queenside stability.
However, after placing the knight on a4 the pressure against the a5-knight is
released, allowing Black more freedom of action.} Rb4 26. Nd6 Bf3 $5 {This
certainly looks like a double-edged decision: will the pawn be a strength or a
weakness? The further course of the game offers us partial answers in both
ways. The pawn kept White passive for a long time but then perished without
glory after Black's first slip. However, further analysis proved that with
correct play Topalov's decision was entirely viable.} 27. Bxf3 gxf3 {For the
time being, we can notice that the pawn is not easy to attack and that it
causes White some back rank problems. Besides, if the d6-knight moves away,
the wonderful e4-square would become available to the black knights.} 28. Nc8 {
The adherents of the Catalan Opening like very much to place knights on the
c6-square, especially if they cannot be driven away easily. In this concrete
case, however, it is not clear yet whether this yields White any concrete
advantage, because the knight is too far from such important squares as e4 or
f3. Kramnik probably intended to put the a5-pawn under pressure in order to
eliminate it at any cost and reach absolute safety.} (28. e4 $5 {[%csl Gf3]
[%cal Ya1a3] Korotylev}) (28. Nc3 $5 {[%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d2,Ra5a4] Korotylev,
Notkin} Ra6 29. Nde4 Nxe4 30. Nxe4 a4 $132) 28... Ra8 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Nc6 Rb3
31. Nc5 {The other knight jumps forward, taking over the duties of his
colleague regarding the control of the e4-square.} Rb5 32. h3 $6 {This
over-cautious move could have led White to troubles.} ({As known, the best
form of defence is attack!} 32. Ra4 $5 Nxc5 33. dxc5 Nd7 34. Rac4 $1 $13 {
[%csl Rf3][%cal Yc6d4,Rc5c6] leaves White with active possibilities, although
the a-pawn remains quite dangerous.}) 32... Nxc5 33. Rxc5 (33. dxc5 Nd7 34. Ra4
(34. Nd4 Rxc5 35. Rxc5 Nxc5 36. Nxf3 a4 $17) 34... Nxc5 35. Rg4+ Kf8 36. Nd4 {
and now Black can save his hanging pieces with} Nd3 37. Rd1 Nb2 $15) 33... Rb2
{Suddenly, White has problems. The threat ...Ne4 is very strong.} 34. Rg5+ {
An apparently inoffensive intermediate check that faces Black with a far from
easy choice.} Kh6 $6 {The concrete reasons why this move reduces Black's
chances for success are not obvious yet.} ({However, intuitively} 34... Kf8 {
deserves to be preferred. The king has little chance of getting active
possibilities on the kingside, where it is restricted by the barrier created
by the g3- and h3-pawns and should rather aim to travel around the whole board
like Columbus, up to e2. Here is a possible continuation that illustrates
Black's chances:} 35. Rgxa5 (35. Raxa5 $2 Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Ne4 $19) 35... Rxa5 36.
Nxa5 (36. Rxa5 $2 Ne4 $19) 36... Ne4 37. Rf1 f6 38. Nc4 ({The main difference
compared to the game is that} 38. Nc6 {fails to restrict Black's activity, for
instance} Ke8 39. d5 e5 40. g4 Kd7 41. Na5 Rc2 42. Nc6 Kd6 $17) 38... Ra2 39.
Nb6 Ke7 40. Nc4 Kd7 41. Nb6+ Kc7 42. Nc4 Kc6 43. Rc1 {What else? The knight
was in danger already.} Kb5 $1 (43... Rxf2 $2 44. Nd2+ Kd5 45. Rc5+ Nxc5 46.
Kxf2 Ne4+ 47. Nxe4 Kxe4 48. g4 $11) 44. Rc2 Ra1+ 45. Kh2 Rf1 46. g4 Kb4 {
/\Kb3 and White is in big trouble. When moving his king to h6, Topalov might
have intended to restrict White's choice by attacking his rook. However, we
have seen from the previous lines that after ...Kf8 White could hardly have
deviated from the main course. Another possibility is that the FIDE World
Champion had not decided yet to play on in spite of being a pawn down 
(although knowing Topalov's reputation, I can hardly believe that!)}) 35. Rgxa5
Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Ne4 37. Rf1 Nd2 {I suspect that most of the spectators and
commentators were expecting a draw by repetition to follow soon. At least,
this was what I initially thought.} 38. Rc1 Ne4 39. Rf1 f6 {An important move,
preventing the enemy knight's transfer to e5, when the f3-pawn would be in
danger.} 40. Nc6 Nd2 41. Rd1 Ne4 42. Rf1 Kg6 {At this moment I understood that
we were going to have a long game. With such perfect coordination of his
pieces (R + N + P), Topalov correctly assumes that he can play for a win
without too much risk. He might have also thought that even if White would
hold a draw, it would useful to take the psychological initiative from the
very first game of the match.} 43. Nd8 {[%csl Re6,Rf7] When playing his 34th
move, Topalov must have underestimated the strength of the enemy knight, which,
in spite of being cut off his colleagues, is able to restrict Black's activity
by attacking the enemy pawns from behind, preventing the activation of the
king via f7 at the same time!} Rb6 {By employing the rook for the purpose of
defending the e6-pawn, Black allows the partial activation of the enemy rook.}
(43... e5 $5 {deserved serious attention. Even though the eventual exchange of
one pair of pawns would increase the "risk" of a draw in certain cases, White
would face serious problems saving his poorly coordinated army.} 44. Nc6 {
(Exchanging on e5 would not only open the king's access to the other wing via
f6, but also deprive the white knight of the c5-square.)} Kf5 45. Nd8 {
Continuing to cut the king's access off.} h5 {Playing for zugzwang.} ({Black
should not release the tension in the centre either.} 45... exd4 46. exd4 Rd2
47. Nc6 Ke6 48. Re1 Re2 49. Rf1 Kd5 50. Ne7+ Kxd4 51. Nf5+ Ke5 52. Ne3 {
would most probably lead to a draw.}) (45... Rc2 {is less accurate because it
allows} 46. Nb7 Ke6 47. Nc5+ Nxc5 48. dxc5 {when Black would retain just a
more pleasant position with} e4 $15 {but probably not more than that.}) 46. Nc6
({White should refrain from such moves as} 46. h4 {[%csl Gg4]}) 46... Ke6 47.
Nd8+ Ke7 48. Nc6+ Kd6 49. Na5 Kd5 {/\...Rb5. In order to save his knight,
White has to release the tension already.} 50. dxe5 fxe5 51. Rd1+ Ke6 52. Rf1
Rc2 53. Nb3 Kd5 $17 {and White is in serious trouble.}) 44. Rc1 h5 45. Ra1 h4 {
Apparently, Topalov was convinced that the shorter way to the enemy king is
the best.} ({He could have probably transposed to the previous variations with
} 45... e5 {still, initiating the long trip of the king.}) ({Re-directing the
king without the pawn exchange in the centre, starting with} 45... Kg7 {
would have been less promising if faced with adequate white defence.} 46. Rc1
Kf8 47. d5 $1 (47. Nc6 {would more or less transpose to the variation from the
comments on White's 34th move:} Ke8 48. Na5 Rb2 49. Nc4 Ra2 50. Rf1 Kd7 {
and so on.}) 47... exd5 (47... e5 48. Ne6+ Ke7 49. Ng7 {allows White to
eliminate the h5-pawn and get his knight on to a reasonable square at the same
time. It should be mentioned that if White had initiated the whole plan
without advancing the h-pawn, then Rc7+ followed by Rxh7 would have been
possible, while with the pawn on h6, White could play g4 and Nf5 in the
current position. Besides that, in all cases Nc5 would have been an
alternative, exchanging knights and retaining a cramped but defensible
position.}) 48. Nc6 Ng5 {Black has to react quickly in order to prevent Nd4.}
49. Kh2 Rb2 50. Rf1 Ne6 51. Kg1 Ke8 52. h4 $1 (52. Rd1 $2 Ng5 $1 $19) 52... Kd7
53. Rc1 {and White seems to be out of danger. Next, he could play Nd4, when
after ..Nxd4 exd4 the f3-pawn would be just as weak as the d4-pawn.}) 46. gxh4
Kh5 47. Ra2 Kxh4 48. Kh2 Kh5 49. Rc2 Kh6 {The rather tortuous path chosen by
Topalov for his king was dictated by the aim of putting White in zugzwang.
More about it later.} 50. Ra2 Kg6 51. Rc2 ({Actually, White could have
maintained his rook on the more active a2-square by playing} 51. Kg1 {when}
Rb1+ 52. Kh2 Rf1 $6 {does not work because of} 53. Nxe6) 51... Kf5 {Topalov
managed to play this move in a moment when the check on the fifth rank is not
available. However, it will be not easy to build on this partial success.} 52.
Ra2 {White can do very little apart from sit and wait.} Rb5 {Protecting the
king but releasing the knight from its cage.} 53. Nc6 Rb7 54. Ra5+ Kg6 55. Ra2
Kh5 $6 {After long manoeuvres, Black has managed to create the deadly threat ..
.Rg7-g2. However, White's (possibly) unexpected answer will mark the turning
point in the game.} ({A safer way to clear the g-file consisted of} 55... Kh6 {
Shipov, Sakaev and Yemelin found the following path to safety for White:} 56.
d5 $1 Rg7 $1 (56... exd5 57. Nd4) 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Kg7 $1 (58... Nxf2+ $6
59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7) 59. Ra7+ Kg6 60. Ne7+ Kh6 61. Ra2 Nxf2+ (61... Ng3+ 62.
fxg3 Rxa2 63. Kg1) 62. Rxf2 Rxf2 63. Nf5+ Kg6 64. Nd6 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal
Ge6e7]} Rf1+ 65. Kh2 f2 66. e7 Rh1+ $1 67. Kg3 (67. Kxh1 f1=Q+ 68. Kh2 {
is also a draw}) 67... f1=Q 68. e8=Q+ Kh7 {with perpetual.}) 56. d5 $1 e5 ({
For the time being, Topalov reacts correctly.} 56... exd5 {loses the pride of
Black's position after} 57. Nd4) (56... Rg7 {also seems to keep Black in the
game after} 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Nxf2+ 59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7 Rf1+ 61. Kh2 Rf2+
62. Kg3 Rg2+ 63. Kxf3 Rg8 {Black has managed to stop the pawn with a supreme
effort, but his position remains optically difficult. However, it is possible
to save the game with a certain degree of accuracy.} 64. Nd4 (64. Ke4 Kg6 65.
Kd5 Kf7 66. Kd6 {looks very promising for White, but Black has at his disposal
the only saving move} Rg3 {which enables him to control the e7-pawn from
behind.}) 64... Kg6 65. e4 Kf7 66. Nf5 Rg1 67. h4 Rh1 68. Ke3 Rd1 69. h5 Rh1
70. h6 Rh2 71. Kd4 Ke8 $1 72. Kd5 Kd7 {and White cannot make progress.}) 57.
Ra4 {Now, Black loses stability in the centre and has to prove certain
inventivity in order to save the game.} f5 $2 {A tragic moment.} ({Probably
surprised by the unexpected course of events, Topalov fails to find his last
saving possibility, consisting of} 57... Nxf2 58. Kg3 e4 {and if} 59. Kxf2 {
then} Rb2+ {with perpetual. The over-ambitious} 60. Kg3 $2 {would even lose to}
Rg2+ 61. Kf4 f2 62. Ra1 Rg1) 58. Nxe5 Rb2 59. Nd3 Rb7 ({At the press
conference, Topalov confessed that he overlooked Rd4. He probably had in mind
the variation} 59... Rd2 60. Rd4 $18 ({Indeed, other moves fail to offer White
winning chances, for instance} 60. Ra3 Kh4 $1 {restricting the enemy king
before capturing on f2.})) 60. Rd4 Rb6 {Still hoping to maintain some sort of
blockade...} 61. d6 {The most convincing winning method. Finally, Black has to
free the enemy king.} Nxd6 62. Kg3 Ne4+ 63. Kxf3 Kg5 64. h4+ $5 {Stein used to
joke: "In such kind of positions I am especially strong!" With two extra-pawns,
White can allow himself display certain fireworks that would make the final
part of the game more enjoyable.} Kf6 (64... Kxh4 65. Nc5 $18) 65. Rd5 Nc3 66.
Rd8 Rb1 67. Rf8+ Ke6 68. Nf4+ Ke5 69. Re8+ Kf6 70. Nh5+ Kg6 71. Ng3 Rb2 72. h5+
Kf7 73. Re5 Nd1 74. Ne2 Kf6 75. Rd5 (75. Rd5 Rb1 (75... Rxe2 76. Rd6+ {or
simply 76.Rxd1}) 76. h6 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Another highly dramatic game. Topalov built up an irresistible king side
attack but then missed a simple win and started playing less confidently.
Kramnik's main merit consists of finding ways to face his opponent with
difficult psychological problems. The score is 2-0 now for Kramnik, but given
the elevated tension of the fight this could be of little relevance from the
point of view of the final result.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5.
a4 Bf5 {Kramnik has not played this line since 1999 and probably intended it
to be a small surprise.} 6. e3 ({Also slightly unexpected. Topalov usually
plays the more straightforward} 6. Ne5) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2
Bg6 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5 {[%cal Ye6e5]} 12. e5 ({From the point of view of
the general laws of development,} 12. Bf4 {looks slightly more consistent and
only if} Re8 {[%cal Ye6e5] , then} 13. e5 {. However, after} Nd5 14. Nxd5 {
Black can try} exd5 $5 {[%cal Yd7f8,Yf8e6] already, with interesting play.})
12... Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 {This can be considered a classical line
already. Black has a solid position, but White's advantage in space offers him
chances for a king side attack, be it of strategic or tactical nature.
Recently, Black's earlier deviations such as 9...Bg4, 9...Ne4 and 11...h6 have
become increasingly popular. Actually, 9...Ne4 can hardly be called a new move;
it has just been well forgotten for a long while, but it was employed during
the Alekhine-Euwe matches. Kramnik himself faced 9...Bg4 against Bacrot in the
Olympiad and failed to demonstrate a convincing antidote.} Bg6 15. Ng5 Re8 16.
f4 Bxd3 $146 {In spite of the fact that the previous games played from this
position did not justify any special worries for Black, Kramnik decides to
restrict White's attacking chances to the minimum.} (16... Nf8 17. g4 Bxd3 18.
Qxd3 Qc7 19. f5 Qc4 20. Qd1 f6 21. Nf3 Rac8 $44 {1/2-1/2 Donner,J-Teschner,R/
Bamberg 1968/MCD (33)}) (16... Rc8 17. g4 f6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Qd3
Nf8 21. f5 gxf5 (21... Qc2 $1 $132 {Deviatkin}) 22. gxf5 fxe5 23. Nxe5 exf5 24.
Qxf5 Bd6 25. Nf7 Re7 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxc8 Qg6+ 28. Bg5 Qxg5+ 29. Kh1 {
1-0 Pelletier,Y (2624)-Deviatkin,A (2487)/Moscow RUS 2003}) 17. Qxd3 f5 {
Starting from this moment, I expected that Topalov would sacrifice the knight
on e6 in one way or another. However, Topalov had other plans. By gradually
concentrating all his forces on the king side, he will aim to create very
dangerous threats. This was to a certain extent in accordance with his general
match strategy. Instead of rushing in, he mostly preferred to take his chances
in long battles.} 18. Be3 ({Taking into account Black's possible improvements
on the 19th move,} 18. g4 {deserves serious attention.} h6 $8 (18... g6 $6 19.
gxf5 gxf5 (19... exf5 20. Qb5 $18 {[%csl Yb4,Yd5]}) 20. Qg3 $18 {for instance}
Qe7 21. Nxe6+ Kh8 22. Ng5 h6 23. Qh3 $1 {and White avoids any inconveniences
along the g-file.}) 19. Nxe6 $1 (19. gxf5 hxg5 20. fxe6 Rxe6 21. f5 Nxe5 $1 $15
) 19... Rxe6 20. gxf5 Re7 21. Kh1 $44 {[%cal Yf1g1,Yc1e3,Yg1g6,Ya1g1]}) 18...
Nf8 19. Kh1 ({Now, it is too late for} 19. g4 {already because of} Qd7 20. Kh1
Be7 21. Nxe6 (21. gxf5 exf5 {[%csl Ge6][%cal Ye7g5,Yf8e6]}) 21... Nxe6 22. gxf5
Nc7 23. Rg1 Kh8 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Ye8f8] and White's attacking chances are
questionable.}) 19... Rc8 $6 {Black systematically prepares his queenside
counterplay, but tolerates the knight on g5 for too long.} ({True,} 19... h6 $6
{[%csl Gg6] would have been risky by weakening the g6-square unnecessarily.}
20. Nxe6 $5 (20. Nf3 Rc8 21. Rg1 {[%cal Yg2g4]}) 20... Nxe6 21. Qxf5 $44 {
[%csl Gg6]}) ({However,} 19... Be7 $1 {[%cal Ye7g5] as recommended by several
commentators was better.} 20. Nxe6 $6 (20. Nf3 {is safer, but then White
should abandon his attacking ideas, since} Rc8 21. Rg1 Qc7 22. g4 $6 {is met by
} fxg4 23. Rxg4 Qc2 $15) 20... Nxe6 21. Qxf5 Qd7 $1 (21... Nf8 22. Qg4 Qd7 23.
f5 $40) (21... Qb6 22. a5 Qa6 23. Qg4 $40) 22. Qh5 (22. Qg4 $6 Nc5 $1) (22. Qh3
Rf8 23. Rf3 Rac8 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Yc8c4]} 24. f5 Ng5) 22... g6 23. Qh3 Rf8 24.
Rf3 (24. g4 Ng7 $1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Yh7h5]}) 24... Rac8 25. g4 Rc4 $17 {
and Black's counterplay is faster than White's attack.}) 20. g4 Qd7 21. Rg1 Be7
22. Nf3 {Shattering my last illusions about a possible Nxe6. True, I felt
fully rewarded for it by the spectacular sequence starting with the 28th move.}
({However,} 22. Nxe6 $5 {might have been a more dangerous continuation of the
attack.} Qxe6 (22... Nxe6 23. gxf5 $16 Nc7 24. f6 $40) 23. gxf5 Qa6 (23... Qf7
24. Rg4 Rc6 (24... Rc4 25. Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Rxg6+ $18) (24... Kh8 25.
Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. f5 $18 gxf5 $6 28. Qxf5 $1 {[%csl Yg7,Yg8,Gh6]}) 25.
Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 (26... Rxg6 27. f5 Rxg4 28. Rxg4+ Kh8 29. Bh6 $18) 27. f5
Rec8 28. Bh6 $40) 24. Qxa6 $5 {The following lines are suggestive of the
dangers facing Black even in the endgame.} ({However, the simple} 24. Qd2 $40 {
[%cal Yd2g2] might be just better.}) 24... bxa6 25. f6 Bxf6 26. exf6 Rxe3 (
26... g6 27. Ra3 {[%cal Yf4f5]} Kf7 28. Rg5 Red8 29. Re5 $14 {[%cal Yf4f5,
Ye3f2,Yf2h4,Ya3b3,Yb3b7]}) 27. Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Rag1 Ne6 29. R7g4 {[%cal Yf6f7,
Yg4g8]} h5 (29... Rb3 30. f5 Nc7 31. Rg7 $16 {[%csl Gc7]} Rbb8 $6 32. R1g4 $18
{[%cal Yg4h4,Yh4h7]}) 30. Rh4 $1 Rc7 31. Rxh5+ Rh7 32. Rxh7+ Kxh7 33. f5 Nf8
34. Rg7+ Kh8 $8 (34... Kh6 35. Rg8 Re8 36. f7 Rb8 37. a5 Kh7 38. Kg2 $18) 35.
Rxa7 Re4 (35... Rf3 36. Rxa6 Rxf5 37. b4 Kh7 38. b5 Kg6 39. a5 $18) 36. Rxa6
Rxd4 37. a5 Rb4 38. Rd6 Rxb2 39. Rxd5 Ra2 $11) 22... Rc4 23. Rg2 fxg4 24. Rxg4
Rxa4 25. Rag1 g6 26. h4 {Dark clouds have gathered around the black king.
Without calculating too much, it is obvious that the position becomes very
dangerous and that Black needs to play very accurately in order to avoid
disaster.} Rb4 $1 {[%cal Yd7b5] The only way to stay alive is to question the
stability of the white queen along the b1-h7 diagonal.} 27. h5 Qb5 28. Qc2 $3 (
{The only way to keep the attack going.} 28. hxg6 $2 {was premature because
after} Qxd3 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rg7+ Kh6 31. f5+ {the bishop is hanging.}) 28...
Rxb2 $1 {For the time being, Kramnik finds the only path through the jungle of
variations, most possible by intuition.} (28... Rb3 $6 {[%cal Yb5d3] has been
unanimously recommended as a safer defence, but it allows White to retain an
advantage.} 29. hxg6 h5 (29... Qd3 $2 30. gxh7+ Kh8 31. Rg8+ Kxh7 32. Qh2+ $18)
30. R4g3 $1 (30. g7 hxg4 31. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 32. Qh7 Qd3 $11 {and White has not
more than perpetual, as pointed out by Svidler.}) 30... Qd3 (30... h4 31. g7
hxg3 32. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 33. Qg6 Qd3 34. f5 $1 {[%cal Ye3h6]} Qxe3 35. Rxg3 $18)
31. g7 $3 {Quite similar to the game continuation.} Nh7 (31... Qxc2 $2 32.
gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 33. Rg8+ Kf7 34. R1g7#) 32. Qc7 {[%csl Ge6,Ge7,Ge8][%cal Yc7d7]
White's army is much better coordinated. Several of Black's pieces are passive
or even vulnerable.} ({If White fears the queenside passed pawns from the main
line, he can also choose the safer} 32. Qxd3 Rxd3 33. Bd2 {[%csl Ye6,Yh7][%cal
Rg3h3,Rg1g6]}) 32... Qc4 (32... Qb5 33. Nd2 $16) 33. Qxc4 dxc4 34. Nd2 Rxb2 35.
Nxc4 Rc2 36. Nd2 $16 {[%csl Ge7,Ge8,Gg8,Gh7][%cal Yd2e4,Yg3g6,Rd4d5,Rd2f3,
Rf3d4] and White's kingside pressure is hardly bearable. With four rooks on
the board, Black's queen side pawns are much less dangerous than in the game.
Still, the position would remain complicated and difficult to handle in an
over-the-board game.}) 29. hxg6 $1 {Now, capture of the queen leads to mate,
so Black has to keep the g-file closed, at least for a while.} h5 $8 (29...
Rxc2 $2 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rg7+ Kh6 32. f5+ Kh5 33. f6 $18 {[%csl Gg5]}) 30. g7
$1 hxg4 31. gxf8=Q+ Bxf8 $2 {This move should have led to an abrupt end.} ({
Both players started missing things by this moment. This is easy to spot when
assisted by Fritz, but in conditions of over-the-board play things are
different. About the previous day's game it has been said that 57...f5 was a
terrible blunder and that 57...Nxf2 would have drawn easily. I do not feel
that this is really so obvious without an engine by one's side. Anyway, I
suppose that Kramnik considered the line} 31... Kxf8 32. Qg6 Qe2 33. Qxg4 {
as completely hopeless for him, overlooking the unexpected resource} Bg5 $1 {
when White has to insert} 34. Re1 {before he captures the bishop.} Qc2 35. Qxg5
(35. fxg5 Kg7 36. Rc1 Rh8+ 37. Kg1 Rb1 38. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 39. Kf2 Rf8 $13 {[%cal
Ya7a5,Yb7b5] Svidler} 40. Bd2 Qe4 41. Qh3 Qxd4+ 42. Kg3 Rxf3+ 43. Kxf3 Qxd2 44.
Qh6+ Kg8 45. Qxe6+ Kf8 46. Qf6+ Kg8 $11) 35... Re7 36. Rc1 Rh7+ 37. Kg1 Rg7 38.
Rxc2 Rxc2 $13 {Svidler}) 32. Qg6+ $2 ({Both players must have had their eyes
focused on the king side, which made them overlook that after} 32. Rxg4+ Bg7 {
White can attack the g7-bishop from the other side with} 33. Qc7 {preventing ..
.Re7 (which could follow after 33.Qg6) and leaving Black with the possibility
of giving just one last check with} Qf1+ {when} 34. Ng1 {ends the day.
Although Topalov's move does not let the win slip away yet, it surely marks
the start of his gradual decline, after a brilliantly conducted first part of
the game. This seems to be a hidden weakness of the FIDE World Champion.
Sometimes, if the opponent gets some symbolic counterplay in a basically lost
position, Topalov starts becoming less confident. (To a certain extent, this
was also typical for Fischer, with whom Topalov has been frequently been
compared for his uncompromising style). In Topalov-Leko Linares 2005 and
Topalov-Anand San Luis 2005 he just missed relatively simple wins but in
Aronian-Topalov Morelia 2006 he even came close to losing at a certain moment.
This game continues this unfortunate tendency: he will eventually lose the
full point...}) 32... Bg7 33. f5 $1 Re7 (33... exf5 $2 34. Ng5 $1 (34. Bh6 Qd7
35. Ng5 Rb6 $13) 34... Qc6 (34... Re7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qxf5+ Kg8 37. Rc1 $18)
35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. e6 $18 {[%cal Yg1c1,Yc6b5,Ge6e7,Rf7h5,Rh5h7]}) 34. f6 Qe2 35.
Qxg4 Rf7 36. Rc1 $2 (36. Bh6 Rb3 37. Rg3 Rb1+ 38. Ng1 $6 (38. Rg1 $11) 38...
Qxg4 39. Rxg4 a5 $132) ({Computers suggest} 36. Qh5 $1 {as stronger and they
seem to be just right, but this is pretty hard to spot during the game by a
mere mortal, be he even a World Champion. Topalov's choice is perfectly
understandable, humanly speaking, but from objective point of view it should
have led to a draw.} a5 (36... Qxe3 37. Ng5 $18) (36... Rb3 37. Rxg7+ Rxg7 38.
fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 Kxg7 40. Qg5+ Kh7 41. Qe7+ Kh8 42. Qf6+ Kg8 43. Qxe6+ Kg7 44.
Qf6+ Kg8 45. e6 $18) 37. Rg3 Qxe3 (37... a4 38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 $18 {Lui})
38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Rb2+ 40. Kh3 Rxg7 41. Ng5 Qf4 (41... Rxg5 42. Qe8+ Kh7
43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Rxe3 $18 {Lui}) 42. Qe8+ Qf8 43. Qxf8+ Kxf8 44. Nxe6+ $18)
36... Rc2 37. Rxc2 Qd1+ $2 {Kindly returning the favour. Black should not help
the enemy king get centralized.} ({Kramnik was probably afraid that after} 
37... Qxc2 {White would get a decisive tempo with} 38. Ng5 {In fact, now that
the king's defence has been somewhat weakened, the checks would have allowed
him save the game.} Qb1+ 39. Kg2 Qc2+ {and White should probably accept a draw
by perpetual check or repetition somewhere.} 40. Kh3 $5 (40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kf4
Qf1+ 42. Qf3 Qxf3+ 43. Kxf3 Bxf6 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. exf6 Kxf6 $11 {see the
notes to White's 41st move}) 40... Qd3 (40... Bxf6 41. exf6 Qf5 42. Qxf5 exf5
43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. Bg5 a5 45. Kg3 a4 46. Bc1 Kxf6 47. Kf4 $18 {see the notes to
White's 42nd move}) 41. Qf3 Bh6 42. Nxf7 Qxe3 43. Qxe3 Bxe3 44. Nd8 b5 $1 (
44... a5 45. Kg4 $1 a4 46. Nxe6 a3 47. Kf5 $1 {[%cal Yf5g6,Yf6f7,Yf7f8]} Kh7 $8
{The difference compared to 44...b5 is that with the b-pawn on the third rank
Black would win with 47...b2 now, because he would promote with check.} 48.
Nf8+ Kh8 49. e6 a2 50. e7 a1=Q 51. e8=Q Qb1+ 52. Ke6 Qe4+ 53. Kf7 Qxe8+ 54.
Kxe8 $18 {[%cal Yf8e6,Yf6f8]}) 45. Nxe6 b4 {and White is in trouble.}) 38. Kg2
Qxc2+ 39. Kg3 {[%cal Yg4e6]} Qe4 {A culminating moment. Black desperately
tries to simplify the position, even if this would imply making some
positional or material concessions on the kingside since his apparently
inoffensive queenside pawns will be a terrible weapon in the ending. White
faces now a very difficult choice right before the control.} (39... Qf5 40.
Qxf5 exf5 41. Ng5 Rc7 (41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 Kxf6 44. Kf4 {
transposes below to a subline from the comment to White's 42nd move.}) 42. Kf4
$18) 40. Bf4 $2 ({It required a lot of analytical effort to prove which
exactly is the move that turns a better (or winning) position into a worse (or
losing) one, but it is obvious that we are getting close by now.} 40. Qxe4 dxe4
41. Ng5 {would have lead to relatively similar positions as in the game, with
the difference that White could put his pawns into motion more quickly. For
instance} Bf8 ({White wins after} 41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 Kxf6 44.
Kf4 {although some elementary technique is still needed.} a5 45. Bd2 b6 46.
Kxe4 Ke7 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Bc1 (48. Bh6 Ke7) 48... b5 49. Bd2 b4 50. Bg5 a4 51.
Bd2 b3 (51... a3 52. Bxb4 a2 53. Bc3 Ke7 54. Ke4 $18 {[%cal Ye4c2,Yc2a2]}) 52.
Bc1 Ke7 53. Bb2 Kd7 54. Ba3 $22 $18 {[%csl Ge6]}) (41... Bh6 42. Nxf7 Bxe3 43.
Nd8 a5 (43... Bxd4 $2 44. f7+ Kf8 45. Nxe6+ Kxf7 46. Nxd4 a5 47. Kf4 a4 48. Nb5
$18) 44. d5 $1 $18) 42. Nxe6 a5 43. Ng5 Bh6 ({The pawn race favours White after
} 43... a4 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. d5 a3 46. Bd4 {followed by e6+}) 44. d5 {when the
white pawns look pretty awesome.}) 40... Qf5 41. Qxf5 (41. Ng5 $5 Qxg4+ $1 (
41... Rc7 $2 42. Qxf5 (42. Nxe6 $6 Rc3+ 43. Kh4 Qh7+ 44. Kg5 Bh6+ 45. Kh5+ Bg7+
46. Kg5 $11 {Svidler}) 42... exf5 43. Ne6 $18 {transposes below.}) 42. Kxg4
Bxf6 $1 43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. exf6 Kxf6 45. Bd6 Kf7 46. Kf4 Ke8 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Bb4
b6 $11 {For once, this type of ending is drawn, as pointed out by Luiza Marin.
The importance of the d5-pawn (compared to the note to White's 40th move)
becomes clear after} 49. Bd2 a5 50. Be1 a4 51. Bb4 $2 (51. Bc3 $142 a3 52. Kf6
a2 53. Ke5 b5 54. Kf6 b4 55. Ba1 Kd6 $11) 51... Kc6 $1 52. Kxe6 Kb5 $19 {
when White has no time to unblock his own d-pawn.}) 41... exf5 42. Bg5 $2 ({
Topalov likes to do things in a systematic way, approach with the king,
maintain the chain of pawns intact, and so on, but there is simply not enough
time for it! There are two enemy passed pawns on the other wing! Capturing the
bishop with} 42. fxg7 Rxg7+ 43. Kf2 $13) ({or} 42. Ng5 $1 {would have been
better.} Rc7 (42... Bf8 43. Kh4 $1 a5 44. Kh5 a4 45. Kg6 a3 46. Nxf7 a2 47. e6
a1=Q 48. e7 Qg1+ 49. Bg5 $18 {Deviatkin}) (42... Rxf6 43. exf6 Bxf6 {With
chances for a draw according to Deviatkin, but White seems to be just in time
to eliminate the central pawns and block the queenside pawns, for instance:}
44. Be3 a5 (44... Bxg5 45. Bxg5 {transposes below}) 45. Kf4 a4 46. Nf3 a3 47.
Bd2 b5 (47... Kf7 48. Kxf5 b5 49. Ne5+ $18) 48. Kxf5 Be7 49. Ke6 Kf8 50. Kxd5
b4 51. Bh6+ Ke8 52. Nd2 $18) 43. Ne6 Rc3+ 44. Kh4 Bxf6+ 45. exf6 Kf7 46. Nc7
Rxc7 (46... Rb3 47. Kg5 a5 48. Kxf5 a4 49. Ne6 $18 Rb6 50. Ng5+ Kg8 51. Bc1 Rb3
52. f7+ Kg7 53. Bf4 Rb6 54. Be5+ Kf8 55. Bf6 $18 {[%csl Yf7][%cal Yf5g6,Gg5h7]}
) 47. Bxc7 Kxf6 48. Bf4 a5 49. Bd2 b6 50. Kg3 Kg6 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Bc3 Ke6 53.
Kg5 Kd6 54. Kxf5 Kc6 55. Ke6 a4 56. Bb2 Kb5 57. Kxd5 Kb4 58. Kc6 Kb3 59. Kb5
$18) 42... a5 $17 43. Kf4 (43. fxg7 $5) 43... a4 44. Kxf5 a3 45. Bc1 (45. Nd2
Rc7 46. Nb3 a2 47. e6 Bxf6 48. Kxf6 Kf8 49. Ke5 Rh7 50. Bd2 Rh3 $19) 45... Bf8
46. e6 (46. Bxa3 Bxa3 47. Ke6 b5 48. Kxd5 b4 49. Nd2 Rd7+ 50. Kc4 Kf7 $19)
46... Rc7 47. Bxa3 Bxa3 48. Ke5 Rc1 49. Ng5 Rf1 ({Allowing the transposition
to a problematic ending.} 49... Rg1 $5 {would have probably been simpler.}) 50.
e7 Re1+ 51. Kxd5 Bxe7 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Kd6 {Humanly speaking, this position
looks close to a draw. White's forces are perfectly coordinated and the
elimination of the b-pawn should not be a problem. Dr. John Nunn and the
tablebases seem to have a different opinion, though...} Re1 ({When Nunn
announced that} 53... Re3 {is here the only winning move, I could not spot the
reasons behind that immediately. Apparently, it has something to do with the
restriction of the knight, but the real explanation will be revealed slightly
later. Here follow Nunn's analysis and comments: "} 54. d5 Kf8 55. Kd7 b5 56.
Ne6+ Kg8 57. d6 b4 58. Nc5 {the rook controls b3 and is therefore ready to
support the b-pawn without wasting a tempo. Then the continuation} Kf7 59. Kc6
Rc3 60. Kb5 b3 61. Na4 Rc2 62. d7 Ke7 {leads to a ar win. It is interesting to
note that all Black's moves from move 53 to move 62 are unique winning moves 
(apart from a possible repetition at one point). Of course this would be tough
to find in a game. I think the hardest part is the manoeuvre ...Kg8-f8-g8-f7,
which looks quite paradoxical. (Nunn)"}) 54. d5 Kf8 55. Ne6+ ({But now,} 55.
Kd7 {, preventing the approach of the enemy king, looks better for human
standards and it is the only saving move according to the tablebases, too. So,
humans and computers can have common views sometimes...} b5 56. Ne6+ Kf7 (56...
Kg8 57. d6 b4 58. Nc5 $11) 57. Nd8+ Kf6 58. Nc6 Rb1 59. Kd6 $1 b4 60. Kc5 $1
$11) 55... Ke8 56. Nc7+ Kd8 57. Ne6+ Kc8 {Now that Black has managed to
regroup, it is all over.} 58. Ke7 Rh1 $1 {Probably missed by Topalov.} (58...
b5 $2 59. d6 Rd1 60. Nc5 b4 61. d7+ Kc7 62. Na6+ {or 62.Ne6+, with a draw.})
59. Ng5 $6 (59. Kd6 {would be more stubborn.}) 59... b5 60. d6 Rd1 61. Ne6 b4
62. Nc5 Re1+ 63. Kf6 Re3 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov chose a solid variation but then went for a slightly risky experiment.
Kramnik managed to find the weak spot in Black's whole concept and obtained a
very pleasant position. After Topalov's blunder on the 24th move the game was
practically over, re-establishing equality in the match.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Being ahead on the scoreboard for the first time since the
beginning of the match, Topalov refrains from capturing on c4 already. Instead,
he adopts a hybrid between the Bogo-Indian and the Catalan, supposed to offer
Black a solid position. Maybe not the best psychological approach...} 5. Bd2
Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 ({Here are two previous games played by our
heroes that bear some relation with further situations from the present game.} 
8. Qc2 Nbd7 (8... b6 9. Bf4 Ba6 10. Nbd2 $6 {[%csl Yf4]} (10. b3) 10... Nbd7
11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. Rac1 Nh5 13. e4 (13. Be3 $5) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 {[%csl Yf4]}
Nf6 15. Ne5 Nh5 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Nxc6 b5 18. Qa6 Rxc6 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 20. Nxc4
bxc4 21. exd5 exd5 22. Rc3 Bh4 {0-1 Radjabov,T (2624)-Topalov,V (2743)/Wijk
aan Zee 2003/CBM 093 [Ribli] (61). and Black's authoritarian control of the
dark squares eventually yielded him a win.}) 9. Rd1 b6 10. b3 Ba6 11. a4 Rc8
12. a5 b5 13. c5 Ne4 14. Be1 (14. Nc3 $5 f5 15. Na2) 14... f5 {Black has
almost blocked the position but he has left several squares available for the
enemy minor pieces.} 15. Nc3 Qc7 16. Na2 Rce8 17. Nb4 Bc8 18. a6 Bf6 19. Nd3 {
1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2807)-Leko,P (2736)/Monte Carlo 2003/CBM 093 ext (36).
White's advantage is of symbolic nature.}) 8... Nbd7 ({Last year, Topalov
experimented twice with another move order, but without too much success:} 8...
b6 9. Nc3 ({The more restrained} 9. Qc2 {could eventually transpose to the
note from Black's 9th move.}) 9... Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nc6 (11... Nbd7
12. Qa4) 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14. Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Bxe2 16. Bxa8 Rxa8
17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1 Ba6 ({An attempt to improve over} 19... Bc5
20. Bd2 f6 21. b4 Bf8 22. Ng4 Rd8 23. Rc8 Rd7 24. Nh6+ gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26.
Rd8 Ne7 27. Rc7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R (2695)-Topalov,V (2778)/Sofia 2005/CBM 107 
[Ribli] (40). and Black was completely paralyzed.}) 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 Rd8 22.
a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 Bd8 26. Rc6 Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 {
1-0 Kramnik,V (2744)-Topalov,V (2788)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108 [Ribli] (41). and
Black could not hold this ending.}) 9. Qc2 a5 {This move refrains from
weakening the c6-square yet, but does not really contribute to the development
in any way.} ({The main variation is supposed to be} 9... b6 10. Rd1 Ba6 11. b3
{. By refraining from such a course of events, Topalov might have taken into
account the fact that Kramnik likes to transpose to this position from the
main variation of the Queen's Indian. (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3
Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.0-0 d5 9.Qc2 0-0 10.Bf4)} Rc8 12. Nc3 dxc4 (12... c5
13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 Rxc5 16. Qd2 Nf6 17. Be5 Qd7 18. Bd4 $14 {
1-0 Kramnik,V (2758)-Adams,M (2715)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075 (49)}) 13. Nd2 c5
14. dxc5 Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2743)/Budapest 2001/CBM 081 
(28)}) 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 b5 ({Each of these last moves is typical of this
variation, but only if taken separately. Removing the knight from the centre
and advancing the queen side pawns at the same time certainly looks risky.
When preparing for the game, Topalov might have overlooked White's logical
reaction. It should be said that} 11... Nhf6 12. Nbd2 b5 $5 {does not offer
Black an easy game in view of} 13. c5 Qe8 14. e4 $14 {Marin-Pogorelov,
Barcelona 1994, an old game I like to speak about.}) 12. cxd5 $5 $146 ({
White's standard reaction to ...b5 is} 12. c5 {. However, in this concrete
position Black could take advantage of the insertion of ...Nh5 by playing} f5 {
as in the only game where this risky plan was seen so far, Rahman-Ghaem, Doha
2003. Optically, White enjoys a more flexible structure but it is not too
clear how and where will he be able to open the position. Kramnik was
perfectly aware of these aspects from his aforementioned game against Leko,
from Monte Carlo 2003 (see the note to White's 8th move).}) 12... cxd5 13. e4
$1 {The only logical continuation after the exchange on d5. Otherwise, Black
would have a very comfortable position, because of the relative passivity of
his Catalan bishop, severely restricted by the black chain of pawns.} dxe4 ({
Black would have faced a difficult defence after the more solid} 13... Nhf6 {
, too.} 14. Ng5 ({Catalan players are circumspect when it comes to block the
position with} 14. e5 {, because their pet bishop could well remain passive
for a long time. Here is a line where White could solve this problem by
tactical means:} Ne4 15. Ne1 f5 16. f3 Ng5 17. Bxg5 Bxg5 18. f4 Be7 19. Nc3 Rb8
20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Bxd5+ $44 {and White's central pawns look threatening.})
14... h6 (14... dxe4 15. Nxh7 $5 Nxh7 16. Bxe4 $14) (14... Bb7 15. e5 $16 {
wins a pawn.}) 15. exd5 exd5 (15... hxg5 16. d6 $16) 16. Nf3 ({We can suppose
that after having lost with a rook for two knights just two games earlier,
Kramnik would not have embarked on the sharp line} 16. Bxd5 Ra7 17. Bxf7+ {
where Black is probably out of trouble anyway.}) 16... Ba6 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Qf5
$14) 14. Qxe4 $14 {Once the position has been opened, Black's delay in
development starts making itself felt. Apart from having provoked considerable
loss of time, the advance of the queen side pawns has left Black with several
weaknesses.} Rb8 ({The only way to justify the move ...a5 would be the
slightly more active development of the rook to a6, but after} 14... Ra6 15.
Qe2 {the queen would target the h5-knight and the b5-pawn at the same time.})
15. Qe2 Nhf6 {Black's main trump consists of the control of the d5-square,
which makes this willing knight retreat perfectly understandable.} ({The
natural} 15... Bb7 {can be met by the brutal} 16. Nc3 $5 b4 17. d5 $1 {for
instance} exd5 (17... bxc3 18. dxe6 $16) 18. Nxd5 Re8 19. Qd3 Nhf6 (19... Ndf6
20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Be3 $14 {[%csl Yh5]}) (19... Nc5 20. Qc4 $14 {[%csl Yc5,Yd8,
Yf7][%cal Gc4f7,Gd1d8]}) 20. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Yf7,Yh7]} Nf8 21. Qb3 $36 Bxd5 (
21... Nxd5 22. Nxf7 $1 $16) 22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Nxf7 $16) 16. Bf4 Rb6 17. Ne5 (
17. Nc3 $6 Ba6) 17... Nd5 (17... Bb7 {loses a pawn to} 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Nc6
Qe8 20. Nxa5 $16) (17... Nb8 18. Nc3 Ba6 19. d5 ({Maybe now that the enemy
knight has retreated to such passive square, White could choose a quiet path,} 
19. Ne4 $5 {[%csl Yc5] where his advance in development would leave him on the
top irrespective of the control of the d5-square.}) 19... b4 20. dxe6 Bxe2 21.
Rxd8 Bxd8 22. exf7+ Rxf7 23. Nxe2 Re7 (23... Rf8 24. Nc4 Rb5 25. Nd4) 24. Rc1
$44) ({For} 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd5 {see 19...Nxe5.}) 18. Bxd5 $1 {A brave
decision. Black would need just one tempo to consolidate with ...N7f6 in order
to get a perfectly viable position. It frequently happens in the Catalan that
White has to give up the pride of his position in order to maintain the
initiative.} ({He could have offered the other bishop for exchange by means of
} 18. Nc3 Nxf4 19. gxf4 {, when White has considerable advantage of
development to compensate for the structural defects. However, Kramnik might
have remembered Topalov's win against Radjabov, when the FIDE World Champion
exploited the weakness of the f4-square in very efficient way. Besides, Black
could have refrained from capturing on f4, by consolidating his central knight
with 18...N7f6.}) 18... exd5 19. Nc3 Nf6 (19... Nxe5 20. dxe5 d4 (20... Be6 21.
Qd3 d4 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 $14 {[%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d6,Rc3d5,Ya1d1] Black's pair
of bishops is kept under control by White's centralized pieces.}) 21. Be3 dxe3
22. Rxd8 exf2+ {Zagrebelnyi} 23. Qxf2 Bxd8 24. Nd5 Re6 25. Qd4 {The position
of the white king is wide open, but once again, White's centralization seems
to prevent the enemy bishops from becoming too active. However, the position
would remain sharp.}) 20. Nxb5 Ba6 21. a4 {White has not only won a pawn, but
also completed his development in the meanwhile. It is likely that Black will
manage to re-establish the material equality by means of an exchange on b5 in
the near future, but this would make the weakness of the white king side less
relevant, leaving White with the more pleasant play in an almost symmetrical
position.} Ne4 22. Rdc1 Qe8 {[%csl Yb5]} 23. Rc7 {This tempting move might be
not the best. In the case of accurate black defence, the lack of communication
between the white rooks would make itself felt.} (23. Rc2 {would be more
flexible. With this modest looking rook lift, White defends in advance the
b2-pawn and the queen and enables either the autoritarian occupation of the
c-file by means of Rac1 or the transfer of the queen's rook to e1, in order to
harass the e8-queen (or, as we shall see, any other piece occupying that
square).} Bd8 {[%csl Gc7] (/\Bxb5)} ({The immediate capture on b5 would
re-establish material equality only temporarily:} 23... Bxb5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25.
Qxb5 Rxb5 26. Nc6 Bd8 (26... Bb4 27. f3 Nf6 28. Bc7 $16 {[%csl Ya5]}) 27. Nxd8
Rxd8 28. f3 Nf6 29. Bd2 $16 {White cannot save his a5-pawn because of the
weakness of the back rank.}) ({If Black plays the prophylactic} 23... h6 {
(<->8, /\Bxb5), the importance of the fact that the queen is defended is
revealed in the line} 24. Nc7 $5 Bxe2 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxe2 $14 {which allows
favourable simplifications. Converting the extra-pawn is not easy here, though,
because of the lack of flexibility of the queenside structure.}) 24. Re1 $5 $14
{indirectly defends on b5:} Bxb5 $2 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Nd7 Re8 28.
f3 Nd6 29. Rxe8+ Nxe8 30. Rc8 $18) 23... Bd8 24. Ra7 f6 $4 {A terrible move
that loses outright.} ({It is understandable that Topalov was not too
enthusiastic about the position arising after} 24... Bxb5 25. axb5 Qxb5 26.
Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Ra2 {when White's position looks quite active. However, White's
rooks are not too efficient, being cut off the a5-pawn, safely defended by the
bishop.} f6 ({The extravagant} 27... g5 $5 {is also playable:} 28. Be3 f5 29.
Nd3 Bb6 30. Rd7 Rf7 $11 {and Black cannot complain about his position.}) 28.
Nc6 Bb6 29. Rb7 Rf7 30. Rb8+ Rf8 31. Ne7+ {. The only way to avoid the
exchange of the rook, which would leave Black with a comfortable position.} Kf7
32. Nc8 Rxc8 33. Rxc8 Bxd4 34. Rc2 Nc5 $44 {It is not easy to formulate an
active plan for White. Besides, the exchange sacrifice would suit Topalov's
taste pretty well.}) 25. Nd7 $1 ({Even if Topalov had missed this move, it is
not very clear what he had in mind against} 25. Qg4 $5 {which also looks very
promising for White.}) 25... Rf7 26. Nxb6 Rxa7 27. Nxd5 {White has won a
second pawn and threatens to consolidate by retreating the d5-knight to c3 and
eventually close the long diagonal with d5 if Black tries to start an attack
with ...Bb7. From this point of view, Topalov's next moves are easy to
understand, but in fact they just shorten his suffering.} Rd7 28. Ndc3 Rxd4 (
28... Re7 29. Qd3 $18) 29. Re1 ({There seem to be nothing wrong with} 29. f3 {
, when Black simply loses the knight because after} Nd6 30. Qxe8+ Nxe8 {
the b5-knight would be not pinned anymore, which enables} 31. Nxd4 $18 {
. However, it is easy to understand Kramnik for avoiding such a "weakening"
move as f3 after having lost two games in a row. Just remember the
consequences of this same move in the seventh game...}) 29... f5 {More or less
forced, but now the a2-g8 diagonal becomes very weak.} 30. Qc2 {Simple chess.
White is a pawn up, has the better piece coordination and the safer king's
position. In other words, "+-" already.} Rb4 31. Nd5 Rxb5 {Topalov carries out
his "trademark" exchange sacrifice, which has brought him so many successes
over the past years. However, it can hardly change the course of this specific
game.} 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Nc7 Qc4 34. Qd1 {There was nothing wrong with
exchanging queens at once, of course. By playing such an unexpected move (to a
certain extent similar to the earlier Qc2) , Kramnik might have intended to
get some sort of psychological initiative for the remaining two games of the
match.} Bxc7 35. Qd7 h6 36. Qxc7 Qb4 37. Qb8+ Qxb8 38. Bxb8 {The rest is easy.}
Nd2 39. Ra1 g5 40. f4 Nb3 41. Ra3 Bc4 42. Bc7 g4 43. Bxa5 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 {This looks
like Kramnik's little surprise weapon for rapid events. He has never played
this system of development in normal games, but used it twice during his blitz
match against Kasparov, back in 1998, obtaining 1.5 points with it.} O-O 8. Be2
b6 ({White has generally failed to prove an advantage after} 8... a6 9. O-O e5
10. cxd5 cxd5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 {but playing with an isolani is not to everybody's
taste.}) 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rac8 $5 ({A rare move,
pursuing certain concrete aims, but placing the rook on not a very favourable
square. After} 12... Rad8 {we would reach one of the main tabyias of the whole
variation.} 13. Bd3 {seems to be the latest trend in this line. The critical
continuation is probably} (13. e4 {did not offer White anything special in the
games played so far, but both players might have had a different opinion about
it.} Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Bb4 16. Rf1 Nf6 (16... f5 17. Qc2 Bd6 18. c5
$5 bxc5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bc4 Kh8 21. Rde1 Nf8 22. Re2 $44 {1/2-1/2 Rustemov,A
(2607)-Gurevich,M (2633)/Copenhagen 2001/CBM 083 ext (34)}) 17. Qh4 Ba3 18. Ba1
c5 $132 {0-1 Bluvshtein,M (2453)-Asrian,K (2599)/Moscow 2004/CBM 100 (70)})
13... e5 (13... h6 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 Nf6 17. Re2 Qf8 18. Ne5
c5 19. Red2 $14 {1-0 Neverov,V (2541)-Gagarin,V (2397)/Minsk 2000/EXT 2001 (30)
}) (13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf5 Nf8 16. Ne2 Ne4 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ng3 Ng5
19. Bg4 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Ne4 21. Nd2 Nxd2 22. Qxd2 Qg5 23. Bf3 Ne6 24. Qa5 Rd7 25.
Ba3 Qd8 26. Qxd8 Rexd8 27. Bg4 Rc7 28. Rc1 Rdc8 29. Bb2 g6 30. Be5 Rc6 31. Red1
Rd8 32. Bf6 $14 {0-1 Zhao Xue (2470)-Karjakin,S (2645)/Tiayuan 2005/CBM 108/
[Lutz] (60)}) 14. cxd5 cxd5 (14... e4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. dxc6 Rc8 17. Bxe4 $1
$18) 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nd4 {, with a typical isolani position, which has never
been seen in practice so far.}) 13. Bd3 $5 {Moving for the second time with
the bishop along the f1-d3 diagonal looks like a loss of time, but it will be
compensated for by the fact that Black's queen's rook will soon have to be
transferred to d8 anyway.} ({One of the ideas behind Black's last move could
be to meet} 13. e4 {with} e5 (13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 {is less
favourable for Black now, because he will be one tempo slower in the fight for
the d-file.}) {although White can transpose to the game with} 14. Bd3) 13... e5
(13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Bf5) 14. e4 $1 ({Now that the
c6-pawn is safely defended,} 14. cxd5 $2 {is impossible because of} e4 $1 $19)
14... dxc4 (14... dxe4 $6 {is completely pointless here:} 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16.
Bxe4 $16) (14... exd4 15. exd5 Bxh2+ $8 16. Kh1 (16. Kxh2 Qd6+ 17. Kg1 dxc3 $11
) (16. Kf1 $5) 16... Be5 17. Nxd4 $14) 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 {White's
development is more harmonious than in certain lines of the system 6.Qc2
followed by 7.Be2, which enables him to count on maintaining his advantage in
the centre for a long time. For the moment, neither side should release the
tension in the centre, because this would allow the activation of the enemy
pieces.} g6 $6 {Topalov defends in advance the f5-square, but weakens the dark
squares prematurely.} ({Correcting the placement of the rook with} 16... Rcd8 {
was probably more appropriate, since after} 17. dxe5 $6 Nxe5 18. Nd4 {he could
defend the f5-square with} Bc8) 17. Qd2 $5 {Immediately taking advantage of
the newly created weaknesses by transferring the queen to the kingside.} Rcd8
18. Qg5 a6 19. h3 {For both sides, it is harder and harder to find useful
moves in order to delay the moment of releasing the tension in the centre.}
exd4 (19... Bc7 $5 20. a4 $5 {[%csl Gb5]}) 20. Nxd4 Qe5 21. Qxe5 Nxe5 22. Nc2
$14 {[%cal Yf2f4] White's pawn advantage in the centre offers him the better
chances. In the next phase of the game Black will try to obtain active play,
while White will simply regroup in accordance with the newly created
weaknesses from the enemy camp.} (22. f4 $6 Bc5 $1) 22... g5 23. Bc1 h6 24. Be3
c5 (24... b4 $2 25. Na4 $16 Nxe4 $2 26. Bb6 $18) 25. f3 {[%csl Ge4]} Bf8 26.
Bf2 {[%csl Yf1,Yf2][%cal Rf2c5,Rf1a6,Ga2a4,Gc2e3,Ge3d5]} Bc8 27. Ne3 {[%csl
Yd5,Yf5]} Be6 28. Ned5 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ned7 $6 ({This voluntary retreat from the
centre is hard to understand.} 29... Bd6 {, blocking the dangerous pawn was
better, with reasonable chances to defend.}) 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. a4 b4 $2 ({
But this is equivalent to complete strategic surrender. Black should have
fought against the blockade on the dark squares with} 31... c4) 32. Ne4 $16 {
/+-} Nxe4 33. fxe4 Nf6 (33... a5 34. Bb5 Rd8 35. Bg3 Nf6 36. Bc7 Rc8 37. d6 $18
) (33... Rxe4 34. Bxa6 {[%cal Ya6b7,Ya4a8]}) 34. d6 Nxe4 35. d7 Rd8 36. Bxa6 f5
37. a5 Bg7 38. Bc4+ Kf8 39. a6 Nxf2 40. Kxf2 Bd4+ {Allowing an elegant finish.}
41. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 42. a7 Ke7 43. Bd5 Kxd7 44. a8=Q Rxa8 45. Bxa8 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {If I remember correctly, this is the only classic World Title match
where all the games started with the same move. There has only been one match 
(Botvinnik-Petrosian 1963) when 1.e4 has not been played at all, but White
occasionally deviated with 1.c4.} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 ({The experimental} 9... b4 {
worked out well in the 8th game, but Topalov apparently decided not to push
his luck too much.}) 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 {This line is supposed to
lead to a very tiny edge for White and the most frequent result is a draw.}
Bxf6 (12... Nxf6 {is a safe alternative:} 13. bxc3 O-O 14. Rb1 Qc7 (14... Qc8
15. Qb3 Ba6 {is also playable}) 15. Bf4 Qxf4 16. Rxb7 {and White's initiative
is not easy to convert into something more concrete. On the other hand,
Black's position might not be to everybody's taste. Here is the most recent
example:} Bd6 17. g3 Qf5 18. Nd2 c5 19. Nc4 Rad8 20. Qb3 Qd5 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22.
Rxa7 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qxd4 24. Rb7 h5 25. Bf3 {1/2-1/2 Rasmussen,K (2396)-Korneev,
O (2613)/Malaga 2003/CBM 092 ext}) 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 $5 $146 {
Curiously, this move has never been seen in practice before.} ({Black usually
played} 14... O-O {when White cannot demonstrate a convincing way of
developing his initiative too easily.} 15. Ba3 (15. Be3 Be7 16. Rb1 Qc8 17. Qd3
Rd8 18. Qb5 Rb8 19. Qa5 Bxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Lputian,S (2627)-Ivanchuk,V (2709)/
Bled 2002/EXT 2003 (27)}) 15... Be7 16. Qd4 Qc7 (16... Bd5 17. c4 Bc6 18. Rab1
Rc8 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qc7 21. Qxc7 Rxc7 22. Rfd1 Rfc8 23. f3 f6 24. Kf2 Kf7
25. f4 Ke8 26. Rb2 Be4 27. Ke3 f5 28. g3 Bxc5+ 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Rd6 Ke7 31.
Ra6 R5c7 32. Rb5 $14 {1-0 Seirawan,Y (2595)-Petursson,M (2535)/New York 1987/
CBM 002 (61)}) 17. Rab1 (17. c6 Bxa3 18. cxd7 Bc5 19. Qd3 h6 20. Bd1 Bc6 21.
Bc2 g6 22. Rfe1 Qxd7 23. Qxd7 Bxd7 24. Ne5 Rfd8 25. Nxd7 Rxd7 26. Red1 Rad8 $15
{1/2-1/2 Gleizerov,E (2525)-Blagojevic,D (2465)/Skopje 1993/EXT 2005 (29)})
17... Bc6 (17... Bd5 18. c4 Bc6 19. Qe3 Ba4 20. c6 Bxa3 21. cxd7 Bc5 22. Qe4
Bc6 23. Qe5 Bd6 24. Qd4 e5 25. Qh4 Qxd7 $15 {0-1 Volkov,S (2380)-Filipenko,A 
(2420)/Kazan 1995/CBM 049 ext (64)}) 18. Qe3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rab8 20. c6 Bxa3 21.
cxd7 Qxd7 22. c4 Qe7 23. Rb5 Rxb5 24. cxb5 Rd8 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 Qd6 27.
Bf3 Bc5 $15 {0-1 Brynell,S (2496)-Carlsen,M (2570)/Gausdal 2005/CBM 108 ext 
(53)}) 15. Bb5+ $6 {This was probably precisely the move Topalov was counting
for when opting for this interesting opening experiment. What can be more
natural than depriving the opponent of the right to castle, especially in the
conditions of rapid play? Generally speaking, I feel like attaching the same
comment as to 12.Bb5+ from the 8th game. More specifically, the last move
obstructs the b-file for his own rook and places the bishop on a vulnerable
square at the same time.} ({The critical test of Topalov's novelty consists of
} 15. Ba3 $5 {, when Black would face problems completing his development
without making any positional concession:} Qc7 (15... Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Rc8 17.
Rab1 $16 {[%cal Ya3f8]}) (15... Qa5 16. Bb4 Qc7 17. Rb1 $14) (15... Be7 16.
Bb5+ Kf8 17. Ne5 $36) 16. Rb1 Rd8 (16... Rc8 17. Bxc5 Bxf3 18. Bb5+ Bc6 19. Qa4
$16 {[%csl Ga7,Ge8]}) 17. Qc1 O-O 18. Qe3 Bxf3 $8 (18... Be7 $2 19. Bxc5 Bxc5
20. Rxb7 $18) 19. Bxf3 $14 {[%csl Ya3,Yf3] with active play for White.}) 15...
Kf8 {Abstractly speaking, White's advance in development looks like adequate
compensation for Black's better structure, but Black's play seems easier
nonetheless. Unlike the 8th game, where he let his initiative vanish, Kramnik
will eventually manage to convert it in an extra pawn, although not without
the help of his opponent.} 16. Qxd8+ (16. Ba3 Qc7 $1 $13 {Golubev} 17. Rb1 Kg8
18. Qe2 Rc8 19. Qe3 Ne4 $132) 16... Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 (18. Rfd1 {
[%cal Yd1d7]} Kg8 19. Bb4 h5 20. Rac1 Kh7 $11) 18... Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 $6 ({
Black misses the chance to underline the unfortunate placement of White's
pieces by means of} 19... Ne4 $1) 20. Bf1 Na4 (20... Ne4 $5 21. Rab1 Bd5 {
Golubev}) 21. Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 $14 {Finally, White
has managed to stabilize the position in his favour. Black's lack of
coordination starts making itself felt.} Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5
Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 {Planning ...
Re3-c3-c2 or even ...Bb1.} 33. Ra3 $1 {Preventing both threats and stabilizing
the situation in White's favour.} Rc2 (33... Bb1 $2 34. Rb3 $1 Rxb3 35. axb3
$18) (33... Rd2 $6 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Bc2 36. Rc3 $1 $16 Rxa4 $2 37. Rxc2 $18 {
Golubev}) 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3
40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 {White's queenside domination is to a
certain extent similar to that from the 8th game. The significant difference
is that the actively placed rooks enjoy the support of two pawns, which turns
the situation in White's favour.} 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 {White has made obvious
progress over the past 10 moves, but still faces some technical difficulties
converting his advantage into a win.} Rxc5 $4 {The last of a surprisingly long
series of mistakes in this match. As frequently happens, the player who
commits the last-but-one error emerges as the glorious winner.} 45. Rb7+ {
and finally, after 13 long years, the Chess World has one sole Champion.} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 {This
Anti-Grьnfeld variation was recently brought into the limelight by Boris
Gelfand.} Bg7 ({Deviating from} 6... a6 7. d4 b5 8. Qb3 c5 {as played in
Gelfand-Svidler, Moscow 2006 and Topalov-Svidler, Morelia/Linares 2007.}) 7. e4
c6 $5 {A rare move, possibly played with the aim of taking out Kramnik of his
famously deep opening preparation.} ({If Black meets the threat e4-e5 with} 
7... Bc6 {, then} 8. d3 {leaves the bishop slightly misplaced on c6.}) ({
The more popular} 7... O-O {is strongly met by} 8. e5 {when the knight has to
go either to the passive e8-square or to the exposed g4-square, since the
intermediate} Be6 $6 {allows the promissing queen sacrifice} 9. exf6 Bxc4 10.
fxg7 Kxg7 11. Bxc4 {when three minor pieces are likely to overweight the black
queen.}) 8. d4 ({The hidden trick behind Black's last move is that after} 8. e5
{he has} Nd5 9. Nxd5 Be6 {for instance} 10. Qb4 Bxd5 11. Qxb7 Nd7 12. d4 O-O
13. Be2 a5 14. O-O Nb6 15. Rd1 c5 16. dxc5 Bxb7 17. Rxd8 Rfxd8 18. cxb6 Rac8
$15 {Korobov,A (2401)-Areshchenko,A (2335)/Evpatoria 2001/EXT 2003 (0-1, 48)
The material situation is balanced, but Black's development is superios.}) 8...
b5 $146 {Black immediately starts his queenside counterplay.} ({Previously,
only} 8... O-O {had been played.} 9. Be2 (9. h3 {looks like unnecessary
prophylaxis.} b5 10. Qe2 Be6 11. Qc2 Na6 12. a3 Ne8 13. Be3 Nd6 14. Rd1 Qa5
$132 {Vaulin,A (2547)-Palus,R (2341)/Swidnica 1999/EXT 2000 (1-0, 41) with
active play for Black, compensating White's advantage of space.}) 9... Na6 10.
O-O c5 $6 11. e5 $1 Ng4 12. h3 $16 cxd4 $2 13. Qxd4 Nh6 14. Bxh6 Bxh6 15. Bxa6
bxa6 16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. Qh4 $18 {Razuvaev,Y (2548)-Sarno,S (2391)/Saint Vincent
2000/CBM 074 ext (1-0, 31)}) 9. Qb3 a5 10. e5 {With his kingside
underdeveloped and the queen rather exposed, White decides to provoke the
stabilisation of the centre, in order to avoid an eventual counterplay based
on ...c5.} a4 (10... Be6 11. exf6 Bxb3 12. fxg7 Rg8 13. axb3 $16) 11. Qd1 Nd5
12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O O-O $13 {The position has become rather
static, bearing some similarity with certain lines of the Alekhine Defence and
the Pirc. Although Black has a solid position and is under no immediate danger,
in the long run the passivity of his g7-bishop and the weakness of the
c5-square might cause him problems.} 15. Be3 ({White has little interest in
allowing such structural modifications as} 15. Bxb5 $2 Nxe5 $1 16. Bxd7 Nxf3+
17. Qxf3 Qxd7 $15 {[%csl Gd4]}) 15... Na5 $6 {This premature display of
activity releases the pressure against the d4-pawn.} ({The developing move} 
15... Qb6 {looks better, for instance} 16. Ne1 f6 $132 {and Black's
counterplay seems to be sufficient to maintain the balance even.} ({Delaying
the thematical break ...f6 with a neutral move such as} 16... b4 {could be met
with} 17. Nd3 {because} Nxd4 {is very risky in view of} 18. Kh1 {, threatening
f4 and Ne1. For instance} f6 19. e6 $1 Bxe6 20. Ne1 f5 21. Nc2 $16)) 16. b3
axb3 17. axb3 Qb6 18. Ne1 $1 $14 {[%cal Ye1d3,Yd3c5] Suddenly, White's army
appears to be better coordinated, while the invasion of the c5-square is not
easy to prevent.} b4 {This move prepares the exchange of the light-squared
bishop, which favours Black in the French structures. However, as mentioned
before, the other bishop is a bigger problem for Black in this concrete
position. Besides, the b4-pawn will be weak now. However, it is hard to
suggest an adequate solution to Black's problems.} (18... Nc6 {does not prevent
} 19. Nd3 {because after} Nxd4 20. Kh1 {/\Nb4} b4 21. f4 {/\Ne1} f6 22. e6 Bxe6
23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Ne1 $16 {Black will only have two pawns for the piece.}) 19.
Nd3 Bb5 20. Nc5 Nb7 ({Preparing the activation of the g7-bishop with} 20... e6
21. Qd2 Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Rfc8 {is a slow but possibly viable plan:} 23. Rfc1 Nb7 (
23... Bf8 24. Nd7 Qd8 25. Nf6+ {offers White attacking chances.}) 24. Rxa8 Rxa8
25. Na4 Qd8 26. Qb5 Na5 $5 {/\Bf8} 27. Qxb4 Rb8 28. Nb6 Nxb3 $1 {(It is
important to open the b-file before capturing on b6)} 29. Qxb3 Rxb6 {and White
cannot take advantage of the weakness of the 8th rank with} 30. Qxb6 $4 Qxb6
31. Rc8+ Bf8 32. Bh6 {because his own back rank is undefended.}) 21. Rxa8 $6 {
White releases the tension too soon.} ({The immediate capture} 21. Bxb5 {
would have offered better chances for consolidating the advantage.} Rxa1 (21...
Qxb5 22. Qd3 $1 $14) 22. Qxa1 Nxc5 (22... Qxb5 23. Qa6 $1 Qxa6 24. Nxa6 Ra8 25.
Nxb4 e6 26. Nd3 Ra3 27. Rb1 $16) 23. dxc5 Qxb5 24. Qd4 e6 25. Rc1 $14) 21...
Rxa8 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Qd3 Qc6 $2 {Black returns the favour.} (23... Qxd3 24.
Nxd3 Ra3 25. Nxb4 (25. Rb1 Na5 26. Nxb4 e6 $11) 25... e6 26. Rc1 Bf8 $11) 24.
Na4 $16 Nd8 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Qc2 f6 27. f4 Bh6 28. g3 fxe5 29. dxe5 Ne6 30. Qc6
Qxc6 31. Rxc6 Kf7 32. Kf2 Rb8 33. Ke2 Bf8 34. Kd3 {Black's problem is that he
cannot activate his bishop and his knight at the same time. Opening the a3-f8
diagonal for the bishop would mean remove the knight from the best square
available.} Rb7 $4 (34... Rb7 35. Rxe6 $1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 {This move has been quite popular over the past few
years. Black is trying to play a waiting game, by delaying the development of
his queenside knight. As known, ...Nbd7 can always be answered with Ba5,
whereas Ba5 with a knight on b8 is inefficient because of ...Nc6.} 11. Rc1 Be4
12. Qb3 Nc6 ({The newest trend. For a while,} 12... Nbd7 {was the main
variation.} 13. Ba5 Qa8 $5 {[%csl Ga8,Ge4][%cal Ga8g2] Thismove was designed
by Leko. Black ingnores the threat against the c7-pawn and takes the long
diagonal under firm control.} (13... Qb8 {Gelfand,B-Harikrishna,P/Bermuda 2005/
CBM 106/[Gelfand] (1-0, 38)}) 14. Nbd2 {Nobody has had the courage to capture
the pawn yet, although things might be not entirely clear there.} (14. Nc3 Bc6
{Nielsen,P (2668)-Leko,P (2763)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108/[Ribli] (0-1, 60)}) 14...
Bd5 15. Qe3 Bd6 16. Bh3 (16. Rc2 Qb7 17. Rac1 Nb6 18. b3 $14 {Conquest,S (2505)
-Gomez Esteban,J (2495)/Donostia San Sebastian 2006/ (1-0, 58) Black cannot
obtain counterplay easily.}) 16... Ne4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne1 Nb6 19. Bxb6 $1
cxb6 20. Bg2 $1 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 $14 {Avrukh,B (2653)-Quezada,Y (2505)/Beer Sheva
2005/CBM 110/[Ribli] (1-0, 72)}) 13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1 Nb8 15. Ba5 Rc8 (15... Bd6
16. a3 Nbd7 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Qf1 (18. b4 $5) 18... c5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Rc2 Qb7
21. Rac1 {Black has managed to carry out the thematical break ...c5 under
relatively favourable circumstances, but White retains some pressure.} Bb6 22.
Bxb6 Qxb6 23. Nd4 Ne5 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. N4f3 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Rd8 27. Qd3 Ne7 28.
Qe4 Rad7 29. Kg2 {Both sides have taken authoritarian control of one of the
open files, but the difference between the knights' placement s obvious. Black
did not equalise completely yet.} f6 30. h4 e5 31. h5 $14 {Aronian,L (2744)
-Karjakin,S (2678)/Wijk aan Zee 2007 (1-0, 47)}) (15... Nc6 16. Be1 Nb8 {
White has won an important tempo. Everything is ready for the development of
the queen's knight already.} 17. b4 Nbd7 18. a4 Nd5 19. Nbd2 Bg6 20. Nb3 Be4 (
20... Bxb4 21. Bxb4 Nxb4 22. Ne5 Qc8 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. axb5 $16) 21. axb5 (21.
Ne5 Bxg2 22. Nxd7 Rd8) 21... Bxb4 (21... axb5 22. Ne5 Bxg2 23. Rxa7 Qxa7 24.
Nxd7 $16 {[%csl Gf8,Gg2]} Rd8 25. Ra1 Qb7 26. Ndc5 Bxc5 27. Nxc5 Qc6 28. e4 $18
) 22. Bxb4 Nxb4 23. Nbd2 $16 {Avrukh,B (2633)-Sandipan,C (2546)/Turin 2006/CBM
113 (1-0, 62)}) 16. a3 $146 {Although this move is a novelty technically
speaking, the idea is not new. Just refer to the game Aronian-Karjakin above.}
(16. Bb6 {looks a bit premature. The bishop did not finish his job on a5 yet.}
Rb7 17. Bc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 (18. Rxc5 Nbd7 19. Rc1 c5 20. Nc3 Bc6 $132) 18... Ra7
19. Nbd2 Bd5 20. Qc2 a5 21. a3 a4 22. Qd3 {1/2-1/2 Ponomariov,R (2723)-Anand,V
(2779)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2007}) (16. Nbd2 Bd5 {Gelfand,B (2723)-Karjakin,S 
(2660)/Wijk aan Zee 2006/CBM 111/[Ribli] (1/2-1/2, 22)}) 16... Bd6 (16... c5
17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Bb6 $16) 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Qf1 Nbd7 19. b4 {Now that ...c5 has
become a threat, White prevents it physically.} e5 {Black has to look for some
counterplay in the centre. Otherwise, White would just double rooks on the
c-file, consolidating his advantage. of space.} 20. dxe5 Bxe5 $5 (20... Nxe5
21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Ra2 $14 {[%cal Ya2c2]}) 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 (21... Bxg2 22. Qxg2
Qxg2+ (22... Nxe5 23. Qxa8 Raxa8 24. Rxc7 $16) 23. Kxg2 Nxe5 24. Bb6 Rb7 25.
Bd4 $14) 22. f3 $3 {Slightly unaesthetical, but very deep. Black has not
sufficient space for his minor pieces, which justifies the decision of
avoiding the exchange of the light-squared bishops.} Nc4 23. Nxc4 Bxc4 24. Qf2
Re8 25. e4 c6 26. Rd1 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Rd1 Qb7 29. Rd6 f6 30. f4 $16 {
Finally, White's structure has recovered its harmony. The pair of bishops and
the higher flexibility offer him a stable advantage.} Re6 31. Rd2 Re7 32. Qd4
Nf8 33. Qd8 Rd7 34. Rxd7 Qxd7 35. Qxd7 Nxd7 {[%cal Yc6c5]} 36. e5 $6 {This
move unnecessarily complicates the fight by giving upa pawn.} (36. Bh3 $1 Nf8
37. Bc8 $16 {would have been simpler.}) 36... fxe5 37. Bxc6 Nf6 38. Bb7 exf4
39. gxf4 Nd5 40. Kf2 Nxf4 41. Ke3 g5 (41... Ne2 {(=, Landa)} 42. Bc7 {[%csl
Ge2][%cal Yc7e5]} (42. Bxa6 Kf7 43. Bb6 Ke6 44. a4 Nc3 45. a5 Nd5+ 46. Kd4 Nxb4
47. Bb7 Kd6 48. a6 Nc6+ 49. Kc3 Bd5 50. a7 $2 Nxa7 51. Bxd5 Nc8 $1 $19 {Landa})
42... Kf7 (42... Nc3 43. Kd4 Nb1 44. a4 $18) 43. Be5 g6 44. Ke4 Ke7 45. Bxa6
$16) 42. Bxa6 Kf7 43. a4 Ke7 44. Bxb5 Bxb5 45. axb5 Kd7 46. Ke4 Ne2 47. Bb6 g4
48. Bf2 Nc3+ 49. Kf5 Nxb5 50. Kxg4 Ke6 51. Kg5 Kf7 52. Kf5 Ke7 53. Bc5+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. b3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Bb2
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc2 Rc8 {I don't like this development of Black's rook,
which is often quite passive on c8. ...Qd8-c7 and ...Ra8-d8 looks more
appropriate.} 11. Rad1 Qc7 12. Ne5 {A typical move in such positions.} h6 $6
$146 ({Black can't take on e5.} 12... Nxe5 $2 13. dxe5 Ng4 14. Bxh7+ Kh8 15.
Qe2 $1 f5 16. h3 Kxh7 17. hxg4 fxg4 18. Qxg4 Rf5 (18... Qxe5 19. Nxd5 $1) 19.
Ne2 $16 {1-0 Csom,I-Metz,H/Budapest 1995/CBM 049 (26)}) (12... g6 $5 13. e4 (
13. f4 $5) 13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rfd8 17. Qc3 Rxd1
18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Qd3 Qxd3 21. Bxd3 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Mitkov,
M-Georgievski,V/Struga 1993/EXT 1999 (49)}) (12... Rfd8 {is the main
theoretical move:} 13. f4 Nf8 (13... c5 14. cxd5 $1 (14. Qe2 Ne4 {1/2-1/2
Estremera Panos,S-De la Riva Aguado,O/Santiago 1995/EXT 1998})) 14. Qe2 (14. f5
$6 Bd6 15. e4 (15. Ne2 $5) 15... dxc4 16. Nxc4 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 b5 18. e5 bxc4 19.
Bxc4 Ng4 $13 {1-0 Adla,D-Rodriguez Lopez,R/Mondariz 1995/EXT 1997 (37)}) 14...
c5 15. f5 Ba6 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. cxd5 Bxd3 19. Nxd3 exd5 20. dxc5
Bxc5 21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22. Nb5 $16 {1/2-1/2 Florean,A-Aliev,R/Calicut 1998/CBM 067
ext (33)}) 13. Qe2 Rfd8 14. f4 $36 {[%mdl 128] >>.This is probably even worse
for Black than the 12...Rfd8 line as ...h7-h6 hardly strengthens the position
of the black king.} c5 {What else?} 15. cxd5 Nxd5 (15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxd5 17.
Nb5 Qb8 18. f5 $1) 16. Nb5 Qb8 17. Nxd7 (17. f5 $1 {was even stronger, e.g.}
Nxe5 18. dxe5 a6 (18... Bg5 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 {[%cal Rg4e6,Rg4e4]}) 19.
fxe6 $1 axb5 20. Rxf7 $5 (20. Qh5 $5 c4 21. Bb1 c3 22. Rxd5 Rxd5 23. Bxc3 Rxc3
24. Qf5 $18 {A.Khalifman}) 20... c4 (20... Bg5 21. Qh5 $18) 21. Bb1 Nxe3 $8 22.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxe7 Rd1+ 24. Kf2 Qf8+ (24... Rxb1 25. Qh5 Rxb2+ 26. Kxe3 $18)
25. Rf7 Qc5 26. Ba3 $1 Qxa3 27. Rxb7 Rxb1 28. e7 Qa8 29. Kxe3 $18) 17... Rxd7
18. f5 Bg5 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] A tactical mistake...} (20.
dxc5 bxc5 21. Qg4 $1 Re8 (21... Bxe3+ 22. Kh1 Nf4 23. Rxf4 Qxf4 24. Qxf4 Bxf4
25. Bh7+ Kxh7 26. Rxd7 $18) 22. Qe4 Nf6 23. Qg6 {with a decisive attack}) 20...
Re7 $2 {...and an amnesty!} (20... Bxe3+ 21. Kh1 Nf4 {yielded Black excellent
counterchances. Actually it is now White who has the only defence indicated by
GM A.Khalifman:} 22. d5 $3 (22. Rxf4 Qxf4 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Rf1 Bf2 $17) 22...
Bxd5 23. Be4 $1 Qb7 24. Nc3 (24. Bxd5 exd5 25. Qf3 d4 26. Qxb7 Rxb7 27. Nd6
Rcc7 28. Nxb7 Rxb7 $17) 24... Rf8 $1 (24... Bc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 (25... Qxc6 26.
Ne4 $1) 26. Qg3 Rcc7 $1 27. Nb5 $132) 25. Nxd5 exd5 26. Rxd5 $1 Rdf7 $1 {
with a crazy position, in which, however, White must fight for a draw} (26...
Rxd5 $2 27. Bxd5+ Nxd5 28. Qe6+) (26... Nxd5 $2 27. Qe6+)) {After the text
move White again gets a crushing attack.} 21. Qe4 $1 Nf6 22. Qg6 Kh8 (22...
Bxe3+ 23. Kh1 Rf8 (23... Bg5 24. d5 $1 e5 25. Rxf6 $1 Bxf6 26. d6 $18) 24. dxc5
Kh8 25. Rde1 Bg5 26. Nd6 bxc5 27. Rxe6 $1 Rxe6 $140 28. Bxf6 $18) 23. dxc5 Rxc5
{This leads to a nice finale but} (23... Rf8 24. Nd6 bxc5 25. Be5 {is hopeless
enough.}) 24. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 25. Bxf6+ Bxf6 26. Qxf6+ Rg7 27. Qxh6+ Kg8 28. Qxe6+
Kh8 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. e4 $1 {[%cal Rd3c4]} a6 31. Nd6 b5 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Nf7+
Kg8 34. Ng5+ Kh8 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. Qe6+ Kh8 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Ne6 Rh7 39. Qg6+
Kh8 40. e5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Na6 7. f3 Nd7 8. Nxc4
e5 9. e4 exd4 10. Nb5 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Nxd4 Bxe4 13. Bxb4 Nxb4 14. fxe4
Qh4+ 15. Kd2 Qxe4 16. Kc3 Nd5+ 17. Kb3 Nc5+ 18. Ka3 Rad8 19. Qd2 Nf4 20. Rd1
Nfe6 21. Nxe6 Rxd2 22. Nxc5 Qe7 23. Rxd2 Qxc5+ 24. Ka2 Qb4 25. Rc2 Qxa4+ 26.
Kb1 b5 27. Nd2 c5 28. Be2 c4 29. Rhc1 Qb4 30. Bf3 a5 31. Ka1 Rd8 32. Nb1 g6 33.
Na3 Qc5 34. Kb1 a4 35. h3 Rd3 36. Rc3 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Qf5+ 38. Nc2 b4 39. Rxc4 b3
40. Kc1 Qg5+ 41. Kb1 bxc2+ 42. Kxc2 Qb5 43. Rc3 h5 44. g4 h4 45. Bd1 Kg7 46.
Kc1 Qf1 47. Rf3 Qg1 48. Ra3 Qh1 49. Kd2 Qd5+ 50. Kc1 Qc4+ 51. Kb1 Qf1 52. Kc1
Kh6 53. Rf3 Qc4+ 54. Rc3 Qf4+ 55. Kb1 Qf1 56. Kc1 Kg5 57. Rf3 Qc4+ 58. Kb1 Qd5
59. Rc3 Qxd1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6
15. Bd3 Ba3 16. Ba1 h6 17. Rfe1 Rad8 18. h3 a5 19. Re3 Qc7 20. Qe2 Kf8 21. Nh2
Be7 22. Ng4 c5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. Ne5 Rd6 25. Re1 Red8 26. Nxf7 Qc6 27. Be4 Nxe4
28. Nxd8 Bxd8 29. Qf3+ Nf6 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Rxe6 Kf7 33. Rd6 Bc7
34. Rd1 Ke6 35. a3 h5 36. Re1+ Kd7 37. Be5 Bd8 38. Rd1+ Ke8 39. b4 axb4 40.
axb4 Bc8 41. Ra1 Be6 42. Ra8 Ke7 43. Ra7+ Nd7 44. c5 bxc5 45. bxc5 Ke8 46. Bd4
Bd5 47. Ra6 Bf7 48. Ra3 Bd5 49. Rc3 Nb8 50. Bxg7 Be7 51. Be5 Nc6 52. Bd6 Bxd6
53. cxd6 Kd7 54. Rg3 Bf7 55. Rf3 Ke6 56. d7 Ke7 57. Kh2 Be6 58. Kg3 Bxd7 59.
Kh4 Be8 60. Kg5 Nd4 61. Re3+ Ne6+ 62. Kh6 Kf6 63. Rf3+ Ke5 64. g4 hxg4 65. hxg4
Bc6 66. Rf5+ Kd6 67. g5 Be4 68. Rf7 Nd4 69. g6 Nf5+ 70. Kg5 Ne7 71. g7 Bh7 72.
f4 Ke6 73. Rf8 Ng8 74. f5+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Nbd7 7. Bg2 e6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. e4 Qc7 10. Qe2 O-O-O 11. Nd2 Kb8 12. a4 g5 13. d4 dxe4 14. a5 a6 15.
Nc4 h6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rd1 e5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 19. Be3 Rhe8 20. Rd4 Nd5 21. Rad1
f5 22. Bc1 Kc8 23. h4 Nc5 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rc4 Ne6 26. c3 Kb8 27. Re1 Nf6 28.
Rb4 Qxa5 29. Qc4 Nd5 30. Rb3 Kc8 31. Bf1 Rd7 32. Ra3 Qb6 33. Rb3 Qc5 34. Qa4
Qd6 35. Qc4 Nc5 36. Ra3 e3 37. Kg2 Re4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 e5 11. Nf5 Qf6 12. Ne3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 Be6 14. Ba3
Nba6 15. O-O-O Ke7 16. Bg2 Rad8 17. f4 f6 18. Rhf1 b6 19. g4 Nc7 20. h4 g6 21.
Kc2 Rhf8 22. Bc6 f5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Bxc5 bxc5 27.
Be4 Ne8 28. Bxf5 Nd6 29. Bxe6 Rf2 30. Rxf2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O 9. Rd1 d6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nb5 d5 12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. Nc3 Bc6 14. Qc4 Qc8 15.
e4 h6 16. Bf4 Bb7 17. Qxc8 Raxc8 18. e5 Nd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Ne1 Rfd8 21. Bxd5
exd5 22. Rxd5 Nc5 23. Rad1 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Kf8 25. Be3 Ke8 26. Bxc5 Bxc5 27. Kf1
Ke7 28. Nd3 Ke6 29. Nf4+ Ke7 30. Rd2 g5 31. Nd3 Bd4 32. Kg2 Ke6 33. Re2 Kf5 34.
g4+ Kg6 35. f4 f5 36. exf6 gxf4 37. Nxf4+ Kxf6 38. h4 Be5 39. Nd5+ Ke6 40. Ne3
Bf4 41. Nf5+ Kf6 42. Rf2 Rc4 43. Ne3 Rd4 44. Rxf4+ Rxf4 45. Nd5+ Ke5 46. Nxf4
Kxf4 47. Kh3 a6 48. a4 b5 49. axb5 axb5 50. b4 Ke5 51. Kg3 Ke4 52. g5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. a4 Qh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Bh3 21. Bd1
Qf5 22. Qe2 c5 23. Nf3 Bf4 24. Qd2 Nxe3 25. fxe3 Bh6 26. Qf2 Rfe8 27. Ne5 Qxf2+
28. Kxf2 f6 29. Bg4 Rxe5 30. Bxh3 Bxe3+ 31. Kf3 cxd4 32. Rad1 dxc3 33. bxc3 Bb6
34. Rxe5 Rxe5 35. Rd5 Re3+ 36. Kg2 Rxc3 37. Rxb5 Rc2+ 38. Kh1 Bc7 39. Be6+ Kf8
40. Bb3 Rc3 41. Kg2 g6 42. Bd1 Ke7 43. Rb2 Rd3 44. Be2 Re3 45. Bf3 Ra3 46. Re2+
Be5 47. g4 Ke6 48. Be4 h5 49. gxh5 gxh5 50. Rf2 Bd4 51. Rf3 Ra2+ 52. Kh3 Bg1
53. Bf5+ Ke5 54. Kh4 Rf2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Rd1 Rc8
15. Bf1 Bb4 16. Bd2 Ne5 17. Bg2 Qb6 18. Qb3 Nc4 19. Be1 Ba5 20. Qxb6 axb6 21.
Rab1 Nxb2 22. Rxb2 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxb7 Ra3 25. Rd6 Nd5 26. Bxd5 exd5
27. Rdxb6 Rfa8 28. Rb8+ Rxb8 29. Rxb8+ Kh7 30. Rb2 g5 31. Rd2 Kg6 32. Kf1 Kf6
33. Ke2 Ke5 34. Kd1 f5 35. Kc1 f4 36. Re2 fxg3 37. hxg3 d4 38. Kb2 Ra8 39.
exd4+ Kxd4 40. a3 Rb8+ 41. Kc1 Ra8 42. Ra2 Kc3 43. Kd1 Rf8 44. Ke2 Kb3 45. Rd2
Kxa3 46. Rd5 Kb4 47. Rxg5 Rf7 48. f4 Kc4 49. Ke3 Re7+ 50. Re5 Rd7 51. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3
Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. b4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 a5 12. Rb1 axb4 13. axb4 Nb6 14. Bd3 Nfd5
15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. O-O f5 17. Bd2 Kf7 18. Ra1 Nc4 19. Qe2 b5 20. Bc3 Qc7 21.
Rfc1 g5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. g4 Qd7 25. h4 gxh4 26. gxf5 Ra6 27. Ra1
Rxa1+ 28. Bxa1 Nd6 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Kf7 31. Qh5+ Kf8 32. Qh8+ Kf7 33. Be2
Bf6 34. fxe6+ Qxe6 35. Bc3 Qe4 36. Qh5+ g6 37. Qg4 Qb1+ 38. Kg2 Ne4 39. Qd7+
Kf8 40. Qxd5 h3+ 41. Kh2 Qc2 42. Be1 Qxe2 43. Qxe4 Qxe1 44. Qf4 Kf7 45. Qc7+
Be7 46. Qf4+ Kg8 47. Qg3 g5 48. Qf3 Qf1 49. Qd5+ Kg7 50. Qe5+ Bf6 51. Qg3 Kg6
52. Qf3 Qg2+ 53. Qxg2 hxg2 54. Kxg2 Be7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. a3 a5 8. Ne1 Be6
9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rb1 f5 14. Ne3 Nb6 15. b3
Rb8 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Nb5 Ra8 18. e3 Nb6 19. Ncd6 Qb8 20. Qc2 Nd7 21. b4 axb4 22.
axb4 Ra2 23. Qc1 cxb4 24. Bxb4 Nxb4 25. Rxb4 Ra6 26. Nc7 Rxd6 27. Rxb7 Qd8 28.
Nxe6 Rxe6 29. Bd5 Rfe8 30. Bxe6+ Rxe6 31. Qc4 Nf8 32. Ra1 Qd6 33. Rba7 Qc6 34.
Qb3 Qb6 35. Qd5 Qc6 36. Qb3 Qb6 37. Qc4 Qc6 38. R1a6 Qxc4 39. dxc4 Bf6 40. c5
Rxa6 41. Rxa6 Bd8 42. Ra8 Bc7 43. Rc8 Ba5 44. c6 Kf7 45. c7 Bxc7 46. Rxc7+ Kf6
47. f4 exf4 48. exf4 h6 49. Rc6+ Ne6 50. h4 Kf7 51. Kf2 Ng7 52. Rc7+ Kf6 53.
Kf3 Ne6 54. Rh7 Nf8 55. Ra7 Ne6 56. Ke3 g5 57. h5 gxf4+ 58. gxf4 Ng7 59. Ra6+
Ne6 60. Ra8 Kg7 61. Ra7+ Kg8 62. Re7 Ng7 63. Kd4 Nxh5 64. Ke5 Ng3 65. Kf6 Kf8
66. Rh7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 b5 7. a4 c6 8. e5 h6
9. exf6 hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 c5 13. O-O g4 14. axb5 gxf3 15.
Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nd7 17. dxc5 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nxc5 19. Rfd1 Qc8 20. Rd6 Qb7 21.
Qh5 Rc8 22. Rc6 Nd3 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Rxa7 1-0

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5
15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 18. Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Qg4 {
The main line of the Queen's Indian Defence. It is curious that this opening,
which has occurred in many top level games, was also seen last year in the
Leko-Karpov match in Miskolc. However, at that time Peter played with white.}
Bg5 {In the afore-mentioned game Karpov played 20... Bf6 and found himself in
a worse position.} 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Be5 Nxe1 (22... Nxe5 $2 23. Rxe5 Bf6 24.
Rd5 Bxa1 25. Rxd8 Rfxd8 26. Bh3 Rc7 27. Bd7 $16 {/\ Qd5-d6}) 23. Rxe1 Bf6 24.
Bxf6 Qxf6 25. c7 Qd6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Qc2 b4 28. Bb7 g6 29. h4 $1 {A very strong
move that forces Black to make an important and awkward decision. If he
himself plays h5, then the evolving pawn structure is most likely a losing
weakness in a pawn endgame, and moreover he is weakening his king. If he
doesn't play h5 then he has to face a Kg2; h4-h5-h6 plan, whereafter White
would have a strong tactical pawn on h6.} Rfe8 $2 {The losing move. At the
press conference after the games Peter was not able to give an explanation to
this blunder. We would not even try to do so.} (29... h5 30. Kf1 $1 {happened
i n an Ivanchuk-Aronian (Monte Carlo, 2007) game. With this fine move White
puts his king closer to the center and prepares a favourable simplification.})
30. Qa4 $1 Qd2 31. Qc6 a5 32. Bxc8 $2 {White is impatient. He would have
needed his bishop for a few more moves to defend against the threatening
checks on the long diagonal.} (32. Rc2 Qe1+ 33. Kg2 Qe6 34. Qb5 $1 {and there
is no Qe4+. White would have won easily.}) 32... Rxc8 33. Rc2 Qd3 $2 {This
move pays back the loan.} (33... Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Qe6 $1 35. Qb7 Qd7 {and because
of the constantly threatening perpetual check White's task of intensifing his
advantage to a decisive one is not so easy at all.}) 34. Kg2 {Black's position
is beyond recovery. From now on Kramnik doesn't give his opponent any more
chances.} Kg7 35. Rc5 a4 36. Qxa4 (36. Qb7 Qd7 37. Qxb4 Rxc7 38. Qc3+ $18)
36... Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qd4 38. Qc2 (38. Rc2 $2 Rxc7 39. Rxc7 Qxf2+ 40. Kh3 Qf1+ $11
) 38... h5 39. Kg2 Qd6 40. Qb2+ $1 f6 (40... Kh7 41. Qxb4 Rxc7 42. Rxh5+ gxh5
43. Qxd6 $18) (40... Kg8 41. Qxb4 Rxc7 42. Qb8+ Kg7 43. Qxc7 $18) 41. Qc2 Kf7
42. Qc4+ Kg7 43. Rc6 Qd7 44. Qc5 Kf7 45. Kh2 Kg7 46. Qb6 Qf5 47. Qd4 Kf7 48.
Rxf6+ $1 Qxf6 49. Qd7+ 1-0

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+
8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 {This is the starting
position of Kramnik's favourite variation. Formerly he successfully played 12.
Na5.} Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Nb4 15. Kd1 O-O-O 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Kb7 18.
Ke1 $3 {Grandiose innovation. White's not hurry with the development of the h1
rook but he tries to exchange the bishops first. If he succeeds then he will
have great winning chances, thanks to Black's weak pawnstructure.} e5 19. e3 $1
({Occupying the c5 square too early would not ensure any advantage for White.} 
19. Ne4 $6 Kb6 20. Nc5 Rd6 21. e4 Nc7 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Ne6 $11) 19... Kb6
(19... f5 {is another possibility, but} 20. e4 $1 (20. Bf1 $6 Bxf1 21. Rxf1 e4
22. Ke2 {+/= is also better for White but Black would obtain some spacial
advantage on the kingside.}) 20... fxe4 21. Nxe4 Kb6 22. Nc5 Rd6 23. h4 $1 {
(h5,Rh4 )} h5 24. Nxa6 Kxa6 25. Ke2 Rhd8 26. Rc2 Kb6 27. Rhc1 $16 {and the
black position collapses.}) 20. Bf1 Bb5 $6 ({Exchanging the bishops with} 20...
Bxf1 {seemed somewhat better, but White would be still able to exert boardwide
pressure. For example:} 21. Rxf1 Rhe8 22. Ke2 e4 23. Rc4 f5 24. Rfc1 Re6 25. b4
Ne7 26. Nb3 {Nd4, h4, a4}) 21. Bc4 $1 {The d2 knight is more valuable than the
b5 bishop because it can exploit Black's weaknesses.} f6 22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Rc2 a5
{Peter should have kept away from the a5 move as long as it was possible.} 24.
Rhc1 Ne7 25. Bxb5 $5 {Deep plan, but we think Kramnik hurries the
implementation.} (25. Ne4 Rhd8 26. g4 {and White can improve his position
easily (h4-h5, Kf3) beacuse Black can do nothing but wait patiently.}) 25...
cxb5 26. a4 $1 {Touches the spot. Not only are the queenside pawns weak, but
the black monarch can find himself in an awkward situation too, and the list
is not over, because after} Rhd8 27. axb5 Kxb5 $6 (27... h5 $1 28. Ne4 (28.
Nc4+ $6 Kxb5 29. Ra2 Nc6 $11) 28... Nd5 29. Rc6+ Kxb5 30. h3 $1 {/\ g4}) 28.
Ne4 {it is practically impossible to bundle off the white knight.} Ra7 $6 29.
g4 ({The aggressive} 29. Nc3+ $5 {is also possible.} Kb6 (29... Kc6 30. Nd5+ $1
Kd7 31. Rc7+ Rxc7 32. Rxc7+ Kd6 33. Rxe7 Kxd5 34. Rxg7 Rb8 35. Rd7+ Kc5 36. Ra7
$16) (29... Kb4 30. Na4 $16) 30. Na4+ Kb5 31. Rc7 Rd7 32. R7c5+ Kb4 33. Nb6 $1
Rdb7 34. R1c4+ Ka3 35. Rb5 $16 {is also clearly better for White.}) 29... h6
30. h4 Kb6 31. g5 (31. h5 {looks promising too.}) 31... hxg5 32. hxg5 fxg5 (
32... f5 33. Nc5 e4 (33... Nd5 34. Nd3 e4 35. Rc6+ Kb7 36. Ne5 $16) 34. Na4+ $1
Ka6 35. Rc7 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Re8 37. g6 $1 Kb5 38. Nc3+ Ka6 39. Kd2 Rd8+ 40. Kc2
$16) 33. Rg1 Rc8 34. Rd2 $1 Nc6 35. Rxg5 a4 $6 {Inaccuracy, although there is
no proper defence anyway. Moreover Peter's time has almost run out.} 36. bxa4
Rxa4 37. Nd6 (37. Rb2+ $1 Rb4 38. Rxb4+ Nxb4 39. Rxe5 Rc2+ 40. Kf3 $18) 37...
Rc7 38. Ne8 $2 {We consider this as a mistake because Black has neither time
nor position. Kramnik wins the g7 pawn but lets his opponent out of the grip.}
({It would be better to exert the pressure with} 38. Rg6 $1 {In addition,
taking the e5 pawn is better since organizing the defence of the g7 pawn looks
impossible because is too far from the king.}) 38... Rca7 39. Nxg7 Ra2 $1 {
Black has to exchange a pair of rooks by all means.} 40. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 41. Kf3 Kc5
42. Nf5 Nb4 43. Ng3 Kd5 44. Ne4 Ra8 45. Nf6+ Ke6 46. Ng4 Nd3 47. Rg6+ Kf5 48.
Rf6+ Kg5 49. Rd6 (49. Re6 Kf5 50. Rd6 e4+ 51. Kg3 Ra1 52. f3 $1 Rg1+ 53. Kh3 (
53. Kh2 Rf1 $1) 53... Nf4+ $3 54. exf4 exf3 55. Rf6+ Ke4 $11) 49... Rf8+ $2 {
Peter's persistent and enduring defence might have reaped the harvest because
the position is objectively drawn. Time, however, is everything, and Peter
doesn't find the saving motif during the few seconds he has left.} (49... Nc5
$1 50. Nxe5 Rf8+ 51. Ke2 Rxf2+ 52. Kxf2 Ne4+ 53. Kf3 Nxd6 $11 {draw!}) 50. Kg3
e4 51. Rd5+ Rf5 52. f4+ $1 {The game is over.} Kg6 53. Rd4 Nc5 54. Ne5+ Kg7 55.
Rc4 Nd3 56. Nxd3 exd3 57. Rd4 {A gorgeous game, in spite of the mistake in the
38th move. Kramnik's tremendous play lived up to his fame.} 1-0

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
{At top level, the Marshall Attack is mainly allowed in games between Marshall
specialists. Although, one could also say that quite many of the top players
have this sharp line in their repertoire, which makes the previous statement
relatively irelevant. From the specator'spoint of view, it is refreshing to
see that there is more after 7...0-0 than just the dull Anti-Marshall systems..
.} d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3
15. Be3 {This is the old main line, which was considered to offer White an
advantage before the real boom of the Marshall Attack.} ({The reader probably
remembers Kramnik's previous experience as White against the Marshall Attack.
Tragicomically, he blindly followed the computer's suggestion, reaching a...
lost position.} 15. Re4 g5 16. Qf1 $5 Qh5 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Re1 Rae8
20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. a4 $5 Qg6 $1 22. axb5 Bd3 23. Qf2 $2 (23. Qd1 $8 Be2 24. Qe1
Bd3 25. Qd1 $11) 23... Re2 24. Qxe2 Bxe2 25. bxa6 {This is the position
Kramnik had been aiming for. The computer needs several minutes before
switching from a cathegoric "+-" to a more realistic "-+", but Leko managed to
find the winning attacking moves starting with} Qd3 $3 {despite his relative
time trouble, Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2741)/Brissago 2004/CBM 103/[Knaak] 
(0-1, 32).}) 15... Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. Qf1 $5 {This move has
never been too popular, but over the past decades it has been even more rarely
played than before.} ({Kramnik had some nice recent memories against} 18. a4
Qh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Bh3 21. Bd1 Qf5 22. Qe2 c5 23. Nf3 Bf4 24. Bc2 ({
Improving over} 24. Qd2 {, played just days earlier:} Nxe3 25. fxe3 Bh6 26. Qf2
Rfe8 27. Ne5 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 f6 29. Bg4 Rxe5 30. Bxh3 Bxe3+ 31. Kf3 cxd4 32.
Rad1 dxc3 33. bxc3 Bb6 34. Rxe5 Rxe5 35. Rd5 Re3+ 36. Kg2 Rxc3 37. Rxb5 Rc2+
38. Kh1 Bc7 {and White found it quite difficult to hold this ending, Leko,P 
(2749)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Monte Carlo 2007/TWIC 646 (0-1, 54)}) 24... Qg4 25. Qd3
g6 26. Ne5 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Qf3 28. Qe4 Qxe4 29. Bxe4 Nxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxe5 {Svidler,
P (2728)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Monte Carlo 2007/TWIC 647 (1/2-1/2, 37). and Black
is not worse.}) 18... Qh5 19. f3 {This surprising move is almost a novelty.} ({
Here are two of the very few relevant games that reached this position over
the past decade:} 19. a4 f5 (19... bxa4 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Rxa4 f5 22. f4 $2 (
22. Rxa6 $5) 22... Qe8 $1 $17 {[%csl Ya4,Ye3] Alqudaimi,B (2237)-Kuzmin,A 
(2568)/Doha 2002/CBM 087 ext (0-1, 30)}) 20. f4 bxa4 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Qg2 Rfe8
23. Qxd5 Qf7 24. Nc4 $1 (24. Nf1 g5 $40 {Berelovich,A (2468)-Van den Doel,E 
(2528)/Hoogeveen 1999/EXT 2000 (1/2-1/2, 43)}) 24... Bxf4 $5 25. gxf4 Be2 $3 {
[%csl Gd5][%cal Ye6g6]} 26. Kh1 $1 (26. Kf2 Bxc4 27. Qxc4 Qh5 $132) 26... Bxc4
27. Qxc4 Rxe3 28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30. Rxa4 $16) 19... Nxe3 $146 ({
The game where 19.f3 was tried for the first time continued} 19... Rf6 20. Bd1
Re8 21. Bf4 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 Re6 23. Be5 Bxe5 $6 (23... Bf5 $5) 24. dxe5 Bf5 25.
f4 {White has managed to consolidate his position and is a clear pawn up.} Qg6
26. Qf2 f6 27. c4 $1 bxc4 28. Nxc4 Bd3 29. Bb3 $16 {Segovia Becker,M-Henao,L/
IECG email 1995/E-Mail 2000 (1-0, 37)}) (19... Rxe3 $5) (19... Bf5 $5) 20. Qf2
Nd5 21. fxg4 Qxg4 {Abstractly speaking, this is the way to fight against the
Marshall Attack: return the pawn for the sake of completing the development.
Apart from the small material advantage, White has another important
achievement (something that might be currently underestimated), namely the
advantage of space in the centre. The pawn structure after the recent
modifications resembles that arising from a line of... the King's Gambit (1.e4
e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nxd5 Qxd5 7.d4, if Black allows
Bxf4). More concretely, Black still seems to maintain the better development
and White needs some acurate moves to neutralise it.} 22. Qf3 $5 {The black
queen was optimally placed on g4 and Black has to take an important decision
now.} Qg5 $6 {Black allows his pawn structure to be spoilt, without getting
sufficient dynamic compensation. This is hardly advisable when facing a player
with such good technique as Kramnik.} (22... Qxf3 23. Nxf3 Rfe8 {, maintaining
the control of the e-file, was an important alternative. However, after} 24.
Rxe6 Rxe6 {White would play the thematic} 25. a4 $1 {, facing Black with
micro-problems.} b4 $1 (25... h6 $2 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra8+ Kh7 28. Rc8 $16) (
25... Re2 $2 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra8+ Bf8 28. Ne5 $18) 26. c4 (26. cxb4 Rf6 $1 {
Unpinning the knight.} 27. Ne5 Nxb4 $11) 26... Re3 27. cxd5 Rxf3 (27... Rxb3
28. Nd2 Rd3 {The only square to avoid a fork.} 29. Nc4 $16) 28. Bc4 (28. Bd1
Rd3 29. dxc6 Rxd4 30. Bb3 Kf8 31. Rc1 Bc7 $11 {and the c-pawn is easier to
maintain blocked than the a-pawn in the main line.}) 28... cxd5 29. Kg2 Re3 30.
Bxa6 $14 {The a-pawn might become dangerous soon.}) ({To me, the safest
continuation seems to be} 22... Qg6 {, protecting the e6-square, for instance}
23. Rxe6 (23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Qxd5 {does not work because of} Bxg3 25. Rxe6 $8
fxe6 $1 {with strong initiative.}) 23... Qxe6 24. Qe4 Re8 $1 25. Re1 Qxe4 26.
Nxe4 Kf8 {and Black should be entitled to hope for a draw in this just
symbolically worse position.}) 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Ne4 $1 {Installing the knight
on this superb square is White's highest priority, higher than removing the
queen from the attacked square...} Qg6 (24... Rxf3 $2 25. Nxg5 $16 {[%csl Ge6]}
Re3 $2 (25... Rf6 $2 26. Ne4 $18) 26. Kf2 $18) 25. Qe2 $14 {White's better
structure offers him a stable advantage. Aronian's attempts to build up an
attack will fail in a spectacular way.} Nf4 $6 (25... Be7 26. Re1 $14) (25...
Bf4 $5) 26. Qc2 Nh3+ $6 27. Kg2 $16 {Now, Black's pieces are exposed and
poorly coordinated.} Qg4 (27... Rf2+ $2 {does not work because the c2-queen is
defended, which allows the simple} 28. Nxf2 $18) 28. Bxe6+ $1 {And this is the
best way to take advantage of it!} (28. Nxd6 {was playable but less clear:}
Nf4+ 29. Kf2 $8 (29. Kg1 $2 Ne2+ $19) (29. Kf1 $2 Qf3+ $19) 29... Ne2+ 30. Nf5
$5 (30. Ke1 Nxg3 $1 $40) 30... Rxf5+ 31. Ke1 Nf4 $5 (31... Nxg3 $2 32. Bxe6+ $1
$16) 32. Qe4 {and White seems to repell the attack, but why not simplify to a
winning ending?...}) 28... Qxe6 29. Qb3 $1 {The point. Both minor pieces are
under attack and White will emerge from the complications with an extra-pawn.}
Nf4+ 30. gxf4 Qxb3 31. axb3 {Finally, the white rook is developed.} Bxf4 32.
Rxa6 $18 Rc8 (32... Re8 33. Rxc6 Bxh2 (33... Rxe4 34. Kf3 $18) 34. Kf3 $18 {
[%cal Yd4d5,Yc3c4]}) 33. Nc5 Kf7 34. Nd3 g5 35. Nxf4 gxf4 36. Kf3 Ke6 37. Kxf4
Kd6 38. c4 Rf8+ 39. Ke3 Kc7 40. Ra7+ Kb6 41. Rxh7 Rf1 42. Rh6 Kb7 43. Rh5 Rb1
44. Kd3 bxc4+ 45. Kc2 $1 {This type of intermediate move was overlooked by
Boleslavsky in a rook ending against Botvinnik, on the ocasion of the
match-tournament for the absolute title of USSR champion, back in 1941. In
that game, too, 49.Ke2! caused Black's immediate resignation. The difference
is that here such elegance was not really necessary, because the simple
capture on c4 would have also sufficed for a win.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4
dxe4 9. Qxe4 c5 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7 Qa5+ 12. Ke2 {This extravagant move 
(introduced by GM Ivan Sokolov) is more promising than the cowardly} (12. Nd2)
12... Kxe7 13. g3 {White continues his development and Black can't make use of
the centralized position of the white king.} cxd4 (13... Nf6 14. Qe5 b6 15. Bg2
Rd8 16. Nd2 $1 Ba6 (16... Rxd4 $2 17. Nb3 Qb4 18. Bxa8 Qxc4+ 19. Kf3 {I.Sokolov
}) 17. Bxa8 Rxa8 18. Qc7+ $1 Kf8 19. dxc5 Ne8 20. Qf4 Qxc5 21. Rhd1 Nf6 22.
Rac1 Kg8 23. Nb3 Qb4 24. Kf1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Sokolov,I-Ribli,Z/Bosna i
Hercegovina 1998/Inf 72/[Sokolov,I] (31)}) 14. Bg2 $1 (14. Qxd4 e5 15. Qd2 Qc7
$1 16. Qg5+ Kf8 17. Rc1 (17. Ke1 f6 18. Qe3 Nc5 {1/2-1/2 El Gindy,E-Magerramov,
E/Abu Dhabi 2002/CBM 089 ext}) 17... f6 (17... e4 $1 18. Nd2 Ne5 $36 {L.Bruzon}
) 18. Qe3 Nc5 19. Bg2 (19. b4 $142 {L.Bruzon}) 19... Bg4 20. Kf1 Rd8 21. Ne1 a5
22. h3 Be6 23. Kg1 Kf7 24. Kh2 Rd7 25. Rf1 Rhd8 $17 {0-1 Borgo,G-Bruzon
Bautista,L/Saint Vincent 2004/CBM 098 ext (38)}) 14... Nf6 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16. Qf4
$1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (16. Qe3 Ng4 17. Qg5+ Qxg5 18. Nxg5 Bd7 19. b3 f6 (19... h6
20. Nh3 Rab8 21. f4 (21. Nf4 Ne5 {[%cal Yb7b5]}) 21... Bc6 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23.
Ng1 e5 24. h3 Nf6 $15 {0-1 Mastrovasilis,A-Shirov,A/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092 
(38)}) 20. Nh3 Rab8 21. Nf4 Ne5 22. Rhd1 b5 $1 23. Nd3 Nxd3 24. Rxd3 bxc4 25.
bxc4 Rb2+ 26. Ke3 Bc8 $15 {0-1 Nikolaidis,I-Gurevich,M/Cannes 2005/CBM 105 ext
(48)}) (16. Qe5 $2 Rd2+ $1 17. Ke1 Qxe5+ 18. Nxe5 Rxb2 19. Nd3 Rc2 20. c5 Rb8
21. Kd1 Rc4 $19 {0-1 Crouch,C-Kelly,B/Lichfield 2000/CBM 077 ext (47)}) 16...
Bd7 17. Ne5 Be8 (17... Rac8 $142 $1 {[%cal Yc8c5]} 18. Rhd1 $140 Ba4 19. b3 Rc5
$1 20. Nd3 Rf5) 18. Rhd1 Qb6 19. b3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 $2 {
Black thoroughly calculated tactical consequences of White's capture on b7 but
underestimated the positional ones!} (21... Kxd8 $142 $14) 22. Bxb7 Qa5 23. Qe3
$1 {[%mdl 32]} (23. a4 Qb6 24. Qf3 Bxa4 $1 25. bxa4 Qb2+ 26. Kf1 Qxe5 27. Qa3+
Qd6 28. c5 $14 {(which GMs Peter-Heine Nielsen, Alexey Dreev and I discussed
while waiting for our planes at the Madrid airport that Sunday) is less
convincing. The World Champion finds a purely positional solution.}) 23...
Qxa2+ 24. Kf1 Qa5 25. Bf3 {[%csl Gc4] It turns out that the c-pawn is much
stronger with two pairs of minor pieces on the board!} Qb6 26. c5 Bb5+ 27. Kg2
Qc7 28. c6 a6 29. Qc5+ Ke8 30. b4 $22 {Black has only kingside pawn moves 
(which only weaken his position) or...} Nd5 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. Qxd5 {White has
won a pawn but he still has to overcome some technical difficulties.} Kf8 $1
33. f3 f6 34. Nd7+ Ke7 35. Qg8 Kd6 36. Nc5 (36. Qxh7 Kxc6 37. Nc5 Qe5 38. Qc2
$16) 36... Qe7 {Black decides on a more active defense.} (36... Kxc6 {forced}
37. Qxh7 (37. Qe6+ Qd6 38. Qc8+ Qc7 {brings nothing})) 37. Qc8 $1 Bxc6 (37...
Qe2+ $2 38. Kh3) 38. Qxa6 Qe3 39. Qd3+ Qxd3 40. Nxd3 {[%mdl 4096] In this
endgame White's outside passed pawn gives him excellent winning chances but
don't forget that a bishop is stronger than a knight when play develops on
both sides.} Be8 (40... Bd5 $5 41. Kf2 Kc6 42. Ke3 Kb5 {[%cal Rd5c4]
apparently didn't help after} 43. f4 Bc4 44. Kd4 {etc.}) (40... Kd5 41. Nf4+
Kd4 42. Ne6+ Ke3 43. Nxg7 Bxf3+ 44. Kh3 $18) 41. Kf2 Kd5 42. Nf4+ Kc4 43. Ne6
Kxb4 44. Nxg7 Bf7 {White now must make use of the fact that the black king is
far away from the kingside, further weakening the black pawns.} 45. Nf5 Kc5 46.
Nh6 Bb3 (46... Be6 47. Ng4 Bxg4 48. fxg4 Kd4 49. Kf3 Ke5 50. Ke3 $18 {_|_}) 47.
Ng4 f5 48. Nf6 h6 49. Ke3 Kd6 50. Kf4 Ke6 51. Ng8 Bc2 (51... h5 52. Kg5 Bd1 53.
f4 {[%cal Yg8f6]}) 52. Nxh6 Kf6 53. g4 fxg4 54. fxg4 Kg6 55. Nf5 Bd3 56. h4 Be2
57. h5+ Kh7 58. Kg5 Bd3 59. Kh4 Kg8 60. Nd6 Kg7 61. g5 Bc2 62. Nc4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({In his recent match against Aronian, Carlsen answered the classical
Catalan move order, consisting of} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {with} c5 {.
Despite the fact that the game ended with a convincing win for White, Kramnik
prefers to avoid the Benoni this time.}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7
5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. e3 Nb4
12. Bxb4 Bxb4 13. a3 Be7 {This is one of the more or less equivalent bishop
retreats.} (13... Bd6 {allows White win a tempo after} 14. Nbd2 {followed by
e4, threatening with a fork, but after the new bishop retreat from d6 to e7 it
is far from clear whether the pawn really stands better on e4 than on e3.
Anyway, that is an entirely different variation in fact.}) 14. Nbd2 Rc8 15. b4
{White has to keep the c5-square blocked...} a5 {... and Black has to try to
unblock it at any cost!} 16. Ne5 {Some 16 years ago, when I started analysing
and playing the Catalan, I considered this move to be one of my discoveries.
After the creation and evolution of databases, it appeared that the move had
been played 10 years before I gave it a practical try myself...} ({A recent
game saw} 16. Qb2 {, which seems to be playable, too.} axb4 17. axb4 Qd6 18.
Rfb1 Ra8 (18... Nd5 $2 19. Ne4 $1 $16 Qxb4 $2 20. Qc1 $1 $18 Qc4 $8 21. Qxc4
bxc4 22. Rxb7) 19. Ra5 Nd5 $6 (19... Rxa5 $5 20. bxa5 b4 $132) 20. Ne4 Qxb4 21.
Rxb5 Qxb2 22. R5xb2 Nb6 23. Ne5 f6 24. Nxf6+ $5 (24. Nd3 $14 {[%csl Gc5,Rc7]})
24... gxf6 25. Bxb7 fxe5 26. Bxa8 Rxa8 27. dxe5 Ra4 28. Rc2 Nd5 $14 {Bruzon,L 
(2614)-Capo Vidal,U (2375)/Morelia 2007 (1-0, 36). The position is not easy to
assess, despite White's material advantage. Black's stability in the centre
offers him good chances for defence, but he can hardly aspire for more.
White's structure is too compact...}) 16... Nd5 $2 $146 {This move looks like
a bad over-the-board inspiration rather than the fruit of mistaken home
analysis.} (16... Bxg2 17. Kxg2 c6 {is more or less forced, although it does
not solve Black's problems entirely.} (17... axb4 {allows the occupation of
the c6-square with} 18. Nc6 Qd7 19. axb4 $16 {Speelman,J (2535)-Cox,J (2355)/
Southport 1983/EXT 99 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 18. Nd3 axb4 19. axb4 Nd5 20. Qb3 Ra8 21.
Rfc1 {White has more space and a flexible structure in the centre. The
weakness of the c6- and b4-pawns compensate for each other. In order to have
chances for equality, Black needs to get equal rights over the only open file.
He will fail painfully to do so...} Qb6 22. Nf3 {/\ Ne5} Qb7 23. Kg1 $1 Rxa1
24. Rxa1 Ra8 25. Ra3 $14 Nxb4 $6 26. Nxb4 c5 27. dxc5 Qxf3 (27... Rxa3 28. Qxa3
Qxf3 29. Qa7 Bf8 30. c6 $18) 28. Nd5 $3 $16 {1-0 Marin,M (2515)-Marciano,D 
(2430)/Bucharest 1993/CBM 034/ (1-0, 36)}) 17. Nb3 $1 {This move is easy to
overlook, because the b4-pawn is attacked no less than 3 times.} axb4 18. Na5
Ba8 19. Nac6 Bxc6 20. Nxc6 Qd7 21. Bxd5 $1 {The only way to retrieve the
temporarily sacrificed pawn, but entirely sufficient for retaining a crushing
positional advantage.} exd5 22. axb4 $16 {Black is completely paralyzed.
What's worse, his b5-pawn is impossible to defend.} Rfe8 (22... Ra8 23. Ra5 $5
Rxa5 24. bxa5 Ra8 {and now the a-pawn advances faster than Black would like it:
} 25. a6 $1 $16 Rxa6 $2 26. Nb8 $18) 23. Ra5 Bf8 24. Ne5 {An interesting
moment.} ({Black's conterplay after} 24. Rxb5 Re6 25. Rc1 Rh6 26. h4 {looks
questionable, but Kramnik must have asked himself whether it was worth playing
with the c6-knight pinned.}) 24... Qe6 (24... Rxe5 25. dxe5 Bxb4 {fails to
complicate the matters because of} 26. Ra7 {followed by Rc1.}) 25. Rxb5 Rb8 $6
({However, the unexpected} 25... Bxb4 $5 26. Rxb4 c5 {might have muddied the
waters a bit (at least psychologically), by changing the course of the game:}
27. dxc5 (27. Rb5 cxd4 $1 {[%csl Ye5]}) 27... Qxe5 28. Rd1 $16) 26. Rxb8 Rxb8
27. Qxc7 $18 Bd6 28. Qa5 Bxb4 (28... Bxe5 29. dxe5 Qxe5 30. Rd1 Qe4 {would
have allowed White win a second pawn with} 31. Rxd5 {although it would have
required some accurate calculation to foresee that he can avoid perpetual
check in the most convenient way with} Qb1+ 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Qb1+ 34. Ke2
Qb2+ 35. Kf3 Qf6+ 36. Kg2 $18) 29. Rb1 Qd6 30. Qa4 {Black will soon lose his
d5-pawn, which makes further resistance useless.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Nd7 7. Qxc4 Nb6 8.
Qb5 {During last year's edition, the same position arose in the game between
these same players.} a6 {Despite the favourable result of the previous
encounter (a draw against a mighty opponent) Naiditsch decides to step aside
from the dispute initiated with that occasion.} (8... Bd7 9. Qb3 Na5 10. Qd3 c5
11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qc3 Rc8 13. Qxg7 Bf8 14. Qxh8 $1 ({In my notes to the
aforementioned game, I expressed my doubts whether Black has any compensation
after the brave capture of the undefended rook.} 14. Qg5 $6 {Kramnik,V (2743)
-Naiditsch,A (2664)/Dortmund 2006 [Marin]/CBM 113 (1/2-1/2, 44)}) 14... Rxc1+
15. Kd2 Rc5 16. Nc3 Nbc4+ 17. Ke1 Bc6 18. b4 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Qd2+ 20. Kf1 Re5 21.
bxa5 Qxc3 22. Kg2 {Khenkin,I (2586)-Martinsen,S (2147)/Dresden 2006/CBM 113
ext (1-0, 25). and White completed his development retaining a decisive
material and positional advantage.}) 9. Qd3 {For the time being, it is not
very clear whether the slight weakness of the black queenside induced by ...a6
has any concrete significance. Only the further course of the game will
highlight some of the nuances.} e5 10. Nxe5 Nb4 11. Qd1 $146 ({In my notes to
the previous game, I examined} 11. Qc3 {. There have been some new games in
the meanwhile.} Qxd4 12. O-O ({There is nothing new after} 12. Qxc7 {,
although this looks like a logical try to take advantage of the weakness of
the b6-square, by winning a tempo.}) 12... Qxc3 13. Nxc3 Bd6 14. Nf3 O-O {
It seems that Black's excellent development allows him avoid the usual Catalan
pressure against the queenside.} 15. b3 (15. Rd1 Rb8 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. a3 Nc6 18.
Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 {. Black's queenside structure is in ruins, but White
cannot complete his development easily. The only reasonable square for the
bishop is e3, but Be3 can always be met by ...Nc4.} 20. Rd2 Rfd8 21. Rc2 Be5
$11 {Khalifman,A (2624)-Landa,K (2608)/Sochi 2007 (1/2-1/2, 27)}) 15... Nc2 16.
Rb1 Na3 17. Rb2 Bb4 18. Bd2 Rd8 19. Rc1 c6 20. Nb1 a5 $132 {L'Ami,E (2594)
-Naiditsch,A (2663)/Netherlands 2007 (1/2-1/2, 67). and it is Black who has
active play on the queenside already.}) 11... Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc2+ 13. Kd1 {
Over the past years, Kramnik has frequently given up the right to castle in
the event of an early exchange of queens.} Nxd4 14. Be3 Nf5 ({Strategically,
the consolidation of the knight in the centre with} 14... c5 {looks risky,
because too many light squares would be weakened. In principle, White would
like to exchange on d4 at some moment, obtaining the excellent d3-square for
his e5-knight, but there is no hurry yet.} 15. Nd3 $1 {It is important to put
the c5-pawn under observation.} ({After the careless} 15. Nc3 $6 {Black has}
Nf5 $1) 15... Be7 (15... Nc4 {would only "force" White get a structure that he
is aiming for:} 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. Rc1 Be7 19. Nc4 $14 {with nice
play on the light squares.}) 16. Nc3 O-O 17. b4 $5 $36 {Suddenly, Black loses
his stability in the centre.}) 15. Bxb6 cxb6 {Finally, we can see the
drawbacks of the early advance of the a-pawn. Without it, Black could have
maintained the integrity of his structure with ...axb6, activating his queen's
rook at the same time. Now, Black has to be careful to avoid excessive
simplifications, because in certain cases (such as pawn endings) he would
practically be a pawn down. Besides, the absence of a pawn on the c-file has
left the d5-square chronically weak. On the other hand, the pair of bishops
offers Black chances for counterplay as well as the possibility of transposing
to drawn opposite coloured bishops endings.} 16. Nc3 Bc5 17. e3 O-O 18. Ke2 {
White has almost completed his development. His king seems to be entirely safe
under the shelter of the compact pawn structure; but things are less simple
than that, as we shall see.} Re8 19. Nd3 Rb8 20. Rhc1 $5 {White concentrates
his forces on the queenside, keeping the a2-pawn safely defended.} ({A more
natural (and, possibly, critical for the assessment of the variation) way to
develop would be} 20. Rac1 Be6 21. Rhd1 {The rooks belong on open files after
all. However, the d1-rook is slightly exposed, as can be seen from the
following variation:} Nxe3 $5 (21... Bf8 {would allow White consolidate in the
centre with} 22. Nf4 Bc4+ 23. Ke1 Bc5 24. Nfd5 $14) 22. fxe3 Bg4+ 23. Kf1 Bxe3
{, transposing to an ending with R+2P vs N+B, which is not easy to assess.})
20... Be6 21. Bd5 {Offering an exchange that Black cannot accept, because it
would leave him in a clearly worse ending.} (21. Nf4 {would once again allow a
tactical operation similar to that from the previous comment:} Bc4+ 22. Ke1
Nxe3 23. fxe3 Bxe3 $13) ({The dynamism of Black's position can also be seen
after the tempting} 21. Na4 Bd4 $1 22. exd4 Bb3+ 23. Kd2 Bxa4 24. d5 Nd6 $11 {
and the safe blockade on d6 Black has little to fear.}) 21... Bd7 22. Ne4 Bf8
23. Rc7 {Apparently, a crushing move. The b7- and f7-squares are put under
strong pressure, while the group of white minor pieces dominate the centre.}
Rbd8 $3 {As often happens, the solution against a slightly premature action
consists of a move completing the development.} 24. Nc3 (24. Rxb7 $2 {loses
material to the unexpected} Bc8 $3 {, although this allows a capture of a pawn
with check (and fork):} 25. Bxf7+ {and suddenly the e4-knight is hanging.} Kh8
26. Bxe8 Bxb7 $17) (24. Bxb7 {is playable, but allows Black simplify to a draw:
} Bb5 25. Rd1 Rxd3 26. Rxd3 Rd8 27. Rcc3 Rd7 $1 28. Bc8 {The only way to
escape perpetual pursuit.} (28. Bc6 $2 Rxd3 $1 $17) (28. Ba8 Rd8 $11) 28...
Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Nd6 30. Nxd6 Bxd6 $11 {and after the exchange on d3 followed by .
..a5 White has no winning chance at all because of the presence of opposite
coloured bishops.}) 24... Nd4+ 25. Kd2 Be6 $1 {A paradoxical move. Given the
specific circumstances, this exchange tends to favour Black, who gets tactial
chances because of the (already) exposed position of the enemy king.} 26. exd4
(26. Bxe6 $2 {loses material after} Nxe6 27. Rc4 b5 {and the rook loses
stability on the 4th rank.} 28. Rh4 Be7 29. Re4 (29. Rg4 f5 $19) 29... b4 30.
Nd1 Rxd3+ 31. Kxd3 Nc5+ 32. Kd4 Rd8+ 33. Ke5 Bd6+ 34. Kf5 g6+ $1 $19 {and
finally the king has to abandon the defence of the rook.}) 26... Bxd5 27. Nxd5
Rxd5 28. Rxb7 b5 {An interesting position. White cannot maintain his extra
pawn, but would just be happy to exchange one pair of rooks, when the
centralised position of his king would ensure him a large advantage in the
endgame. However, this is not easy to achieve and with 4 rooks on board the
position retains middlegame characteristics.} 29. a4 $5 {A remarkable decision.
Understanding that he has failed to obtain an advantage, Kramnik changes the
character of the position in a radical way. Not entirely undeservedly (for his
courage and inventiveness!) the experiment will be crowned by success.} ({
In view of the previous comment,} 29. Re1 $5 Red8 30. Re4 {would practically
force Black weaken his seventh rank with} f5 {but after} 31. Re3 Rxd4 32. Ke2 {
it is unclear how White could take advantage of this small modification.})
29... Rxd4 30. axb5 Red8 (30... axb5 31. Rxb5 Red8 32. Rb3 $16) 31. bxa6 Rxd3+
32. Ke1 $44 {White has sacrificed a knight for the sake of creating a
dangerous passed pawn on the a-file, which can eventually be supported by its
colleague in the near future. Besides, Black has back rank problems, which
delays the moment when he will be able to activate his bishop.} Re8+ (32...
R3d4 {is also playable:} 33. Rc1 Rb4 34. Rcc7 Ra8 35. a7 Rxb7 36. Rxb7 {
and now Black is just in time to activate his bishop in order to... sacrifice
it for the enemy queenside pawns:} g6 37. Kd2 {/\Kc3, b4} Kg7 $1 {/\Bc5} 38. b4
$8 Bxb4+ $1 $11) 33. Kf1 Rdd8 34. a7 Ra8 35. b4 Re7 36. Rxe7 Bxe7 37. b5 Bc5 $2
(37... Bd8 {would have most probably led to a draw:} 38. Ra6 (38. Rd1 Bc7 39.
Rc1 Bd8 $11) 38... Kf8 39. b6 Bxb6 40. Rxb6 Rxa7 $11) 38. Rc1 Bd4 39. Rc4 {
Possibly overlooked by Naiditsch. The bishop has not sufficient space along
the g1-a7-diagonal.} Bxa7 (39... Bb6 {does not change much:} 40. Rc6 Bxa7 (
40... Bd4 41. b6 $18) 41. Ra6 Rb8 42. Rxa7 {transposing to the game.}) 40. Ra4
Rb8 41. Rxa7 Kf8 $2 {Possibly the decisive mistake in a difficult position.} ({
It would have been necessary to clear the seventh rank with} 41... f6 {and
only then activate the king:} 42. Ra5 Kf7 43. Ke2 Ke6 44. Kd3 Kd5 45. Kc3 Kc5 {
when after} 46. Ra7 g5 {the final result remains uncertain.}) 42. Ra5 Ke7 43.
Ke2 Rb6 (43... Kd6 44. Kd3 Kc5 45. Ra7 Rf8 46. Rb7 $18) 44. Kd3 Rd6+ 45. Kc4
$18 Rd2 46. b6 Kd6 47. Rb5 Rc2+ 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {When Kramnik played this move in the previous round, I thought he
might have just wanted to avoid Svidler's Grьnfeld. Now, it seems that he
really switched back to the favourite weapon of his youth. Als Kramnik in der
vorigen Runde diesen Zug spielt, dachte ich, dass er damit vielleicht nur
Svidlers Grьnfeld vermeiden wollte. Nun scheint es, als sei er wirklich zur
Lieblingswaffe seiner Jugend zurьckgekehrt. Cuando Kramnik efectuу esta jugada
en su partida anterior, pensй que tal vez se tratara de evitar la Defensa
Grьnfeld de Svidler. Ahora, parece mas como que el Campeуn mundial haya
desterrado el arma predilecta de su juventud.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 {
However, the Catalan is a relatively recent "discovery" of Kramnik and his
results with it have been excellent. Apparently, the subtle combination of
tactical and strategic motifs suits his talent quite well. This game is an
excellent illustration. Katalanisch ist allerdings eine relativ neue
"Entdeckung" von Kramnik, und seine Ergebnisse damit waren ausgezeichnet. Die
subtile Kombination taktischer und strategischer Motive kommt seinem Talent
offenbar sehr entgegen. Diese Partie ist dafьr ein Paradebeispiel. Sin embargo,
la Catalana es un "descubrimiento" relativamente reciente de Kramnik y sus
resultados con ella han sido excelentes. Aparentemente, la sъtil combinaciуn
de motivos tбcticos y estratйgicos se adaptan muy bien a su gran talento. Esta
partida es un ejemplo perfecto.} dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 ({The more ambitious
continuation is supposed to be Als ehrgeiziger gilt die Fortsetzung La jugada
supuestamente mas ambiciosa es} 6. O-O {. The text move is considered to offer
Black an equal game after 6...c5, but both Morozevich and Kramnik seem to have
a different opinion... . Der Textzug soll Schwarz angeblich nach 6...c5
gleiches Spiel bieten, aber sowohl Morozevich als auch Kramnik scheinen dies
anders zu sehen... Se considera que la jugada del texto ofrece a las negras
posibilidades de igualar con 6...c5, pero tanto Kramnik como Morozevich
parecen tener una opiniуn distinta...}) 6... Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nd5 {Morozevich aims
to put his mighty opponent under direct pressure from an early stage of the
game. This policy will soon turn against himself as a boomerang. Morozevich
will seinen mдchtigen Gegner von der Frьhphase an unter direkten Druck setzen.
Diese Politik wird sich bald als Bumerang erweisen. Morozevich intenta someter
a su potente rival bajo presiуn directa desde un estado temprano de la partida.
Esta politica se volverб contra йl mismo como un bumerбn.} 8. O-O $5 {A
novelty. White simply ignores Black's apparently strong threat and continues
his development. The move is simple and logical, but its consequences are not
easy to evaluate. This often happens in the sharp lines of the Catalan: you
know exactly what you have to do, but cannot always trust your judgement,
because of the irrational character of the position. Eine Neuerung. WeiЯ
ignoriert die scheinbar starke schwarze Drohung einfach und setzt seine
Entwicklung fort. Der Zug ist einfach und logisch, aber seine Konsequenzen
sind nicht leicht zu bewerten. So ist es oft in den scharfen
Katalanisch-Abspielen: man weiЯ genau, was man tun muss, aber aufgrund des
irrationalen Charakters der Stellung kann man seinem Urteil nicht immer trauen.
Una novedad. Las blancas ignoran la amenaza aparentemente fuerte de las negras
y continъa su desarrollo. La jugada es simple y lуgica, pero las consecuencнas
finales no son fбciles de evaluar. Esto ocurre a menudo en las variantes
agudas de la Catalana: uno sabe con exactitud lo que debe hacer, pero no
siempre puede confнar en su juicio por el carбcter ircional de la posiciуn.} ({
Previously, White answered almost invariably with Bisher antwortete WeiЯ
praktisch ausnahmslos mit} 8. Bd2 {. This is not a bad move, since it
consolidates White's centre, leaving him with adequate compensation. The major
difference of Bd2 is that it obstructs his own queen and spends a valuable
tempo, thus restricting White's dynamic possibilities. Here are some of the
most recent examples: . Dies ist kein schlechter Zug, denn er konsolidiert das
Zentrum von WeiЯ und ьberlдsst ihm ausreichende Kompensation. Der wesentliche
Unterschied nach Bd2 ist, dass der Zug die Dame verstellt und ein kostbares
Tempo aufwendet, wodurch die dynamischen Mцglichkeiten von WeiЯ einschrдnkt
werden. Hier ein paar der aktuellsten Beispiele:} b5 (8... Bxc3 $6 {is
slightly premature, because after ist leicht verfrьht, den nach} 9. bxc3 b5 {
it offers White some additional possibilities, such as bietet dies WeiЯ ein
paar zusдtzliche Mцglichkeiten wie} 10. a4 Bb7 11. e4 Nf6 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Qb1
O-O 14. Nxc4 $14 {Georgiev,K (2661)-Ramesh,R (2483)/Gibraltar 2007/CBM 116 ext
(1-0, 31)}) 9. O-O ({Now, Nun ist} 9. a4 {is less efficient because of weniger
wirksam wegen} Bb7 10. e4 Nf6 {[%csl Rd4,Re4] and the bishop is stable on b4,
while the central pawns are hanging. und der Lдufer steht auf b4 stabil,
wдhrend die Zentralbauern hдngen.}) 9... Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. e4 (11. a4 f6
12. Ng4 Bb7 13. e4 Nb6 14. Qb1 $6 {Ivanisevic,I (2614)-Pavasovic,D (2567)/
Valjevo 2007/CBM 119 (1-0, 71)} f5 $1 $132 {Black has good chances of
establishing a blockade on the light squares. Schwarz hat gute Chancen, eine
Blockade auf den weiЯen Feldern zu errichten.}) 11... Nb6 12. f4 {White's
massive centre looks impressive, but Black has no weaknesses. If he manages to
neutralize the kingside pressure, his extra-pawn would gradually make itself
felt. Das massive weiЯe Zentrum wirkt imposant, doch Schwarz hat keine
Schwдchen. Wenn es ihm gelingt, den Druck am Kцnigsflьgel zu neutralisieren,
wьrde sich sein Mehrbauer allmдhlich bemerkbar machen.} Bb7 13. f5 exf5 14.
Rxf5 N8d7 15. Ng4 Qe7 16. Qc2 Rae8 17. Re1 f6 $15 {Nogueiras,J (2554)-Ivanchuk,
V (2741)/Havana 2006/CBM 116 (0-1, 42). Black has regrouped in optimal way and
can wait further events with optimism. Schwarz hat sich optimal umgruppiert
und kann optimistisch in die Zukunft blicken.}) ({The attempt to transpose to
the game without sacrificing additional pawns, by playing Der Versuch, ohne
das Opfer weiterer Bauern zur Partie ьberzuleiten, und zwar mit dem sofortigen
} 8. Qc2 {immediately fails to , scheitert an} Nxc3 9. bxc3 Qxd4 $1 {White can
get some compensation for the pawn(s) with WeiЯ kann einige Kompensation fьr
den (die) Bauern erlangen mit} 10. Qa4+ Nd7 11. Qxb4 Qxe5 {, but Black's
position is relatively safe. , aber die schwarze Stellung ist relativ sicher.})
8... O-O ({This looks like some sort of concession, after which Black's
ambitious play in the previous phase of the game loses part of its meaning.
Morozevich might have feared Kramnik's famously deep home preparation, but I
must say that at first sight it is not easy to see the danger for Black after
Dies wirkt wie eine Art Zugestдndnis, wonach das ehrgeizige Spiel von Schwarz
in der vorangegangenen Phase einen Teil seiner Bedeutung einbьЯt. Morozevich
mag Kramniks berьhmt tiefe Heimvorbereitung gefьrchtet haben, aber ich muss
sagen, dass es auf den ersten Blick nicht leicht ist, die Gefahr fьr den
Nachziehenden nach Esta parece como una especнe de concesiуn, despuйs de la
cual todo el juego anterior de las negras resulta menos lуgico. Morozevich
puede que haya temido la famosamente profunda preparaciуn casera de Kramnik,
pero hay que decir que no es fбcil ver los peligros inmediatos para las negras
despuйs de} 8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 {. Obviously, he is strongly underdeveloped,
but for the time being he is two pawns up. Let us look at the position more
concretely: zu erkennen. Offensichtlich ist er stark unterentwickelt, aber im
Moment hat er zwei Bauer mehr. Betrachten wir die Stellung konkreter: .
Evidentemente, las negras se encuantran sin desarrollar, pero de momento
tienen dos peones de ventaja.} 10. Rb1 {This simple move is the best. White
evacuates the rook from the attacked square, occupying the important b-file.
Dieser einfach zu ist am besten. WeiЯ evakuiert den Turm von dem angegriffenen
Feld und besetzt die offene b-Linie.} ({The thematic Das thematische} 10. Ba3 {
does not work here too well. The most effective answer is funktioniert hier
nicht so gut. Die wirksamste Antwort ist} Qxd4 {, when White cannot avoid the
exchange of queens. , wonach WeiЯ den Damentausch nicht vermeiden kann.}) (10.
Qa4+ {is also insufficient in view of reicht ebenfalls nicht wegen} b5 11. Qa3
b4 12. Qa4+ Bd7) 10... Bxd4 (10... Qxd4 11. Qa4+ b5 (11... Nd7 $16 12. Bf4 {
[%cal Yf1d1]}) (11... Bd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qxc4 $16 {[%csl Gb7]}) (11... c6
12. Nxc6 $1 $16) 12. Qa3 Qxe5 13. Bf4 {followed by either Bxa8 or Bxc7. White
retrieves most of his material investment. Black's pawns look threatening, but
his king still needs to get castled and in the meanwhile the pawns could
become vulnerable. gefolgt von entweder Bxa8 oder Bxc7. WeiЯ bekommt einen
GroЯteil seiner Materialinvestition zurьck. Die Bauern von Schwarz wirken
bedrohlich, doch sein Kцnig muss erst noch zur Rochade kommen, und in der
Zwischenzeit kцnnten die Bauern anfдllig werden.}) 11. Nxc4 O-O 12. Ba3 Re8 13.
Na5 (13. e3 Bf6 14. Qc2 Be7 15. Rfd1 Nd7 {allows Black to defend. He might
have to give both pawns back, but this would lead to plain equality. erlaubt
Schwarz, sich zu Verteidigung. Er muss unter Umstдnden beide Bauern
zurьckgeben, doch dies wьrde zu glattem Ausgleich fьhren.}) (13. Qc2 Qg5) 13...
Ra7 (13... Bb6 14. Nxb7 Bxb7 15. Bxb7 Ra7 16. Bf3 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 {Black is
under serious pressure. He has no easy way to complete his development. For
instance, Schwarz steht unter ersten Druck. Er hat keine einfache Mцglichkeit,
seine Entwicklung abzuschlieЯen. Zum Beispiel ist} a5 {is too slow: zu langsam:
} 18. Rb3 Na6 19. Bc6 Rb8 20. Rbd3 $16 {followed by the invasion of the back
rank. , gefolgt von der Invastion auf der Grundreihe.}) 14. Nxb7 Bxb7 15. Bxb7
c5 16. e3 Qa5 17. exd4 Qxa3 {Black maintains his extra-pawn and hopes to
simplify the position. However, his coordination is very poor, which allows
White obtain a clear advantage with a series of precise moves. Schwarz
behauptet seinen Mehrbauern und hofft, die Stellung zu vereinfachen. Doch
seine Koordination ist sehr mangelhaft, was WeiЯ erlaubt, mit einer Serie
prдziser Zьge einen klaren Vorteil zu erzielen.} 18. Qd2 $3 {Just completing
the development by connecting rooks. Vollendet einfach die Entwicklung, indem
die Tьrme verbunden werden.} c4 (18... Rd8 $2 19. Qg5 $1 Rxd4 20. Bd5 $3 $18 {
An interference combined with clearance of a file and the weakness of the back
rank. Ein Stцrzug kombiniert mit einer Linienrдumung und der
Grundreihenschwдche.}) (18... a5 $2 19. Rb3 Qa4 20. dxc5 $16) (18... cxd4 $2
19. Qxd4 $18 {[%csl Ya7]}) 19. Rfc1 Qd3 20. Qb4 $16 {White is much better
mobilized and will re-establish the material equality on the next move. WeiЯ
ist deutlich besser mobilisiert und wird im nдchsten Zug das materielle
Gleichgewicht wiederherstellen.} Qxd4 $2 {is impossible because of ist
unmцglich wegen} 21. Rxc4 {, when Black's queen cannot prevent the invasion of
the white queen to b6 anymore. , wonach die schwarze Dame das Eindringen der
weiЯen Dame auf auf b6 nicht mehr verhindern kann.}) 9. Qc2 b5 10. Nxd5 exd5 {
The first optical sensation is that a massive migration of Black's pieces from
the kingside to the opposite wing has taken place. Paradoxically, White will
not try to attack the slightly vulnerable king's position, but will hit
precisely on the side where Black has such an apparently strong group of
forces. This is enabled by the fact that all the queenside pieces are
undeveloped yet, while the b4-bishop is vulnerable. Der erste optische
Eindruck ist, dass eine massive Wanderung der schwarzen Figuren vom Kцnigs-
zum Damenflьgel stattgefunde hat. Paradoxerweise wird WeiЯ nicht versuchen,
die etwas anfдllige Kцnigsstellung anzugreifen, sondern genau auf der Seite
zuschlagen, wo Schwarz eine scheinbar so starke Gruppe an Krдften hat. Dies
wird ermцglicht durch die Tatsache, dass sдmtliche Damenflьgelfiguren noch
unentwickelt sind, wдhrend der b4-Lдufer anfдllig ist. La primera sensaciуn
уptica es que se haya producido una migraciуn masiva de las figuras negras del
flanco de rey al otro extremo del tablero. Paradojicamente, las blancas no
intentarбn atacar la algo vulnerable posiciуn del rey, sino van a golpear
precisamente en la zona donde las negras tienen una agrupaciуn aparentemente
muy fuerte de fuerzas. Esta posibilidad es habilitada por la completa falta de
desarrollo del flanco de dama negro.} 11. b3 c6 (11... cxb3 $2 12. Qxb3 $16 {
[%csl Yb4,Yd5]}) 12. e4 {Three of Black's pawns are under serious pressure now.
Morozevich puts more wood into the fire with Nunmehr stehen drei schwarze
Bauern unter ernstem Druck. Morozevich gieЯt noch mehr Цl ins Feuer mit Tres
de los peones negros se encuantran bajo fuerte presiуn. Con su jugada
siguнente, Morozevich echa mбs madera al fuego.} (12. bxc4 {has been
recommended, but from general point of view it is better not to hurry with the
release of the tension. wurde empfohlen, doch generell sollte man sich mit der
Aufhebung der Spannung besser nicht beeilen.} dxc4 $5 $13 {Black gets the
d5-pawn out of the range of White's pieces. Schwarz bringt den d5-Bauern auЯer
Reichweite der weiЯen Figuren.} ({White's idea is justified after Die Idee von
WeiЯ rechtfertigt sich nach} 12... bxc4 13. e4 $44 f6 $2 14. Nxc4 $1 $16) 13.
Nxc6 {does not yield White anything concrete, because Black can complete his
development with bringt WeiЯ nichts Konkretes ein, weil Schwarz seine
Entwicklung abschlieЯen kann mit} Nxc6 14. Bxc6 Bh3 15. Rd1 Rc8 $13 {with a
sharp position, in which it is not entirely clear whose pawns are more
dangerous. , mit scharfer Stellung, in der nicht ganz klar ist, wessen Bauern
gefдhrlicher sind.}) 12... f6 $6 {It is far too dangerous to create new
weaknesses with such a poor development. The material gains will not
compensate for the general drawbacks of the position. Black should have aimed
to continue his development somehow. Bei derart schlechter Entwicklung ist es
viel zu gefдhrlich, neue Schwдchen zu schaffen. Die materiellen
Errungenschafen werden die allgemeinen Defizite der Stellung nicht
kompensieren. Schwarz hдtte versuchen sollen, irgendwie seine Entwicklung
abzuschlieЯen.} (12... Be6 13. bxc4 bxc4 (13... dxc4 14. d5 $1) 14. Rb1 a5 15.
a3 Be7 (15... Bd6 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Rd8d4]} 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Nxc4) 16. Rxb8
Qxb8 17. Nxc6 Qd6 18. exd5 Bd7 19. Qxc4 $14) (12... Ra7 $5 13. bxc4 {Now, I
cannot find anything better than this. Nun kann ich nichts Besseres finden als
diesen Zug.} (13. exd5 cxd5 14. a4 $6 f6 15. axb5 $2 fxe5 16. bxc4 Rc7 {
reveals one of the points behind the slightly mysterious rook lift. enthьllt
eine der Pointen hinter dem leicht mysteriцsen Turmschwenk.}) 13... dxc4 (13...
bxc4 $6 14. Rb1 Rb7 15. exd5 cxd5 16. Nxc4 $14) 14. Be3 Re7 15. Rfd1 Bd6 16. a4
$44 {The evaluation is similar to that from the game Nogueiras - Ivanchuk,
quoted above. White has good compensation for the pawn, but no clear plan for
improving his position. Therefore, I suspect that Kramnik had some other idea
in mind after 12...Ra7, but for the moment I cannot guess it. We will have to
wait until his next game with this variation or maybe ask him personally. Die
Einschдtzung verlдuft дhnlich der oben zitierten Partie Nogueiras - Ivanchuk.
WeiЯ gute Kompensation fьr den Bauern, aber keinen klaren Plan, wie er seine
Stellung verbessern kann. Daher vermute ich, dass Kramnik nach 12...Ra7
irgendeine andere Idee vorschwebte, aber im Moment kann ich nicht erraten
welche. Wir werden bis zu seiner nдchsten Partie warten mьssen oder sollten
ihn vielleicht persцnlich fragen.}) 13. exd5 $3 {Further analysis might prove
that the objective merits of this move are debatable, although I very much
doubt it. (Refer to the final part of the comment after 8.0-0). However, for
the time being, I will limit myself to saying that the enthusiastic evaluation
refers to White's courage, in the best spirit of the good old romantic times.
From a practical point of view, Black's position is very difficult to play.
Weitere Analysen kцnnten beweisen, dass der objektive Wert dieses Zuges
strittig ist, wenngleich ich es sehr bezweifle. (Man vergleiche den letzten
Teil des Kommentars nach 8.0-0). Fьr den Augenblick aber mцchte ich mich auf
die Aussage beschrдnken, dass sich die enthusiastische Bewertung auf den Mut
von WeiЯ bezieht, ganz im Geist der guten, alten romantischen Zeiten. Aus
praktischer Sicht ist die Stellung von Schwarz sehr schwer zu spielen. Es
posible que los anбlisis ulteriores demuestren que los mйritos objetivos de
esta jugada son cuestionables, aunque mucho lo dudo. (Tengan en cuenta la
parte final del comentarнo despuйs de 8.0-0). Sin embargo, en este momento me
limito a decir que la evaluaciуn entusiastica se refiere en primer lugar al
coraje de las blancasn, en el mejor espiritu de los viejos tiempos romбnticos.
Desde el punto de vista prбctico, la psoiciуn de las negras es bastante
difнcil de jugar.} fxe5 14. bxc4 {It is not easy to understand what is
happening on the board after these 3 consecutive pawn captures. Black has won
a piece for a pawn, but is strongly underdeveloped and has to avoid dxe5
somehow. Es ist nicht leicht zu begreifen, was nach diesen 3 Bauernschlagzьgen
in Folge auf dem Brett vor sich geht. Schwarz hat eine Figur fьr einen Bauern
gewonnen, ist aber stark unterentwickelt und muss irgendwie dxe5 verhindern.
No es fбcil comprender lo que pasa en el tablero despuйs de estas 3 capturas
consecutivas con peones. Las negras han ganado figura por peуn, pero siguen
sin desarrollar y tienen que evitar dxe5 de alguna forma.} exd4 {Four. Vier.
Cuatro.} 15. dxc6 {Five. Fьnf. Cinco.} Be6 {Morozevich finally starts
developing his queenside. The books recommend to develop knights and only then
bishops, but how to accomplish that in this position? Endlich beginnt
Morozevich, seinen Damenflьgel zu entwickeln. Die Bьcher empfehlen, erst die
Springer herauszubringen und erst dann die Lдufer, aber wie soll man das in
dieser Stellung bewerkstelligen? Finalmente, Morozevich empieza a desarrollar
el flanco de dama. Los libros recomiendan sacar antes los caballos y solo
despuйs los alfiles, pero їcomo llevar esto a cabo en la posiciуn dada?} 16.
cxb5 $1 {Kramnik is not interested in winning the undeveloped a8-rook. He just
carries out his "plan". The immediate threat is c7; in the meanwhile, White
has created two connected pawns. Kramnik hat kein Interesse, den unentwickelt
a8-Turm zu gewinnen. Er fьhrt einfach seinen "Plan" aus. Die unmittelbare
Drohung lautet c7; in der zwischenzeit hat WeiЯ zwei verbundene Bauern
gebildet. Kramnik no estб interesado en ganar la torre no desarrollada. Йl
continъa con su plan. La amenaza inmediata es c7; mientras tanto, las blancas
han creado dos peones pasados conectados.} d3 ({One of the computer's
recommendations is Eine der Computerempfehlungen lautet} 16... Ra7 {. White
has a relatively simple solution in . WeiЯ hat eine relativ einfache Lцsung in}
17. Rb1 Ba5 18. a4 axb5 19. axb5 {when Black will play the rest of the game
without his knight, which is safely caged. , wonach Schwarz den Rest der
Partie ohne seinen Springer spielen wird, der sicher im Kдfig sitzt.} d3 {
leads nowhere after fьhrt zu nichts nach} 20. Qc5 Bb6 21. Qe5 $16) ({A similar
situation arises after Eine дhnliche Situation entsteht nach} 16... Bc3 17. Bb2
Ra7 18. Bxc3 dxc3 19. a4 {. Black's counterplay initiated by . Das von Schwarz
durch} Qb6 {is not sufficient because of eingeleitete Gegenspiel reicht nicht
aus wegen} 20. Qe4 Re7 21. Qe3 {, removing the pressure against the pawns and
unblocking them, with a clear advantage. was den Druck gegen die Bauern
abschьttelt und ihre Blockade aufhebt, mit klarem Vorteil.}) 17. c7 $6 {
Noblesse oblige. Kramnik feels like answering Morozevich's aggression with the
same method. However, this move might be premature, because of some hidden
tactical nuances, which are far from easy to grasp over the board. Noblesse
oblige. Kramnik meint, Morozevichs Aggression mit gleicher Mьnze heimzahlen zu
mьssen. Doch dieser Zug kцnnte voreilig sein aufgrund einiger versteckter
taktischer Nuancen, die am Brett bei weitem nicht leicht zu erfassen sind.} (
17. Qa4 $5 {might have been better. wдre vielleicht besser gewesen.} d2 (17...
Qa5 18. Qxa5 Bxa5 19. a4 $14 {[%csl Gb8]}) 18. c7 Qd6 {It is curious that this
is the only relatively good square. Es ist kurios, dass dies das einzige
relativ gute Feld ist.} ({The difference can be seen after Der Unterschied ist
zu sehen nach} 18... Qe7 19. Bxa8 axb5 20. Qxb5 Nd7 {when the queen does not
attack the c7-pawn any more, allowing simple winning moves such as , wonach
die Dame nicht mehr den Bauern c7 attackiert, was einfache Gewinnzьge erlaubt
wie} 21. Bb7 {or, more sophisticated, 21.Bd5, when the c7-pawn is likely to
decide the outcome of the battle. oder das anspruchsvollere 21.Bd5, worauf der
c7-Bauer den Ausgang der Schlacht wahrscheinlich entscheiden wird.}) 19. Bxd2
$1 {and we transpose to the line 17...Qd6! 18.Qa4 d2?! below. und wir haben
einen Ьbergang zum Abspiel 17...Qd6! 18.Qa4 d2?! unten.}) 17... Qd4 $2 {
One general rule recommends placing queens in the centre of the board. It
mainly refers to positions with just queens and rooks on the board. Here, the
queen is just too exposed on d4, allowing White to obtain a decisive advantage
in at least two different ways. Eine Faustregel empfiehlt, die Damen in der
Mitte des Bretts zu postieren. Dies bezieht sich hauptsдchlich auf Stellungen
mit lediglich Damen und Tьrmen auf dem Brett. Hier steht die Dame einfach zu
exponiert auf d4, was WeiЯ ermцglicht, auf mindestens zwei verschiedene Weisen
entscheidenden Vorteil zu erlangen.} ({The other counterattacking move Der
Gegenangriff} 17... Qf6 $2 {fails to scheitert an} 18. Qxd3 Qxa1 19. Qe4 $1 $18
{White is in no hurry to capture any of the undeveloped attacked pieces.
Instead, he attacks both bishops. After winning one of them, he will fulfil
the queenside formalities, too. WeiЯ hat es nicht eilig, irgendeine der
unentwickelten angegriffenen Figuren einzusammeln. Stattdessen attackiert er
beide Lдufer. Nachdem er einen davon gewonnen hat, wird er auch die
Formalitдten am Damenflьgel erledigen.}) ({Sergey Shipov recommended Sergey
Shipov empfahl} 17... dxc2 18. cxd8=Q Rxd8 19. Bxa8 axb5 {but , aber} 20. Bg5 {
maintains White's advantage. behauptet den weiЯen Vorteil.} ({He only
mentiones Er erwдhnt nur} 20. Be4 Rc8 21. Bf4 Ba3 22. Bxb8 c1=Q 23. Rfxc1 Rxc1+
24. Rxc1 Bxc1 25. Bb1 {, evaluating that Black has good saving chances. Indeed,
if we continue the variations by just a few more moves, we can see that this
is true: mit der Einschдtzung, dass Schwarz gute Rettungschancen hat.
Tatsдchlich, wenn wir die Vairanten nur ein paar Zьge fortsetzen, kцnnen wir
sehen, dass dies stimmt:} b4 26. Bd6 Ba3 $1 {followed by ...b3! when White has
no winning chances with pawns on just one wing. nebst ...b3!, wonach WeiЯ bei
Bauern an nur einem Flьgel keine Gewinnchancen hat.}) 20... Rc8 21. a4 $1 $16)
(17... Qd6 $1 {looks like the only reasonable way to keep the position
together.} 18. Qa4 (18. Qb2 {can also be answered by kann ebenfalls mit} Nd7 {
beantwortet werden}) 18... Nd7 $1 (18... d2 $6 19. Bxd2 Bxd2 20. Bxa8 Qxc7 21.
bxa6 Qa7 22. Bb7 {with rook and three pawns for two minor pieces, White is
clearly better, especially since the a6-pawn is so advanced. mit Turm und drei
Bauern fьr zwei Leichtfiguren; WeiЯ steht klar besser, zumal der a6-Bauer so
weit vorgerьckt ist.} Bh3 23. Qa3 $1 {[%csl Yf8]} Nd7 24. Bg2 {Now that the
a6-pawn is not attacked anymore, this is even better than one move before,
where it would have sufficed for some minimal advantage. Nun, wo der a6-Bauer
nicht mehr unter Beschuss steht, ist dies sogar noch besser als einen Zug
zuvor, wo es nur zu einem minimalen Vorteil gereicht hдtte.} Bxg2 25. Kxg2 {
and Black cannot generate adequate counterplay against the enemy king, for
instance und Schwarz kann kein ausreichendes Gegenspiel gegen den feindlichen
Kцnig aufziehen, zum Beispiel} Ne5 $6 {[%csl Yf3][%cal Ra7a8]} 26. Qb3+ Kh8 27.
Qb7 $16) 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Qxa6 (20. Bf4 Qd5 $1 {transposes to Morozevich's
missed opportunity, see below. leitet ьber zu Morozevichs verpasster
Gelegenheit, siehe unten.}) 20... Qxa6 21. bxa6 $44 {and White has some
compensation for the sacrificed material, but probably not more than that. und
WeiЯ hat etwas Kompensation fьr das geopferte Material, aber vermutlich nicht
mehr.}) 18. Qa4 ({The developing move Der Entwicklungszug} 18. Be3 {was also
strong. war ebenfalls stark.} Qxa1 $5 {What else? Was sonst?} 19. c8=Q Rxc8 20.
Qxc8+ Bxc8 21. Rxa1 Nc6 22. Bxc6 Rb8 23. Rd1 ({Better than the immediate
Besser als das sofortige} 23. Ba7 $6 {which allows Black get some chances with
, was Schwarz noch einige Chancen einrдumt mit} Rxb5 $1 {, relying on his
d3-pawn. , wobei er sich auf seinen Bauern d3 verlдsst.}) 23... axb5 (23... Bf5
24. bxa6 $18) 24. Ba7 $1 $18) 18... Nd7 19. Be3 Qd6 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 {White has
recovered his material investment with some interest and preserves his passed
pawns. Still, the position remains complicated and certain accuracy is still
required. WeiЯ hat seine Materialinvestition mit einigen Zinsen zurьckbekommen
und behдlt seine Freibauern. Dennoch, die Stellung bleibt kompliziert, und
eine gewisse Genauigkeit ist nach wie vor erforderlich. Las blancas han
recuperado su inversiуn de material con algo de creces, manteniendo sus peones
pasados. Sin embargo, la posiciуn quedamuy aguda y se necesita cierta
precisiуn todavнa.} 21. Bf4 $2 ({Kramnik could have crowned his logical play
by just completing the mobilisation of his forces with Kramnik hдtte sein
logisches Spiel krцnen kцnnen, indem er einfach die Mobilisierung seiner
Krдfte abschlieЯt, also Kramnik podнa haber coronado su juego lуgico anterior
completando la movilisaciуn de sus fuerzas con} 21. Rac1 $1 {which
"incidentally" threatens to promote the pawn. After was "nebenbei" droht, den
Bauern umzuwandeln. Nach que, de paso, amenaza coronar el peуn. Despuйs de} Rc8
22. Rc6 {followed by Rxe6, White obtains a decisive material advantage. nebst
Txe6 erlangt WeiЯ entscheidenden Materialvorteil. seguнdo por Txe6, las
blancas obtendrнan ventaja material decisivo.}) 21... Qf8 $2 ({Kindly
returning the favour. Black misses his chance to change the course of the game
with Gibt das Kompliment freundlich zurьck. Schwarz verpasst die Chance, den
Partieverlauf zu дndern, und zwar mit Amablemente devolviendo el favor. Las
negras dejan escapar su posibilidad de cambнar el curso del juego con} 21...
Qd5 $3 $36 {, when , wonach , cuando} 22. Qxb4 $2 {is impossible because of
unmцglich ist wegen es imposible por} Qf3 $19 {, with the decisive threats ..
Bd5 or ...Bh3. mit den entscheidenden Drohungen ...Ld5 oder ...Lh3. , con las
amenazas decisivas ...Ad5 o ...Ah3.}) 22. b6 $1 {Now it's all over. These
pawns cannot be stopped. 22...Nxb6 drops a piece to 23.Qc6, while Morozevich's
desperate (but delayed!) counterplay cannot change anything. Jetzt ist alles
vorbei. Diese Bauern sind nicht aufzuhalten. 22...Nxb6 verliert eine Figur
wegen 23.Qc6, uind auch Morozevichs verzweifeltes (aber verspдtetes!)
Gegenspiel kann nichts дndern. Ahora todo se ha acabado. Estos peones no
pueden ser parados. 22...Nxb6 perderнa una figura por 23.Qc6, mientras que el
contraataque desesperado (Ўpero retrasado!) de Morozevich no podrб cambiar
nada.} Ne5 23. Bxe5 Qf3 24. Qd1 Qe4 25. b7 Rf8 26. c8=Q Bd5 27. f3 {Generally
speaking, a wonderful game by the World Champion, although the position was so
complicated that at least on one occasion he did not play the strongest move.
Unterm Strich eine wundervolle Partie des Weltmeisters, wenngleich die
Stellung so kompliziert war, dass er zumindest an einer Stelle nicht den
stдrksten Zug spielte.} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Qc8 12. Bg5 Nbd7 {The moment of truth has
come. Leko fights against Kramnik with his own weapons. Quite a risky policy,
I must say. Ha llegado la hora de la verdad. Leko lucha contra Kramnik con sus
proprнas armas. Una polнtica bastante arriesgada, segъn me parece...} 13. Qf4
$5 {Here comes the novelty, sidestepping most of the theoretical knowledge
that has been accumulated in recent years. Aquн tenemos la novedad, evitando
la mayor parte de los conocimientos teуricos acumulados durante los ъltimos
aсos.} Bb7 ({After a long thought, Leko refrains from Despuйs de una larga
reflecciуn, Leko decide abstenerse de} 13... c5 {, which seems to be a
critical continuation. White's most natural reply is , que parece como una
continuaciуn crнtica.} 14. Rc1 c4 15. b3 {[%csl Gc4]}) ({Another consequent
move would be} 13... Qb7 {, but it appears that Black has not sufficient space
along the h1-a8 diagonal after} 14. Nc3 {(Taking advantage of the fact that
the knight's development has been delayed.)} Bc6 15. e4 b4 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5
Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxg5 19. Qxb4 Bxd5 20. Qxb7 Bxb7 21. Nxg5 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 {Despite
simplifications, White retains a minimal but stable advantage because of
Black's queenside weaknesses. It would be dangerous to allow Kramnik to get
such a position.}) 14. Rc1 {There is something remarkable about White's last
moves. I can't help comparing them with certain patterns of play in chess
problems (mates in 3 or 4, helpmates). White's pieces tend to make full use of
the space left available by their colleagues. 12.Bg5 has made available a
whole new diagonal for the queen and she uses it immediately, making the
longest possible move. This has cleared the c1-square and the king's rook
hurries to occupy it. I would also point out that the queen and the bishop
concentrate their pressure on the f6-square, while the queen and the rook
attack the c7-square. To my understanding, this is pure harmony, but let us
return to the more concrete world of practical chess, where things are not
that clear. Hay algo de especial en las ъltimas jugadas de las blancas. No
puedo evitar compararlas con ciertos modelos empleados en la problemнstica de
ajedrez (mates en 3 o 4, mates ayuda). La sfiguras de las blancas tienden a
aprovechar plenamente el espacнo dejado libre por sus colegas en las jugadas
anteriores. 12.Ag5 habнa eliberado la diagonal c1-f4 para la dama, que la
aprovecha enseguнda, efectuando la jugada mбs larga posible. A su vez, esta
jugada ha eliberado la casilla de c1 y la torre de rey se da prisa en ocuparla,
efectuando tambiйn la jugada mбs larga. Tambiйn queda por decir que la dama y
el alfil concentran sus esfuerzos sobre la casilla de f6, mientras que la
torre y la dama atacan el peуn de c7. A mi entender, esto es pura harmonнa.
Pero ya es el tiempo de volver al mundo mбs concreto del ajedrez de torneo.}
Bd6 15. Qh4 h6 16. Bxf6 ({I believe that the extravagant} 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17.
Qxh6 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Yb1d2,Yd2b3,Gc1c2,Ga1c1] should not be discarded
completely. White has no immediate threats, but he can combine the usual
queenside pressure with "casual" kingside tactics. Also, the breakthrough ...
e5 is less appealing, because the f6-knight is hanging. I only have one
objection to this plan: White is underdeveloped still, making such radical
measures loo premature.}) 16... Nxf6 17. Nbd2 {White has a slight advance in
development and has managed to prevent the freeing move ...c5. However, he has
to find a way to coordinate his queen with the other pieces, in order not to
lose... harmony. Las blancas han logrado una pequeсa ventaja de desarrollo y
han conseguнdo evitar la ruptura ...c5. Sin embargo, tienen por delante la
tarea de coordinar de alguna forma a su dama con el resto de las figuras, para
no perder la... armonнa.} Re8 18. e4 (18. Rc2 e5 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxg2 (
20... Rxe5 $6 21. Qf4 $1 Re7 (21... Rxe2 $2 22. Rxc7 $16) 22. Nb3 Bxg2 23. Kxg2
$14 {[%csl Ga5,Gc5][%cal Ya1c1]}) 21. Kxg2 Rxe5 $36 {[%csl Ge2][%cal Yc7c5,
Yc8b7,Ye5h5]}) 18... Nd7 $1 (18... e5 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Qf4 Re7
22. Qe3 $14 {[%csl Gc5]}) (18... Be7 19. Qf4 Bd6 20. e5 Nd5 21. Qg4 Be7 22. Ne4
$14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 19. Nb3 a5 {Up to this moment,Kramnik had spent around a
quarter of an hour, but now he sank into deep thought. Hasta este momento,
Kramnik habнa gastado alrededor de un cuarto de hora, pero aquн se hundiу en
una larga reflexiуn.} (19... e5 $6 20. Na5 $1 $16) ({After} 19... Be7 20. Qf4
Bd6 {White is not forced to accept a draw, but can bring his queen back into
play with} 21. Qe3 $1 $14) 20. Nc5 ({My first thought was that the knight jump
to c5 should have been prepared with Mi primer pensamiento fue que el salto de
caballo tendrнa que ser preparado con} 20. Rc2 a4 21. Nc5 {, but maybe Leko's
last move was more of a defence against the threat Na5 than a preliminary step
for the further advance of the pawn. , pero puede que la jugada anterior de
Leko haya sido una simple parada contra la amenaza Ca5 y no una amenaza contra
el caballo de b3.}) ({After Es posible que despu'es de} 20. Rc2 {, Kramnik
might have disliked a Kramnik no le hubiera gustado} e5) ({When I wrote the
express report, I also believed that the thematic La temбtica jugada} 20. a4 {
fails to offer an advantage after no ofrecerнa ventaja por} bxa4 (20... b4 21.
Nfd2 $14 {[%cal Yd2c4]}) 21. Rxa4 Bb4 {, because there are too many pieces
along the fourth rank, preventing the coordination between the a4-rook and the
queen. This is probably wrong. After . Quedan demasiadas figuras interpuestas
entre la dama y la torre de a4.} 22. Qf4 {[%cal Yf4e3,Gf3e1,Ge1d3] White
retains chances for an advantage.}) 20... Be7 {The first impression is that
the capture on c5 would have made the b7-bishop feel uncomfortable. Leko
decides to solve his problems by... winning material. La captura en c5 hubiera
hecho al alfil de b7 sentirse incуmodo. Leko decidiу resolver sus problemas
por... ganancнas de material.} ({Indeed,} 20... Bxc5 $6 {is not to be
recommended because of} 21. dxc5 Bc6 22. Nd4 $16) ({However,} 20... Nxc5 21.
dxc5 Be7 {is not entirely clear.} 22. Qh5 (22. Qf4 e5 23. Nxe5 Bf6 $44 {
[%csl Gb2]}) 22... Bxe4 (22... g6 23. Qe5 $1) 23. Ne5 $1 g6 24. Qxh6 Bxg2 25.
Kxg2 Bf6 26. Qf4 Bxe5 27. Qxe5 Rd8 {[%csl Ga1] and Black seems to be out of
danger. In most of these variations we can see that the insertion of the moves
Rc2 and ...a4 would have favoured White.}) 21. Qf4 e5 {Slightly risky.} ({
In fact,} 21... Nxc5 22. dxc5 e5 $1 {would transpose toa variation given above,
after having avoided Qh5.}) 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 (23. Qxe5 $2 Bg5 24. Qf5 {
This will cause the disruption of White's centre, but there is no other square
available for the queen.} Qxf5 25. exf5 Bxc1 $19 26. Bxb7 Re1+) 23... Bg5 24.
Qf3 Bxc1 25. Rxc1 Rxe5 26. Qc3 {White's compensation for the sacrificed
exchange consists of his much more active placement of pieces. The b7-bishop
and the a8-rook cannot be brought into play too easily. Continuing the
discussion about harmony, White's position looks optically perfect from this
point of view. La compensaciуn de las blancas por la calidad entregada reside
principalmente en la mayor actividad de sus figuras. Ls negras no podrбn traer
a su torre de dama y alfil en juego con demasiada facilidad. Continuando el
debate sobre la harmonнa, la posiciуn de las blancas parece perfecta desde
este punto de vista.} f6 $6 ({It is hard to say whether Leko underestimated
White's compensation, or, on the contrary, feared that after Es difнcil saber
si Leko habнa menosvalorado la compensaciуn de las blancas despuйs de la
jugada del texto, o si, por el contrarнo, considerу su posiciуn despuйs de} 
26... Re7 27. Nxb7 Qxb7 28. e5 Qa7 29. Bxa8 Qxa8 {his position would remain
difficult. I believe that White would have not found it easy to consolidate
his advantage of space, because there is too little material left on the board
and his position contains some weaknesses, too. In view of Black's several
possible deviations from the game continuation, I would conclude that the
first move made by Kramnik after a long thought (20.Nc5) was not the best and
that 20.a4 will have to be tried next time the respective position arises.
como difнcil. En realidad, las blancas hubieran tenido problemas mantener su
ventaja de espacнo, por el nъmero reducido de figuras que quedan y por las
debilidades en casillas blancas.}) 27. Qb3+ Kh8 $6 {Another uninspired
decision. As will be revealed soon, h7 was a safer square for His Majesty.
Otra decisiуn mal inspirada. Como se verб pronto, h7 serнa una casilla mejor
para Su Majestad.} (27... Kh7 28. Qf7 Bc6 29. Nd3 (29. f4 $2 Qe8 $1) 29... Be8
(29... Qe8 $2 30. Nxe5 $1 {[%csl Gf7]}) 30. Qf8 $14 {The difference compared
to the game continuation is that this is without check.} Rg5 31. h4 Rg4 32. Bf3
$14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 28. Qf7 $1 {Black is in big trouble. The immediate threats
are Nxb7 or Nd3 followed by Rxc7. Las negras pasan por apuros graves. Se
amenazan Nxb7 o Nd3, seguнdo por Rxc7.} Bc6 29. Nd3 Re6 {Con el rey en h7, las
negras hubieran resistido con 29...Ae8, cuando 30.De8 serнa sin jaque.} (29...
Be8 $2 30. Qf8+) 30. Nf4 ({Continuing the attack rather than pinning the rook
with the trivial Prefiriendo continuar el ataque en vez de la clavada sencilla
} 30. Bh3) 30... Rd6 31. Ng6+ Kh7 32. e5 $1 {White wins material now. Las
blancas ganan material.} fxe5 33. Bxc6 Rf6 34. Qd5 Qf5 35. Bxa8 Qxf2+ 36. Kh1
Qxb2 37. Qc5 Kxg6 38. Be4+ Kh5 39. Rb1 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.29"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 ({For the first time in this tournament, Kramnik
refrains from the Catalan. Aronian usually answers Por primera vez en este
torneo, Kramnik evita la Catalana. Despuйs de} 3. g3 {with , Aronian suele
jugar} c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 b5 {and in fact he lost the theoretical duel in
the last two games (against Kramnik himself, in their rapid match earlier this
year and against Gelfand, here in Mexico.) , aunque cabe decir que perdiу sus
ъltimas partidas (contra Kramnik en su encuentro de rбpidas, este mismo aсo y
contra Gelfand en este torneo)}) 3... b6 4. g3 {Still, the bishop goes to g2,
which seems to suit Kramnik's taste these days. Sin embargo, el alfil irб a g2,
lo que parece que le conviene al estilo de Kramnik hoy en dнa.} Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+
6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 ({This was the last chance to transpose to a
genuine Catalan with Esta era la ъltima posibilidad de transponer a una
Catalana veritable con} 8. O-O d5 9. Qc2 {, although some might call it a Bogo
Indian. It should be mentioned that some years ago it was precisely Kramnik
who popularized this curious transposition. , aunque algunos la llamarнan Bogo
India.}) 8... d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 dxe4
14. Nxe4 b5 15. Re1 bxc4 {There have been some discussion in this line lately,
but theory is far from being settled yet. Ultimamente, hubo ciertas
discusiones en esta variante, pero sin llegar a unas conclusiones definitivas
todavнa.} 16. Bf1 ({The main alternative is La principal alternativa es} 16.
Qe2 {See the comments on Radjabov,T (2729)-Karjakin,S (2678)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/
CBM 117/[Krasenkow] (1/2-1/2, 78).}) 16... Nb6 {Aronian had had this position
before, but with the white pieces. IHowever, this previous experience hardly
was useful to him for this game because in Aronian-Nakamura, Armenia 2005, a
draw was agreed right here. Aronian se habнa enfrentado a esta posiciуn
anteriormente, pero... Ўdesde el otro lado del tablero! Sin embargo, no debe
de haberle servido de mucho para esta ocasiуn, ya que en la partida
Aronian-Nakamura, Armenia 2005, se acordaron tablas aquн mismo.} (16... Nf6 17.
bxc4 (17. Nc5 Nd5 {would transpose to 16...Nb6.}) 17... Nxe4 18. Rxe4 c5 19. d5
$14 {Logothetis,S (2221)-Lobzhanidze,D (2450)/Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (1/2-1/2,
35)}) 17. Rb1 $5 {It is curious that this natural developing move, bringing
the last piece into play (true in a not entirely "normal" position) is a
novelty.} ({Earlier, White mainly tried Es curioso que una jugada tan natural
de desarrollo (trayendola ъltima figura en el juego), es verdad, en una
posiciуn bastante poco natural, sea una novedad. Antes, las blancas habнan
probado principalmente} 17. Nc5 {See the comments and theoretical survey in
Sargissian,G (2603)-Efimenko,Z (2666)/Moscow 2006/CBM 112/[Avrukh,B] (1-0, 46).
}) 17... Nd5 $6 {Another merit of Kramnik's novelty, is that this natural and
tempting move, which is an adequate reaction against 17.Nc5, does not work too
well here. From a practical point of view, this is a huge handicap for Black.
Since 16.Rb1 was a mere developing move, I have tried to find ways to answer
with the same method with Black.} ({The first move that came to my mind is} 
17... Re8 $6 {However, it is not clear what this move could be useful for.
Sometimes, the fork on d7 is prevented, enabling ...Qb6, but this is if little
use from practical point of view. I have tried to work out such a (not at all
forced) variation in which the rook would be useful on e8:} 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19.
dxc5 Qxd1 20. Rbxd1 Nd5 21. Ba5 e5 {, but even here White is better after} 22.
bxc4 Nf6 23. Rd6 $14) ({Since there is no pressure on the c6-pawn now,} 17...
Rb8 $6 {also makes some sense. It is not really a developing move, but it aims
to improve the placement of an already developed piece. However, in the next
lines several drawbacks of this move can be seen:} 18. bxc4 Nxc4 (18... Bxc4 {
is impossible because after} 19. Rxb6 $1 Bxf1 {, the white rook has the
opportunity to capture a piece with} 20. Rxb8 $18) 19. Rxb8 Qxb8 20. Nc5 {
Here, too, we can see that after the exchange on b8 a fork is threatened on d7,
practically forcing} Bxc5 21. dxc5 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc4,Gg7][%cal Yd1d4,Yd1g4]
when White's pair of bishops is very active, while Black's minor pieces are
hanging.}) ({Just when I started thinking that there might be no adequate
solution to Kramnik's novelty, I remembered the words of my first trainer, IM
Mircea Pavlov: "When you do not know what to do, use Alatortsev's method, by
asking yourself in which stage of the plan (or game) you are!" Here, the most
normal thing to do with Black is connect rooks! Hence,} 17... Qd5 $5 {comes
into consideration. The move looks risky, because the queen is exposed in the
centre, but at the same time the c5-square is taken under control.
Straightforward continuations do not seem to offer White anything concrete:}
18. Bg2 (18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Re5 Bd6 20. Rxd5 cxd5 $44 {Does White have any
winning chances here?!}) 18... Qf5 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Be4 Qg5 21. h4 Qe7 22. dxc5
Qxc5 23. Qg4 g6 24. Qf4 $44 {White has a threatening position, but Black's 2
extra-pawns seem to offer him adequate compensation for the dangers.}) ({After
} 17... Qd5 {, White should probably bring new forces into the fight. I would
suggest} 18. a4 {, aiming to drive the enemy knight away. There is plenty of
play left in the position, but I feel that this is the direction to follow.})
18. Ba1 Bb4 $6 {These last attacking moves win an exchange almost by force,
but leave Black poorly coordinated. Las ъltimas dos jugadas "de ataque" ganan
calidad de manera casi forzada, pero dejarбn a las negras malamente
coordinadas. Tal vez, era necesarнo contestar 17.Tb1 con otra jugada de
desarrollo, pero їcual? La ъnicaposibilidad que me pasa por cabeza serнa 17...
Te8,pero no es fбcil entender de que modo esta jugada serнa ъtil. Tal vez
їЎpor evitar el doble en d7, en caso de la generalmente deseable ...Db6?!} (
18... Rb8 19. bxc4 $14) 19. Nc5 $1 Bxe1 (19... Bxc5 20. dxc5 $14) (19... Qa5
20. bxc4 Bxe1 21. Qxe1 Qxe1 22. Rxe1 Nc7 23. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc7][%cal
Yc3a5]}) 20. Qxe1 cxb3 ({This move is hard to understand. Black will simply
lose material, without getting any compensation for it. True, after Esta
jugada es difнcil de entender. Las negras perderбn material sis ningъn pizca
de compensaciуn. Es verdad que despuйs de} 20... Nc7 21. bxc4 {, Black's minor
pieces are miserably placed, but then the criticism should be focused on the
17th and, possibly, 18th moves only. las figuras menores de las negras se
encontrarнan en una situaciуn deplorable, pero tal vez la critica tendrнa que
concentrarse en la 17-a y, posiblemente, 18-a jugada.}) 21. Nxa6 bxa2 22. Rb2 {
White has two bishops against rook and 2 pawns (ignoring the doomed a2-pawn).
Materially, this sounds OK for Black, but the a7- and c6-pawns are weak, too
and Black will not be able to create any dangerous passed pawn. The rest is a
matter of technique. [#]El resto es cosa de tйcnica.} Nc7 23. Rxa2 Nxa6 24.
Rxa6 Qd7 25. Qc3 f6 26. Qc5 Rf7 27. Bc3 Qb7 28. Qc4 Qd7 29. Bg2 Kh8 30. Bxc6
Qb7 31. Kg2 h6 32. d5 Qb8 (32... exd5 33. Bxb7 Rxc4 34. Bxd5 $18) 33. dxe6 Re7
34. Bb4 Rec7 35. e7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 {Leko deviates from his recent game against the same
opponent.} (10... Be4 11. Qc1 Qc8 {Kramnik,V (2769)-Leko,P (2751)/Mexico City
2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1-0, 39)}) 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1
b4 $5 {The latest trend in this line. Black started playing like this in 2007.
The main idea is to cause White some difficulties with the development of his
queenside. The obvious drawback of this move is that it weakens the light
squares, a detail that could become important in the long run.} (14... Nb8 15.
Ba5 {Kramnik,V (2766)-Anand,V (2779)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/CBM 117/[Marin] (1-0,
53)}) 15. Qf1 {This queen has certainly moved around a lot. It has retrieved
the c-pawn, provoked the weakening of the enemy queenside and now gets ready
to replace the Catalan bishop for the purpose of controlling the long diagonal
ishould the latter be exchanged.} ({Opening the queenside with} 15. a3 {
seems to play into Black's hands. Indeed, he has concentrated a considerable
amount of forces on that side of the board.} Rb8 16. Be1 a5 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18.
Bf1 bxa3 19. bxa3 a4 20. Nc4 Na5 21. Bxa5 Bxf3 22. Qe1 Nd7 23. Rab1 Rxb1 24.
Rxb1 Bxa3 25. Ra1 Bf8 26. Rxa4 Nb6 {1/2-1/2 Ponomariov,R (2717)-Anand,V (2786)/
Leon 2007/CBM 119}) ({The main alternative to the game move is} 15. Be1 {
. White intends to complete his queenside development as soon as possible. At
the same time, he relies on the fact that the queen will be activated via f3 
(instead of g2, as after the preliminary Qf1)} Bd5 16. Nbd2 Nb8 17. Nh4 Bxg2
18. Nxg2 c5 ({This is not necessarily better than} 18... Nbd7 {, but Black's
subsequent play was clearly more inspired.} 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Nxf3 c5 21. Nf4 a5
22. Nd3 Ne4 23. Rc2 Rc8 24. Rac1 Rac7 {Black has concentrated his forces
around the c5-square, but now the exchange of rooks is more or less inevitable,
leaving White with a good endgame position.} 25. dxc5 Ndxc5 26. Kf1 $14 {
Damljanovic,B (2606)-Efimenko,Z (2624)/Zlatibor 2007/CBM 120 ext (1-0, 63).
The weakness of Black's queenside soon started making itself felt.}) 19. dxc5
Rc8 20. Qf3 Rxc5 21. Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Nb3 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Nbd7 24. Kf1 a5 25. f3 g5
26. g4 h5 27. h3 hxg4 28. hxg4 Bd6 29. Nd2 Be5 30. Nc4 Bc7 31. b3 {Black has
wisely maintained one rook on board, in order to generate some counterplay 
(possibly, along the a-file). White might stil be microscopically better, but
soon embarked a friendly repetition of moves in Suba,M (2537)-Vaganian,R (2590)
/Bazna 2007/CBM 118 ext (1/2-1/2, 35)}) 15... Bd5 {An overcautious move. Black
retreats with his bishop two moves before it can be attacked (with Nbd2).} (
15... Bd6 $6 {places the bishop on a vulnerable square.} 16. Be1 Rb8 17. Nbd2
Bd5 18. Ng5 $5 {A non-standard decision. In the Catalan, this move is typical
for the positions with the queen on c2, when White attacks the h7- and b7
squares simultaneously.} h6 19. Nh3 Ne7 $6 (19... Bxg2 20. Qxg2 Na5 21. Qxa8
Rbxa8 22. Nf4 Bxf4 23. gxf4 $14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 20. f3 $1 {Black loses stability
in the centre now.} Bc6 21. e4 $16 {Avrukh,B (2641)-Greenfeld,A (2559)/Beer
Sheva 2007/CBM 120 ext (1-0, 28)}) (15... Rd8 16. Be1 a5 17. a3 {Possibly not
the best. Again, Black is well prepared for the opening of the queenside.} (17.
Nbd2 {looks more natural.}) 17... Bd6 18. Nfd2 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Ra6 20. Nc4 Nd5
21. Nbd2 bxa3 22. bxa3 Be7 23. Rab1 a4 24. Qf1 Nb8 25. Ne4 Nd7 26. Nc3 c5 27.
dxc5 Nxc3 28. Bxc3 Nxc5 $11 {Aronian,L (2750)-Anand,V (2792)/Mainz 2007/CBM
120 (0-1, 68)}) 16. Be1 Rc8 17. Nbd2 $146 {I am continuously surprised by the
frequency with which novelties tend to be simple developing moves.} ({
Previously,} 17. Nfd2 {had been played.} Na5 (17... Nb8 $5 {[%cal Gb8d7,Ga6a5]}
) 18. a3 $5 {A good moment to play this move, because ...a5 is impossible now.}
bxa3 19. Nxa3 Bxg2 20. Qxg2 c5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. Rxc5 Bxc5 23. Nac4 Nxc4 24.
Qxa8+ Rxa8 25. Nxc4 Nd5 26. Kf1 f5 {Berkes,F (2606)-Efimenko,Z (2624)/Hamburg
2007 (1/2-1/2, 50). White maintained a slight initiative until the end of the
game, but Black never got into real trouble.}) 17... Na5 {Controlling the
c4-square, but placing the knight in an uncomfortable position.} (17... Nb8 {
has the drawback of leaving the c8-rook undefended, which would place the
c-pawn under a pin in the event of an early ...c5. White would probably play
the same as in the game} 18. Ne5) 18. Ne5 c5 {Black has managed to carry out
this programmed move, but his queenside is vulnerable and his pieces far from
optimally coordinated.} 19. dxc5 Bxc5 (19... Rxc5 {would allow Black to
activate his other rook after} 20. Rxc5 Bxc5 21. Rc1) 20. Nd3 {Kramnik
continues regrouping, without letting himself be distracted by premature
tactical operations.} (20. e4 Nxe4 (20... Bb7 21. Qe2 $14) 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22.
Bxe4 Qxe4 23. Nd3 Rac7 (23... Qd5 $2 24. Bxb4 Nb7 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. b4 $18) (
23... Nb7 24. Bxb4 $18) 24. Nxc5 Rxc5 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Qxa6 h5 27. Qb6 Qd5 28.
Qxb4 Nc6 {[%cal Gc6d4,Gd4f3]} 29. Qb3 Qxb3 30. axb3 Rb5 $11) 20... Bf8 21. Bxd5
Nxd5 22. e4 $14 {White is better regrouped, has more space in the centre and
some clear targets on the enemy queenside.} Nb6 (22... Nf6 23. f3 Rac7 24. Bf2
$14) 23. Rxc8 Qxc8 24. Nf3 Qb7 {Possibly not best.} (24... Qc6 25. Nxb4 {
transposes to the game after} Qxe4) (24... Qc4 $5 25. Nxb4 Bxb4 26. Qxc4 Naxc4
27. Bxb4 Nxb2 {White's chances to prove the superiority of the bishop over the
knight are questionable because of the reduced number of pawns left on the
queenside.}) 25. Nxb4 $5 Qxe4 26. Qd3 $1 Qxd3 27. Nxd3 Nac4 28. b3 Nd6 29. Rc1
$14 {White's control over the c-file and his queenside majority offer him a
stable advantage. It is instructive to follow how Kramnik's pieces will
gradually invade all the available queenside squares.} Nd5 30. Rc6 Nf5 31. Ba5
Ra8 32. Nfe5 Nfe7 33. Rd6 Nf6 34. b4 Ned5 35. Rc6 Be7 36. a4 g6 37. Nc4 Kf8 38.
Nc5 Bxc5 39. bxc5 Ke8 $6 {The position retains middlegame characteristics,
which means that the king's centralisation should be done with care.} (39...
Ne7 $5 {would have offered chances to establish a reliable blockade on light
squares, for instance} 40. Rc7 Nfd5 41. Rb7 Nc6 $14) 40. f3 Ng8 (40... Ne7 41.
Rc7 Nfd5 42. Rb7 Nc6 43. Nd6+ Kf8 44. Rxf7+ Kg8 45. Bb6 Nxb6 46. cxb6 Rd8 47.
b7 Rxd6 48. Rc7 $16) (40... Kd7 41. Rb6 $1 $16) 41. Nb6 $16 {White's
domination is impressive now.} Nge7 42. Rd6 $1 ({Of course not} 42. Rxe6 $6
fxe6 43. Nxa8 Kd7 $44 {when, in the absence of rooks, the centralisation of
the black king compensates for the (temporarily) missing pawn.}) 42... Rb8 {
Black is forced to give up a pawn.} (42... Ra7 43. Nxd5 (43. c6 $22 {is also
possible. Black can only move with his pawns, but this will soon leave him
without moves.} Nf6 $6 44. Nc4 Ned5 45. Rd8+ Ke7 46. Nd6 $18 {and the rook is
trapped.}) 43... Nxd5 44. Rd8+ Ke7 45. Rb8 e5 (45... Kd7 46. Bb6 $1 $18 {
[%csl Ga7]}) 46. c6 Ke6 47. c7 $1 Nxc7 48. Bb6 Ra8 49. Bxc7 $18) 43. Nxd5 Nxd5
44. Rxa6 Rc8 {Generally speaking, Black should place his rook behind the enemy
pawns, although this does not guarantee equality.} (44... Rb1+ 45. Kg2 Rb2+ 46.
Kh3 Rc2 47. Bb6 h5 48. a5 Ne3 49. c6 Nf1 50. Bg1 Nd2 51. Kg2 Nc4+ 52. Kh1 $16)
45. Bb6 Nb4 46. Ra7 Nc6 47. Rb7 Ra8 48. Rc7 Nd4 49. a5 $1 {This pawn is much
more important than the f3-pawn.} Nxf3+ 50. Kf2 $6 {But now, there was no need
to give up the h2-pawn for the sake of just one tempo.} (50. Kg2 Ne5 51. c6 $16
) 50... Nxh2 51. c6 Ng4+ 52. Kf3 Nf6 53. Rb7 Nd5 54. Ke4 Nb4 $2 {Black misses
his chance to take advantage of his huge advantage in pawns on the kingside 
(as a consequence of the over-optimistic Kf2).} (54... Rc8 $5 55. c7 (55. a6
Nb4 56. a7 Nxc6 57. Rc7 Nxa7 $14 {Zagrebelny}) 55... Kd7 56. Kd4 h5 (56... Nxc7
57. Kc5 $18) (56... Kc6 57. Rb8 Kd7 58. Kc5 Nxc7 59. Rb7 $18) 57. Kc5 g5 58. a6
h4 59. gxh4 gxh4 60. a7 (60. Rb8 Nxc7 61. Bxc7 Rxc7+ 62. Kb6 Rc6+ 63. Kb5 Rc7
$11) 60... h3 61. Rb8 Nxc7 62. Bxc7 Rxc7+ 63. Kb6 Rxa7 64. Kxa7 Kc6 $11) 55. c7
Rc8 56. Kd4 Kd7 57. Kc5 Nc6 (57... Na6+ 58. Kb5 Nxc7+ 59. Kc5 $18 {[%cal Gb7d7,
Ga5a8]} Kd8 60. Kc6 {[%cal Gb6d8]}) 58. a6 h5 59. a7 f5 60. a8=Q $1 Rxa8 61.
c8=Q+ Kxc8 62. Kxc6 (62. Kxc6 Ra1 63. Rc7+ $1 (63. Rh7 {unnecessarily prolongs
things because of} Rc1+ 64. Bc5 Rd1) 63... Kb8 64. Rh7 Rc1+ 65. Bc5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O {A curious practical
decision on Shirov's part. True, Kramnik's first move was designed to avoid
the Grьnfeld, while the Slav (another main weapon of Shirov) is well known by
Kramnik himself. On the other hand, Shirov has not had too much practice
against the Catalan over the past years, while his overall result is not
entirely encouraging. We can suppose that he had some concrete variation in
mind, based on an improvement over one of Kramnik's recent games, but in this
case the next move was an excellent psychological decision.} 6. Qc2 $5 dxc4 ({
Black decides to maintain the same character of the position as in the main
line. The main alternative is} 6... c5) 7. Qxc4 a6 8. Bf4 Bd6 9. O-O ({A
famous game that brought 6.Qc2 into the limelight continued with} 9. Ne5 Nd5
10. Nc3 Nxf4 11. gxf4 Nd7 12. e3 Qe7 13. O-O Rb8 $6 (13... Nf6 $1 $14 {would
have prevented White's next manoeuvre.}) 14. Ne4 Nf6 15. Nc5 $16 {Kasparov,G 
(2715)-Andersson,U (2575)/Belgrade 1985/MCL/[ChessBase] (1-0, 50)}) 9... b5 10.
Qc2 Bb7 {Play has transposed to the known line 10.Bf4 from the main line of
the open Catalan. On the way, White has avoided the line 10...Nc6, which is an
important alternative to 10...Bd6.} 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 (11... Bxf4 12. gxf4 {
is supposed to strengthen White's centre, but on the other hand it allows
Black to develop his queen on an active square with gain of time with} Qd6 {
In practice, White has obtained good results, but from analytical point of
view it is not easy to prove an advantage after} 13. e3 Nbd7 14. Nb3 (14. Ne5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 ({It would probably be better to keep queens on
board, in order to maintain some potential threats against the slightly
weakened position of the white king.} 16... Nxc5 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Rac1 Qb7+ 19.
Ndf3 Rac8 $132) 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. Ndf3 {Black has problems
maintaining the control of the c-file.} Nd3 (19... Rac8 $2 {loses material to}
20. b4 Na4 21. Nc6 Re8 22. Ne7+ $1 $18) (19... Rdc8 20. Ng5 $1 $16) 20. Nxd3
Rxd3 21. Rc6 Nd7 22. Rfc1 $14 {1-0 Benjamin,J (2540)-Sieiro Gonzalez,L (2400)/
Rio Gallegos 1986/EXT 2003 (30). White's authoritarian control of the c-file
and the weakness of the enemy queenside offer him a stable advantage in the
endgame.}) (14. Rfd1 {A neutral move, failing to put pressure on the critical
c-file.} c5 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. Qxc5 Nxc5 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rfc8 19. Ndf3 Na4
20. Nd3 Ne4 21. Rac1 Kf8 22. Nd4 Nec5 $11 {Piket,J (2640)-Karpov,A (2760)/
Monte Carlo 1997/CBM 057 ext (1/2-1/2, 52). Black has successfully neutralized
White's queenside pressure.}) 14... Be4 15. Qc3 (15. Qe2 {allows Black free
his position immediately with} c5 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Rfd1 Nd5 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19.
Rac1 Qb6 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 f6 22. Nd3 Rac8 $11 {Ehlvest,J (2638)-Murshed,N
(2457)/Dhaka 2001/CBM 082 (0-1, 54)}) 15... Rac8 $6 ({The insertion of the
rook moves to the c-file favours White. Black should have immediately played} 
15... Nd5 {for instance} 16. Qd2 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. Qd4 Qxd4
20. Nxd4 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rfc8 22. Rfc1 Kf8 $11) 16. Rfc1 Nd5 17. Qd2 c5 18. dxc5
Nxc5 19. Nxc5 Rxc5 20. Qd4 $1 {Black has to give up the control of the c-file.}
Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1 Qb4 (21... Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Rd8 23. f5 $14) 22. a3 Qxd4 23. Nxd4
Bxg2 24. Kxg2 $16 {1-0 Stangl,M (2480)-Stern,R (2370)/Germany 1991/GER-chT (45)
. Just another extremely promising ending for White.}) 12. Nb3 Be4 13. Qd2 {
Once the queen's knight has been developed, this square can be used by Her
Majesty.} ({The typical retreat} 13. Qc1 {is slightly artificial here,
depriving the rooks of this square.} Rc8 14. a4 {Since Ra(f)c1 are not
available, this looks like the only active continuation. However, the
b4-square will remain weak now.} Qe7 15. axb5 axb5 16. Ra7 Bxf4 17. Qxf4 Qb4
18. Nbd2 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 c5 $10 {Smyslov,V-Gligoric,S/Warsaw 1947/MCL/[Chekhov] 
(0-1, 55)}) 13... Qe7 {A natural developing move, but Black has an important
alternative here.} (13... Nd5 14. Rfc1 {Probably not the best.} ({White could
try to transpose to the main game with} 14. Bxd6 cxd6 15. Rfc1 {. If instead
of 15...Qe7 Black tries} Qb6 {, keeping the queenside defended, White has the
typoical tactical blow} 16. Ne5 $1 {with favourable simplifications.}) ({
If White intends to maintain the tension in the centre,} 14. Rac1 $5 {looks
better. Since the opening of the g-file is very probable, the presence of the
other rook will be most welcome on the other wing.} Nxf4 15. gxf4 Qe7 16. Qe3
Bd5 17. Ne5 $14 {White keeps both wings under control.}) 14... Nxf4 15. gxf4
Qe7 16. Ne5 $6 ({Here, too,} 16. Qe3 Bd5 17. Ne5 {deserves attention.}) 16...
Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nb6 18. Nc5 f6 19. Ned3 e5 $15 {Zimmerman,Y (2345)-Mochalov,E 
(2450)/Zalakaros 1994/TD (0-1, 37)}) 14. Rfc1 (14. Rac1 $5) 14... Rfc8 (14...
Nd5 15. Bxd6 cxd6 16. Qa5 $14 {[%csl Re4][%cal Gb3d2] /\Nbd2}) 15. Bxd6 $146 {
White changes the character of the position, relying on the weakness of the
enemy queenside and the subsequent possibility to gain the control of the
c-file.} (15. Ne5 Bxg2 (15... Bxe5 $2 16. dxe5 Bxg2 17. exf6 $18) 16. Nxd7 Nxd7
17. Kxg2 Bxf4 $6 (17... e5 $5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 $132 {White seems to have problems
maintaining the enemy queenside under control. Here White would be glad to
have the possibility of playing Rfd1 (after an eventual exchange on e5), which
casts some doubt over 14.Rfc1.}) 18. Qxf4 c5 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. dxc5 Rxc5 21.
Rxc5 Qxc5 22. Rc1 Qd5+ 23. Qf3 Qxf3+ 24. Kxf3 $14 {1-0 Buhmann,R (2525)-Braun,
P (2248)/Deizisau 2003/CBM 093 ext (54). Even in the absence of knights, the
ending is anything but easy for Black. The best he could dream of is an ending
with a pawn down, but with an active rook.}) 15... cxd6 16. Qa5 Rcb8 $5 {
The weakness of the a6-pawn forces Black give up the control of the c-file
temporarily.} 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Rc2 Qd8 $6 {Black plays too obstinately for
plain equality.} ({In doing so, he misses the opportunity of generating
counterplay with} 18... e5 $5 $132) 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rac1 $14 {Black will
need a couple of tempi in order to neutralize White's pressure along the
c-file. In the meanwhile, White will manage to obtain an advantage in space in
the centre.} Nb6 21. Ne1 Rac8 22. Nd3 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Nb4
Bxg2 26. Kxg2 a5 27. Nc6 a4 28. e4 {A curious ending. The Catalan frequently
leads to symmetrical endings with N + 6 pawns for each side (pawns on the c-
and d-files missing). In these positions, White can hope for an advantage if
his king is closer to the centre than its counterpart and if Black's queenside
pawns have been advanced to, say, a6 and b5. The current position is by far
more complex. I have not met endings with this material balance before, but,
after doing a database search, was surprised to find a couple of hundred games
where each side had 2 Ns and 7 Ps and the c-file was open. Only rarely did one
of the sides manage to win. Two such cases are Petrosian,T-Wade,R/Leipzig 1960/
EXT 99 (1-0, 55) and the more recent Grunberg,M (2442)-Naiditsch,A (2654)/
Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (0-1, 74). However, none of the games from the list were
really similar to the present ending. Here, White has two forms of advantage:
the weakness of the far advanced queenside pawns and the space advantage in
the centre. The position is impossible to exhaust by analytical means, since
from the point of view of its complexity it is somewhat reminsicent of
middlegames. One thing is clear: White is entitled to play for a win.} Ne8 29.
Kf3 Kf8 30. Ke3 Nc7 31. Kd3 Ke8 32. Kc3 Na6 33. Nb4 Nc7 34. Nf1 Kd7 35. Ne3 Ne7
36. g4 {White cannot make progress on the queenside only and needs to open a
new front.} g5 {A difficult decision. This move weakens Black's position, but
allowing White to win even more space could prove dangerous in the long run.}
37. Nd3 f6 38. f4 gxf4 ({Black does not equalize completely with} 38... f5 39.
exf5 Ncd5+ 40. Nxd5 Nxd5+ 41. Kd2 exf5 42. fxg5 (42. gxf5 $6 g4 $1 $132) 42...
Ke6 (42... fxg4 43. Nf2 g3 44. hxg3 Ke6 45. Ne4 $14 {[%csl Gd6]}) 43. h3 $14)
39. Nxf4 e5 40. dxe5 fxe5 (40... dxe5 41. Nh5 {would have forced Black to
retreat with one of his pieces in order to defend the f6-pawn, allowing White
make progress on the other wing with Kb4.}) 41. Nfd5 Ncxd5+ 42. exd5 $1 $16 {
White has consolidated his advantage in space and has created threats on both
wings. Black is in trouble already.} (42. Nxd5 Nxd5+ 43. exd5 {leads only to a
draw after the forced move} Ke7 $1 {for instance} 44. h4 Kf6 $1 {If White
could manage to play g5 and h5, he would win.} 45. Kd3 Kg6 46. Ke4 Kf6 $11)
42... Kc7 43. g5 Kb6 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Gb6c5]} 44. b4 {[%csl Gc5]} axb3 (44...
Ng6 45. Kd3 $1 (45. Ng4 Nf4 46. Nf6 Kc7 $1 $132 {[%csl Gd5][%cal Gc7d8,Gd8e7,
Ge7f7]}) 45... Nf4+ 46. Ke4 Kc7 (46... a3 {[%csl Ga2]} 47. Nd1 {[%csl Ga2,Rb5]
[%cal Gd1c3,Ge4f5,Gh2h4]}) 47. h4 Kd7 48. Nd1 $1 {[%csl Rb5,Gd5,Rh7][%cal
Gd1c3,Ge4f5]}) 45. axb3 Ka5 (45... Ng6 46. Ng4 $1 Kc5 (46... Nf4 47. Nf6 Kc7
48. h4 Kd8 49. Kb4 $18) 47. Nf6 b4+ (47... e4 $2 48. b4+ Kb6 49. Kd4 $18) 48.
Kd3 Nf4+ 49. Ke4 Ne2 50. Nxh7 Nc3+ 51. Kf5 Nxd5 52. Nf6 Ne7+ 53. Ke6 Ng6 54.
Ne4+ Kd4 55. Nxd6 $18) 46. h4 Ng6 47. h5 Nf4 48. g6 hxg6 49. h6 g5 50. h7 Ng6
51. Kd3 (51. Kd3 Kb4 52. Ke4 Kxb3 53. Kf5 Nh8 54. Kf6 Kc3 55. Kg7 b4 56. Kxh8
b3 57. Kg7 b2 58. Nd1+ Kc2 59. Nxb2 Kxb2 60. h8=Q $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 b5 {Recently, this move has
been submitted to intense theoretical and practical disputes at top level. It
also makes up part of Alekseev's main repertoire, which also includes the
Blumenfeld Gambit.} 6. e4 $5 {Another surprise for Black, although this time
the idea is not new, but just well-forgotten. Several decades ago, the
outstanding Catalan specialist Genna Sosonko repeatedly played like this.
Apart from attacking the b5-pawn, White threatens to win even more space in
the centre with the brutal e5.} (6. Nd2 $5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Nc7 8. Bxa8 Nxa8 9. b4
c4 10. a4 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Aronian,L (2759)/Yerevan 2007/CBM 118 (1/2-1/2, 47)
}) (6. Nf3 $5 d6 7. e4 $5 {Gelfand,B (2733)-Aronian,L (2750)/Mexico City 2007/
CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1-0, 48)}) (6. Bg2 d6 7. Nf3 Bb7) 6... Nxe4 {The most
principled reaction.} (6... Qe7 $6 {looks unnatural and is probably bad.} 7.
Bg2 d6 8. Ne2 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. e5 $1 Qxe5 (10... dxe5 $2 11. d6) 11. Nec3 O-O
12. Nxb5 Qe7 13. N1c3 Ba6 14. Re1 Qd8 15. a4 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Ne8 17. Bf4 $16 {
De Carbonnel,H-Wiersma,T/EU-chT1 corr7281 1972/Corr Nr. 1 (1-0, 39)}) (6... Bb7
{keeps the enemy centre under control, but places the bishop on a passive
square. However, things are not that clear here.} 7. Bg2 d6 8. a4 $6 {Possibly
not the best. After the structural modifications on the queenside, the
b7-bishop will revive on a6. White should have continued the development of
his kingside.} b4 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nc4 Ba6 11. Qc2 Bg7 12. Nf3 O-O 13. Nfd2 Nbd7
14. O-O (14. Nxd6 Qe7 15. N2c4 Nxd5) 14... Nb6 15. Re1 Ng4 16. Ne3 Ne5 17. Bf1
c4 $132 {Manor,I (2510)-Greenfeld,A (2560)/Rishon Le Ziyyon 1996/CBM 053 (1-0,
60)}) 7. Qe2 Qe7 {Black has been forced to block the natural development of
his kingside, but this is only the start of the "intrigue". White's
development is not that impressive yet either.} 8. Bg2 Nd6 {This looks
perfectly logical. The knight retreats to a stable blocking square without
creating any weakness in the own camp. However, there are certain drawbacks to
this move. The knight blocks its own d-pawn, too, which causes Black serious
problems regarding the natural development of the queenside (...d6, ...Nd7,
etc.).} (8... f5 {weakens the black kingside, but offers Black certain
stability in the centre. In practice, Sosonko has failed to prove an advantage
for White.} 9. d6 $5 {might be the only way to cause some disharmony in
Black's camp.} ({This was aimed to be an improvement over an earlier game that
continued with} 9. Nh3 b4 10. d6 Qxd6 11. f3 Ba6 12. Qe3 Nc6 13. fxe4 O-O-O 14.
Ng5 {1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G (2530)-Barle,J (2450)/Ljubljana 1977/MCD}) (9. Nc3 Nxc3
10. bxc3 Qxe2+ 11. Nxe2 Na6 12. O-O Rb8 13. Bf4 d6 14. Bd2 Be7 15. Nf4 Kf7 16.
Rfe1 Bf6 17. Rab1 (17. Nh5 $5) 17... Nc7 $15 {Sosonko,G (2545)-Timman,J (2600)/
Amsterdam 1980/MCL (1/2-1/2, 35)})) 9. Be3 {White develops a piece and
prevents the exchange of queens at the same time. (this would ease Black's
defence, by enabling the development of the kingside with ...Be7, etc.)} b4 {
To my mind, a slightly cooperative move. Black prepares the development of his
queen's bishop on an active diagonal (a6-f1), but returns the small material
advantage without any fight and, more seriously, does not improve the
situation of the queen's knight. Remember? Knights should generally be
developed before bishops...} (9... c4 {is not entirely satisfactory either.}
10. Nc3 a6 (10... b4 11. Nb5 $5 Nxb5 12. d6 $14) 11. O-O-O $16 {[%csl Re8]
[%cal Gg1h3,Gh1e1]} (11. Bc5 $44 {Ligterink})) ({However,} 9... Na6 {looks
like the best practical chance.}) 10. Bxc5 Qxe2+ 11. Nxe2 {White has
reestablished the material equality, maintaining his considerable advantage of
space and a slight advance in development. Black mainly relies on certain
stability on dark squares.} Na6 12. Bxd6 $1 $146 {The best way to maintain the
initiative.} ({In the previous game that had reached this position, White
preserved the bishop from exchange with} 12. Bd4 {, allowing Black to activate
his play with} Nf5 13. O-O Bc5 14. Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Nd2 Ba6 16. Rfc1 Nd3 17. Rc2
O-O 18. Bh3 Rfe8 19. Nb3 Re5 $1 $132 {Sosonko,G (2530)-Olafsson,F (2560)/Wijk
aan Zee 1977/MCL/[Bulletin] (1-0, 50) Black's pieces are very active and the
d5-pawn is more of a weakness now.}) 12... Bxd6 13. Nd2 {It appears that the
dark-squared bishop is exposed and will cause Black additional loss of time
before reaching a stable position.} Rb8 14. Nc4 Be7 15. d6 Bf6 16. Nf4 Nc5 17.
O-O Ba6 {A critical moment. White's position looks very active, but he has to
choose the best way to maintain his advantage in space.} 18. Nd5 $5 ({It is
not easy to refrain from} 18. Rfe1+ {. Kramnik probably disliked the fact that
after} Ne6 {, the threat against the c4-knight would become real. However,
after} 19. Ne5 Rb6 20. Rad1 $14 {White would maintain his domination. It
remains an open question whether objectively speaking his position is better
here than in the game, but from a practical point of view it might be more
difficult to maintain stability here. Black has no weaknesses and the d6-pawn
needs permanent care.}) 18... O-O (18... Bxc4 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Rfc1 Nd3 21.
Rxc4 Nxb2 22. Re4+ Kd8 23. Rb1 Nd3 24. Rd4 $16 {White will win his pawn back,
maintaining the better structure, the more active minor piece and a huge
advantage in space.}) 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Bd5 $14 {This is the position Kramnik
had been aiming for. White has ruined Black's kingside structure, while the
queenside could become vulnerable, too. Black's main trump remains the
stability of his minor pieces and certain vulnerability of the d6-pawn.
However, this latter aspect is double-edged. In order to win this pawn, Black
would need to worsen the cooperation between his pieces (for instance, to
disconnect his rook for several moves).} Na4 $6 {Black moves again with an
already well-placed piece. The threat against the b2-pawn is illusory.} ({
He should have continued his development with} 20... Rfe8 {, threatening to
generate some counterplay along the e-file and, eventually, the second rank.})
21. Rfc1 Rfe8 $6 {Too late. The e-file will not be available for this rook
anymore.} (21... Bxc4 $5 22. Rxc4 Rb5 (22... Nxb2 23. Rg4+ Kh8 24. Rb1 Nd3 25.
Rd4 Ne5 26. Rdxb4 $16) 23. Rg4+ Kh8 24. Bb3 Nc5 $5 {would keep Black's
position together.} (24... Nxb2 $2 25. Rb1 Nd3 26. Bc4 Ne5 27. Bxb5 Nxg4 28.
Bxd7 $16)) 22. Ne3 $1 $16 {This move was not possible one move earlier. We can
conclude that 20...Na4 has just helped White improve the placement of his
pieces, by removing the rook from a vulnerable square.} Rb6 23. Rc7 Rxd6 {
Black has eventually won this pawn, but the rook is miserably placed.} 24. Rd1
{[%csl Gd6][%cal Gd5f7]} Kh8 25. Nf5 Rb6 26. Bxf7 Nxb2 27. Rdxd7 $18 {White's
attack is decisive now. Black's counterplay has not sufficient power.} Re1+ 28.
Kg2 Bf1+ 29. Kf3 Be2+ 30. Kf4 Rb8 (30... Nd3+ 31. Rxd3 $1 Bxd3 32. Rc8+ $18 {
[%csl Rh8]}) 31. Bc4 $1 {[%csl Gd3]} (31. Bc4 $1 Bxc4 32. Rxh7+ Kg8 33. Rcg7+
Kf8 34. Rh8+ Bg8 35. Rhxg8#) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 e5 {The choice of opening by Mamedyarov is
daring, to say the least, especially when he faces such a squeezer as Vladimir
Kramnik.} 5. Nge2 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nge7 8. h4 $1 {The most principled
line to meet Black's setup. Opening the h-file is troublesome for Black.} f5 9.
h5 fxe4 ({A few days later, in the blitz championship Mamedyarov tried the
same opening against Anand, but with the same result:} 9... Rf8 10. hxg6 hxg6
11. Rh7 Rf7 12. Rxg7 Rxg7 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Nxc6 Nxc6 15. Nd5 Qe6 16. Be2 Ne5 17.
f4 c6 18. Nf6+ Kf8 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Qd2 Rf7 21. Bh6+ Ke7 22. Bf4 Qe6 23. Ng8+
Kf8 24. Nh6 {1-0 Anand,V (2801)-Mamedyarov,S (2752)/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008}) 10.
hxg6 hxg6 11. Rxh8+ Bxh8 12. Nxe4 d5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting novelty
by Mamedyarov, which might revive this risky line for Black.} (12... Bf5 13.
Nxf5 Nxf5 (13... gxf5 14. Qh5+ Kd7 15. O-O-O Qg8 16. Nc5+ Kc8 17. Ne6 Kd7 18.
Nf4 $14 {1-0 Hansen,C (2618)-Lehtinen,H (2362)/Aarhus 2003/CBM 098 (34)}) 14.
Bg5 Qd7 15. Qd2 Nce7 16. O-O-O O-O-O 17. g4 Nd4 18. Nf6 Bxf6 19. Bxf6 $16 {
1-0 Gelfand,B (2712)-Piket,J (2632)/Monte Carlo 2001/CBM 081 ext (49)}) 13.
Nxc6 {White has several possibilities that deserved serious attention. I am
not sure that Kramnik's choice is the best one.} (13. cxd5 Qxd5 (13... Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 Qxd5 15. Bxh8 Qxe4+ 16. Qe2 $14) 14. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Nxc6 16. Rd2 $14
{White has a slight pressure, as every developing move by Bc8 will be met by
Ne4-c5.}) (13. Ng5 $1 {Probably this is the main test for Mamedyarov's novelty.
} Bxd4 (13... dxc4 14. Nb5 Bxb2 15. Qxd8+ Kxd8 16. Rd1+ Bd7 17. Bxc4 $36) 14.
Bxd4 dxc4 15. Bf6 Qxd1+ 16. Rxd1 b5 17. b3 $14) 13... bxc6 14. Bd4 Bg4 $1 {
An important intermezzo.} 15. Qxg4 (15. f3 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 dxe4 17. Qxd8+ Rxd8
18. fxg4 c5 $11) (15. Nf6+ Bxf6 16. Qxg4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Nf5 18. Qh8+ Kd7 19.
Qxd8+ Rxd8 {and Black should be okay here.}) 15... Bxd4 {The position is sharp,
since both kings are uncastled.} 16. cxd5 (16. Nd6+ Qxd6 17. Qxd4 Qb4+ 18. Qd2
Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Kd7 {Black is only slightly worse and should hold the endgame
without any problems.}) 16... Bxb2 (16... cxd5 17. Bb5+ c6 18. Bxc6+ Nxc6 19.
Qxg6+ Kf8 20. Qxc6 dxe4 21. Rd1 Rb8 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Qg6+ Kf8 $11) 17. Rd1 $5 {
This move is actually a pawn sacrifice.} (17. Rb1 $1 Rb8 18. dxc6 Qd4 19. Qd7+
Qxd7 20. cxd7+ Kd8 (20... Kxd7 $4 21. Nc5+ Kc8 22. Na4 Bd4 23. Ba6+ $18) 21.
Rd1 Nf5 {It looks like Black has good chances for a draw.}) 17... cxd5 18. Bb5+
Kf8 {Black's king escapes to g7.} (18... c6 $2 19. Bxc6+ $1 Nxc6 20. Qxg6+ $18)
19. Qe6 (19. Qf4+ Kg8 20. Ng5 Qf8 21. Qh4 Qg7 22. Bd7 Qh8 23. Be6+ Kg7 24. Qf4
Bf6 {and Black survives.}) (19. Rd2 $5 Ba1 {Black must keep his bishop on the
diagonal a1-h8.} 20. Ng5 Qd6 21. Qf3+ Bf6 22. Ne4 dxe4 23. Rxd6 exf3 24. Rxf6+
Kg7 25. Rxf3 Rb8 26. Bc4 $14 {The bishop is better than a knight in open
position, therefore White has some winning chances.}) 19... Kg7 20. Bc6 Nxc6
21. Qxc6 d4 (21... Qh4 22. Qxa8 Qxe4+ 23. Kf1 Bd4 24. Qc6 Qf4 25. Qc2 c5 26.
Qe2 $14) 22. Kf1 $1 {Kramnik moves his king away from the danger zone, before
trying to create threats against the opponent's king.} Rb8 23. Ng5 Qd6 24. Qc4
Qd7 25. Kg1 c6 $6 {Probably, with the idea Qd7-d5, but White can frustrate
this plan. It was more logical to employ the rook along the 6th rank to cover
the key e6 square.} (25... Rb6 26. Re1 (26. Rd3 $2 Rc6 27. Qb3 Rc3 $17) (26.
Qe2 $5 $44) 26... d3 27. Ne6+ Rxe6 28. Qxe6 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 c5 (29... d2 $2 30.
Re7+ Kf6 31. Rd7 {[%cal Gg1f1,Gf1e2]}) 30. Kf1 (30. Rc6 $4 d2 31. Rd6 Bd4 $19)
30... c4 {With such a powerful pawns Black can count on a win.}) 26. Ne6+ $1
Kf6 27. Nc5 Qe7 28. Rb1 Rb6 29. Nd3 {The knight has reached an ideal
blockading square. Black's two connected passed pawns are no longer dangerous.}
(29. Na4 Qe4 30. Qf1 Qc2 31. Nxb6 axb6 {Here Black has sufficient compensation
thanks to his strong passed pawns. I don't see how White's major pieces will
get to Black's exposed king.}) 29... Qe4 $2 (29... Bc3 30. Rxb6 axb6 31. Qxc6+
Qe6 $14) 30. Re1 $2 (30. Rxb2 $2 Rxb2 31. Nxb2 Qb1+ 32. Kh2 Qxb2 33. Qxc6+ Kg7
$11) (30. Qg8 $1 {was the move that both players overlooked.} Bc3 (30... Qxd3
31. Re1 $18 Qf5 32. Qf8+ Kg5 33. Qd8+ Kg4 34. f3+ Kg3 35. Re4 Qxe4 36. Qg5+ Qg4
37. Qxg4#) 31. Qf8+ Ke6 32. Nc5+ Kd5 33. Nxe4 Rxb1+ 34. Kh2 Kxe4 35. Qf3+ Ke5
36. Qxc6 {and White should win.}) 30... Qd5 31. Qa4 Bc3 (31... Qb5 $2 32. Nxb2
(32. Qxa7 $2 Rb7 33. a4 (33. Qa8 Rb8 $11) 33... Rxa7 34. axb5 Ba3 35. bxc6 Rc7
{and Black holds the endgame without many problems.}) 32... Qxb2 33. Qc4 $40 {
[%csl Rf6]}) 32. Qxa7 Bxe1 33. Qxb6 {Now, White's advantage is indisputable.
It is a well known rule that the tandem queen + knight is very dangerous,
especially when the opponent's king is vulnerable. Here we witness a classical
case of this rule. The passed a-pawn is another important factor that makes
Black's task extremely difficult.} Bc3 34. a4 Qe4 35. Qd8+ Kf7 $2 {Mamedyarov
should have hidden his king on h6.} (35... Kg7 $1 36. Qc7+ Kh6 {White has
still a lot to prove here.}) 36. Qc7+ Kf6 37. Qd6+ {By tempting checks Kramnik
has improved his queen's position to the maximum.} Qe6 (37... Kg7 38. Ne5 Qb1+
39. Kh2 Qf5 40. Qe7+ Kg8 41. Kg3 {[%cal Ge5g4]} g5 42. Ng4 Qf4+ 43. Kh3 Qf5 44.
Qe8+ Kg7 45. Qxc6 {and White should win.}) 38. Qf8+ Qf7 39. Qh8+ Ke7 (39... Qg7
40. Qc8 $18 {[%csl Rc6]}) 40. a5 {Combined threats of a mating attack and
promoting the pawn promise White an easy win.} Qa2 41. Qg7+ Kd8 42. Ne5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Korotylev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 O-O 6. O-O Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. c3
e5 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Qd2 Qd6
15. Rad1 Nce7 16. Bg5 c6 17. Rfe1 Nf5 18. g4 Nfe7 19. Bh4 Nb6 20. Bb3 Ned5 21.
Bg3 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Nxb4 23. Ne5 N4d5 24. f4 Rad8 25. Kf2 Bh6 26. Kf3 Bg7 27. Bh4
Rb8 28. f5 Bf8 29. Re2 Be7 30. Bg3 Rbd8 31. a3 Bf6 32. Rde1 Rf8 33. Bf2 Nc8 34.
Nd3 Nd6 35. Nc5 gxf5 36. g5 Bg7 37. Bxd5 cxd5 38. Re7 Ne4 39. Be3 b6 40. Nd3 a5
41. h4 Rfe8 42. Rxe8+ Rxe8 43. Rc1 Nd6 44. b3 Nb5 45. Nf4 Bxd4 46. Bd2 Re4 47.
Rc8+ Kg7 48. h5 h6 49. gxh6+ Kh7 50. Rf8 Nd6 51. Nxd5 Be5 52. Bf4 Bxf4 53. Nf6+
Kxh6 54. Nxe4 fxe4+ 55. Kxf4 Kxh5 56. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. d3
h6 9. e3 e5 10. Nd2 Bf5 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 Qd7 13. Re1 Bh3 14. Bh1 Rac8 15.
b4 b6 16. Bb2 Rfe8 17. Qb3 h5 18. Nf3 Qf5 19. Nh4 Qd7 20. Bc3 Nh7 21. Qd1 Bg4
22. f3 Bh3 23. f4 Nf6 24. Bf3 Bg4 25. b5 Nd8 26. a4 e4 27. Bxg4 Nxg4 28. d4
cxd4 29. Qxd4 Nf6 30. Red1 Qh3 31. Qxd6 Ng4 32. Rd2 Rxc4 33. Qd7 Rf8 34. Bxg7
Kxg7 35. Nf5+ Kh7 36. Nd6 Rc3 37. Nxe4 Ne6 38. Nxc3 Nxe3 39. Qd3+ Nf5 40. Nd5
Rd8 41. Qe4 Kh6 42. Qe5 Nxg3 43. Qf6+ Kh7 44. Qxf7+ Ng7 45. hxg3 Rxd5 46. Qxd5
Qxg3+ 47. Qg2 Qe3+ 48. Kh1 Nf5 49. Rg1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. Nbd2 Ngf6 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nh4
e6 9. e3 Bd6 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. O-O O-O-O 12. f4 h6 13. Nxg6 fxg6 14. Nf3 e5 15.
Nh4 exf4 16. exf4 Rhe8 17. Qf2 Bc5 18. d4 Bb6 19. b4 Ne4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3
Rde8 22. Nxg6 c5 23. bxc5 Nxc5 24. Qf3 Na4 25. Bd2 Nxc3 26. Bxc3 Re3 27. Qxd5
Rxc3 28. Rae1 Rd8 29. Qf5+ Kb8 30. Kh2 Bxd4 31. Re2 a6 32. Rfe1 Ka7 33. Qe4 Bb6
34. Ne5 Rd4 35. Qf5 g5 36. fxg5 Rdd3 37. Kg2 Rg3+ 38. Kf1 Rg1# 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3
Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Bxa6 Ra8 14. Bxb7 Rxa4
15. Bxc6+ Kf8 16. Nxa4 Ne4 17. Bb7 Nd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rc6 Qd7 20. Rc8+ Bd8
21. Ne5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. c3
Nbd7 9. O-O g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Qe2 a6 12. a4 f5 13. e4 f4 14. e5 Kf7 15. Nh4
Nxg3 16. fxg3 Bg7 17. gxf4 gxh4 18. f5 Qg5 19. fxe6+ Kxe6 20. Bf5+ Ke7 21.
exd6+ Kd8 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Ra7 24. Bxd7 cxd4 25. cxd4 Kxd7 26. Rf7+ Kxd6
27. Rxa7 h3 28. g3 Re8 29. Qxe8 Bxd4+ 30. Kf1 Qf5+ 31. Ke1 Qf2+ 32. Kd1 Qf1+
33. Kd2 Qxa1 34. Rd7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 d6 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Qb2 Qb8 14. Bf1 Bxf3
15. exf3 d5 16. Rac1 a4 17. Bd2 Qb7 18. c5 c6 19. b4 Rfe8 20. cxb6 Nxb6 21. Rc3
Rec8 22. Rdc1 Ne8 23. Bf4 h6 24. h4 Nf6 25. Qc2 Nc4 26. a3 Nh5 27. Bxc4 dxc4
28. Be3 Nf6 29. Rxc4 Nd5 30. Rxc6 Rd8 31. Kg2 Ra6 32. Rxa6 Qxa6 33. Qc4 Qa7 34.
b5 Rb8 35. Qc6 Qa5 36. Rc5 Qe1 37. Rxd5 exd5 38. Bf4 Re8 39. Be5 Re6 40. Qxd5
Qa5 41. Qc5 Qa8 42. b6 Qb7 43. Bc7 g6 44. d5 Rf6 45. Qe7 Rf5 46. Qe8+ Kh7 47.
Qc6 Qa6 48. b7 Qd3 49. d6 Re5 50. b8=Q Re1 51. Qbb5 Qd1 52. f4 Rg1+ 53. Kh2 Rf1
54. Qxf1 Qxf1 55. d7 Qxf2+ 56. Qg2 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 b6 8. O-O
Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qe2 Nc7 11. Rad1 cxd4 12. Nxd4 e5 13. N4f3 h6 14. Bh4 Qd6
15. Nc4 Qe6 16. Ncxe5 Ne4 17. Nd3 Rfe8 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 d4 20. Nxd4 Qxa2
21. Nb4 Qa5 22. Ndc6 Qc5 23. Rd7 Ne6 24. Qf3 Ng5 25. Qd5 a5 26. Qxc5 bxc5 27.
Nd5 Ne6 28. Ra1 a4 29. Rb7 Nd8 30. Nce7+ Kf8 31. Rd7 Ne6 32. f4 c4 33. f5 gxf5
34. Nxf5 Red8 35. Nb6 Rxd7 36. Nxd7+ Kg8 37. Nb6 Rb8 38. Nxc4 Nc5 39. Rd1 Bf8
40. Rd4 Kh7 41. Kh2 Kg6 42. Nfd6 Bxd6 43. Rxd6+ Kg7 44. Rd5 Ne4 45. Ra5 Rc8 46.
Rxa4 Nc5 47. Ra7 Ne4 48. Ne5 Kf6 49. Nxf7 Rb8 50. Nxh6 Rxb2 51. Ra6+ Ke5 52.
Nf7+ Kd5 53. Ra5+ Kc4 54. Ra4+ Kd3 55. Ne5+ Kxe3 56. Ng4+ Kd3 57. Rd4+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. Bb5 Nge7 7. d5 a6 8. Be2
Nb8 9. O-O O-O 10. c4 a5 11. Nc3 Na6 12. a3 Bd7 13. Nd2 f5 14. f4 exf4 15. exf4
c6 16. Kh1 cxd5 17. cxd5 b5 18. Nf3 Qb6 19. Ng5 Nc7 20. Qd2 h6 21. Ne6 Bxe6 22.
dxe6 d5 23. a4 b4 24. Nb5 Bxb2 25. Qxb2 Nxe6 26. Rae1 Nc5 27. Qd4 Rab8 28. Bc4
Ne4 29. Bxd5+ Nxd5 30. Qxd5+ Kg7 31. g4 Rbd8 32. Qe5+ Kg8 33. gxf5 Rfe8 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c3 e6 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8. Ne5
Be7 9. Nxg4 Nxg4 10. Be2 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Rac1 Qc7
15. Rfd1 Bd6 16. Nf3 Nde5 17. Nd4 Na5 18. Qc2 a6 19. e4 Ng6 20. g3 Be7 21. Bxe7
Nxe7 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. c4 Nb4 24. Qa4 Nac6 25. Nf3 Qa5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 b6 11. Bf4 Bb4 12. Ne4 Ba6 13. Rfc1 Be2 14. Nh2
Rd8 15. g4 Rd4 16. Ng3 Nxg3 17. Bxg3 Bd2 18. Rcb1 h5 19. c3 Rd3 20. Nf1 hxg4
21. Rd1 gxh3 22. Rxd2 Bxf1 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 24. Rd1 Bc4 25. b3 Be6 26. Kh2 g5 27.
f3 c5 28. Bf2 g4 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Rd2 a5 31. a3 Ke7 32. b4 cxb4 33. cxb4 axb4
34. axb4 Bf5 35. Bg3 Ke6 36. Rb2 Rd8 37. Kg1 Rd3 38. Kh2 Rc3 39. Bf4 Kd5 40.
Bg3 c6 41. Bf2 c5 42. bxc5 bxc5 43. Bg3 c4 44. Rd2+ Rd3 45. Rf2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "35"]
[White "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. g3 h5 8. h3
h4 9. g4 Ng6 10. Qd2 O-O 11. f4 Re8 12. Bg2 d5 13. Nxc6 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Nxf4 15.
O-O Nxg2 16. Kxg2 Qxc6 17. Nd2 dxe4 18. Nb3 Qb6 19. Qf4 Be6 20. Nd4 Bc4 21. Nf5
Bxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Qf6 23. g5 Qe5 24. Qxh4 e3 25. Ng3 e2 26. Re1 Qd5+ 27. Kf2 Qc5+
28. Kg2 Rad8 29. Qf4 Qd5+ 30. Kf2 Qd2 31. Qf5 Qxe1+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "36"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 f5 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qe3+ Be7 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
Nh3 Re8 9. O-O Bf8 10. Qd2 Ne5 11. b3 d6 12. Nf4 c6 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Ba3 Nf7 15.
Rac1 Bd7 16. e3 Rad8 17. b4 Ne5 18. Qe2 g5 19. Nh5 Nxh5 20. Qxh5 Be6 21. Qxg5+
Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Bxg7 23. b5 Nxc4 24. bxc6 Nxa3 25. cxb7 Bxc3 26. Rxc3 Nc4 27. Bd5
Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Nb6 29. Ra5 Rb8 30. Rc7 Rf8 31. Rxa7 Rf7 32. Rxf7 Kxf7 33. a4 Ke6
34. a5 Nd7 35. Kg2 Kd5 36. Kf3 Kc6 37. a6 Nc5 38. Ra8 Kc7 39. a7 Rxb7 40. Rc8+
1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "38"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 cxd4 6. exd4 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8.
Nbd2 Be7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. c3 Nh5 11. Bg3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Qc7 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14.
Kb1 Kb8 15. g4 Qf4 16. Ne1 d5 17. g3 Qd6 18. f4 g5 19. Ng2 Rdg8 20. Rh5 f6 21.
Rdh1 Bf8 22. Nf3 Bg7 23. Re1 Re8 24. Bb5 Re7 25. Qd3 Nd8 26. Rhh1 Rf8 27. Re2
Bc8 28. Rhe1 Nf7 29. Ne3 Rd8 30. Nf5 exf5 31. Rxe7 fxg4 32. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 c5 7. g3 Nc6 8.
Bg2 Qb6 9. O-O Qb4 10. Qxb4 cxb4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. b3 e5 13. Bb2 Be7 14. d4 e4
15. Ne5 Be6 16. d5 Bxd5 17. Bh3 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rfc1 O-O 20. Nxc6 Rxc6
21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Nxa7 c5 23. Nc6 Nd5 24. a4 bxa3 25. Rxa3 Rc8 26. Ra6 Bf8 27.
e3 Nc7 28. Ra7 Nd5 29. Ne5 Rb8 30. Nd7 Rxb3 31. Ba3 Be7 32. Bxc5 Bxc5 33. Nxc5
Rb1+ 34. Kg2 Rb2 35. Ra3 Nf6 36. Ra8+ Kf7 37. Ra7+ Ke8 38. Ra6 Ng4 39. Nxe4
Nxe3+ 40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Rxe6+ Kf8 42. Rd6 Ne7 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rd7 Kf8 45. Nf6 h5
46. Ra7 Rb5 47. Ke4 Rb4+ 48. Ke3 Rb5 49. Ne4 Re5 50. f3 Rb5 51. h3 Nd5+ 52. Kd4
Ne7 53. Ra6 Rf5 54. Ke3 Nd5+ 55. Kf2 Ne7 56. Ra8+ Kg7 57. Ra7 Kf8 58. Rb7 Ra5
59. g4 hxg4 60. hxg4 Rd5 61. Kg3 Ra5 62. Kh4 Re5 63. Nf6 Kf7 64. f4 Ra5 65. Nd7
g5+ 66. fxg5 Ke6 67. Kh5 Rd5 68. Nf8+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "219"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 {This system is
examined by GM I.Stohl in CBM 118 (annotations to Iljin-Nepomniachtchi), by GM
D.Rogozenko in CBM 120, as well as in annotations to Inarkiev-Aronian in this
issue.} 14. a4 e5 15. Bg4 (15. d5 c5 16. b4 $1 Qb6 $1 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxc5
Qxc5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Qa1 O-O 22. Qa5 Rb8 23. Rb1 Bf8 24. Nxb5
(24. Rxb5 Rxb5 25. Qxb5 Qxb5 26. Nxb5 Bb7 27. Bxc4 Ba6 28. Kf1 Bxb5 29. Bxb5
Bc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gustafsson,J-Aronian,L/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2007/The Week in
Chess 682 (40)}) 24... f5 25. Qa6 Kh8 26. Nc3 Rxb1+ 27. Nxb1 Qb4 28. Qxa8 Qxb1+
29. Bf1 Qb4 30. exf5 c3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Alekseev,E-Bareev,E/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS
2007/The Week in Chess 682 (40)}) (15. Re1 Qf6 16. Ba3 Bf8 17. Bg4 Rd8 18. Nd5
{1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Shirov,A/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008}) 15... exd4 16. e5 c5 $1 {
An active response leading to immense complications.} (16... dxc3 17. e6 Ne5
18. e7 $16 Qb6 $2 19. Bxe5) 17. Re1 (17. axb5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. bxa6 Rxa6
20. Rxa6 Bxa6 21. Re1 Qc7 22. Qe2 f6 23. Nd5 Qd6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Iljin,A-Smirnov,
P/Saratov 2006/EXT 2008 (40)}) (17. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 (17... Bxf3 $2 18. Qxf3 Nxe5
19. Qd5 $1 dxc3 20. Rfe1 (20. Rae1 $18 {[%cal Re1e5,Rd5c6] Stohl}) 20... cxb2
21. Rad1 b1=Q 22. Rxb1 Rc8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rbd1 $18 {1-0 Kuljasevic,D-Zhao
Jun/Richardson USA 2007/The Week in Chess 684 (30)}) (17... Ra7 $2 18. Bxb7
Rxb7 19. Ne4 $1 Nxe5 20. axb5 axb5 21. f4 $1 gxf4 22. Qh5 Rb6 23. Bxe5 $18 {
1-0 Iljin,A-Nepomniachtchi,I/Dresden 2007/CBM 118/[Stohl] (27)}) 18. Bxb7 Qxd6
19. Bxa8 O-O $1 20. Ne4 Qc7 21. axb5 Rxa8 22. f4 gxf4 23. Qh5 Ra7 24. Rxa6 Rxa6
25. bxa6 Qc6 26. Qf5 Qxa6 27. Rxf4 Qg6 28. Nxc5 d3 $44 {1/2-1/2 DEEP
JUNIOR-DEEP FRITZ/Elista RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 657 (47)}) 17... Nxe5 $1
18. Bxe5 O-O 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Ne2 {Black's pawn avalanche looks powerful but
the position of his king is quite unsafe.} f5 21. Bh5 f4 22. b4 $1 cxb3 (22...
d3 $5 23. bxc5 $1 b4 $1 $13 {was recommended by Vishy Anand. This will
possibly be checked in future.}) 23. Qxb3 Qd5 24. Qh3 Bc8 25. Nc3 $1 $146 {
[%mdl 8] Anand's other suggestion.} (25. Qd3 {was seen in his rapid game vs.
Radjabov:} Bf5 26. Qd2 Qd7 27. Rac1 (27. Bf3 Rac8 28. axb5 axb5 29. h3 $13 {
V.Anand}) 27... Rac8 28. h4 Kh8 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qb2 b4 $13 {0-1 Radjabov,
T-Anand,V/Mainz (m) 2006/Inf 97/[Anand,V] (58)}) 25... dxc3 26. Qxc3+ Qd4 27.
Qf3 $36 {The poor position of Black's king makes him defend carefully.} Ra7 (
27... Rb8 $5 28. Qc6 (28. Re7+ Kh8 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. Rc7 Be6) 28... Kg8 29. Rad1
Qg7 30. axb5 axb5 31. Qd5+ Kh8 32. Qxc5 Bf5) 28. axb5 {This pawn now remains
alive and turns into a powerful "second weakness" (from Black's point of view).
} Qf6 (28... Rf6 $5 29. Rad1 Qc4) 29. Qa3 $1 Qb6 30. Qc3+ Kg8 31. Re5 Qf6 32.
Qxc5 Rd7 33. h4 $1 gxh4 34. Bg4 Rdd8 35. Bxc8 Rxc8 36. Qd5+ Qf7 37. bxa6 Qxd5
38. Rxd5 Rf7 39. a7 Ra8 40. Rda5 {[%mdl 4096] The complication ended in a
seemingly simple endgame. White's a7-pawn is strong but it is not easy to make
use of it with four rooks on the board (needless to say that with one pair of
rooks Black's position would be absolutely hopeless).} Kh7 (40... f3 41. gxf3
Rxf3 $2 {is impossible due to} 42. Rb1 {[%cal Rb1b8] but can White win if
Black doesn't take on f3? I don't think so.}) 41. R1a3 {...f4-f3 must now be
prevented.} (41. f3 Rg7 {is hardly better.}) 41... h3 $5 42. gxh3 f3 43. Kh2
Rg7 44. h4 Rg2+ 45. Kh3 Rg7 46. Ra6 Rf7 47. R3a5 Rg7 48. h5 Rf7 49. Kg4 (49.
Kh2 Rg7 50. Kh1 Rg4) 49... Rg8+ 50. Kh3 Ra8 51. Kg4 Rg8+ 52. Rg6 {There is no
other way to make progress but now White can hardly avoid the drawish endgame
with f- and h- pawns.} Ra8 53. Raa6 Raxa7 54. Rxh6+ Kg8 55. Rag6+ Rg7 56. Kxf3
Rxg6 57. Rxg6+ (57. hxg6 Ra3+ 58. Kg2 Ra6 $11) 57... Kf7 {With the sudden
death time control, it is not easy to hold endgames like this one or, say, R
vs R+B, especially against Kramnik. The drawish endgame I lost to him at Wijk
five years ago was a good example.} 58. Rg4 Ra1 59. Kg3 Rh1 60. Rh4 Ra1 61. Rb4
Kg7 62. Rb6 Rg1+ 63. Kf4 Rh1 64. Kg5 Rg1+ 65. Kf5 Rh1 66. h6+ {In theory, when
this pawn goes to h6, White loses any winning chances...} Kh7 67. Ra6 Rf1 68.
f4 Rb1 69. Re6 Ra1 70. Rf6 Re1 71. Kg4 Ra1 72. f5 Rg1+ 73. Kf4 Rf1+ 74. Ke5
Re1+ 75. Kd6 Rf1 76. Ke7 Rf2 77. Rf8 Re2+ (77... Kxh6 {was already good enough:
} 78. f6 Ra2 79. Rd8 (79. Re8 Ra7+ 80. Ke6 Ra6+ 81. Kf5 Ra5+ 82. Re5 Ra8 $11)
79... Ra7+ ({or} 79... Kg6 80. Rg8+ Kf5 $1 81. f7 Ra7+ 82. Kf8 Kf6) 80. Rd7 Ra8
$11) 78. Kf7 Ra2 79. Rd8 Ra7+ (79... Kxh6 $1 80. f6 (80. Rh8+ Kg5) 80... Ra7+)
80. Kf6 Ra1 81. Rd2 Rb1 82. Ra2 Rb3 83. Rh2 Rb1 84. Rh4 Rb8 85. Kg5 Rg8+ 86.
Kf4 Ra8 87. Kg5 Rg8+ 88. Kf6 Ra8 89. Re4 Ra1 90. Re8 Ra2 91. Re1 Ra3 92. Rh1
Ra2 93. Kg5 Rg2+ 94. Kf4 Rf2+ 95. Ke4 Re2+ 96. Kf3 Ra2 97. Ke4 Re2+ 98. Kd4
Rd2+ 99. Ke3 Ra2 100. f6 Ra7 {Black was probably under severe time pressure as
after} (100... Ra3+ {the white king simply had no place where to hide!}) 101.
Rf1 Kg6 102. Ke4 Ra4+ 103. Kd5 Kf7 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A terrible blunder.} (103...
Ra5+ 104. Kc4 Ra4+ 105. Kb5 Ra8 $11 {[%cal Ya8f8,Og6h6,Yf8f6]}) 104. Rh1 Ra5+
105. Kc4 Ra4+ 106. Kb5 Ra8 107. h7 Rh8 108. Rh6 {Suddenly Black is lost! His
rook is passive and he can do nothing against the approach of the white king!}
Rb8+ 109. Kc6 Rc8+ 110. Kd6 (110. Kd6 Rh8 111. Kd7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E51"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 c6 8. Bd3
b6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Bb2 Nc6 12. O-O Na5 13. Nd2 Rc8 14. f3 Re8 15.
e4 e5 16. Rae1 exd4 17. cxd4 Nh5 18. g3 g6 19. Qe3 Qd7 20. Qh6 Ng7 21. exd5 f5
22. d6 Bd5 23. g4 Rcd8 24. Re5 Qxd6 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Qxd6 Rxd6 27. Rxe8+ Nxe8
28. Bxf5 Nc4 29. Nxc4 Bxc4 30. Re1 Ng7 31. Be4 Ne6 32. Kf2 Nxd4 33. Rg1+ Kf7
34. Bxh7 Ne6 35. Ke3 Rd5 36. Bc3 Rb5 37. Bg6+ Ke7 38. Bb4+ Kf6 39. f4 a5 40.
Bc3+ Ke7 41. f5 Rb3 42. Kd2 Nc5 43. f6+ Kd6 44. Rg4 Be6 45. f7 Bxf7 46. Bxf7
Rxa3 47. h4 b5 48. h5 b4 49. Bg7 Rh3 50. Bf8+ Kc6 51. Rc4 Rf3 52. Be8+ Kd5 53.
Rxc5+ Kd4 54. Be7 Rf2+ 55. Kc1 b3 56. Rxa5 Kc3 57. Rc5+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 f5 8. d5
Bf6 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. Rd1 Na6 11. O-O Nb4 12. Qb3 a5 13. Be3 a4 14. Nxa4 exd5 15.
Nd4 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nc6 18. Bxb6 cxb6 19. Nxb6 Rd8 20. Nd5 Ne5 21.
Qb5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Nf7 23. Rfd1 Nf6 24. R5d2 g6 25. a4 O-O 26. a5 Rb8 27. Bb7
Nd8 28. Bd5+ Ne6 29. Qc4 Rfc8 30. Qa2 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Rc7 32. a6 Ra7 33. Rd6 Kf8
34. Qa4 Ke8 35. b4 Ng5 36. Qa1 Nf7 37. Qd4 Qxd6 38. Qe3+ Qe6 39. Qxa7 Rxb4 40.
Qa8+ Ke7 41. a7 Ra4 42. Qb7 Qc6 43. Qb8 d6 44. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nd2 c6 13. Nde4 Bf7 14. Be3 a5 15.
Nc5 axb4 16. axb4 Ra3 17. N3e4 Qc7 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Bh3 Rfa8 20. Qc1 Nd5 21.
Qb2 Nc3 22. Nxc3 dxc3 23. Qc2 Qe5 24. Rfc1 b5 25. Ne4 Ba2 26. Ra1 Bxb4 27. Rxa2
Rxa2 28. Qb3+ Kh8 29. Qxb4 c2 30. Bf1 Qb2 31. Qxb2 Rxb2 32. Nd2 c5 33. f4 c4
34. Nf3 b4 35. dxc4 Rd8 36. Ne1 b3 37. Kf2 Rd1 38. Nd3 Rxd3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nd5 d3 12. Bxd3 c6 13. Ne7+ Kh8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8
15. Bf1 Nc5 16. Qxd6 Nxe4 17. Qa3 f5 18. h3 Ne5 19. Bf4 Nd7 20. Qxa7 Bxb2 21.
Rab1 Bg7 22. Qxb7 Ndc5 23. Qb6 Rf7 24. Ng5 Rb7 25. Qxb7 Nxb7 26. Rxb7 Kg8 27.
c5 h6 28. Bc4+ Kh8 29. Be5 hxg5 30. Bxg7+ Kh7 31. Bf8+ Kh8 32. Be7 Rb8 33. Rxe4
1-0

[Event "Enschede DGT Challenge"]
[Site "Enschede"]
[Date "2008.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sebag, Marie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.04.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. a4 dxc4 5. Nc3 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Qc2 c5 14. Na2 cxd4
15. Nxb4 Qxb4 16. Rxd4 Rac8 17. Qe2 Qb6 18. a5 Qc7 19. a6 e5 20. axb7 exd4 21.
bxc8=Q Rxc8 22. b3 Nb6 23. exd4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. Be3 Rc7
27. Ra5 Rd7 28. Kf1 Nd5 29. Ke2 f6 30. Kd3 Kf7 31. h3 Ke6 32. Ra6+ Nb6 33. g4
g5 34. f4 gxf4 35. Bxf4 Kf7 36. h4 g5 37. hxg5 Nd5 38. Bd6 fxg5 39. Ke4 Nc3+
40. Ke5 Nb5 41. Bc5 Rd8 42. Ra5 Rb8 43. d5 Rb7 44. d6 Ke8 45. Ke6 Kd8 46. Be3
Ke8 47. Bc5 Kd8 48. Bxa7 Nxa7 49. Rxg5 1-0

[Event "Enschede DGT Challenge"]
[Site "Enschede"]
[Date "2008.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Werle, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.04.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 11. a3 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1 Nd5 15. Qe2
e5 16. Re1 exd4 17. exd4 f5 18. Nc3 Nxc3 19. Bxc3 Bf6 20. d5 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nd8
22. Rad1 Bxd5 23. Ng5 c6 24. Bxd5+ cxd5 25. Qd3 h6 26. Nf3 f4 27. Nh4 fxg3 28.
hxg3 Nf7 29. Nf5 Ng5 30. Ne7+ Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Nf3+ 32. Kf1 d4 33. Qg6 Nh2+ 34.
Ke1 Nf3+ 35. Ke2 Ng1+ 36. Kf1 Rxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Nh3+ 38. Ke1 1-0

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5
b5 9. Ne5 Ra6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Nxc4 Nbd7 12. Nc3 c5 13. Nxa4 h6 14. Bd2 Qc7 15.
Bf4 Qa7 16. Nd6 Nd5 17. Nb5 Qb7 18. Nc7 Ra7 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Bd6 Re8 21. dxc5
Nf6 22. Nb6 Bg4 23. Qd4 Bxe2 24. Rfc1 Bb5 25. Be5 Rxe5 26. Qxe5 Bxc5 27. Rxc5
Qxb6 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rb8 Qc6 30. Qf5+ g6 31. Qe5 Bc4 32. b3 Bd3 33. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 Nc5 6. Nc3 c6 7. Nd4 Be7 8.
O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 f5 11. Nb3 Na6 12. Be3 Nc7 13. Ne2 b6 14. Nbd4 Ba6
15. Qd2 Qe8 16. c3 c5 17. Nf3 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Ne6 19. a4 h6 20. a5 Qb5 21. Ng3
bxa5 22. Qc2 g6 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24. Rxa4 d4 25. cxd4 cxd4 26. Nxd4 Bc5 27. Rxa5
Nxd4 28. Rxa6 Nf3+ 29. Kf2 Bxe3+ 30. Kxf3 Rxd1 31. Kxe3 Rfd8 32. Rxg6+ Kh7 33.
Ra6 R8d3+ 34. Kf2 R1d2+ 35. Ne2 Rd7 36. e6 Rb7 37. Ke3 Rdxb2 38. Nd4 R2b6 39.
Rxb6 Rxb6 40. e7 Rb8 41. Nxf5 a5 42. Nd4 a4 43. Nc6 Re8 44. Kd4 Kg7 45. Kc4 Kf7
46. Kb4 Ra8 47. Ka3 Ra6 48. Nb4 Rd6 49. Kxa4 Kxe7 50. Kb5 Rd2 51. g4 Rxh2 52.
Kc5 Ke6 53. Kd4 Rh4 54. f5+ Kf7 55. Ke5 Rxg4 56. Nd5 Ra4 57. Nc3 Rb4 58. Ne4 h5
59. Ng5+ Kg8 60. f6 h4 61. Kf5 Rb5+ 62. Kg6 Rxg5+ 0-1

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. a3 a5 8. Ne1 Be6
9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Ne3 Nde7 13. Nc4 O-O 14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3
b6 16. Qa4 Rc8 17. Qb5 Bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Kh8 19. Qb5 f5 20. Bg5 Nd4 21. Bxe7 Qxe7
22. Qxb6 Rb8 23. Qa6 Rxb2 24. e3 Nb3 25. Rab1 Rxb1 26. Rxb1 c4 27. dxc4 Qxa3
28. Nb5 Qa2 29. Rd1 Qc2 30. Qd6 Nd4 31. Re1 Ne2+ 32. Kh1 Qxc4 33. Nc7 Qc3 34.
Rd1 Qb4 35. Ne6 Qxd6 36. Rxd6 Rb8 37. Bf1 Nc3 38. Ra6 a4 39. Kg1 Rc8 40. Ra7
Bf6 41. Ba6 Rb8 42. Bc4 e4 43. h4 Nd1 44. Kg2 Nb2 45. Bd5 Rc8 46. h5 gxh5 47.
Nf4 h4 48. Be6 Rf8 49. Bxf5 Bg7 50. Bxe4 hxg3 51. Kxg3 Be5 52. Rxh7+ Kg8 53.
Ra7 Bxf4+ 54. exf4 Rd8 55. f5 Kf8 56. f3 Rd1 57. Kf4 Nd3+ 58. Kg5 Nc5 59. Ra5
Rc1 60. Ra8+ Ke7 61. f6+ Kd6 62. f7 Nxe4+ 63. fxe4 Rg1+ 64. Kh4 1-0

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Qd3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qd3 a6 8. e4
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. e5 Ng4 12. Bg5+ Ke8 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. Ne4
Bb7 15. Nxc5 Nxc5 16. Bh4 Ne4 17. Rd4 Rc8+ 18. Kb1 Nexf2 19. h3 Nxh1 20. hxg4
h5 21. g5 g6 22. Be2 Ke7 23. Be1 h4 24. Nxh4 Rhd8 25. Rf4 Ng3 26. Bxg3 Rd2 27.
Bg4 Rcc2 28. Be1 Rxb2+ 29. Kc1 Rdc2+ 30. Kd1 Rc4 31. Rxc4 bxc4 32. a3 Kd7 33.
Bd2 Ra2 34. Bc1 Bc6 35. Be2 Ba4+ 36. Ke1 Ra1 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.06.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 {The move is not without its problems,
because it neglects the development of th Bc8; 4...Bg4, 4...Bf5 and 4...a6 are
more popular.  Der Zug ist nicht unproblematisch, weil er die Entwicklung des
Bc8 vernachlдssigt; 4...Bg4, 4...Bf5 und 4...a6 stehen hцher im Kurs.} 5. b3
Nbd7 6. Bb2 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O Bd6 9. Nbd2 (9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rad1
Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15. Bd3 Ba3 16. Ba1 h6 17. Rfe1 $14
{1-0 Kramnik,V (2766)-Van Wely,L (2683)/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (74)})
9... O-O 10. Ne5 {It woud be exaggerated to speak here of a clear advantage
for White, but the position is unpleasant for Black. Es wдre ьbertrieben,
wollte man hier von deutlichem weiЯen Vorteil sprechen, aber es spielt sich
fьr Schwarz unangenehm.} Qe7 11. Qf3 Rfd8 12. Qh3 h6 13. f4 Bb4 $2 {After this,
things become quite difficult for Black. Danach wird es ganz schwer fьr
Schwarz.} (13... c5 {was required, but White's prospects are somewhat better
even then. war erforderlich, aber die weiЯen Aussichten sind auch dann ein
wenig hцher einzuschдtzen.}) 14. Ndf3 Ne4 $2 {This allows a forcing sequence,
which leaves White close to a win.  Dies erlaubt eine forcierte Zugfolge, in
deren Folge WeiЯ nahezu auf Gewinn steht.} 15. Nxd7 Rxd7 16. Ne5 Rc7 17. Bxe4
$1 dxe4 18. c5 $1 {White exploits the position of the Bb4 to gain time for a
kingside attack by means of a pawn sacrifice. WeiЯ nutzt die Position des Bb4
aus, um unter Bauernopfer Zeit fьr einen Angriff am Kцnigsflьgel zu gewinnen.}
bxc5 19. a3 Ba5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. b4 Qb5 {Things were already so so, but now
the black king has no pieces to protect it.  Das ging noch geradeso, aber der
schwarze Kцnig steht nun ohne Figurenschutz da.} 22. Qg3 ({During the game I
saw (or Fritz did) Wдhrend der Partie sah ich (bzw. Fritz)} 22. Ng4 {But Aber}
h5 $1 {is better. ist besser:} (22... f5 23. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 (23... Kf8 24. Be5
$18) 24. Qxh6 Bb6 25. Bf6 $1 {and White wins. und WeiЯ gewinnt.}) 23. Nf6+ (23.
Nh6+ Kh7 $1 $13) 23... gxf6 24. Bxf6 Qf5 {and White has to go into an ending
with opposite coloured bishops (and rooks). und WeiЯ muss in ein Endspiel mit
ungleichen Lдufern (und Tьrmen) gehen.}) ({But the correct move is Aber der
richtige Zug ist} 22. f5 $1 f6 (22... Bb6 23. fxe6 f6 24. Nd7 $18) 23. Ng4 e5
24. Qg3 Kh8 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. bxa5 $18) 22... Bb6 $6 {This misses a good
practical chance. Dies verpasst eine gute praktische Chance.} ({After Nach} 
22... f5 23. Rad1 Qe2 24. Bc3 Bb6 25. Rfe1 Qh5 26. Rd6 Re8 {Black is at the
edge of the abyss, but he can still hope. schwebt Schwarz am Abgrund, aber er
kann noch hoffen.}) 23. Nd7 $1 g6 24. Nf6+ Kf8 25. Be5 Rcc8 26. Qh4 $1 h5 ({
Or Oder} 26... Bxe3+ 27. Kh1 Rd8 28. Qxh6+ Ke7 29. Qh4 Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31.
Ng8+ $1 Rxg8 32. Qf6+ Ke8 33. Bd6 {and White wins. und WeiЯ gewinnt.}) 27. Nh7+
Ke8 28. Bd6 Rc7 29. Rfd1 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O Bd6 {About this line - see CBM
115, annotations to Topalov-Kramnik by GM M.Marin (as well as Avrukh -
Al-Modiahki in CBM 95).} 13. Nd2 {A rare move (not a formal novelty, though)
paving a new way, which may gain popularity after this game.} (13. b3 {and}) (
13. b4 $5 {are main options.}) 13... Qc7 (13... O-O 14. b3 (14. Nc4 $5) 14...
Ba6 $5 (14... Qb8 15. h3 Bb4 16. Bxa3 Bxa3 17. Rxa3 f5 18. Bf3 c5 19. Qe2 cxd4
20. exd4 Re8 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Nc4 $14 {1/2 Arencibia Rodriguez,W (2542)-Abreu
Delgado,A (2480)/Santa Clara 2002/CBM 088 ext (33)}) 15. Re1 Bb5 16. Bf3 a6 17.
Nc4 Bb4 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. Qc1 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 e5 21. Qa5 exd4 22. exd4 Qd8 23. Qxa3
$14 {1-0 Mikhalevski,V (2592)-Miton,K (2580)/Lubbock USA 2008/The Week in
Chess 724 (32)}) 14. Nc4 $1 {[%mdl 512] That's the point: White gives up an
unimportant (second!) pawn to obtain pressure.} Bxh2+ 15. Kh1 Nb6 (15... Bd6
16. Nxd6+ Qxd6 17. b3 $1 {and Black can't castle.}) (15... axb2 $6 16. Bxb2)
16. Nxb6 axb6 17. g3 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Qxg3 (18... a2 $5 19. b3) 19. Qh5 Ra5 $6 {
This adventure doesn't pay off but after} (19... g6 20. Qh2 Qxh2+ 21. Kxh2 f5
22. Bf3 axb2 23. Rxa8+ Bxa8 24. Bxb2 {, despite four pawns for a piece,
Black's position is inferior due to the weakness of dark squares.}) 20. Qxf7+
Kd8 21. Bg2 Rg5 22. Qf3 Qxf3 23. Bxf3 axb2 24. Bxb2 $16 {Now Black has only
three pawns for the missing bishop, and his b7 bishop resembles a big pawn.
White's bishop pair gradually tear down Black's position.} Rf8 25. Be4 Rf6 26.
Rxf6 gxf6 27. Kh2 Kc7 28. Bc3 {[%cal Yc3e1,Ye1g3]} e5 29. dxe5 fxe5 30. Rf1 Kd6
31. Rf7 Bc8 32. Rxh7 Be6 33. Rh6 c5 34. Bd3 Kd7 35. Bb5+ Ke7 36. e4 Rg4 37. Bc6
Rg5 38. Be1 Rg4 39. Bg3 Bc4 40. Bxe5 Bd3 41. Bd6+ Kf7 42. Bd5+ Kg7 43. Re6 c4
44. Kh3 Rg1 45. Be5+ Kf8 46. Rxb6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. a3 Nge7 8. b4 h6
9. Rb1 Rb8 10. d3 O-O 11. Bd2 Be6 12. Ne1 f5 13. Qa4 f4 14. e3 g5 15. b5 Na5
16. Ne2 b6 17. exf4 gxf4 18. gxf4 Ng6 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Qd1 Qd7 21. Be4 Bf5 22.
Bxa5 bxa5 23. Ng3 Bxe4 24. dxe4 Qh3 25. Nf5 Rbd8 26. Qf3 Qxf3 27. Nxf3 Rd3 28.
Ne1 Rc3 29. Kh1 Bf6 30. Rg1 Kh7 31. b6 axb6 32. Rxb6 Rf7 33. Ng2 Rxa3 34. Nge3
a4 35. Ng4 Bg5 36. Ngxh6 Bxh6 37. Rgxg6 Bf4 38. Kg2 Rb7 39. Rh6+ Bxh6 40. Rxb7+
Kg6 41. Rb6+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg4 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. e4 e6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bh5 11. h3 Bg6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Qb3 Qb6 14. Nd2 Nxe3
15. Qxb6 axb6 16. fxe3 b5 17. a3 Nb6 18. g3 Bg5 19. Kf2 f6 20. exf6 Bxf6 21.
Kg2 Nd5 22. Rf3 Bg5 23. Kf2 Rfe8 24. h4 Bf6 25. Rh1 b4 26. h5 Bc2 27. Rc1 Be4
28. Ncxe4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 g6 6. Ngf3 Bg7 7. h3 O-O 8. Be2
Qb6 9. Qc1 Bf5 10. O-O Rac8 11. Nb3 Ne4 12. Nfd2 cxd4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. exd4
Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Qd2 Bg7 17. Be3 d4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. cxd4
Rfd8 21. f3 Bf5 22. b3 Rc2 23. Bc4 Rxd4 24. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rxa2 26. g4 Bc2
27. Rd7 b5 28. Bxb5 Bxb3 29. Rxe7 Bd5 30. f4 a5 31. Ra7 Bb3 32. g5 a4 33. h4 a3
34. h5 gxh5 35. f5 Bd5 36. Rd7 Rg2+ 37. Kf1 Rd2 38. Ke1 a2 39. Ra7 Rb2 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Bb7 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Bf4 c6 13. Rfd1 Re8 14. Ne5 Nf8
15. e4 Ne6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Qe2 Bb4 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Na4 Ba3 20. Bh3 Rc7 21. f3
Nd7 22. f4 Nf6 23. Bg2 Nf8 24. Bc1 Bd6 25. Bb2 Ne4 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Nc3 f6 28.
Nc4 Bb4 29. Nb5 Rd7 30. Ne3 Kh8 31. Qc4 Be7 32. Rac1 a6 33. Nc7 b5 34. Qc2 Bd6
35. Nxe8 Qxe8 36. d5 Ng6 37. Qg2 Rd8 38. Bd4 Bc8 39. Bc5 Bxf4 40. gxf4 Nxf4 41.
Qf1 Qg6+ 42. Kh1 Qg5 43. Be7 Re8 44. Rxc8 Rxc8 45. d6 Nd3 46. d7 Rg8 47. Rxd3
exd3 48. Qxd3 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Nc3 e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5
Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. g5 Ng8 11. e4 Ne7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5
exd5 15. Qb3 Bd6 16. Qxd5 Qe7+ 17. Be2 O-O 18. Kf1 Rfe8 19. Bf3 Rac8 20. Kg2
Nb6 21. Qxb7 Rc7 22. Qa6 Rxc1 23. Rhxc1 Qxg5+ 24. Kf1 Qf4 25. Qd3 Rd8 26. Qe4
Qh2 27. Bg2 Bb8 28. Rc5 Bd6 29. Rc6 Bb8 30. Rc5 Bd6 31. Rc3 Nd7 32. Re1 Nf6 33.
Qb7 Kh7 34. Rc8 Rxc8 35. Qxc8 Qf4 36. Qc4 Nh5 37. Qd3 Qf6 38. Qf3 Nf4 39. Rd1
Qf5 40. Qe4 Qb5+ 41. Kg1 Qxb2 42. a4 Ne2+ 43. Kh1 Nf4 44. Qf3 Qc2 45. a5 Qa2
46. Qg3 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Nf6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 Bd6 5. c4 dxc4 6. Bxc4 O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8.
Nf3 f5 9. Qc2 Nd7 10. Bd3 g6 11. h4 Qe7 12. h5 Nf6 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. Bc4+ Be6
15. Bxe6+ Qxe6 16. Ng5 Qc4 17. g4 Bb4 18. gxf5 Nd5 19. fxg6 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qxc3+
21. Qxc3 Bxc3+ 22. Ke2 Bxa1 23. gxh7+ Kh8 24. Rxa1 Rf5 25. f4 Re8 26. Kf3 c5
27. e4 Rxg5 28. fxg5 cxd4 29. g6 Kg7 30. Rh1 Rh8 31. e5 Kxg6 32. Ke4 Rxh7 33.
Rxh7 Kxh7 34. Kxd4 Kg7 35. Kd5 Kf7 36. Kd6 Ke8 37. Kc7 a5 38. a4 Ke7 39. Kxb7
Ke6 40. Kb6 Kxe5 41. Kxa5 Kd6 42. Kb6 Kd7 43. Kb7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. Nf3 Qb6 5. b3 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3
Be7 9. Bg3 Nd7 10. O-O Ngf6 11. c4 O-O 12. Nc3 a5 13. Rfd1 Qd8 14. Rac1 Bb4 15.
Bh4 Be7 16. h3 Nh5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. e4 dxe4 19. Qxe4 Nhf6 20. Qe3 Rfe8 21. Ne5
Rad8 22. f4 c5 23. Nxd7 cxd4 24. Rxd4 Rxd7 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. Rd1 Nc5 27. Nb5 b6
28. Rd6 Rb8 29. Kh2 Qf6 30. Nd4 Rd8 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. a3 Qd6 33. Nb5 Qd3 34.
Qxd3 Nxd3 35. Nd6 Nc5 36. b4 axb4 37. axb4 Na6 38. b5 Nc5 39. Nc8 Nd7 40. Kg3
f5 41. Kf3 Kf7 42. Ke3 g5 43. g3 Ke8 44. Kd4 Kd8 45. Nd6 Kc7 46. Nf7 gxf4 47.
gxf4 h5 48. h4 Nc5 49. Ke5 Nd3+ 50. Kxe6 Nxf4+ 51. Kxf5 Ng2 52. Kg5 Kd7 53.
Ne5+ Ke6 54. Nd3 Ne3 55. c5 bxc5 56. b6 Kd6 57. b7 Kc7 58. Nxc5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. a3
Bd6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. b4 a6 11. Qb3 Ne4 12. Bb2 Re8 13. a4 Re6 14. Rfd1 Rf6 15.
Bxe4 dxe4 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. b5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Nf8 19. d5 Rh6 20. h3 Bc5 21. d6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nf3 g5 6. Bg3 Bg7 7. c3 Qb6 8. Qc1
Bf5 9. Nbd2 Rc8 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Be2 Nf6 12. O-O O-O 13. Nd4 Bg6 14. Nxc6 Qxc6
15. Be5 Ne4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Qd2 Qb6 19. a4 a5 20. f3 Bg6 21.
Qd4+ Qxd4 22. exd4 e5 23. dxe5 Rfe8 24. Rfd1 Rxe5 25. Kf2 Bc2 26. Rd4 Bb3 27.
Bb5 Bc4 28. Bxc4 dxc4 29. Re1 Rxe1 30. Kxe1 Rc5 31. Kd2 b5 32. axb5 Rxb5 33.
Kc2 Rc5 34. f4 Kg6 35. g4 gxf4 36. Rxf4 Kg5 37. Rd4 h5 38. gxh5 Kxh5 39. h4 f5
40. Rf4 Kg6 41. b3 cxb3+ 42. Kxb3 Kf6 43. Rf1 Ke5 44. h5 Rc6 45. Rh1 Rh6 46.
Ka4 Kd5 47. Kb5 f4 48. c4+ Kd6 49. c5+ Kc7 50. Rg1 Rxh5 51. Rg7+ Kc8 52. Kb6
Rh1 53. Rg8+ Kd7 54. c6+ Ke6 55. c7 Rb1+ 56. Kxa5 Ra1+ 57. Kb4 Rb1+ 58. Ka3 Rc1
59. c8=Q+ Rxc8 60. Rxc8 Kd5 61. Kb3 Kd4 62. Kc2 Ke3 63. Kd1 Kf2 64. Rf8 f3 65.
Rf7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 c6 6. e5 Nd5 7. O-O O-O 8. h3
dxe5 9. dxe5 Qc7 10. Re1 h6 11. Nbd2 Bf5 12. Nf1 Nd7 13. Ng3 Be6 14. Bb3 Nc5
15. Nd4 Nxb3 16. axb3 Qc8 17. c3 c5 18. Nf3 b6 19. Ra4 Rd8 20. Rh4 g5 21. Bxg5
hxg5 22. Nxg5 Bf5 23. e6 Bg6 24. exf7+ Bxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. Qh5+ Kf8 27. Nf5
Bf6 28. Nh6 Kg7 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30. Nf5+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 b6 11. Bf4 Bb4 12. Ne4 Ba6 13. Rfc1 Be2 14. Nh2
Rd8 15. c3 Be7 16. Re1 Bc4 17. g4 Nh4 18. Bg3 Ng6 19. f4 Rd3 20. f5 Bd5 21. Nf1
Nh4 22. Re2 Nf3+ 23. Kf2 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Ng5 25. Re2 Nxh3+ 26. Kg2 Ng5 27. Rd2
Rxd2+ 28. Nxd2 h5 29. Rh1 g6 30. Bh4 hxg4 31. f6 Nf3 32. Nxf3 gxf3+ 33. Kxf3 g5
34. fxe7 gxh4 35. Kg4 Kxe7 36. Kh3 Ke6 37. Rf1 Rh7 38. Re1 c5 39. Re2 b5 40. b3
Kd5 41. Rd2+ Ke6 42. Rd8 Rh5 43. Ra8 Kxe5 44. Rxa7 Kd6 45. Ra6+ c6 46. Ra7 f5
47. a4 f4 48. Rf7 c4 49. axb5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 b6 6. c4 Bb7 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Bd3
d5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bb5+ Kf8 12. O-O a6 13. Ba4 Nc6 14. Re1 b5
15. Bb3 Na5 16. Ne5 g6 17. Qf3 Nxb3 18. axb3 Kg7 19. Re3 Rc8 20. Rae1 Rc7 21.
g3 h5 22. h4 Rf8 23. Ne2 Qc8 24. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2664"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Qe2 c5 14. dxc5 Qc7
15. Kb1 O-O 16. Bc3 Nxc5 17. Rd4 Rfd8 18. Rhd1 Nd5 19. Be1 Bf6 20. Rc4 Qb6 21.
c3 Qb5 22. Nd4 Qb6 23. Qf3 Rd7 24. Nc2 Rad8 25. Rc1 Ne7 26. Ne4 Nxe4 27. Rxe4
Nf5 28. Qe2 Nd6 29. Rb4 Qc6 30. f3 a5 31. Rg4 Qd5 32. Bh4 Bxh4 33. Rxh4 Nf5 34.
Rg4 b5 35. Nd4 Nxd4 36. cxd4 Qf5+ 37. Ka1 Qxh5 38. Qd2 b4 39. Re4 Rd5 40. Rg4
Qf5 41. Qe3 Qf6 42. Rc4 e5 43. Re4 Rxd4 44. Rcxd4 exd4 45. Qd3 g6 46. Kb1 h5
47. Kc1 Qg5+ 48. Qd2 Qd5 49. b3 d3 50. Rc4 Re8 51. Qf4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 Qe7 4. g3 f5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nh3 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 d6 8.
Nf4 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 O-O 12. Nc3 e4 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. d6
cxd6 15. Qxd6 Qf7 16. f3 exf3 17. exf3 Nb6 18. Rhe1 f4 19. Re7 Qh5 20. g4 Qxh2
21. Qe5 Qh6 22. Rd6 g6 23. g5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Ba3 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15.
dxe6 fxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 d5 18. Nc5 Qd6 19. Nxb7 Qxe6 20. b5 cxb5 21.
cxd5 Qd7 22. d6 Nf5 23. Nc5 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Nxd6 25. Ne4 Nf5 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 27.
Rac1 Rf7 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rec1 Rd7 30. R8c7 Rd4 31. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
h6 9. Nf1 Be6 10. N3h2 Qd7 11. Qf3 Bxb3 12. axb3 O-O-O 13. Ng3 d5 14. O-O dxe4
15. dxe4 Qd3 16. b4 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Rd3 18. b5 axb5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxa7 Kb8
21. Ra2 Rhd8 22. Bf4 Nc4 23. b3 g5 24. Bxc7+ Kxc7 25. bxc4 bxc4 26. Ra5 Rxc3
27. Rf5 Ne8 28. Rxf7+ Rd7 29. Rf8 Ng7 30. Ra1 Ne6 31. Rf6 Nc5 32. Ra5 Nb3 33.
Rb5 Rcd3 34. Rb4 Nd2 35. e5 Rb3 36. Ra4 c3 37. Ra2 Rb2 38. Ra3 Nb3 39. Rf3 c2
40. Rc3+ Kd8 41. Ra8+ Ke7 42. Nf5+ Ke6 43. Nd6 c1=Q+ 44. Rxc1 Nxc1 45. Re8+ Kd5
46. Nf5 Ne2+ 47. Kh2 Nf4 48. Ne3+ Ke4 49. e6 Rc7 50. Ng4 Rb6 51. f3+ Kd5 52.
Nf6+ Kc4 53. Nd7 Rxe6 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. Nd2 c6 8.
Ba4 d6 9. h3 O-O 10. Nf3 Bb6 11. c3 h6 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Kh1 d5 14. Qe2 dxe4 15.
dxe4 Nh5 16. Nh2 Qh4 17. Qf3 Re6 18. Bd1 Nf6 19. Bc2 Nh7 20. Ng4 Nf6 21. Ne3
Re8 22. Bd2 g6 23. Rad1 Be6 24. Kg1 Nh7 25. Ng4 h5 26. Nxe5 Ng5 27. Qf4 Qxf4
28. Bxf4 Nh7 29. Bb1 g5 30. Bh2 Nf6 31. Rfe1 Rad8 32. Nf3 g4 33. hxg4 Rxd1 34.
Rxd1 Bxg4 35. Re1 Rd8 36. Bf4 Ne8 37. Nh4 Ng7 38. Kf1 Ne6 39. Bc1 Nc5 40. f3
Be6 41. b3 Nd3 42. Bxd3 Rxd3 43. c4 Ba5 44. g3 Bxe1 45. Kxe1 b5 46. cxb5 cxb5
47. Bb2 a5 48. Ke2 Rd7 49. Ng2 a4 50. bxa4 bxa4 51. a3 Bc4+ 52. Ke1 Rd3 53. Nf4
Rxf3 54. Nxh5 Kh7 55. g4 Kg6 56. Bc1 Rf1+ 57. Kd2 Bb3 58. Bb2 Rf2+ 59. Kc1 Kg5
60. Bd4 Rc2+ 61. Kb1 Kxg4 62. Nf6+ Kf3 63. e5 Rd2 64. Bc5 Kf4 65. Bd6 Kf5 66.
Ne8 Ke4 67. Kc1 Rc2+ 68. Kb1 Kd3 69. Nf6 Re2 70. Nd7 Kc3 71. Bb4+ Kc4 72. Bd6
Bc2+ 73. Kc1 Bf5 74. Nf6 Kb3 75. Kd1 Ra2 76. Nd5 Bg4+ 77. Ke1 Be6 78. Nb6 Rxa3
79. Bxa3 Kxa3 80. Kd2 Kb4 81. Kc2 Kb5 0-1

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {This time, Kramnik chooses a more ambitious
continuation than in the 8th game.} Bb4 {It is too early still to judge
Anand's opening choice from a psychological point of view. The Nimzo Indian
can lead to such a wide range of types of position that we cannot anticipate
which of the players will feel more at home.} 4. Nf3 {Previously, Kramnik had
played this move just once, which makes it almost such a big surprise as had
been Anand's 4.f3 (as a coincidence, same move number, same square...).
However, the difference of style between the opponents is quite clear. Anand's
intention had been to give play an irrational character as soon as possible,
while Kramnik aims for purely technical positions. And yet, Anand could not
have been taken unaware, as can be seen from a further comment...} c5 {Frankly
speaking, this seems a bit like playing into Kramnik's hands.} (4... b6 {
would have offered better chances for unclear play, which yielded Anand two
important wins in his games with black.}) 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O ({It is
possible that Anand had not paid too much attention to the game he had lost
against Kramnik in a blindfold encounter:} 6... Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc5 9.
Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 e5 11. Nf5 Qf6 12. Ne3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 Be6 14. Ba3 Nba6 15. O-O-O
Ke7 16. Bg2 Rad8 17. f4 f6 18. Rhf1 b6 19. g4 Nc7 20. h4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2766)
-Anand,V (2779)/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (1-0, 30). Or maybe he relied on
the fact that his main repertoire was well analysed?}) 7. Bg2 d5 {The most
solid continuation, but also the least ambitious. White is given the
opportunity to play a slightly more pleasant position at virtually no risk.
Just what Kramnik must have prayed for...} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nc6
11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6 14. Rfd1 Qc5 15. e4 Bc4 16. Qa4 Nb6 17.
Qb4 Qh5 {We have reached a modern tabyia. The pawn structure is almost
symmetrical and White's pair of bishops seems to be compensated for by the
stability of Black's minor pieces, something not really unusual in the Nimzo
Indian. However, there is an element that slightly favours White. His queen is
actively placed, being a permanent threat for the enemy queenside pawns, while
the black queen is somehow out of play. Indeed, there is not much to be
attacked on the kingside. First of all, the white structure is quite compact
in that area, while the king is an useful defending piece.} 18. Re1 $5 $146 {
It took me a lot of time to get some idea about the purpose of this
interesting novelty. Obviously, White anticipates ...Be2, but it is far from
clear how this will influence the further course of the game. My feeling is
that Kramnik wanted to provoke the advance of the black c-pawn, in order to
get the a5-square for his queen.} ({The older continuation is} 18. Be3 {
, which was tried at the highest thinkable level} Be2 {(Justifying the queen's
placement on h5, in view of a further exchange of bishops with ...Bf3)} 19. Rd2
Rab8 20. Bxb6 axb6 21. Qd6 Rfc8 ({A possible improvement over} 21... Bf3 {
when White managed to win a pawn after} 22. Qxc6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qe5 24. Qc4 Rfc8
25. Qd4 Qa5 26. Rb1 h6 27. Rb4 Qc5 28. Rd3 Qc7 {, although he could not deal
with the technical problems, connected with the weaknesses on both wings,
Kasparov,G (2851)-Anand,V (2769)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075/[Wells] (1/2, 56)})
22. Rb1 h6 23. e5 Bf3 $11 {Now, the exchange of bishops is entirely possible.}
24. a4 Ra8 25. Qd4 b5 26. Bxf3 Qxf3 27. Rd3 {1/2 Bacrot,E (2675)-Leko,P (2741)/
Moscow 2004/CBM 102}) ({The latest word in theory was (up to this game)} 18.
Bf4 {The game that may have inspired Kramnik continued with} c5 ({The other,
possibly better, pawn move played here is} 18... e5 {as in Najer,E (2648)
-Jakovenko,D (2671)/Moscow 2006/CBM 116 (0-1, 50), which I have commented in
the notes to Grischuk,A (2726)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/
[Marin] (1-0, 61)}) (18... Be2 {Grischuk,A (2726)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Mexico City
2007/CBM 120/[Marin] (1-0, 61)}) 19. Qa5 $1 e5 20. Be3 Be2 21. Re1 Nc4 ({
The exchange operation initiated by this move will fail to equalise. It is
worth mentioning that} 21... Rfc8 $5 {would lead to a position from our main
game, but with an extra tempo for Black! Meaning that for the sake of
obtaining this structure, Kramnik gladly lost a tempo...}) 22. Qa6 Nxe3 23.
Rxe2 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 Rad8 25. Rae1 Rd7 26. Qb5 Rfd8 ({If Black had defended the
pawn with} 26... Rc7 {he would have lost the control of both open files after}
27. Rd2 $14) 27. Qxc5 $14 {Cheparinov,I (2670)-Carlsen,M (2714)/
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122 (1/2, 80)}) 18... c5 {If my supposition was
correct, then Kramnik's opening experiment has been crowned by success.} ({
One critical alternative is} 18... Be2 {but in this case Black would have
faced some problems of coordination after} 19. h3 $5 {The bishop's retreats
along the d1-h5 diagonal are prevented (...Bf3? drops a piece to g4)} Rfd8 (
19... c5 20. Qb3 $5 {would not solve Black's problems, because the queen would
remain out of play on h5. Besides, once the queen's access to b5 has been
obstructed, the threat g4 becomes real.}) 20. Bf4 Rac8 (20... e5 $6 {would
lose a pawn without compensation after} 21. g4 Qg6 22. Bxe5 $16) 21. g4 Qb5 22.
a4 Qa6 23. a5 $14 {with advantage for White on both wings.}) 19. Qa5 Rfc8 20.
Be3 $5 {Another interesting moment.} ({Kramnik probably discarded the immediate
} 20. Bf4 {because of} e5 21. Be3 Be6 {and Black's bishop has reached
stability with economy of time.}) 20... Be2 21. Bf4 $5 {Once the enemy bishop
has abandoned the favourable diagonal, this move makes more sense although it
may seem a loss of time. The idea is to provoke ...e5, in order to leave the
queen completely out of play on h5.} ({After} 21. h3 Nc4 22. Qa6 Nxe3 23. Rxe2
Nxg2 24. Kxg2 {the queen can return into play with} Qe5 $11) 21... e5 22. Be3 {
Kramnik does not wish to change the character of the position.} ({Optically,
it may seem that White keeps a tiny advantage after} 22. Bxe5 Nc4 23. Qa6 Qxe5
24. Rxe2 Qxc3 {. However, the position has simplified and the c-pawn provides
Black with counterplay.}) 22... Bg4 $6 {A straightforward attempt to recycle
the pieces that have remained isolated on the kingside. However, White is
allowed to establish control over the f1-a6 diagonal and increase his
queenside pressure. However, it is not easy to recommend a worthy alternative.
Black should probably had chosen a line where White is allowed to win a pawn,
but the technical difficulties remain quite big.} (22... Nc4 23. Qa6 Nxe3 (
23... Bd3 24. Rad1) 24. Rxe2 Nxg2 25. Kxg2 $14 {Black would probably have to
give up the c5-pawn as Carlsen did.}) (22... f6 23. Bxc5 $5 Nc4 24. Qb5 Rab8
25. Qd7 Rxc5 26. Rab1 $3 {An elegant move, leaving Black completely
uncoordinated despite his extra piece.} Rb6 (26... Rf8 27. Rb7 Qf7 28. Rxe2 $14
) (26... Rxb1 27. Rxb1 h6 (27... Nb6 28. Qxa7 $16) 28. Bh3 $40) 27. Bh3 $1 Kf8
28. Rxb6 axb6 29. Be6 {[%cal Ge1e2]} Qe8 30. Qxe8+ Kxe8 31. Rxe2 $14) (22... h6
23. h3 $14 {[%csl Re2,Rh5]}) 23. Qa6 $1 $16 {[%csl Ra7,Rb6][%cal Ga2a4,Ga4a5]
White has en easy way to develop his queenside initiative now.} f6 24. a4 Qf7
25. Bf1 {[%csl Gc4]} Be6 26. Rab1 $1 {White develops his last piece,
preventing the occupation of the c4-square. Black is in big trouble. If he
loses the a7-pawn, the game will be as good as gone.} (26. a5 $6 Bc4 27. Bxc4
Nxc4 (27... Qxc4 $4 28. axb6 $1 $18) 28. Rab1 Rc7 $1 $14) 26... c4 $6 ({
Black cannot transpose to the previous note with} 26... Rc7 $2 {because of} 27.
Rxb6 $1 $18) ({The tactical point behind 26.Rab1 is that} 26... Bc4 $2 {
is impossible:} 27. Bxc4 Qxc4 (27... Nxc4 28. Rb7 $18) 28. Rxb6 $1 $18) (26...
f5 {[%cal Gf5f4] has been widely recommended, but Black's position remains
critical after the simple} 27. exf5 $16 {[%csl Re5]}) 27. a5 Na4 (27... Nd7 28.
Rb7 $18 {[%csl Ra7]}) 28. Rb7 Qe8 29. Qd6 ({For many spectators, Anand's
resignation may have seemed a bit premature. However, from the psychological
point of view, it looks like one of his best decisions in the whole match. He
simply decided to forget as soon as possible about this horrible day and get
prepared for the next, decisive game...} 29. Qd6 Bf7 30. Qb4 Rab8 31. a6 $18)
1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D07"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 {A quiet response
to the Chigorin Defence.} Bd6 7. Bg3 Nge7 8. e3 Qd7 {Here are other practical
examples:} (8... a6 9. Bd3 (9. a3 Bxg3 10. hxg3 Qd6 11. Na4 Nd8 12. Nc5 Rb8 13.
Rc1 Ne6 14. Qa4+ c6 15. b4 f6 16. Bd3 Bf5 $4 (16... g6 $14) 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18.
Nxb7 {1-0 Spiridonov,N (2405)-Ligoure,G (2240)/Cannes 1990/EXT 1997}) 9... Bh5
10. a3 Bg6 11. b4 Na7 12. Na4 Nb5 13. Nc5 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Nd6 15. Ne5 Bxd3 16.
Qxd3 g6 17. g4 c6 18. a4 b5 19. a5 Nc4 20. Ke2 Qd6 21. f4 Kf8 22. g5 Nf5 23.
Rh3 Kg7 24. Rah1 Qc7 25. g4 Nfd6 26. Rh6 $16 {1-0 Cebalo,M (2515)-Fioramonti,H/
Martigny 1986/EXT 2002 (36)}) (8... O-O 9. Be2 (9. Rc1 Qd7 10. Be2 Rfe8 11. a3
Nf5 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O a6 14. Qb3 Nce7 15. Rfe1 Rab8 16. Rcd1 c6 17. e4 Bxf3
18. Bxf3 Nh4 19. Na4 Qf4 20. Nc5 {1/2 Lalic,B (2503)-Skytte,R (2404)/Aarhus
2003/CBM 097}) (9. Bd3 {[%cal Rd3h7]} h6 (9... Kh8 10. a3 a6 11. Qc2 Qd7 12. b4
Bxf3 13. gxf3 Rae8 14. Ne2 a5 15. b5 Na7 16. O-O h5 17. Rfc1 c6 18. bxc6 Naxc6
19. Kh1 g5 20. Rg1 Rg8 21. Nc3 $14 {1-0 Iskusnyh,S (2482)-Kuzmin,I (2198)/
Russia 2007/EXT 2008 (36)}) 10. a3 Bxg3 11. hxg3 Qd6 12. Rc1 Qf6 13. Be2 Rad8
14. Nb5 a6 15. Nc3 Rfe8 16. Na4 Nf5 17. O-O a5 18. Nc5 b6 19. Nd3 $14 {1-0
Bosboom Lanchava,T (2363)-Botsari,A (2297)/Ermioni Argolidas 2005/CBM 107 ext 
(26)}) 9... Nf5 (9... a6 10. Rc1 Qd7 11. a3 f5 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. g3 $5 Rae8 14.
O-O f4 $2 (14... Kh8 15. Na4 $14 {Atalik,S}) 15. exf4 $2 (15. gxf4 $1 Bh3 16.
Re1 Qg6+ 17. Ng5 $16 h6 $140 $2 18. Bh5 $18 {Atalik,S}) 15... Nf5 16. Ne5 $2 (
16. Qd3 $1 $16 {Atalik,S}) 16... Bh3 17. Nxd5 $2 Nfxd4 $1 18. Bc4 Rxe5 $1 19.
fxe5 Nxe5 20. Nf4+ Nxc4 21. Nxh3 Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Ncd2 23. Ng1 Nxf1 24. Qb3+ Kh8
25. Nxf3 Nd2 26. Nxd2 Qxd2 27. Qc2 $11 {1-0 Atalik,S (2619)-Hamad,A (2277)/
Izmir 2006/EXT 2007/[Atalik] (40)}) (9... Ng6 $5 10. Rc1 Nce7 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12.
O-O c6 13. Na4 Nc8 14. Nc5 Qe7 15. b4 Nd6 16. a4 {1/2 Sundararajan,K (2495)
-Roy Chowdhury,S (2393)/Visakhapatnam 2006/CBM 111 ext}) 10. Qb3 (10. Qc2 Nh6
11. a3 Re8 12. Nb5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bb4+ $6 14. Ke2 $6 (14. axb4 Nxb4 15. Bxf5 Nxc2+
16. Bxc2 $16) 14... Be4 $2 (14... Bxd3+ 15. Qxd3 Ba5) 15. Bxe4 $2 (15. Nxc7 $1
Bxf3+ 16. Kf1 $1 $16) 15... dxe4 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bd6 18. Qxe4 $13 {
0-1 Savchenko,S (2532)-Schuermans,R (2239)/Le Touquet 2006/EXT 2007 (24)})
10... Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bb4 12. Rc1 Qd6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Nd8 15. Bd3 Bxf3 16.
gxf3 c6 17. Kg2 g6 18. Rh1 Kg7 19. g4 Qd7 20. Rcc1 f6 21. Rh4 Nf7 22. Rch1 $14
{1-0 Relange,E (2490)-Schuermans,R (2165)/Le Touquet 1998/EXT 2000 (30)}) 9. a3
(9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bxg3 11. hxg3 Ng6 $6 {Here it doesn't work.} 12. Qb3 $1
Nce7 13. Qxb7 Rfb8 14. Qa6 Rxb2 15. Qa3 Rbb8 16. Rab1 c6 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. Rb3
Rxb3 19. axb3 Rb8 20. Na4 Qb7 21. Nc5 $16 {1-0 Milos,G-Van Riemsdijk,H (2375)/
Brasilia 1982/EXT 2002 (72)}) 9... O-O 10. Bd3 a6 11. Bxd6 Bxf3 (11... Qxd6 $2
12. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg6 14. Qxg4 f5 15. Qf4 Qxf4 16. exf4 Nxd4 17. O-O-O
$16 {[%csl Gg5,Rg6]}) 12. Qxf3 Qxd6 13. Qg3 Rfd8 14. b4 $14 {Black has yet to
rearrange his knights; White is preparing his queenside attack.} g6 $6 {
Looks like a loss of time.} (14... Nc8 {could have been met with} 15. b5 $1) ({
but} 14... Na7 $5 15. Na4 Nac8 16. Rc1 c6 17. Nc5 Rb8 {, then trying to
transfer the knight to d6 (or just putting it to b6), was probably still
possible.}) 15. Na4 Nc8 16. Rc1 {The c6 knight can't move now.} Ra7 17. O-O b5
$6 {Desperation but what to do? If Black waits, White doubles his rooks along
the c-file.} 18. Qxd6 Rxd6 19. Nc3 $1 {[%cal Rc3d5]} (19. Nc5 $143 Nb6) 19...
N6e7 20. Bxb5 $1 {In the endgame a rook and two pawns are usually stronger
than two knights.} axb5 21. Nxb5 Rda6 (21... Rb7 22. Nxd6 Nxd6 23. Rc5) 22.
Nxa7 Rxa7 {[%mdl 4096]} 23. Rc5 Nb6 (23... Rxa3 24. Rxc7 {[%csl Gb4]}) 24. Ra1
Kf8 25. a4 $1 Ke8 26. a5 Nc4 27. Ra2 f5 28. Kf1 Kd7 29. Ke2 Nd6 $2 {This
allows the white pawns to move forward.} (29... c6 30. Kd3 Nd6 31. f3 $14) 30.
b5 $1 Nc4 ({Black probably overlooked} 30... Nb7 31. Rxc7+ $1 Kxc7 32. b6+ Kb8
33. bxa7+ Kxa7 34. Rc2 $18) 31. Ra4 $5 Kd8 (31... Rxa5 $2 32. Rcxc4) (31...
Nxa5 $2 32. Rc2 {[%cal Rc2a2]}) 32. a6 Nb6 33. Ra1 Nec8 34. h3 $1 {Opening a
"second front" - a standard technique.} h5 35. g4 $1 hxg4 36. hxg4 fxg4 37. Rg1
Ne7 38. Rxg4 Na4 39. Rh4 $5 c6 {It was probably better for Black to accept the
exchange sacrifice but White should win anyway:} (39... Nxc5 40. dxc5 Kd7 41.
Rh8 {[%cal Ye2d3,Yd3c3,Yc3b4,Yb4a5,Yb5b6]} Nc6 $5 42. Kd2 $1 Nb4 (42... d4 43.
e4 $5) 43. Rh7+ $1 Kd8 (43... Ke6 44. Kc3 Nxa6 45. bxa6 Rxa6 46. Rxc7 $18 {_|_}
) 44. Rh4 Nc6 (44... Nxa6 45. Ra4) 45. Rh8+ Kd7 46. Kc3 $18) 40. Rh8+ Kc7 41.
Rc2 Nb6 42. Rh7 Kb8 43. bxc6 Rc7 44. Kf3 Ka7 45. Ra2 Nbc8 46. Rb2 Kxa6 $4 {
[%mdl 8192] A blunder in a lost position.} (46... Rxc6 47. Rb7+ Kxa6 48. Rbxe7
Nxe7 49. Rxe7 Rf6+ 50. Kg3 Kb6 51. Re5 Kc6 52. f4 Rd6 53. Kg4 Kd7 54. Kg5 $18 {
[%cal Yg5h6,Yh6g7,Yg7f7]}) (46... Nb6 47. Ke2 Kxa6 48. f3 {[%cal Ye3e4]}) 47.
Rh1 (47. Rh1 Nxc6 48. Ra1+ Na5 49. Rba2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 O-O 9. Nf3 Qxc5 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. O-O Qa5 12. h3 Bf5 13. Ng5 Qa6 14. e4 Rad8
15. Bxf7+ Kh8 16. Qe1 h6 17. exf5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Rxf7 19. fxg6 Rff8 20. f4 Qd3
21. f5 Nh5 22. Rf3 Qd4+ 23. Kh1 Bf6 24. Ne4 Kg7 25. Nc5 Rd6 26. Bxf6+ Rdxf6 27.
Ne6+ Rxe6 28. Qxe6 Rf6 29. Qe3 Rxf5 30. Qxd4+ Nxd4 31. Rxf5 Ng3+ 32. Kh2 Ngxf5
33. Rc7 Kxg6 34. g4 Nd6 35. Rxe7 Kf6 36. Re3 b5 37. h4 Nc4 38. Re4 Ne6 39. Kg3
a5 40. b3 Nd6 41. Re1 Nc5 42. g5+ Kf5 43. Rf1+ Ke5 44. Kg4 Nce4 45. h5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Nf3 Be6 7. Ng5 Nf6 8.
Nxe6 fxe6 9. Bc4 Qd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Bb3 Be7 12. Qf3 Na5 13. Ba4 Nc6 14. O-O-O
O-O 15. Qh3 Kh8 16. Rhf1 a6 17. f4 exf4 18. Rxf4 Qc7 19. Qxe6 b5 20. Bb3 Na5
21. Kb1 Rfe8 22. Bd4 Nxb3 23. Qxb3 Qb7 24. Qf7 Qc6 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Rxf6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. e4 Bg6 12. Be2 e6 13. O-O Bb4 14. Be3 O-O
15. Qb3 Qb8 16. Kh1 Re8 17. Rad1 f6 18. Na2 Bf8 19. Bc4 Bf7 20. f4 Re7 21. Nc3
Qe8 22. Bf2 Nb8 23. d5 exd5 24. exd5 Na6 25. Bb6 cxd5 26. Nxd5 Re4 27. Qg3 Qc6
28. Bb5 Qxd5 29. Rxd5 Bxd5 30. Bxa5 Nc5 31. b4 Ne6 32. Bd3 Rd4 33. Qe3 Re8 34.
Bb5 Rc8 35. Bd7 Re4 36. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nge2 Ba5 8. O-O
Bb6 9. d5 Nb4 10. Qd2 exd5 11. cxd5 Ng4 12. Bb1 Qh4 13. Qf4 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5
15. h3 Bxf2+ 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. Qg5 Bc5 18. Rxf8+ Rxf8 19. Ng1 Rf1 20. Bxh7+ Kh8
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4 e5 15. Re1
Qf6 16. Ba3 Bf8 17. Bg4 Rd8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Bxd7 Rxd7 21. dxe5
Qe6 22. Qh5 Qxe5 23. f4 Qxf4 24. Rf1 Qe5 25. Rf5 Qe6 26. Raf1 Kg7 27. Ne2 Rf8
28. Ng3 c5 29. Rf6 Qxf6 30. Rxf6 Kxf6 31. Qxh6+ Ke7 32. Nf5+ Ke8 33. Nd6+ Ke7
34. e5 Rg8 35. Qf6+ Kf8 36. e6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Nxd2 a6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nd4
Bg4 15. Bxg4 Nfxg4 16. O-O Rc8 17. Qd1 Nf6 18. N2f3 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Nd7 20. Kh1
Qf6 21. Rg1 Nc5 22. Rc1 Ne6 23. Nxe6 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Qxf3+ 25. Rg2 fxe6 26. Kg1
e5 27. Qc2 Qf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. e4 dxe4 30. Rg4 Kf7 31. Rxe4 Ke6 32. Rb4 b5
33. Rh4 h6 34. Rh3 e4 35. Rc3 Kd5 36. b4 Rf3 37. Rc7 Ra3 38. Rxg7 Rxa2 39. Rh7
Kc4 40. Rxh6 Kxb4 41. h4 a5 42. h5 a4 43. Re6 Rc2 44. h6 a3 45. Rxe4+ Kb3 46.
Re3+ Kb2 47. h7 Rc8 48. Re2+ Kb3 49. Re3+ Ka4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Re8 8.
d3 h6 9. Qc2 c5 10. e4 Nc6 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4 13. Qb3 Bf5 14. Ne1 Qc7
15. Qc4 Rab8 16. a3 b5 17. Qc3 Na6 18. Nc2 c4 19. dxc4 bxc4 20. Nd4 Bd3 21. Re1
Be5 22. Rxe5 Qxe5 23. Bf4 Qf6 24. Bxb8 Rxb8 25. b4 Nc7 26. Rc1 Re8 27. h3 Qe5
28. Qa1 Nxd5 29. Nb5 Nxb4 30. axb4 Qxb5 31. Qxa7 Qxb4 32. Bd5 Re7 33. Qd4 Qd2
34. Rxc4 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Bf1+ 36. Kh2 Bxc4 37. Bxc4 Re4 38. Qd8+ Kh7 39. Bd3 Qxf2+
40. Kh1 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 Qd2+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Nd2 O-O 10. c3 Qc7 11. Nc4 b5 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Nxc8 Rfxc8 14. a4 Ne5
15. axb5 axb5 16. Bd4 Nc6 17. Be3 b4 18. Ba6 Rd8 19. Qe2 bxc3 20. bxc3 Qe5 21.
Bd2 Rb2 22. f4 Qc5+ 23. Kh1 d5 24. e5 d4 25. Qe1 g6 26. Qc1 Rxd2 27. Qxd2 dxc3
28. Qf2 Qxf2 29. Rxf2 Nb4 30. Rff1 c2 31. Be2 Bc5 32. Bc4 Be3 33. Bb3 Rc8 34.
Bxc2 Rxc2 35. Rad1 Nd5 36. g3 h5 37. Rf3 Re2 38. Rff1 h4 39. Rf3 h3 40. Rff1
Bf2 41. Rd3 Ne3 42. Rb1 Ng4 43. f5 Bb6 0-1

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Guseinov, Gadir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 cxd5 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Bh6
Rfd8 15. Qg5 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. c4 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. c5 Rad8 20. Be4 Bc6
21. d5 f6 22. d6 fxg5 23. dxc7 Rc8 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. f3 Rxc7 26. Rfd1 Rf5 27.
Rac1 Rd5 28. Re1 Kf7 29. Re4 a5 30. Ra4 Ra7 31. Kh2 Rd2 32. a3 h5 33. Re4 Re7
34. Ra4 Ree2 35. Rg1 Rd3 36. Rxa5 Rxf3 37. Ra7+ Kf6 38. Rc7 g4 39. Rxc6+ Kg5
40. Kh1 g3 41. Rd6 Rf4 42. Rc1 Rh4+ 43. Kg1 Rh2 44. Rd5+ Kh6 45. c6 Rexg2+ 46.
Kf1 Rc2 0-1

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Qa4 Nb6 9. Qh4 e5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. d3 Nd4 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bd2 Bg4 14. Nxd4 exd4
15. Ne4 Bxe2 16. Rfe1 Bxd3 17. Nc5 Bc2 18. Nxb7 Nc4 19. Bf4 d3 20. Re7 Rd4 21.
Rxc7 g5 22. Be3 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Rdd8 24. Nxd8 Rxd8 25. Be4 Re8 26. Bd5+ Kh8 27.
Bb3 1-0

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Guseinov, Gadir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e5 Nh6 7. h3 Nc6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bb5 Bf5 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O f6 12. Re1 Nf7 13. Bf4 g5 14. Bh2 Nh8 15.
Ne2 Be4 16. Nd2 Ng6 17. Ng3 f5 18. Nb3 f4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Nc5 Qd5 21. Nxe4
Nh4 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. axb3 h6 24. Nc5 Nf5 25. Re4 Rfd8 26. Ne6 Rd7 27. Bxf4 Kf7
28. Nc7 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Nxd4 30. Nxa8 gxf4 31. Rxa7 Bxe5 32. Rb7 Ne6 33. b4 Bxb2
34. Nb6 Kf6 35. Nc8 1-0

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Nxc3
8. bxc3 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Qh5 g6 11. Qh6 Qe7 12. Bf4 f5 13. Rab1 b6 14. Rfe1
Be6 15. Bg5 Qf7 16. Qh4 c6 17. a4 Rfe8 18. Qf4 Be7 19. Bh6 c5 20. h4 Red8 21.
h5 d4 22. c4 gxh5 23. a5 Rab8 24. axb6 axb6 25. Ra1 Rd7 26. Ra3 Kh8 27. Rea1
Rg8 28. Be2 h4 29. Ra7 Bd8 30. Rxd7 Qxd7 31. Ra8 b5 32. Ra6 Qb7 0-1

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qb3 c6 8. e3
O-O 9. Rd1 Nd7 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb1 g6 13. e4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 b5 15.
Qb3 Bg7 16. h4 Qe7 17. h5 a6 18. e5 c5 19. d5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Rfe1 Qg5
22. hxg6 fxg6 23. Ne4 Qh4 24. g3 Qg4 25. Nxc5 Bd4 26. Re4 Bxf2+ 27. Kg2 Qh5 28.
Nxb7 Ba7 29. Rd2 Rf1 30. Kxf1 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Rf8 32. Rf4 Qg2+ 33. Kd1 Qg1+ 34.
Ke2 Qg2+ 35. Kd1 Qg1+ 36. Kc2 Rc8+ 37. Qc3 Rxc3+ 38. bxc3 Be3 39. dxe6 Bxd2 40.
Kxd2 Qg2+ 41. Kc1 Qxb7 42. Bxg6 Qe7 43. Bc2 Qa3+ 44. Kb1 Qxc3 45. Re4 Kf8 46.
e7+ Ke8 47. Re6 Qb4+ 48. Kc1 Qc4 49. Re3 a5 50. Kd2 Qxa2 51. Kd1 Qa1+ 52. Kd2
Qd4+ 53. Ke2 Qg4+ 54. Kf2 a4 55. Be4 Qe6 56. Bd3 Qc6 57. Be2 Qf6+ 58. Kg2 Qg5
0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. c5 $6 {Perhaps the question mark is unjustified, because
alternative moves do not bring an advantage by force either. Vielleicht ist
das Fragezeichen unberechtigt, weil die alternativen Zьge auch keinen Vorteil
erzwingen.} (10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Nd7 $11) (10.
Qb3 Na6 $13) 10... Bc7 11. Nc3 Nd7 $1 {Now Black does not have to take on c3. 
Jetzt muss Schwarz nicht auf c3 schlagen.} 12. Qc2 (12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Bxe4
14. Rxe4 Nxc5 $11) 12... Re8 13. Be3 (13. Bg5 $5) 13... h6 14. b4 $2 (14. Nd2)
14... Ndf6 $1 15. h3 {This looks like a mistake, but ...Ng4 should not be
allowed. Das sieht wie ein Fehler aus, aber ...Ng4 mцchte man auch nicht
zulassen.} Qd7 $1 {There is probably no defence against the invasion on g3. 
Gegen den Einschlag auf h3 gibt es wohl keine Verteidigung.} 16. Ne2 Bxh3 $1
17. Ne5 (17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Ng3 Nxg3 19. fxg3 Bxg3 20. Qg2 Qxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Bxe1
22. Rxe1 Ng4 23. Bd2 Rxe1 24. Bxe1 Re8 $19) 17... Bxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. f3
Rae8 20. Bf4 Rh5 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Bc4 Bxg2 $1 23. Ng3 Bf3 24. Qb3 Rh4 25. Bd6
Qh3 26. Bxf7+ Kh7 27. Qb2 Ng4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Again no Catalan from Kramnik, just as in
the previous rounds.} Be7 5. Bf4 {Kramnik plays this slightly more often than
the other bishop move, Carlsen with White also alternates between the two main
lines.} ({Currently the theoretical reputation of the solid line} 5. Bg5 h6 6.
Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 {remains intact. Although in a recent high-level game White
was successful, this was not due to the opening itself:} 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6
Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c5 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. O-O Nd7 15. Bb5 Qc7
16. Qd3 Rfc8 17. Rfd1 Rab8 18. a4 cxd4 19. exd4 Ba8 $6 (19... Bxb5 $142 $11 {
Gelfand} 20. Nxb5 $140 Qa5 $1 21. Qf5 Qxa4 22. Qxd7 a6 23. Ne5 Bxe5 24. dxe5
Rd8 25. Qc6 Rxb5 26. e6 $1 $11) 20. Qf5 Qxc3 (20... Rd8 $5 21. Rbc1 $14) 21.
Qxd7 Qc7 22. Qf5 Rb6 23. Ne5 $36 {Grischuk,A (2748)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Nalchik/
2009/ Krasenkow's notes in CBM 130 show that White's minor pieces are stronger
than Black's bishop pair, especially the ץa8.}) 5... O-O 6. e3 c5 ({The last
time Kramnik had to face this line with Black, he opted for} 6... Nbd7 7. a3 ({
More ambitious is} 7. c5 {, but even here Black can hold his own:} Nh5 (7... c6
8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Qb7 13. Rb1 Bxd3 (13... axb4
14. axb4 Rfc8 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16. Qc2 Bd8 17. Rb2 Qb7 18. Ne1 Bc7 19. Nd3 Ne8 20.
Rc1 b5 21. Nb1 f6 22. Bxc7 Nxc7 23. Nd2 Ra6 24. e4 Nf8 25. e5 f5 26. Nb3 Ne8
27. Na5 Qf7 28. Qd2 h6 29. h4 $14 {(),Cheparinov,I (2679)-L'Ami,E (2603)/EU-ch
Budva/2009/}) 14. Qxd3 axb4 15. axb4 Ra3 16. Qc2 Rfa8 17. Rfc1 b5 18. Nd2 Bd8
19. Nb3 Ne4 $1 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qxe4 Nf6 22. Qf3 Nd5 $132 {/=/+,Lysyj,I (2593)
-Zvjaginsev,V (2677)/Moscow op/2008/}) 8. Bd3 Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 (9... c6 10. O-O
b6 11. b4 bxc5 12. bxc5 Qa5 13. Qc2 h6 14. Rfb1 Ba6 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16. Ne2 Rfb8
17. Ne1 Bf6 18. Nd3 Qa5 19. g3 Bd8 20. Kg2 Bc7 21. Ng1 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Rb8 23.
Rxb8+ Nxb8 24. Nf3 Nd7 25. h4 Qb5 26. Nde5 {Sargissian,G (2678)-Ehlvest,J 
(2595)/Moscow Aeroflot op/2009/} Bxe5 $11) 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13.
g3 Ba6 14. Re1 Bf6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Ra7 18. Reb1 b5 19. a4
axb4 20. Rxb4 f6 21. exf6 Nxf6 22. Qe2 Re8 23. Re1 bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rxa4 25. Nxa4
Qa5 26. Nb6 e5 $1 $11 {Krasenkow,M (2620)-Riazantsev,A (2634)/Metz op/2009/})
7... c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf5 $5 (11... Bf6 {
is played more often, but Kramnik's choice is no less natural.}) 12. Be2 Bf6
13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd4 Ne6 15. Nxf5 Qxf5 16. O-O Rfd8 17. Bg4 Qe5 18. Qb3 Nc5
19. Qb5 b6 20. Rfd1 Rd6 21. Rd4 a6 22. Qb4 h5 23. Bh3 Rad8 24. g3 g5 $5 25.
Rad1 g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. R4d3 d4 28. exd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 $11 {1/2,Anand,V 
(2783)-Kramnik,V (2772)/WCh Bonn/ 2008/}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 {
Aims for a more complex struggle.} ({The other topical continuation is} 9. cxd5
Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O {, here Black has to make an important
choice:} {More enterprising is} d4 (12... Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8 15. Rc1 a6
16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. b5 Rxa3 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Ra7 20. Rd6 Rd7 21. Qxd5 Rxd6
22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxd6 $11 {/+/= leads to an _|_, in which White has at best
only practical winning chances. Although he can push on without risk,
ultimately he was successful only in the Leko-Kramnik game from WCh 2004.} Rd8
$5 (23... Bxf3 24. gxf3 Bd8 25. Rb1 Bf6 26. Kg2 g6 27. f4 Kg7 28. Rb7 Re6 29.
Rd7 Re8 30. Ra7 Re6 31. Bc5 Rc6 32. Ra5 $14 {Leko,P (2741)-Kramnik,V (2770)/
WCh Brissago/2004/}) 24. Bg3 Bc5 25. Rc1 Bf8 26. Nd4 Bg6 27. Rc7 h6 28. h4 Re8
29. Nb5 Rb8 30. Nc3 Re8 31. Kh2 Bf5 32. Nb5 Rc8 33. Ra7 Bc5 34. Ra1 Rd8 {
<=>^^,Karpov,A (2687)-Anand,V (2755)/Moscow rpd/2002/}) 13. e4 Bg4 14. h3 Qf6 (
14... Bh5 $5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Nd2 f6 $13 {is also playable}) 15. Bh2 (15. Bg3 Bh5
$1 16. Re1 Rfe8 17. Rc1 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Ne5 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. g3
Rac8 22. Kg2 Kg7 23. Kf3 Kf6 24. h4 Rg8 25. Ke2 Ke7 $11 {Christiansen,L (2524)
-Onischuk,A (2638)/Minneapolis/2005/}) (15. hxg4 Qxf4 16. g5 Nd8 17. g3 Qg4 18.
Kg2 Ne6 19. Rh1 Nf4+ 20. Kf1 Nh3 21. Qd2 Bd8 22. e5 g6 23. Be2 {Beliavsky,A 
(2641)-Meier,G (2560)/EU-ch Plovdiv/2008/} Nxg5 24. Kg2 Qe4 25. Rae1 Rc8 26.
Bd1 Qc6 27. Qxd4 Ne6 28. Qg4 $13 {Beliavsky}) 15... Bxf3 {Here the swap is
more justified, as the B on h2 is placed worse, than on g3.} 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17.
gxf3 Na5 18. Rac1 Nb3 19. Rc2 Rac8 20. Rd1 Nc5 21. Bb5 Rfd8 22. Kg2 Ne6 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. f4 Rc2 25. f5 Nc5 26. Rxd4 g6 27. Be5 Rxb2 28. Bc4 Rc2 29. Bd5
Kf8 30. Bg3 Ke7 31. Bh4+ f6 32. fxg6 hxg6 33. e5 g5 34. exf6+ Kxf6 35. Bg3 Ne6
36. Rc4 Nf4+ $11 {1/2,Portisch,L (2512)-Beliavsky,A (2648)/Bazna/2007/}) ({
Too sterile is} 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 {due to} Nh5 $1 11. Qxd8 (11. Bg5 Be7 12.
Bxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O Rd8 14. Qe2 Bd7 15. e4 Nf4 16. Qe3 Ng6 17. e5 Nh4 $1 18. Nxh4
Qxh4 $11 {Nikolic,P (2600)-Georgiev,K (2535)/Dubai olm/1986/}) 11... Rxd8 12.
Bc7 Rd7 13. Be5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Rd8 15. O-O Nf6 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Rxd7 18.
Rxd7 Nxd7 19. Rd1 Nf6 20. Kf1 $11 {1/2,Topalov,V (2750)-Gelfand,B (2665)/
Vienna/1996/}) ({After} 9. b4 {White must reckon with the sharp sacrifice} Nxb4
$5 (9... Be7 $132 {is fully playable as well.}) 10. axb4 Bxb4 11. Qb3 a5 12.
O-O-O Bd7 13. Ne5 (13. Rd4 $2 Qe7 14. Be5 Rfc8 15. Kb1 b5 16. Nxb5 a4 17. Qa2
Bxb5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. cxb5 Rc3 20. Rd3 Rac8 $19 {->,Epishin,V (2606)-Short,N 
(2673)/Malmo/2002/}) (13. Kb1 $5 $13) 13... Rc8 14. Nxd7 (14. Kb1 $5) 14...
Qxd7 15. Qc2 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Ne4 17. Qb2 b5 18. f3 Nd6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Qxb5
Qa3+ 21. Qb2 Qxe3+ $44 {|^, Denayer,W (2255)-Shishkin,V (2135)/corr/2007/})
9... Qa5 10. Rd1 {The attention has again focused upon this older move.} ({
Black has found means to disarm the sharp attempt} 10. O-O-O Be7 11. h4 (11. g4
dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. g5 exf4 14. gxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Ne7 $1 $132 {and the
defence holds.}) 11... Rd8 12. Nd2 dxc4 (12... a6 $6 13. g4 $1 dxc4 14. Nxc4
Rxd1+ 15. Qxd1 Qd8 16. Qxd8+ Bxd8 17. Bg2 e5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Nxg4 20.
Bg3 Kf8 21. Rd1 Ke8 22. Na4 $16 {1-0 Nielsen,P (2625)-Glud,J (2486)/Silkeborg
2008/CBM 123 Extra (40)}) 13. Nxc4 Rxd1+ 14. Qxd1 Qd8 15. Qxd8+ Nxd8 (15...
Bxd8 16. Be2 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Nd6 Bc7 19. Rd1 Bxd6 20. Bxd6 $14 {Peng,Z 
(2400)-Maric,A (2460)/Groningen/1997/}) 16. Be2 Bd7 17. e4 Bc6 18. f3 Nh5 19.
Bc7 Rc8 20. Be5 Bf6 21. Nd6 Ra8 (21... Rc7 $5 {Kramnik}) 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Rd1
Kf8 24. Kd2 Ne8 25. Nc4 f6 26. Ke3 b6 27. f4 Nf7 28. g4 h6 $14 {/=,Topalov,V 
(2783)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Wijk aan Zee/2007/ In the resulting _|_ White has
slight edge due to his space advantage, but the position is symmetrical and in
the course of the game Black neutralized any winning attempts with careful
defence.}) ({Some years ago Black faced a few problems after} 10. Nd2 {However,
then Anand and Nielsen came up with the convincing} Bb4 (10... Be7 11. Bg3 Bd7
12. Be2 Rfc8 13. O-O (13. Rd1 Qd8 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qb1 d4 17.
O-O $5 $36 {is Agrest's untested suggestion, which also deserves attention.})
13... Qd8 14. b4 $14 {()}) 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 Nh5 $1 13. Bg3 (13. Nb3 Bxc3+
14. bxc3 Qd8 $11) (13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bd3 Nxf4 15. exf4 Re8+ $36) 13... h6 (
13... d4 $5 14. Nb3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Qxc3+ 16. Qxc3 dxc3 17. Rc1 Nxg3 18. hxg3 h6
19. Rxc3 Be6 20. Nc5 Ne5 {Jankovic,A (2532)-Saravanan,V (2405)/Kalamaria/2008/
is also good enough, here White should have played the modest} 21. Nxe6 Nxd3+
22. Rxd3 fxe6 23. Ke2 $11) 14. O-O Bxc3 15. Nb3 Qb6 16. Qxc3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Rd8
18. Nc5 d4 19. exd4 Nxd4 20. Rfe1 Be6 21. Nxe6 Nxe6 22. Rac1 Rd6 23. b4 Rad8
24. Be4 Ng5 25. Bb1 Rc6 26. Qb2 Rxc1 27. Qxc1 g6 28. Qc3 Qd4 29. Qxd4 $11 {
1/2,Gelfand,B (2727)-Nielsen,P (2646)/Turin olm/2006/}) 10... Be7 {The
standard reaction, tested already in the Karpov-Korchnoi matches.} (10... Re8
$6 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 Nd4 13. Qb1 Bf5 14. Bd3 e4 15. Bc2 (15. Bf1 $5 {is risky,
but objectively even stronger.}) 15... Nxc2+ 16. Qxc2 Qa6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Nb3
Bd6 19. Rxd5 $16 {Kortschnoj,V (2665)-Karpov,A (2725)/WCh Baguio City/1978/})
11. Be2 {Currently White's main try.} ({The older continuation} 11. Nd2 e5 12.
Bg5 d4 13. Nb3 {doesn't promise too much and Black even has a choice:} Qd8 (
13... Qb6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Bd3 g6 17. exd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19.
Nxf6+ (19. O-O Bg7 $1 20. Rde1 Be6 21. Nf4 Bd7 22. Be4 Rb8 23. Nd3 Qc7 24. b3
Rfe8 25. Qd2 a5 $132 {Gelfand,B (2691)-Kramnik,V (2751)/Dos Hermanas/1999/})
19... Qxf6 20. O-O Bg4 21. f3 Be6 22. f4 Bd7 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Bd5 Rfe8 25. Qd3
Bxd5 26. cxd5 Rac8 27. g3 Kf8 28. Rf2 Re3 29. Qxd4 Qxd4 30. Rxd4 Ke7 $44 {
Hansen,C (2505)-Jussupow,A (2590)/Reykjavik/1985/}) 14. Be2 a5 15. Na4 g6 16.
Bxf6 Bxf6 17. O-O (17. c5 Be6 18. e4 Qe8 19. Nb6 a4 20. Nd2 Ra5 21. Bd3 Be7 22.
Nxa4 $2 (22. Ndc4 $142) 22... Nb8 23. b3 Bxb3 24. Nxb3 Rxa4 25. Ra1 Qc6 26. O-O
Nd7 27. Qe2 Nxc5 28. Rfc1 Ra7 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 $17 {Alterman,B (2615)-Kasparov,G 
(2825)/Tel Aviv sim/1998/}) 17... Qc7 (17... Bg7 $5 18. c5 Qh4 19. e4 Be6 20.
Bd3 f5 $13 {Shneider,A (2495)-Kruppa,Y (2440)/Podolsk/1989/}) 18. c5 Be6 19. e4
Ne7 20. Nd2 Bg5 21. Nf3 Bh6 22. Bc4 Bg4 23. Rd3 Kh8 24. h3 f5 25. Rb3 d3 $1 26.
Qxd3 Rad8 $44 {Ftacnik,L (2590)-Kotronias,V (2550)/Thessaloniki olm/1988/})
11... dxc4 ({Inferior is} 11... Ne4 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 $5 (13. bxc3 exd5
14. O-O Be6 15. a4 Rac8 16. Rb1 Bf6 17. Rxb7 d4 18. exd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20.
Rb5 Qxc3 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 22. Rd1 Rc2 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 $11 {Vorobiov,E (2572)
-Mikhalevski,A (2441)/Pardubice/2007/}) 13... Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 exd5 15. Rxd5 Bxa3
16. Nd4 a5 (16... Be7 17. Kd2 Rd8 18. Bf3 $14 Nxd4 $2 19. cxd4 Bb4+ 20. Kd3
Rxd5 21. Bxd5 Kf8 22. Rc1 Ba5 23. e4 Ke7 24. Bc7 $18 {Nyback,T (2655)-Dobrev,N
(2366)/FRA-chT Chalons en Champagne/2009/}) 17. Rb5 a4 18. Kd2 Be7 19. Ra1 Ra7
20. Bg5 f6 21. Bf4 Rd8 22. Bc7 Re8 23. Bb6 Ra8 24. Bc4+ Kf8 25. Ne6+ Bxe6 26.
Bxe6 Bd6 27. Bd5 Re7 28. Kc2 Rd7 29. Be6 Re7 30. Bd5 Rd7 31. f4 $36 {[%csl Gb6,
Gd5] ^^,Sokolov,I (2657)-Meier,G (2608)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) ({However, a
possibly viable idea is} 11... e5 $5 12. Nxe5 (12. Bxe5 $5 dxc4 13. Bxf6 Bxf6
14. Bxc4 Bf5 15. Qb3 $14) 12... Nxe5 13. Bxe5 dxc4 14. Bd4 Bf5 15. Qc1 Rac8 16.
O-O Rfd8 17. Rd2 Ne4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. f3 Bf5 20. Rfd1 b5 21. Bc3 Qc7 22. Rxd8+
Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bd4 a6 25. Qc3 Bf8 26. e4 Be6 27. f4 f6 $11 {
Mamedyarov,S (2646)-Nielsen,P (2668)/ESP-chT Sant Lluis/2005/}) 12. Bxc4 $32 {
White had to invest a tempo with his B, but Black still has some problems with
his << development.} Nh5 {A rare move.} ({However, even the more usual
reaction isn't quite ideal:} 12... e5 13. Bg3 Bg4 14. O-O Rac8 15. Nd5 (15. Rc1
$5 a6 16. Ng5 Bh5 17. Nd5 Bg6 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 19. Qb3 b5 20. Be6 Rxc1 21. Rxc1
Ne4 22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. f3 Bb7 24. Bh3 Bd5 25. Qc3 Qxc3 26. Rxc3 f6 27. e4 $16 {
Rychagov,A (2575)-Aveskulov,V (2495)/Saratov/2006/}) 15... b5 (15... Nxd5 16.
Rxd5 (16. Bxd5 $142 $1 $14) 16... Qc7 17. Qe4 Be6 18. Rd2 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Bf6 20.
Rfd1 Rfd8 21. h3 {Werner,D (2376)-Porat,D (2199)/Budapest/2005/} Qe7 $11) 16.
Ba2 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Nd4 18. Qb1 b4 19. Qe4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Ne2+ 21. Kg2 Nxg3 $2 (
21... bxa3 22. Qxe5 $14) 22. hxg3 bxa3 23. Rh1 g6 24. Rxh7 $1 Kxh7 25. Qxe5 Kg8
26. Rh1 {1-0,Mamedyarov,S (2646)-Moradiabadi,E (2485)/Abu Dhabi op/2005/}) 13.
O-O (13. Bd3 g6 14. Bh6 Rd8 15. O-O Bd7 16. Be2 a6 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. Bf4 e5 19.
Bg5 Be6 20. h3 Rac8 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Bg4 {Vallejo Pons,F (2702)-Short,N (2663)
/Wijk aan Zee/2009/} Nd4 $5 $132 {/\} 23. exd4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 exd4 25. Nde4 Bg7
26. Qa4 Qe5 27. f4 Qe7 28. f5 dxc3 29. f6 Qc7 $1 30. fxg7 c2 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32.
Nc3 Qd2 $17) ({White can aspire for a minimal advantage with} 13. Bd6 Bxd6 14.
Rxd6 Nf6 15. Qd2 $5 (15. Rd2 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 17. O-O Bd7 18. Rd1 Qe7 19. h3
Rd8 20. Rd2 Be8 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Nxd2 Kf8 24. f4 Ke7 $11 {
Mecking,H (2567)-Short,N (2663)/Wijk aan Zee/2009/}) 15... Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8
17. Qxd8+ Nxd8 18. Ke2 Kf8 19. e4 Bd7 20. e5 Ne8 21. Rd1 Ke7 22. Ng5 Rc8 23.
Ba2 h6 24. Nge4 b6 25. f4 Nb7 26. Nd2 Nc5 27. Nc4 Bc6 28. g3 $14 {(),Eljanov,P
(2693)-Chadaev,N (2557)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2009/}) 13... Nxf4 14. exf4 g6 {
Frees g7 for the Be7.} ({Another purpose for the text-move can be seen from
the following example:} 14... Rd8 $6 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8 16. Rd1 Bd7 17. f5 $1 Qc8 (
17... exf5 18. Qb3 $40) 18. Qd3 Be8 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Qe2 $18 {
Gupta,A (2569)-Kjartansson,G (2365)/Reykjavik/2009/}) 15. g3 {White makes a
useful move and waits to see, how Black intends to unravel his <<forces.} Rd8
$146 {[%mdl 8] A reasonable novelty.} (15... Bf6 16. Rd3 Qf5 (16... Bg7 $142)
17. Re1 (17. Nb5 $1) 17... Na5 18. Ba2 Bd7 $2 (18... b6 19. Ne4 Ba6 $14) 19.
Nh4 $1 Bxh4 20. Re5 Qg4 21. Rxd7 Nc6 22. Rb5 Bf6 23. Kg2 $1 $18 {Epishin,V 
(2600)-Atalik,S (2561)/Bratto /2005/}) ({Atalik suggests the interesting} 15...
a6 $5 16. Be2 $5 (16. Ne4 b5 17. Be2 Bb7 18. Rd7 Qb6 19. Qc3 Rac8 20. Nf6+ Bxf6
21. Qxf6 Nb8 22. Rd2 Qc6 23. Rfd1 Qe4 $132 {Atalik}) (16. Bd3 Rd8 $11) (16. Ba2
Rd8 $132 {and compared with the game, the extra a6 move is useful for Black.} (
16... b5 $6 17. f5 $1 gxf5 18. Nd5 exd5 19. Bxd5 $36)) 16... Rd8 (16... b5 17.
Nxb5 axb5 18. Qxc6 b4 19. axb4 $14) (16... Bf6 17. Ne4 Bg7 18. Nd6 $36) 17.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 18. Rd1 Bd7 {is similar to the game - White has a slight initiative,
but Black retains chances to eventually achieve full equality.} (18... Qc7 19.
Ne4 Bd7 20. Ne5 $36)) 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 (16... Bxd8 $6 17. Rd1 Bf6 18. Ne4 Bg7 19.
Nd6 $16 {Atalik}) 17. Rd1 Bd7 {Seemingly risky, but White has no immediate
forcing way to exploit the pin on the <->d.} 18. f5 {[%mdl 512] An interesting
pawn sacrifice, but for the time being Carlsen finds the way to hold the
balance.} ({Possibly more promising was Shipov's suggestion} 18. Ng5 $5 Qc8
$142 (18... Rc8 $2 19. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 20. f5 gxf5 21. Qxf5+ Kg7 22. Qg4+ Kf7 23.
Qe4 $1 Kg7 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Bxe6 {/\Qg4+-}) (18... Qe8 19. Nb5 Rd8 20. Nc7 (
20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6 Qe7 $14) 20... Qf8 21. Rxd7 $1 Rxd7 22. Ncxe6 Qh6 23. Kg2
$1 $40) 19. h4 $36) 18... gxf5 (18... exf5 $6 19. Qb3 Rb8 (19... Qe8 20. Bxf7+
Qxf7 21. Qxb7 Rb8 22. Qxd7 $18) 20. Bxf7+ Kg7 21. Kg2 $5 (21. Be6 Bxe6 22. Qxe6
Qg8 $14) 21... Qc8 22. Ne2 {[%csl Re6][%cal Ye2f4] /\Nf4|^,><e6}) 19. Qd2 Qb6
$5 {This tricky move is not forced.} (19... Be8 20. Qh6 Qa5 (20... Qb6 {
-19...Qb6!?}) 21. Nd5 $5 (21. Ng5 Qe5 $1 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Nf3 Qg7 $11) 21...
exd5 22. Rxd5 Qa4 $1 (22... Qc7 23. Rxf5 $40 Qd7 24. Rf4 Bd6 25. Qg5+ Kf8 $8
26. Re4 $1 {[%cal Rg5h6,Rh2h3] /\Qh6,h3+-}) {and it seems that White doesn't
have more than a perpetual with} 23. Ng5 Bxg5 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 $8 (24... Kh8 $2
25. Qxf5 $18 Qxc4 26. Qf6+ Kg8 27. Rg5+ Kf8 28. Qd6+ Ne7 29. Qh6#) 25. Qh6+ Kg8
26. Qg5+ $11) (19... Bc8 20. Qf4 $5 (20. Qh6 Qf8) 20... Bd7 (20... Qf8 21. Bb5
$32) 21. Qd2 (21. Qh6 a6 $5 {[%cal Ya8c8,Yc8c7,Yd8f8] /\Rc8-c7, Qf8}) 21... Bc8
$11) 20. Qh6 {White avoids the traps.} (20. Qxd7 $2 Rd8 $19) (20. Na4 $6 Ne5 $1
(20... Nd4 $1 {can lead to the same position}) 21. Nxb6 (21. Nxe5 Bxa4 $17)
21... Nxf3+ 22. Kf1 (22. Kg2 $2 Nxd2 23. Nxa8 Bc6+ $19) 22... Nxd2+ 23. Rxd2
axb6 24. Rxd7 Bf6 $15 {/=}) 20... Be8 (20... Rd8 21. Ng5 (21. Rxd7 $6 Rxd7 22.
Bxe6 Nd4 $1 23. Bxf7+ Kh8 $15) 21... Bxg5 $8 22. Qxg5+ Kf8 23. Qf6 Bc8 (23...
Qxb2 $4 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Nd5+ $18) 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qxh7 Qd4
$132 {is also possible, but the text-move is more solid.}) 21. Ng5 Bxg5 $8 22.
Qxg5+ Kf8 (22... Kh8 $2 23. Rd6 {[%cal Rd6e6,Rg5f6] ->,/\Qf6,Re6} Qc7 24. Qf6+
Kg8 25. Rxe6 Qd8 $8 26. Qxf5 (26. Rd6 $16) 26... fxe6 27. Qxe6+ Bf7 (27... Kg7
28. Qg8+ Kh6 29. Qf8+ Kg6 30. Nd5 $18) 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qxb7 Na5 30. Qb5 $16)
23. Qh6+ {White repeats moves to gain time before the control.} (23. Rd6 {
-25.Rd6}) 23... Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Rd6 Qc7 $2 {[%mdl 8256] A serious error,
which White exploits with a decisive piece of tactics.} (25... Rd8 26. Rxe6 $5
Qd4 $142 $1 (26... fxe6 $2 27. Qh6+ Kg8 (27... Ke7 $2 28. Qxe6+ Kf8 29. Qf6+)
28. Qxe6+ Kg7 29. Qg8+ Kf6 30. Qf8+ Ke5 (30... Kg6 31. Ne2 $1 $18) (30... Kg5
31. Ne4+ fxe4 32. h4+ Kg6 33. Qg8+ Kf5 34. Qg5#) 31. Nb5 $1 {[%cal Rf8g7] /
\Qg7+-}) 27. Rf6 (27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Rf6 Qxc4 29. Qg5+ {-27.Rf6}) 27... Qxc4 28.
Rxc6 Qd4 29. Rc4 Qd2 30. Qxf5 Bc6 31. Rxc6 $5 (31. Ne4 Qd1+ 32. Kg2 Qd5 33.
Qxd5 Bxd5 34. Rd4 f5 35. f3 fxe4 36. fxe4 Bxe4+ 37. Rxe4 Rd2+ $11) 31... bxc6
32. Qxh7 Rd6 $14 {White is somewhat better (safer K), but the result of the
game is far from decided.}) (25... Qc5 $5 {is safer and holds the balance:} 26.
Ne4 $5 (26. Qh6+ Kg8 (26... Ke7 $2 27. Nd5+ $1 exd5 (27... Kxd6 28. Qf8+ $18)
28. Rxd5 $18 {/\} Qxc4 29. Qd6#) 27. Rxe6 fxe6 (27... Qxc4 28. Qg5+ $11) 28.
Bxe6+ Bf7 29. Nd5 Bxe6 30. Qxe6+ Kg7 $11) 26... Qxc4 27. Nf6 Ke7 $8 28. Rd1 (
28. Ne4+ Kf8 $11) 28... Nd4 $8 29. Nxe8+ Kxe8 $1 (29... Kf8 30. Qg7+ Kxe8 31.
Rxd4 Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Rc8 33. Rh4 $36) 30. Qg8+ Ke7 31. Qxa8 Ne2+ $5 (31... Qd5 32.
Rxd4 Qxd4 33. Qxb7+ Kf6 34. Kg2 $11 {/+/=}) 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. f3 Nf4+ 34. gxf4
Qe2+ 35. Kg3 Qxd1 36. Qxb7+ Qd7 $11) (25... Qxb2 $2 26. Qf6 Qc1+ (26... Kg8 27.
Rxe6 $18) 27. Rd1 Qxa3 28. Bxe6 Kg8 29. Bxf5 Qf8 30. Ne4 $18 {->}) 26. Qh6+ Ke7
$8 (26... Kg8 27. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 28. Bxe6+ Bf7 29. Nd5 $18 {[%cal Rd5f6] /\Nf6})
27. Qh4+ {White again repeats moves, here he wants to accurately calculate the
winning line.} (27. Nb5 $1 {-29.Nb5!}) 27... Kf8 (27... Kxd6 28. Nb5+ Kd7 29.
Nxc7 $18 (29. Bxe6+ $5 fxe6 30. Qxh7+ $18)) 28. Qh6+ Ke7 29. Nb5 $1 Qa5 (29...
Qxd6 30. Nxd6 Kxd6 31. Qxh7 Ne5 {was more resilient, but equally hopeless in
the long run - the o^h2 will decide after} 32. Be2 $18 {[%csl Gh2]}) (29... Qc8
30. Qxh7 Nd8 (30... Kf8 31. Qh6+ Ke7 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Nd4 $1 Nxd4 34. Rxd4 $18)
31. Qh4+ f6 32. Rd1 Qc5 33. Nd4 $1 Bf7 34. Re1 {and White's -> will eventually
break thorugh. A nice sample line is} Kd7 35. Bb5+ Ke7 $2 36. Nxf5+ $1 Qxf5 37.
Qb4+ Qc5 38. Qxc5#) 30. b4 ({Similar is} 30. Rxe6+ $1 fxe6 31. Qxe6+ Kd8 32. b4
$18) 30... Nxb4 {The only reasonable way to postpone mate, but even now the ->
breaks through.} (30... Qb6 31. Rxe6+ $1 fxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kd8 (32... Kf8 33. Qh6+
Ke7 34. Qd6#) 33. Qd6+ Bd7 34. Be6 Nb8 35. Qf8+ Be8 36. Qf6#) 31. Rxe6+ $1 (31.
axb4 $2 Qa1+ 32. Kg2 Bxb5 33. Rxe6+ fxe6 34. Qxe6+ Kd8 35. Bxb5 Qd4 36. Qe8+
Kc7 37. Qxa8 Qd5+ $13) 31... fxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kd8 33. Qf6+ {An important move,
protecting the a1-square.} Kc8 34. Qxf5+ $5 {Before taking the N, White grabs
a P.} (34. axb4 $18) 34... Kd8 (34... Bd7 35. Nd6+ $18) (34... Kb8 35. Qe5+ $18
) 35. Qf6+ Kc8 36. axb4 $1 {Now Black faces a quick mate, or immense material
losses.} (36. axb4 Qd8 (36... Qxb4 37. Be6+ Bd7 38. Qh8+ {mates immediately.})
37. Be6+ Bd7 38. Qc3+ Kb8 39. Qe5+ Kc8 40. Qc5+ Kb8 41. Bxd7 b6 42. Qd6+ Kb7
43. Bc6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. O-O a6 14.
Rb1 Qc7 15. Qh5 Nc5 16. Rb4 Qe5 17. Qh6 {A new twist in this well-known
position, first applied by Leko earlier in Dortmund. Previous games have seen:}
(17. Qxe5 fxe5 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 O-O-O 20. f4 exf4 21. Rc4+ Kb8 22. Rxf4
$14 {_|_} Rd7 (22... Rd1+ $5 23. Kf2 Rd2+ 24. Kf3 Rhd8) 23. Rd4 Rc7 24. Rd3 Rg8
25. Kf2 a5 $1 26. c4 Ka7 27. Rh3 Rg7 28. Rh5 Ka6 29. Rfh4 a4 $1 30. bxa4 Rxc4 {
Ftacnik,L 1/2 Gulko,B (2610)-Salov,V (2645)/Linares 1990/CBM 017/[Ftacnik] (58)
}) (17. Qh4 Qg5 (17... Rd8 18. Nf3 Qxc3 19. e5 Rg8 $1 (19... f5 20. Rc4 Qa5 21.
Ng5 $16 Ne4 22. Rxe4 fxe4 23. Qf4 Rf8 24. Nxh7 Rh8 25. Ng5 Rf8 26. Nxe4 $18 {
1-0 Tkachiev,V (2661)-Balogh,C (2562)/Khanty Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122 (30)}) 20.
Qxh7 Ke7 21. Rf4 f5 22. Qh4+ Ke8 23. g3 Ne4 24. Rxe4 fxe4 25. Qxe4 Rd5 26. Qf4
Qc2 27. Ng5 Qf5 28. Qxf5 exf5 29. Nh7 Rg6 30. Nf6+ Rxf6 31. exf6 Rd6 32. Re1+
Kf8 33. Re5 Rxf6 {1/2 Gelfand,B (2733)-Aronian,L (2754)/Nalchik RUS 2009/The
Week in Chess 755}) 18. Qh3 Rg8 (18... Qe5 19. Qh4 Qg5 20. Qh3 Qe5 21. Re1 Rd8
22. Qe3 Rg8 23. Nf3 Qc7 24. Rd4 Nd7 25. Red1 Ke7 26. g3 $14 {1/2 Gelfand,B 
(2736)-Jakovenko,D (2710)/Moscow 2007/CBM 122 (44)}) (18... h5 19. Rc4 (19. f4
Qg4 20. Qe3 Rg8 21. Rb2 Rc8 22. Rd2 h4 23. Nf3 h3 24. g3 Kf8 25. Rd4 Kg7 26.
Rfd1 {1/2 Sasikiran,K (2684)-Macieja,B (2606)/Warsaw 2008/CBM 126}) 19... Rc8
20. Nb3 b6 21. Nxc5 Rxc5 22. Qd3 O-O 23. f4 Qg6 24. f5 Qg5 25. Rxc5 bxc5 26.
Qxa6 (26. Kh1 $5) 26... Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Qxe4 28. Qd6 Ra8 $132 {1/2 Meier,G (2558)
-Macieja,B (2600)/Kallithea 2008/CBM 127 (37)}) 19. g3 (19. Rc4 b5 20. Rxc5
Qxc5 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6+ Kf8 23. Qxf6+ Ke8 24. Qe6+ {1/2 Khismatullin,D 
(2584)-Nielsen,P (2629)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 124}) 19... h5 20. Rc4 Rc8 21. Nb3 b6
22. Nxc5 Rxc5 23. f4 Qg4 24. Qxg4 hxg4 25. Rxc5 bxc5 26. Rb1 Kf8 27. f5 Kg7 28.
fxe6 fxe6 29. Rb6 e5 30. Rxa6 Rd8 $11 {1/2 Werle,J (2582)-Macieja,B (2600)/
Germany 2008/CBM 126 Extra (36)}) (17. Qf3 Rd8 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 b5 (19...
Rd7 $5) 20. Qe3 O-O 21. Rd4 a5 22. f4 Qh5 $6 (22... Qc5 $142) 23. Qd3 Rxd4 24.
Qxd4 Qg6 25. Ra1 (25. Rf3 Kh8 26. Rg3 Qh6 27. e5 $14) 25... Ra8 26. c4 bxc4 27.
bxc4 Qh6 28. Qd2 a4 29. c5 a3 $132 {1/2 Romanov,E (2576)-Sargissian,G (2678)/
Moscow RUS 2009/The Week in Chess 746 (37)}) 17... Rc8 18. Nf3 $5 $146 {
[%mdl 8]} (18. a4 Qxe4 19. Qxf6 Rg8 20. Qf3 Rg4 21. Qh3 h5 22. Nb3 Qg6 23. Nxc5
Rxc5 24. Qf3 Rd5 25. g3 Rxb4 26. cxb4 Qc2 27. Qf4 Qxa4 {1/2 Leko,P (2756)
-Naiditsch,A (2697)/Dortmund GER 2009}) 18... Qxc3 19. Rd4 Ke7 20. e5 Nd7 21.
Qh4 $44 {White has obtained unpleasant pressure for the sacrificed pawn, In
practice it is difficult for Black to defend.} Rhg8 22. Kh1 b5 23. h3 Rc4 (
23... Rgd8 $5) 24. Rxd7+ $5 Kxd7 25. Qxf6 Qd3 {Of course, it was not easy to
find} (25... Ke8 26. Rd1 Rc8 27. Ng5 Qc7 $1 (27... Rxg5 $143 28. Qxg5 Qc2 29.
Rd2 Qg6 30. Qh4 $36) 28. Ne4 (28. Nxh7 $2 Qc2) 28... Kf8 $1 29. Ng5 Rxg5 (29...
Ke8 $5) 30. Qxg5 Qc2 {with sufficient counterchances. After the text move
White obtains formidable passed pawns and a formal material plus but the
position remains complicated.}) 26. Qxf7+ Kc6 27. Qxe6+ Kb7 28. Re1 Rg6 29.
Qf7+ Rc7 30. Qf4 Rc4 31. Qf8 Rc8 32. Qe7+ Rc7 33. Qh4 Qc4 $6 (33... Qd5 $13) (
33... Rcg7 $13) 34. Nd4 $1 {The knight paves the way for the pawns.} Qxa2 $2 {
This unnecessary capture enables White to centralize his position and obtain
an advantage.} (34... Qd5 $6 35. Qe4 Qxe4 36. Rxe4 {[%cal Rf2f4]}) (34... Rd7
$142 $1 35. Nf5 $1 (35. e6 Qxd4 36. Qxd4 Rxd4 37. e7 Rg8 38. e8=Q Rxe8 39. Rxe8
Rd2 $44) 35... Qd5 36. Re4 {, and only now} Qxa2 $13) 35. Qe4+ {[%csl Gd4,Ge4,
Ge5]} Kb6 (35... Kb8 36. e6 $16 Qxf2 $140 37. Rd1 {[%cal Rd4c6]}) 36. Qe3 $1 (
36. e6 $6 Qxf2) 36... Kb7 37. Qf3+ Kb6 38. Nb3 $1 {[%csl Ra2] Cutting off the
black queen.} Rc2 $2 {This "active" move loses at once. Black has no time to
create counterplay.} (38... Qa3 39. e6 $16 {[%csl Ge6] It is important that
the f-pawn will join its neighbour in due time.}) 39. Qe3+ Kb7 40. e6 Rxf2 41.
Qe4+ Kb6 42. Qd4+ {White mates first, e.g.} (42. Qd4+ Kb7 43. Qd5+ Kb6 44. e7
Rfxg2 45. Qd8+ Kb7 46. Qc8+ Kxc8 47. e8=Q+ Kb7 48. Re7+ Kb6 49. Qd8+ Kc6 50.
Qd7+ Kb6 51. Qb7#) 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nd7 13. Rd1 Nxc5 14.
Rxd5 b6 15. Rd4 Be6 16. c4 Rfc8 17. g4 Rc7 18. g5 hxg5 19. Nxg5 Rac8 20. Nxe6
Nxe6 21. Rd5 Nc5 22. Rg1 Nb7 23. h4 Kf8 24. h5 Rc5 25. Rgg5 Nd6 26. Rxc5 Rxc5
27. Rxc5 bxc5 28. Bd3 Ke7 29. Ke2 Ne8 30. Kf3 Nf6 31. Kf4 Nxh5+ 32. Ke5 Nf6 33.
Bf5 g6 34. Bh3 Ne8 35. Kd5 Nf6+ 36. Kc6 Ne4 37. f4 Nf2 38. Bf1 Nd1 39. e4 Nc3
40. Kxc5 Nxa2 41. e5 Nc3 42. Kd4 Na2 43. c5 Nb4 44. Bb5 Kd8 45. Kc4 a5 46. Ba4
Na6 47. Kd5 Nc7+ 48. Kd6 Ne6 49. c6 Nc7 50. Bb3 Ne8+ 51. Kc5 Ke7 52. Kb6 f6 53.
Bc2 fxe5 54. fxe5 a4 55. Bxa4 Kd8 56. Bc2 g5 57. Bf5 Nc7 58. Bh3 Na8+ 59. Kc5
Ke7 60. Kd5 Nc7+ 61. Kc5 Na8 62. Bg4 Nc7 63. Kb6 Kd8 64. Kb7 Ne8 65. e6 Nd6+
66. Kb8 Nb5 67. Bh3 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c6 6. Ne5 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qxd4 8.
Bxb4 Qxe5 9. Nd2 b5 10. Bc3 Qc7 11. a4 Bb7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne4 Ke7 14. Qd2
Nd7 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Qb4+ Nc5 17. Ra5 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Rab8 19. O-O Kf8 20. Rfa1
Kg7 21. Rxa7 Qe5 22. Bf3 Rhf8 23. Re7 Nb3 24. Raa7 Nd4 25. Kg2 Nxe2 26. Rac7
Nd4 27. Rc5 Nc2 28. Rxe5 Nxb4 29. R5xe6 Nd3 30. Bh5 Nxb2 31. Rc6 Rbc8 32. Rb6
Rb8 33. Rc6 Nd3 34. f4 Nb4 35. Rcc7 Nd5 36. Rxf7+ Rxf7 37. Rxf7+ Kg8 38. Rd7
Nb6 39. Rc7 b4 40. Bf7+ Kh8 41. Bxc4 Nxc4 42. Rxc4 b3 43. Rc1 b2 44. Rb1 Kg7
45. g4 Rb3 46. Kf2 Kg6 47. Ke1 h5 48. gxh5+ Kxh5 49. Kd2 Rh3 50. Rh1 Kg4 51.
Kc2 Kxf4 52. Kxb2 f5 53. Kc2 Ke3 54. Kd1 Kf2 55. Re1 Rd3+ 56. Kc2 Rd5 57. Re8
f4 58. Rh8 f3 59. h4 Kg3 60. h5 f2 61. Rg8+ Kf4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nbd2 c5 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Ne5 Bxg2
15. Nxd7 Qxd4 16. Kxg2 Rfd8 17. Nf3 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Schiendorfer, Emanuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2321"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 d5 7. Bg5 Be6 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. exd5 Bxd5 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Qd3 Bc6 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. O-O-O+ Nd7 14. Nd5
Bxd5 15. Rxd5 Kc7 16. Bd3 a6 17. Be4 Rad8 18. Rhd1 h6 19. c3 Be7 20. Kc2 Rhg8
21. g3 b6 22. Nd2 Nc5 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Nc4 Ne6 25. Ne3 Rxd1 26. Kxd1 b5 27. b4
Bd8 28. Nf5 h5 29. h4 Kd7 30. g4 Nf4 31. Ng3 Kc7 32. gxh5 f5 33. Bxf5 Bxh4 34.
h6 Bf6 35. Ne4 Bh8 36. Ng5 Nd5 37. Kd2 Ne7 38. Bc2 f5 39. Nf7 Bf6 40. h7 Ng6
41. Bxf5 Nh8 42. Nxh8 Bxh8 43. Be4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In last year's Tal memorial tournament Kramnik suffered a defeat against
Morozevich, also in round three. This time he managed to take a convincing
revanche.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7.
Nf3 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Bf4 (9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qa4 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rd1 Qb6 13.
Bxf6 gxf6 14. Rd2 Nc6 15. Qg4+ Kh8 16. Qh4 Kg7 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Qh4 Kg7 19.
Qg4+ {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M (2772)-Kramnik,V (2759)/Dortmund GER 2009/The Week in
Chess 765}) 9... Ba6 $1 {Black can ignore the threat to Pc7.} ({The older
continuation} 9... Nd5 {proved to be insufficient for equality in view of} 10.
Bg5 $1) 10. Qc2 {Black gets sufficient compensation as proved in the following
games:} (10. Qxc7 Qd5 11. Qd6 (11. Qc2 Rc8 12. Qb1 Nbd7 13. e4 Qb7 14. e5 Bxf1
15. Rxf1 Nd5 16. Bd2 Qa6 $44 {1-0 Likavsky,T (2498)-Bosiocic,M (2578)/
Ansfelden AUT 2009/The Week in Chess 751 (46)}) 11... Qb5 12. Qb4 Qd5 13. Qd6 (
13. e3 Bxf1 14. Kxf1 Nc6 15. Qa4 Rfc8 $44) (13. Rc1 Nc6 14. Qd6 Qxd6 15. Bxd6
Rfc8 $44 {[%cal Gc6a5,Gf6e4]}) 13... Qb5 14. Qb4 Qd5 15. Qd6 Qb5 16. Qb4 Qd5 {
1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I (2647)-Wojtaszek,R (2599)/Dresden GER 2008/The Week in Chess
733}) 10... Nbd7 11. e4 {Again, both captures of Pc7 are risky for White as he
gets seriously behind in development.} (11. Qxc7 $6 Qxc7 12. Bxc7 Rfc8 13. Bf4
Rc2 $15) (11. Bxc7 $6 Qc8 12. Rc1 Qb7 13. Bf4 Rfc8 14. Qd1 Qe4 15. Bd2 Rxc1 16.
Qxc1 Rc8 17. Qd1 h6 $1 $17 {0-1 Likavsky,T (2480)-Delchev,A (2628)/Fuegen 2006/
CBM 115 (35)}) 11... Bxf1 12. Kxf1 c5 {Black must play actively through the
center before White consolidates his position.} 13. Bd6 Re8 14. e5 Nd5 {
It seems to me that White just lost the right to castle for nothing. Where did
he make a mistake? Hard to tell, perhaps the whole line starting with 9.Bf4 is
not so promising. White should search in the direction of 9.Bg5.} 15. h4 {
Trying to create some threats against the black king.} (15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bxc5
Rc8 17. b4 bxc5 $15) 15... cxd4 (15... Rc8 16. Ng5 g6 17. Qd2 cxd4 18. Rh3 (18.
h5 $2 Ne3+ 19. fxe3 Qxg5 $19) (18. Qxd4 Nc5 19. Rh3 h6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4
Qd7 $15) 18... Nxe5 19. Bxe5 f6 20. Qxd4 fxg5 21. Qg4 $44 {[%csl Ge5]}) 16. Ng5
(16. Nxd4 Nc5 $1 17. Bxc5 Rc8 {The same trick yields Black a pleasant position.
}) 16... f5 17. Qc4 $6 ({It was possible to go back by} 17. Qd1 {[%cal Gd1h5]}
h6 18. Nf3 $15 {Objectively, this would have been better, but this is like to
admit the failure of the whole idea. Morozevich is not that kind of player.})
17... Qc8 $1 18. Qxd4 Nc5 19. Rd1 (19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. Qd2 h6 21. Nf3 Rb8 $17) (
19. Rh3 $2 h6 {and White loses material.}) (19. Rc1 Nb3 20. Rxc8 Nxd4 21. Rxa8
Rxa8 {The endgame is terrible for White.}) 19... Nb3 $1 20. Qd3 Nc1 $1 21. Qb5
Qc2 22. Rxd5 {Forced.} (22. Rd4 Nb3 {and the rook is trapped anyway.}) 22... a6
$1 {Necessary intermediate move.} 23. Qxb6 (23. Qd7 Qc4+ 24. Kg1 Ne2+ 25. Kf1
exd5 $19) 23... Qc4+ 24. Kg1 exd5 (24... Qxd5 25. Qc7 Ne2+ 26. Kh2 Nf4 {
was good as well.}) 25. g3 h6 26. Nf3 (26. Qb7 $5 {was an interesting chance,
though insufficient. The refutation is far from easy:} hxg5 27. e6 $1 {[%cal
Gb7f7,Gd6e5]} Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Rxe6 $3 29. Qxa8+ Kh7 30. hxg5 Qe4 $1 31. Qb8 Re8
32. f3 Qe3 33. Kg2+ Kg6 34. Bc5 Nd4 $1 35. Qb6+ Re6 $19) 26... f4 $19 {Black
is an exchange up, and even in possession of an initative.} 27. g4 Qe4 28. Kg2
Nd3 29. Qb3 Qc4 30. Qb7 (30. Qd1 Rac8 31. Qd2 {trying to trap the knight. This
would force Kramnik to find the following, not very difficult tactical idea:}
Qe4 32. Rd1 Nxf2 $1 33. Qxf2 Rc2 34. Rd2 Rxd2 35. Qxd2 Rc8 $19) 30... Nxf2 $1 {
Nice work by the black knight in this game.} 31. Kxf2 Qc2+ 32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kf2
(33. Kg2 Qe2+ 34. Kg1 Qxf3 $19) 33... Qxh1 {Black is already two exchanges up,
but should still perform a minimal accuracy to clinch the full point.} 34. e6 (
34. Qxd5+ Kh8 $19 (34... Kh7 $4 35. Ng5+ hxg5 36. Qxh1 $18)) 34... Rac8 35.
Qf7+ Kh8 36. Bc5 Qc1 ({It's never too late to spoil everything:} 36... Rxc5 $4
37. Qxe8+ Kh7 38. Ng5+ $1 hxg5 39. Qh5+ {with perpetual check.}) 37. b4 Qc2+
38. Kg1 Qe2 39. Nd4 Qxg4+ 40. Kf2 Qxh4+ 41. Ke2 f3+ 42. Kxf3 Rf8 $1 {Finishing
the game in style.} 43. Bxf8 Rc3+ 44. Kg2 (44. Ke2 Qe4+ 45. Kf1 Rc1+ 46. Kf2
Qxd4+ {and the king will be mated very soon.}) 44... Qg3+ 45. Kf1 Rc1+ {
Excellently played by Kramnik!} (45... Rc1+ 46. Ke2 Re1+ 47. Kd2 Qe3+ 48. Kc2
Rc1+ 49. Kb2 Qc3+ 50. Ka2 Ra1#) 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. d5 Na6 {A rare move in this position,
compared to the main continuations} (11... Bxf3) ({and (rather less accurate)} 
11... Nd7) 12. h4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 136] According to Kramnik, White overcomes an
"optical illusion" that this move is senseless after ...Bc8-g4. In fact, it
creates a serious threat 13.Nh2, and after the retreat of the bishop 14.h5.
This way White exploits the main drawback of 11...Na6 - the absence of the
black knight from the centre.} (12. c4 $6 {is now met by a strong reply} Nb4 $1
{(that's the idea behind 11...Na6!)}) (12. Bxa6 Qxa6 13. c4 b5 $5 14. O-O bxc4
15. Qe2 Bd7 $6 (15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Bd4 $1 $11 17. Qxc4 $140 Qf6 $1) 16. Bxc5
Bb5 17. Qe3 Qxa2 18. Bxe7 Rfe8 19. d6 $16 {1/2 Schneider Zinner,H (2348)
-Balinov,I (2388)/Gmunden 2005/CBM 107 ext (167)}) (12. Be2 c4 $5 13. Bd4 Nc5
14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Bxc4 Nxe4 16. Qd4+ Nf6 17. Ne5 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. f3 Bc8
20. Nd3 Ne8 21. Bb3 Nd6 $11 {1/2 Serper,G (2522)-Ehlvest,J (2603)/ICC INT 2008/
CBM 126 Extra (33)}) (12. Ng5 b5 (12... Rad8 13. h3 Bc8 14. Bxa6 Qxa6 15. Bxc5
Rfe8 16. c4 $16 {0-1 Knoll,H (2355)-Balinov,I (2388)/Gmunden 2005/CBM 107 ext 
(52)}) 13. h3 Bd7 14. Bd3 (14. Be2 $142) 14... c4 15. Be2 Rac8 16. O-O Nc5 17.
f4 h6 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Nf3 Qb6 $11 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2719)-Morozevich,A (2787)/
Almaty 2008/EXT 2009 (29)}) 12... f5 (12... Rad8 13. Nh2 Bc8 14. h5 f5 $5 {
was probably the critical reaction to White's plan although he retains the
initiative after} 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nf3 {[%cal Re3h6]}) 13. exf5
Bxf5 (13... gxf5 14. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gf4][%cal Rf3e5]}) 14. h5 $16 {"In my
opinion, Black has a horrible position. White has got an attack with equal
material and a strategical advantage." (V.Kramnik after the game)} Rad8 15.
hxg6 Bxg6 (15... hxg6 $2 16. Bh6 $18) 16. Bh6 $1 (16. Nh4 $143 $6 Be4 {Kramnik}
) (16. Bd3 $143 $6 Nc7 {forcing c3-c4 and the exchange of queens.}) 16... Bxh6
17. Rxh6 Rf6 18. Ne5 {[%csl Ge5]} Qa4 19. Qe3 $1 {[%cal Re5g6,Rf1c4]} (19. Bc4
$2 Re6 $1 {M.Fominyh, Barsky}) (19. f3 $6 Re6 $1 {Kramnik}) 19... Qf4 {Black
must give up a pawn; besides, his poor a6 knight is still out of play.} (19...
Qe4 $4 20. Rxg6+) 20. Qxf4 Rxf4 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Rxg6+ Kf7 23. Rg5 Re4+ (23...
Nc7 $142 24. c4 {but Black is technically lost anyway.}) 24. Be2 Kf6 25. Rh5
Kg6 26. g4 Rf8 27. Rd1 Rf6 28. Rh8 Kg7 29. Rd8 Rb6 30. f3 Re3 31. Rd3 Re5 32.
Kf2 Rh6 33. Bf1 Rh2+ 34. Kg3 Rxa2 35. d6 exd6 36. R3xd6 Re7 37. R6d7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 ({After} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 {
Black, apart from transposing into our game with} Nbd7 {has other options:} (
6... O-O 7. e3 c5 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {is currently quite topical, after} 9. Rc1 Nxc5
$5 10. Qd4 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Nce4 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Be2 Bg4 {Black usually
gradually equalizes.}) ({The older line} 6... h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 $132 {
also seems playable.})) 5... Nbd7 (5... dxc4 {leads to the Vienna line, which
featured quite prominently in Moscow (see Ivanchuk-Kramnik).}) ({Black can
also try} 5... O-O 6. e3 c5 {, which after} 7. cxd5 exd5 {transposes to a line
we mentioned in the previous note.}) 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 ({Kramnik in his
previous practice was very successful with} 7. Qc2 {The most solid reaction
seems to be postponing the c5 advance with} O-O (7... h6 8. Bh4 c5 9. e3 c4 (
9... Qa5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O c4 12. Bf5 Re8 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Rae1 Nb6 15. a3 Be6
16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. f4 $1 Nd7 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. g4 $1 Nf8 21. g5 hxg5
22. fxg5 Be7 23. e4 dxe4 24. Qxe4 Rad8 25. Re2 a6 26. Qg4 Qa5 27. Ne5 $40 {
1-0,Kramnik,V (2685)-Serper,G (2590)/Dortmund/1993/}) 10. Be2 Qa5 11. O-O Bxc3
12. bxc3 Ne4 13. Rfc1 Nb6 14. a4 Bf5 15. Qb2 O-O 16. Bd1 Rfe8 17. Ra2 f6 $6 (
17... Nd7 $1 18. Qa3 Qc7 $14 {Kramnik}) 18. Nd2 Bd7 19. Nf1 $1 $16 Nxa4 $2 20.
Qxb7 Red8 21. Bxa4 Bxa4 22. f3 Rdb8 23. Rxa4 $1 $18 {Kramnik,V (2685)-Lautier,
J (2645)/Cannes m/1993/}) (7... c5 8. dxc5 h6 9. Bd2 O-O 10. e3 Bxc5 11. Bd3 a6
12. O-O Bd6 (12... Ba7 13. Ne2 Re8 14. Bc3 Nf8 15. Nf4 Be6 16. Rad1 Rc8 17. Qb3
b5 18. Qa3 Ra8 19. Nd4 Qd7 20. Nde2 Qd8 21. Bb1 N8d7 {Kramnik,V (2715)-Lautier,
J (2655)/Monte Carlo blindfold rpd/1995/} 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Bg6 $16) 13. Ne2 (
13. Rfd1 Nc5 14. Bf5 Be6 15. Be1 Rc8 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. Rac1 Be5 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19.
Bh3 Qf7 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 exd5 22. Bxc8 Rxc8 23. b4 b6 24. Qe2 Qb7 25.
bxc5 bxc5 $11 {Mikhalchishin,A (2512)-Aronian,L (2675)/Calvia olm/2004/}) 13...
Ne5 (13... Nc5 $5) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Bc3 Qe7 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17. Rac1 Be6 18. Qc3
Ng4 19. Qxe5 Nxe5 20. Bb1 Rac8 21. Nd4 $11 {/+/=,Dreev,A (2650)-Zvjaginsev,V 
(2610)/RUS-ch Elista/1997/ White has a riskless, but only very slight edge.})
8. e3 (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 c6 {Here White lately hasn't been able to prove an
advantage:} 10. e3 (10. Nd2 Qe8 11. e3 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bf4 Qe6 14. Be2
Nb6 15. Bg3 Qg6 16. Qc5 Bg4 $11 {Alekseev,E (2708)-Ponomariov,R (2718)/Moscow
Tal mem/2008/}) 10... Qe8 11. Qc2 Ne4 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. h3 Re8 15. Bh2
c5 $1 $132 16. O-O c4 17. Bxe4 Qxe4 18. Qxe4 Rxe4 19. Nd2 Re6 {Zhou Jianchao 
(2623)-Bu Xiangzhi (2702)/JinZhou/2009/} 20. e4 dxe4 21. Nxc4 Nf6 22. Nd6 Ne8
$11) 8... c5 9. Be2 (9. Bd3 Qa5 10. O-O c4 {leads to the 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 lines.})
9... Qa5 10. O-O cxd4 ({Simpler is} 10... Bxc3 11. bxc3 Ne4 $11 {<=>}) 11. Nxd4
Bxc3 12. bxc3 Re8 13. Bf4 Ne5 14. Rab1 a6 15. Bxe5 Rxe5 16. Rfc1 Qc7 17. c4
dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qxc4 19. Rxc4 b5 20. Bf3 (20. Rc7 $142 Ne8 21. Rc3 $14) 20...
bxc4 21. Bxa8 Kf8 22. Rb8 Re8 23. Kf1 $6 (23. Bf3 Bg4 $132) 23... Nd7 24. Rb4
a5 $1 25. Rb1 Ne5 26. Bd5 c3 $36 {Ivanchuk,V (2739)-Ponomariov,R (2739)/Moscow
Tal mem/2009/}) 7... c5 8. dxc5 $5 {A rare move, which was certainly prepared
by Kramnik at home - one can hardly imagine a top GM going for the following
king-walk without checking it with a computer.} ({The main line} 8. Bd3 Qa5 9.
Qc2 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bh3 {leads to complex play,
recently Black has been able to hold his own after} Kg7 14. Rae1 h6 15. Bh4 g5
$5 16. Bxd7 Bxd7 17. Bg3 Nh5 18. e4 Nxg3 19. hxg3 dxe4 (19... Bxc3 20. bxc3
dxe4 21. Nxc4 Qa4 22. Qxa4 Bxa4 23. Ne3 Bd7 24. c4 b6 25. g4 Rac8 26. a4 h5 27.
gxh5 f5 $132 {Zhao Jun (2560)-Wang Hao (2696)/Beijing/2009/}) 20. Nxc4 Qa6 21.
Ne5 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bb5 23. c4 Rxe5 24. dxe5 Bxc4 25. Qxe4 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Rd8 $11
{Zhukova,N (2461)-Kosintseva,T (2522)/RUS-chTW Dagomys/2009/}) 8... Qa5 {
The direct counterattack is the most logical reaction.} (8... O-O 9. Rc1 {
leads to a position we have already mentioned above in the note to move 5.}) 9.
Rc1 {Other moves can't cause Black any problems:} (9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Qd4 O-O 11.
Bd3 Bxc5 $11) (9. Nd2 Ne4 10. Ndxe4 dxe4 11. Qd4 O-O 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3
Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 Nxc5 15. Be7 Nb3 16. Rd1 Re8 17. Bb5 Bg4 18. Bxe8 Bxd1 19. Kxd1
Rxe8 20. Bb4 Rc8 21. Kc2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Rd1 g6 24. g4 h5 $11 {Karpov,A 
(2725)-Lautier,J (2645)/France/1993/}) 9... Ne4 (9... Qxa2 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11.
Bb5+ Bd7 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Rxc3 O-O (14... Qxb2 15. Rc2 Qf6 16.
Qxd5 $36) 15. b4 Rfc8 16. Nd4 g6 17. Qc1 $16 {Lingnau,C (2365)-Gebhardt,U 
(2245)/Dortmund/1992/}) (9... O-O 10. a3 $1 {leads to a position, which arises
mostly via a different move order with Black castling earlier. Here after}
Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qa1 $44 {White has been very successful in
current practice, the latest example is} Qa4 14. Qxc3 a5 15. b5 b6 16. c6 Nc5
17. Be2 Re8 18. O-O Bg4 19. Bd1 Ne4 20. Qb2 Qc4 21. Be2 Qc5 22. Rc1 $16 {
Bacrot,E (2709)-Korchnoi,V (2566)/EU-chT Novi Sad/2009/}) ({In the future
Black should possibly have a closer look at} 9... Bxc3+ $5 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Bd3
Ne4 $5 (11... Qxc5 12. O-O b6 13. c4 $1 Bb7 14. cxd5 (14. Qa4 $5) 14... Qxd5
15. e4 (15. Bc4 $14) 15... Qe6 16. Be3 Nc5 (16... Rfc8 $11) 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18.
Re1 Rad8 19. e5 Qg4 20. h3 Bxf3 21. hxg4 Bxd1 22. Rexd1 Nxg4 23. Rxc5 Rfe8 24.
Be2 {Van der Sterren,P (2535)-Winants,L (2515)/NED-chT/1992/} Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1
Nxe5 26. Ba4 Nd3 27. Rc7 Re1+ 28. Kh2 g6 29. f3 Ne5 $132) 12. O-O Ndxc5 13. Bb1
Na4 (13... Bg4 $132) (13... Re8 $5) 14. c4 Bg4 $6 (14... Be6 $142 $1 $11) 15.
Qxd5 Qxd5 16. cxd5 Bxf3 17. Be7 $1 Nec3 18. Bxf8 Bxd5 {1/2,Novikov,I (2545)
-Blatny,P (2495)/Budapest/1991/} 19. Bb4 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Nxc1 21. Rxc1 $14) 10.
Qxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3+ 12. Kd1 $1 {[]} (12. Nd2 $2 O-O $36) 12... O-O (12...
Nf6 $2 13. Qc4 Bb4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qb5+ Bd7 16. Qxa5 Bxa5 17. Nd4 $16 {
Danner,G (2408)-Fletcher,J/ECC Saint Vincent/2005/}) 13. Bc4 Nf6 {Ftacnik: 'N'}
({The tactical complications after} 13... Nxc5 {'?!' Ftacnik.} 14. Be7 {
seem to favour White:} Be6 (14... Bb4 15. Bxf8 Be6 16. Qd4 $5 (16. Qe5 Rxf8 17.
Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rc2 (18. Rxc5 $2 Qxa2 $1 $40) 18... Rf5 19. Qb8+ Rf8 20. Qe5 $11)
16... Rxf8 17. Ke2 $14 Rd8 18. Qh4 b5 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rc2 Qa3 21. Rd1 Rxd1
22. Kxd1 $16 {Novikov,I (2611)-Schulte,O (2392)/Edmonton/2000/}) 15. Qxc5 Qa4+
16. Bb3 Bxb3+ 17. axb3 Qxb3+ 18. Ke2 Qb2+ $1 (18... Rac8 19. Qf5 Rfe8 20. Rhd1
g6 21. Qd7 b5 22. Nd2 Qb2 23. Kf1 {1-0,Novikov,I (2545)-Tischbierek,R (2500)/
Copenhagen/1991/ Ftacnik: '1-0/Novikov,I-Tischbierek,R/Copenhagen op/1991/'}) (
18... Rfc8 19. Qf5 $16) (18... Qa2+ 19. Kf1 $16) 19. Kd3 Rfc8 20. Qd5 $1 {
/\Rc2, Bc5} (20. Rc2 $2 Qxc2+ 21. Kxc2 Bb4 $3 22. Qxc8+ Rxc8+ 23. Kb3 Bxe7 $19
{Mikhalchishin,A (2465)-Plachetka,J (2465)/Kecskemet/1983/}) 20... Ba5 $5 {
Plachetka} (20... Bb4 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Bxb4 Qc2+ 23. Kd4 Qb2+ 24. Ke4 Qxb4+
25. Nd4 $18) 21. Qe5 $5 (21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Ke4 $1 (22. Qxa5 $2 Qc2+ 23. Kd4
Rc4+ $19) (22. Nd4 Qd2+ $1 23. Ke4 Qxf2 $17) 22... Qc2+ 23. Kf4 Bc7+ 24. Kg4
Qxf2 25. g3 $14) (21. Rc5 Rxc5 $1 (21... Rd8 $6 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxa5 $1 Rxd5+
24. Rxd5 $18) 22. Qxc5 Qb3+ 23. Ke4 (23. Ke2 Qb2+ 24. Kd3 Qb3+ $11) 23... Bb6
24. Qd5 Qc2+ 25. Kf4 Qxf2 26. Qxb7 (26. Qd2 Qxe3+ 27. Qxe3 Bxe3+ 28. Kxe3 Re8
$11) 26... Re8 $13) 21... Qb3+ 22. Ke4 {[%cal Ye4f4,Yf4g3] /\Kf4-g3} Bc3 23.
Nd4 {/\} Bxd4 24. exd4 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qb2 26. Rc7 Qxf2 (26... Qe2+ 27. Kd5 Qa2+
28. Kd6 $16) 27. Kd3 $36) 14. Bxf6 ({Time is important; the text move is
simpler than} 14. Qd3 Bb2 (14... Rd8 15. Nd4 Bg4+ 16. Kc2 $2 (16. f3 $142 Bxd4
17. exd4 Be6 18. Ke2 $14) 16... Bb4 17. Kb1 Bh5 18. Ka1 Bg6 19. Qb3 Bxc5 20.
Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rhd1 Ba3 $36 {Hefty Hilardo,J (2335)-Baron Rodriguez,J (2407)/
ESP-chT/2006/}) 15. Rc2 (15. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 16. Ke2 $14) 15... Bg4 16. Ke2 (16.
Qb3 Ne4 $5 17. Qxb2 Nxg5 $44) 16... Be5 17. h3 Bh5 18. Qb3 $14) 14... Bxf6 15.
Ke2 b5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An ambitious novelty, but it doesn't completely solve
Black's problems. However, even after} (15... Bg4 {White can fight for an
advantage:} 16. Rhd1 (16. c6 Qb6 $5 (16... Qxd5 17. Bxd5 bxc6 18. Rxc6 Rab8 19.
Rhc1 $16 {leads to a better version of the _|_ in Novikov-Serper.}) 17. Bb3 (
17. Bd3 $5) 17... Be6 18. Qc5 Qa6+ 19. Bc4 $14) (16. Qxb7 $5 Rab8 17. Qe4 Bh5
18. Bb3 Bb2 19. c6 Bxc1 20. Rxc1 $44) 16... Rac8 (16... Rad8 17. Qxb7 Rxd1 18.
Rxd1 Qxc5 19. Qb3 $16) 17. c6 (17. Qxb7 Rxc5 $132) 17... Qxd5 18. Bxd5 bxc6 19.
Rxc6 Rxc6 20. Bxc6 Rb8 21. a4 Rb2+ 22. Kf1 Ra2 23. Rb1 Ra1 $1 24. Rxa1 Bxa1 25.
Nd4 Kf8 26. f3 Bc8 27. Ke2 Ke7 28. Kd3 Kd6 29. Bb5 f6 $14 {/=,Novikov,I (2550)
-Serper,G (2490)/URS-ch Moscow/1991/}) (15... Be6 16. Qe4 Bxc4+ 17. Qxc4 Rac8
18. Rhd1 $14) 16. c6 ({White also wants more than the simple} 16. cxb6 axb6 $14
{Now the game becomes very complex with the tension growing fast.}) 16... Ba6 (
16... Rb8 17. Qc5 $36) 17. Qf5 $5 (17. Rhd1 Bc3 $1 18. Bd3 Rad8 19. Qc5 (19.
Qe4 Rxd3 20. Rxd3 b4 $36) 19... Rxd3 20. Rxd3 Qxa2+ 21. Rd2 Bxd2 22. Nxd2 b4+
23. Ke1 Qa3 24. Qc2 b3 $5 $132) 17... Qa3 $2 (17... Bb2 $142 $1 18. Rc2 g6 {/\}
19. Qc5 Ba3 20. Qg5 Be7 $1 21. Qe5 (21. Qxe7 bxc4 $15) 21... Bd6 22. Qg5 Be7
$11) (17... Rad8 18. c7 $1 Rd6 (18... Rd7 19. a4 $5 Rxc7 20. Bd3 Rd8 21. Rxc7
Qxc7 22. axb5 $16) (18... Qxc7 $4 19. Bd3 $18) 19. Rhd1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Qxc7 21.
Bd3 $14) 18. Bd3 Rfd8 19. c7 $6 {[%mdl 8256] Kramnik repays the tactical
favour from move 17 - a situation, which will arise even later in the game.} (
19. Qxh7+ $142 Kf8 20. c7 {/\} Qxa2+ 21. Kf1 $1 (21. Rc2 $2 Qxc2+ 22. Bxc2 b4+)
21... Re8 (21... Rdc8 22. Be4 b4+ 23. Kg1 Bb7 24. Bxb7 Rxc7 25. Re1 $16) 22.
Qh8+ (22. g3 $5 g6 23. Kg2 Bb7 24. Rhd1 $16) 22... Ke7 23. Qh5 $40) 19... Qxa2+
20. Nd2 (20. Rc2 $2 Qxc2+ 21. Bxc2 b4+ $17) (20. Ke1 Qa5+ $5 (20... Rxd3 21.
Qxd3 b4 22. Qd2 Qa5 23. Nd4 $14) 21. Nd2 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Rc8 23. f4 b4 24. Qd6
Bc3 25. Kf2 $13 {is similar to the game continuation. However, one can
understand that White instinctively wants to keep his RR connected.}) 20...
Rxd3 $1 {Black doesn't give his opponent a second chance to take on h7.} 21.
Qxd3 (21. Kxd3 b4+ 22. Ke4 $8 Qxd2 23. c8=Q+ Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Bd8 $1 $36) 21...
b4 22. Kf3 Bb7+ (22... Qa5 $5 23. Qe4 (23. Qd7 Qh5+ {and playing for a win with
} 24. g4 Qh3+ {is very risky}) 23... Rc8 $44) 23. Kg3 (23. Ne4 Qe6 24. Qc4 (24.
Kg3 Bxe4 25. Qxe4 Qxe4 26. c8=Q+ Bd8 $44) 24... Bc3 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Rhd1 Rf8+
27. Ke2 $5 Bxe4 28. Rd8 Bb7 29. Kd3 a5 (29... Kf7 30. Kc4 Ke7 31. Rxf8 Kxf8 32.
Rd1 $16) 30. Kc4 a4 31. Rcd1 Ba6+ 32. Kc5 Be5 33. Ra8 $1 Bxc7 34. Rxa6 $14)
23... h5 (23... Qa5 24. f4 Rc8 25. Rhd1 $16 {/\} Rxc7 $2 26. Nb3) 24. h3 {
White doesn't need this move.} (24. f4 $142) (24. f3 $5) 24... Qa5 25. f4 (25.
Ne4 h4+ 26. Kh2 Be5+ 27. f4 Bxc7 $132) 25... Rc8 26. Nc4 $5 (26. Qd7 Bc3 27.
Ne4 Qxc7 28. Qxc7 Rxc7 29. Nxc3 bxc3 30. Rhd1 f5 $44 (30... Be4 $5 $15 {
and already White has to fight for a draw.})) (26. Rhd1 Rxc7 27. Ne4 Be7 $44)
26... Qa6 (26... Qxc7 $142 27. Nd6 Qd8 28. Kh2 $14) 27. Ne5 $6 (27. Qd7 $1 b3 (
27... Bc6 28. Qd6 $16) 28. Rhd1 {/\} b2 29. Rc2 Bc6 30. Qf5 Rxc7 31. Rxb2 $16)
27... Qxd3 28. Nxd3 Bc3 $44 29. Rhd1 a5 (29... Rxc7 $2 30. Nxb4 $18) 30. Nc5 (
30. Nxb4 $5 {was more circumspect:} axb4 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. Rxc8 Bxc8 33. Rd1 (
33. Kf3 Kg6 34. Ke4 Be6 $11) 33... b3 34. Rd8 b2 35. Rxc8 Be1+ (35... b1=Q 36.
Rh8+ Kxh8 37. c8=Q+ $14) 36. Kh2 b1=Q 37. Rb8 Bg3+ (37... Qd3 38. c8=Q Bg3+ 39.
Kxg3 Qxe3+ $11) 38. Kxg3 Qe1+ 39. Kh2 h4 40. c8=Q Qg3+ $11) 30... Rxc7 31. Na4
Be4 32. Rd6 $2 $138 (32. Kf2 h4 $44) 32... Kh7 $2 $138 (32... Bc2 $1 33. Nxc3 (
33. Rxc2 Be1+ $19) 33... Rxc3 $36 {[%csl Ga5,Gb4] /-/+ and Black's unleashed
o^ are very dangerous.}) 33. Ra6 h4+ 34. Kh2 $1 (34. Kf2 Rd7 35. Nxc3 bxc3 36.
Rxc3 Rd2+ 37. Ke1 Rxg2 38. Rxa5 f5 $11 {/\Rg3}) 34... Rd7 (34... f5 $5 35. Rxa5
Rc6 $44) 35. Nc5 (35. Rxa5 Rd2 36. Rh5+ Kg8 37. Kg1 Rxg2+ 38. Kf1 $14) 35...
Re7 36. Rxa5 (36. Nxe4 Rxe4 37. Rxa5 Rxe3 {/\} 38. Rh5+ Kg6 39. Rxh4 b3 40.
Rg4+ Kf5 41. Rg5+ Kxf4 42. Rb5 b2 43. Rxc3 Rxc3 $11) 36... Bd2 (36... Bg6 37.
Na4 $16 {[%cal Rf4f5] /\f5}) 37. Rc4 f5 $6 (37... b3 $5 38. Nxb3 (38. Rb5 Bc6
39. Rb6 Rxe3 40. Rxc6 b2 41. Rb6 Be1 42. g3 hxg3+ 43. Kh1 Re2 44. Ne4 Rh2+ 45.
Kg1 Bf2+ 46. Nxf2 gxf2+ 47. Kf1 b1=Q+ $11) 38... Bxa5 39. Nxa5 Re6 40. Rd4 f5
41. Nc4 Rg6 42. Rd2 Rg3 $44 {[%csl Re3,Rg2] ><e3,g2 and I don't see any way
for White to convert his extra P.}) (37... Bg6 $2 38. f5 Bxf5 39. Nb3 {/\} Be1
40. Rxf5 Rxe3 41. Rf3 $18) (37... Bf5 38. Nb3 Be1 39. Rxf5 Rxe3 $14) 38. Nxe4
fxe4 39. Rh5+ Kg6 40. Rg5+ (40. Rxh4 b3 (40... Rb7 41. Rc8 $1 (41. Rh8 b3 42.
Rc6+ Kf7 43. Rhc8 b2 44. R8c7+ Rxc7 45. Rxc7+ Ke6 46. Rb7 Bc3 $15) 41... Bxe3 (
41... b3 $2 42. Rf8 $1 Rb5 43. f5+ Rxf5 44. Rb8 Bxe3 45. Rxb3 Rf4 46. Kg3 $18)
42. Rf8 Rf7 43. Rxf7 Kxf7 44. f5 b3 45. Rxe4 $18) 41. Rc6+ Kf7 42. Rb6 Bxe3 43.
Rxb3 Bd2 $132) 40... Kf6 (40... Kh7 41. g4 $1 $16) 41. Rc6+ (41. g4 $1 hxg3+
42. Kxg3 $16) 41... Kf7 42. Rf5+ Kg8 43. g4 (43. Rc8+ $5 Kh7 44. g4 $16) 43...
Re8 $5 (43... hxg3+ 44. Kxg3 Bxe3 45. Rc8+ Kh7 46. Rh5+ Kg6 47. Kg4 $1 {/\} b3
48. Rf8 $18) 44. Re5 (44. Rb6 Bxe3 45. Rxb4 Bd2 $132) 44... Rb8 (44... Rxe5 45.
fxe5 Bxe3 46. Kg2 b3 47. Rc8+ Kf7 48. Rb8 Ke6 49. Rxb3 Bf4 50. Rb6+ Kxe5 51.
Rg6 $16) 45. g5 $6 (45. Rce6 $142 Kf8 $8 (45... Bxe3 46. Re8+ Rxe8 47. Rxe8+
Kf7 48. Rxe4 Bd2 49. Rd4 Bc3 50. Rd7+ Ke6 51. Rd3 $18) 46. Rd5 Bc3 (46... Bxe3
47. Rxe4 b3 48. Rh5 $1 Kf7 49. Rxe3 b2 50. Re1 b1=Q 51. Rxb1 Rxb1 52. Rxh4 $18)
47. Rdd6 $16) 45... Kh7 $1 (45... b3 $2 46. g6 b2 47. Rb6 $18) 46. Re7 Bxe3 47.
Rh6+ Kg8 48. Rg6 Bd4 (48... Bxf4+ 49. Kg2 Kh8 50. Rgxg7 Rc8 51. Rh7+ Kg8 52.
Reg7+ Kf8 53. Rd7 Rc2+ 54. Kf1 Rc1+ 55. Ke2 Rc2+ 56. Ke1 Rc1+ 57. Rd1 Rxd1+ 58.
Kxd1 Bxg5 $14 {gives White only practical winning chances, as he won't be able
to reach the _|_ from the game.}) 49. Rge6 Kh7 $2 (49... Bc5 $142 $1 50. Re8+
Rxe8 51. Rxe8+ Kf7 52. Rxe4 b3 53. Re1 b2 54. f5 (54. Rb1 Be3) 54... g6 $11 {
and White won't pick up the Pb2 without losing two >>P.}) (49... b3 50. g6 Rf8
(50... Kf8 51. Rf7+ Kg8 52. Rb7) 51. Rb7 b2 52. Rxe4 $18) 50. f5 Bc5 (50... b3
51. f6 Rg8 $8 (51... b2 52. Rxg7+ Kh8 53. Ree7 $18) 52. Rb7 $18) (50... Be3 51.
Rg6 (51. f6 Bxg5 52. Rxg7+ Kh6 53. Rd7 Rf8 54. f7+ Kg7 55. Rxe4 Rxf7 56. Rxf7+
Kxf7 57. Rxb4 $18 {according to Tablebases.}) 51... Bd4 52. Rxe4 $18) 51. Re8
$2 (51. Rd7 $142 $1 Kg8 52. Rxe4 b3 53. f6 gxf6 54. gxf6 $18) 51... Rxe8 52.
Rxe8 b3 (52... e3 53. Kg2 b3 54. Kf3 $18 {/\} b2 55. g6+ Kh6 56. Kg4) 53. Kg2 (
53. Rxe4 $2 g6 $1 54. f6 b2 55. Re1 Be3 56. Rb1 Bxg5 $11) 53... Be3 $2 {
Seemingly only this is the final and decisive mistake.} (53... b2 54. Rb8 Bd4
55. Kf1 Be5 56. Rb7 Kg8 57. Ke2) (53... Bd6 $142 $1 54. Rxe4 b2 55. Re1 Bf4 (
55... g6 56. Rb1 gxf5 57. Rxb2 Bf4 58. Rf2 Bxg5 59. Rxf5 $18) 56. Rb1 Bc1 57.
Kf3 g6 58. Kg4 gxf5+ 59. Kxf5 Kg7 60. g6 Kf8 61. Kf6 Kg8 62. g7 Bd2 63. Kf5 Bc3
$11 {still holds.} (63... Bc1 $2 64. Kg6 $22)) 54. Rxe4 Bxg5 55. Rb4 g6 56.
Rb7+ Kh6 57. fxg6 Kxg6 58. Kf3 Bd2 59. Kg4 Be1 60. Rxb3 $18 {[%mdl 4096] From
now on TB show the _|_ is winning for White. Although Kramnik doesn't always
take the most straightforward path, he knows the basic principles of the
winning method and he will never endanger his victory.} Bg3 (60... Kf6 61. Rf3+
Kg6 62. Re3 $18) 61. Rf3 (61. Re3 $18 {is equivalent.}) (61. Rb6+ $2 Kf7 62.
Kf5 Ke7 $11 {allows Black's K to escape the dangerous corner.}) 61... Be1 (
61... Kh6 62. Rf6+ Kg7 63. Kg5 Bc7 64. Re6 Kf7 65. Re4 Bg3 66. Re3 Kg7 67. Rf3
Be1 68. Rf1 Bg3 69. Kh5 Kh7 70. Rf7+ Kg8 71. Kg6 Bh2 72. Rd7 Kf8 73. Rd4 Bg3
74. Re4 $22 $18 {We will see this method (and final position) in the game as
well.}) 62. Re3 Bf2 ({Similar is} 62... Bg3 63. Re6+ Kf7 64. Kf5 $18) 63. Re6+
Kf7 64. Kf5 (64. Re2 $1 Bg3 65. Kg5 {is slightly faster.}) 64... Bg3 65. Re4
Bf2 66. Kg5 Bg3 67. Re2 {See the 64.Re2! line.} Kg7 68. Re7+ Kf8 69. Kf6 Bf2
70. Re6 (70. Ke6 $1 Be1 (70... Bd4 71. Rh7 $18) 71. Rc7 Bg3 72. Ra7 Bh2 (72...
Be1 73. Kf6 Bc3+ 74. Kg6 Be1 75. Ra4 $1 Bg3 76. Re4 $18) 73. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 (73...
Ke8 74. Rh7 $18) 74. Kf6 Bg3 75. Kg6 {-61...Kh6}) 70... Bg3 71. Kg6 Bh2 72. Re4
Bg3 {We have already seen that White must achieve this position with Black to
move, thus forcing zugzwang.} 73. Kf6 Bf2 74. Kg6 (74. Re7 $1 Bd4+ 75. Ke6 Bc3
76. Rh7 Be1 77. Rc7 Bg3 78. Ra7 {-70.Ke6!}) 74... Bg3 75. Re2 Bd6 76. Kg5 Bg3 (
76... Be7+ 77. Kf5 Bc5 78. Re4 Bf2 79. Kf6 Bc5 (79... Bg3 80. Kg6) 80. Ra4 Be7+
(80... Ke8 81. Ke6) 81. Ke6 Bg5 82. Ra7 Kg8 83. Kf5 Be3 84. Ra3 Bc5 85. Ra5 Bd6
86. Ra4 Bg3 (86... Be7 87. Kg6) 87. Kg6 Kf8 88. Re4 $18) 77. Kf6 Bf4 78. Re4
Bd6 (78... Bc7 79. Rc4 Bd8+ 80. Kf5 Kf7 81. Rd4 Be7 82. Rd7 $18) 79. Rd4 Bc7 ({
More resilient, but equally hopeless is} 79... Be7+ $142 80. Kf5 Kf7 ({The K
won't escape:} 80... Ke8 81. Ke6 Kf8 82. Rf4+ Ke8 83. Ra4 $18) 81. Rd7 Kf8 82.
Ke6 Bg5 83. Rb7 Bd2 (83... Kg8 84. Kf5 Bd2 85. Kg6 Kf8 86. Rb5 Bc1 (86... Be1
87. Rf5+) 87. Rh5 $18) 84. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 (84... Ke8 85. Rh7) 85. Kf6 Be1 86. Kg6
Bg3 87. Re7 Kf8 88. Re4 $18) 80. Kg6 Bg3 81. Re4 $22 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. b3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 b6
9. Qe2 Ba6 10. d3 Qd7 11. Rd1 Rad8 12. Nc3 Rfe8 13. Qe1 Nb4 14. Qe2 Nc6 15.
Rac1 h6 16. Qe1 Bb7 17. d4 cxd4 18. exd4 dxc4 19. bxc4 Na5 20. Ne5 Qc8 21. d5
Bc5 22. Qf1 exd5 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Qf5 25. Nd3 Bd6 26. Bh3 Qxd5 27. Bxf6
gxf6 28. Nf4 Qg5 29. Nd5 Bc5 30. Bg2 Nc6 31. h4 Qg7 32. Rc4 Ne5 33. Rf4 Qxg3
34. Nxf6+ Kh8 35. Nh5 Rxd1 36. Qxd1 Qg6 37. Rf6 Bxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Ng4 39. Qd4+ f6
40. Nf4 Qg7 41. Rf1 Ne5 42. Nh5 Qg6 43. Nxf6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. e3 e5 5. c5 a5 6. Bc4 dxe3 7. fxe3 axb4 8. d4
Nc6 9. O-O Na5 10. Nxe5 Nxc4 11. Nxc4 Be6 12. Nbd2 Ne7 13. Bb2 Nd5 14. Qf3 b5
15. cxb6 Nxb6 16. Nxb6 cxb6 17. Qc6+ Bd7 18. Qd5 Be7 19. Nc4 b5 20. Ne5 Rf8 21.
Nxd7 Ra7 22. Qh5+ g6 23. Qxh7 Qxd7 24. Qxg6+ Kd8 25. d5 Kc8 26. Rac1+ Kb8 27.
d6 Qxd6 28. Rfd1 Qa6 29. Qg3+ Ka8 30. Qf3+ Qb7 31. Rc6 Rxa2 32. Rd7 Qxd7 33.
Rc7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Bb4+ 10. Ke2 Qf4 11. Qd3 Be7 12. g3 Qc7 13. Bg2 Nd7 14. Rhe1 b6
15. Kf1 Bb7 16. c5 a5 17. Kg1 O-O 18. Qe3 Kg7 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 bxc5 21.
Nxc5 Rfd8 22. Rac1 a4 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Bxc6 Qxb2 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rc7 Bb4 27.
Rd1 Rf8 28. Rdd7 Qb1+ 29. Kg2 Qf5 30. Rc4 Ba5 31. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d6 5. a3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Rb1 O-O 8. b4 b6
9. O-O Bg4 10. d3 Rc8 11. h3 Bd7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bd2 Re8 14. e3 Bf5 15. e4 Bd7
16. b5 Na5 17. Ne1 e5 18. Nc2 Be6 19. Ne3 h5 20. f4 Nh7 21. f5 Bd7 22. Ned5 Rf8
23. Qf3 Ng5 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. f6 Bh8 26. h4 Qh6 27. Ne7+ Kh7 28. Ncd5 Rce8 29.
Kh2 Bg4 30. Qf2 Be6 31. Bh3 Bxd5 32. Nxd5 Nb7 33. Bd7 Nd8 34. Bxe8 Rxe8 35. a4
Ne6 36. a5 Rb8 37. axb6 axb6 38. Ra1 Rb7 39. Ra6 Nd4 40. Rxb6 Rd7 41. Rb8 g5
42. Ra1 gxh4 43. gxh4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2517"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 Qa6 8.
Bg5 O-O 9. Qd2 Bf5 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. a3 Rad8 12. Bh6 e5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. d5
Bg4 15. Qe3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nd4 17. Bg2 Rfe8 18. h4 Nf5 19. Qe2 Qxe2 20. Nxe2 e4
21. Nc3 e3 22. fxe3 Nxe3 23. Rd2 Nxg2 24. Rxg2 Nxd5 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Rf2 Re4
27. Rhf1 f5 28. b3 Kf6 29. a4 a5 30. Kb2 b6 31. Kc3 Re3+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qd7 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 O-O-O
8. O-O e5 9. d3 f5 10. Re1 Re8 11. a3 Nf6 12. b4 Nd4 13. Bg5 Bd6 14. Rb1 Kb8
15. a4 h6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nb5 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 f4 19. d4 Rhg8 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21.
Rbd1 Qf5 22. c3 Qc2 23. a5 a6 24. Nd4 Qa4 25. Nf5 Rg6 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. e5
b5 9. Qb3 Nfd7 10. e6 fxe6 11. Be3 Nf6 12. a4 b4 13. Qxb4 Nc6 14. Qa3 Qd6 15.
Bc4 Rb8 16. O-O Qxa3 17. bxa3 Rd8 18. Rac1 Na5 19. Ba2 c6 20. Bf4 Rb7 21. Rfe1
Nd5 22. Bd2 Nb3 23. Bxb3 Rxb3 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Bb4 Bf6 26. a5 Bd7 27. Rc7 Kf7
28. h3 Rxf3 29. gxf3 Bxd4 30. Rec1 Bf6 31. Rb7 d4 32. Rcc7 Bb5 33. Rxb5 axb5
34. Kf1 d3 35. Ke1 Bg5 36. a6 Ra8 37. a7 e5 38. Bc5 d2+ 39. Kd1 Ke6 40. Rb7 Rc8
41. Rxb5 Kd7 42. Rb7+ Ke6 43. Be3 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Re1 b4 10. Nb1 c5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. e4 cxd4 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 O-O 15.
Qxd4 Qb6 16. Qxb6 N5xb6 17. Bf4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 a5 19. Re2 Nc5 20. Bc2 Rfd8 21.
Be3 Rac8 22. g3 a4 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Be4 g6 25. Kg2 Bf8 26. Rc2 Rxc2 27. Bxc2
Rc8 28. Bd3 Bg7 29. Re1 Rc5 30. Re4 Nd5 31. Bc4 Ne7 32. Bd3 Nc6 33. Rc4 Rxc4
34. Bxc4 Bxe5 35. Bb5 Na7 36. Bxa4 Bxb2 37. Nd2 Kf8 38. Nc4 Bc3 39. a3 Ke7 40.
axb4 Bxb4 41. f4 Bc3 42. Kf3 f5 43. h3 Nc8 44. Bc6 Kf6 45. Bb7 Ne7 46. Ne3 Bd4
47. Nc4 g5 48. Nd6 Bc5 49. Ne8+ Kf7 50. Nc7 gxf4 51. gxf4 Bb6 52. Nb5 Ng6 53.
Bc8 Ke7 54. Ba6 Bg1 55. Bc8 Bh2 56. Nd4 Nxf4 57. Ba6 Ng6 58. Kg2 Be5 59. Nf3
Kf6 60. Bc4 Nf4+ 61. Kg3 Bd6 62. Bb3 e5 63. h4 e4 64. Ng5 Ne6+ 65. Kf2 Nxg5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 c5 4. bxc5 Nc6 5. g3 e5 6. d3 Bxc5 7. Bg2 h6 8. O-O
Nf6 9. Ba3 Bxa3 10. Nxa3 O-O 11. Nd2 Qe7 12. Nc2 Bf5 13. Rb1 Rac8 14. Qc1 e4
15. Rb3 Rfe8 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Qb2 b6 18. dxe4 Nxe4 19. Nf3 Nc5 20. Nfxd4 Bxc2
21. Nxc2 Nxb3 22. axb3 Qd2 23. Qb1 Na5 24. e3 Qc3 25. Nd4 Qb4 26. Bd5 Rc7 27.
Rd1 Nb7 28. Nb5 Rce7 29. Bxb7 Rxb7 30. Nd6 Rbb8 31. Nxe8 Rxe8 32. Rd5 g6 33.
Qd3 Re7 34. Kg2 Re6 35. Rd8+ Kg7 36. Qd4+ Rf6 37. Rd7 a6 38. Rc7 Qd6 39. Rc8
Qe6 40. Rd8 Qc6+ 41. Rd5 Kh7 42. e4 Re6 43. h4 h5 44. b4 a5 45. b5 Qa8 46. f3
Re8 47. Qf6 Qb7 48. Rd6 Rb8 49. Qd4 Rf8 50. Rxb6 Qa7 51. c5 a4 52. Ra6 Qb7 53.
Qxa4 Rd8 54. Qa2 Qe7 55. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O a6 9. h3 b5 10. Bh6 Bb7 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Qe3 Nbd7 13. Ne5 Rad8 14. a3
Nb6 15. h4 h5 16. f3 Nbd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Qe1 c5 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd3 Qe3+
21. Qd2 Rd6 22. Re1 Qxd2+ 23. Kxd2 Rc8 24. Kc1 e6 25. c3 a5 26. Ne5 b4 27. axb4
axb4 28. c4 b3 29. Kd2 Nb6+ 30. Kc3 f6 31. Nd3 Nxc4 32. Kxb3 Nd2+ 33. Kb4 Rb6+
34. Ka5 Nc4+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. g3 dxc4 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nbd7 10. Nc2 Bc5 11. Ne3 Ne5 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. a5 Rb8 14. Na4 Bb4
15. f4 Neg4 16. Nxc4 Bd7 17. h3 Bb5 18. b3 Nh6 19. g4 Nd7 20. f5 exf5 21. Bf4
Rc8 22. Bxb7 fxg4 23. Bxc8 Kxc8 24. Ncb6+ Kb7 25. Rfc1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Nc3 e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5
Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. g5 Ng8 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Rh4 13. Bg2 Bb4+ 14. Bd2
Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Ne7 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. f4 Nb6 18. c5 Nbc8 19. Qf2 Rh8 20. Nc4 Nf5
21. O-O-O Rh4 22. Ne5 Nce7 23. Kb1 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Ng4 Ke7 26. Qd2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 Nc6 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qc2 Rd8 14. Rfd1 Bd7
15. a3 Ba5 16. b4 Bb6 17. Nc5 Be8 18. d5 exd5 19. Bxd5 a5 20. Na4 Ba7 21. b5
Nd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd5 23. Nf5 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Qxa3 25. Qe4 Rd8 26. Rf1 Qb4 27. Qxb7
Bxb5 28. Ne7+ Kf8 29. Nc6 Bxc6 30. Qxc6 Bd4 31. g3 g6 32. Kg2 Kg7 33. Rd1 Rd6
34. Qc2 Rf6 35. f3 Re6 36. Qd2 Qxa4 37. Qxd4+ Qxd4 38. Rxd4 Ra6 39. Ra4 Kf6 40.
Kf2 Ke5 41. Ke3 Kd5 42. Kd3 Kc5 43. Rc4+ Kb5 44. Rc7 a4 45. Rb7+ Kc5 46. Kc2 a3
47. Rb1 a2 48. Ra1 Kd4 49. Kb2 Ke3 50. f4 Kf2 51. g4 g5 52. fxg5 hxg5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. e3 b6
9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Nc3 Rac8 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. d4 Rfd8 15.
Rac1 Bf8 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Nh4 Nb4 18. Qg4 Nxa2 19. Ra1 Nb4 20. Rxa7 Ra8 21.
Bxg7 Bxg7 22. Nf5 f6 23. Nxg7 Qxg7 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. Rxb7+ Kg6 26. Rb5 Rac8
27. Rc1 Nd3 28. Rc3 c4 29. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O d4 6. e3 e5 7. exd4 exd4 8. d3
Be7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Qf3 Bxf4 14. Qxf4 g5
15. Qd2 Rb8 16. Na3 b6 17. Rae1 Qf6 18. h3 Ne5 19. f4 gxf4 20. Rxf4 Qg7 21. Nb5
f6 22. Nd6 Qxg3 23. Nxc8 Qxd3 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Qf2 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
Be7 9. b3 Rc8 10. Bb2 Qc7 11. Rad1 O-O 12. Ne5 g6 13. Qe2 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7 15.
cxd5 cxd5 16. f4 Nc5 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Nd4 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Qc7 20. a4 Bc5 21. Nb5
Ba6 22. Bd4 Bxb5 23. axb5 Bxd4 24. exd4 Qc3 25. Rf3 Qxd3 26. Rfxd3 Rc2 27. R1d2
Rc1+ 28. Rd1 Rfc8 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Kf2 Rc2+ 31. Kf3 h5 32. h3 h4 33. g3 hxg3
34. Kxg3 Kg7 35. Kg4 Rg2+ 36. Kf3 Ra2 37. Kg4 Ra5 38. Kg5 Rxb5 39. h4 Ra5 40.
h5 gxh5 41. f5 exf5 42. Kxh5 f6 43. e6 Kf8 44. Kg6 Ke7 45. Kxf5 Ra1 46. Rc3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bg5 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O a6 9. Bd3 Bg4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qe6 12. Qf4 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qxa2 14.
Bxe7 Bh6+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "32"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2517"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 b6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Bb7 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bb4+ 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. O-O a5 10. Bb2 a4 11. a3 Bd6 12. b4 b5 13. Ne5 Nbd7 14. Rc1 Nb6 15.
e3 Qc8 16. Qf3 Qe6 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Rc5 Bxc5 19. dxc5 Nc4 20. Nexc4 bxc4 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. Nxc4 Qe6 23. Nd2 Rad8 24. Qd3 c6 25. Nf3 Qe4 26. Qd1 Ba6 27. Nd4
Qe8 28. Qg4+ Kh8 29. Qh4 Qe5 30. Nxc6 Qg5 31. Qxg5 fxg5 32. Nxd8 Bxf1 33. Kxf1
Rxd8 34. c6 Kg7 35. b5 Rb8 36. c7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "33"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3
c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nbd2 Nb4 11. Be2 Bf5 12. Ne1 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Rc8 14. a3 Nc6 15.
Nef3 Ne4 16. Bb2 Bf6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Bd3 Nc3 19. Qc2 Nb4 20. axb4 Ne2+ 21.
Bxe2 Rxc2 22. Rxa7 h6 23. Rd1 Qb2 24. Bf1 Bg4 25. Raa1 Rxd2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "42"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bg5 d4 8.
O-O-O Qa5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. e3 O-O 12. Bd3 h6 13. Be4 Nd7 14. Kb1
a6 15. g4 Kg7 16. h4 Rb8 17. g5 Rh8 18. g6 f5 19. Bxf5 Nf8 20. gxf7 exf5 21.
Nd5 Kxf7 22. Nxf5 Bc5 23. Rhg1 Ne6 24. Nd6+ Bxd6 25. Qg6+ Kf8 26. Qf6+ Ke8 27.
Qxh8+ Bf8 28. Qh7 1-0

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ni, Hua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 (4. Nf3 a6 5. c5 {is another way to fight
for an opening advantage, but here Ni Hua would probably prefer the Classical
Slav and take on c4 on move 4.}) 4... a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. b3 {Retaining the
tension has been White's most usual choice.} ({However, recently the most
topical alternative has been} 6. c5 {, when Black has 2 roughly equivalent
alternatives:} {Subsequently Malakhov in the WCup was successful with} g6 (6...
Nbd7 7. Bd3 e5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 $5 10. e6 Nxc5 11. exf7+ Kxf7 12. b3 $2
(12. Bc2 $142 $13) 12... Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Qg5 14. g3 Qf6 15. Bb2 Qf3 $40 16. Rg1
Bg4 17. a3 Re8 18. Rc1 b4 19. axb4 Bxb4 20. h3 Bxh3 21. g4 Bxg4 22. Rg3 Qf5 23.
Qd4 Re4 24. Qa7+ Qd7 25. Qb6 c5 {0-1,Anand,V (2788)-Aronian,L (2786)/Moscow/
2009/}) {A more restrained choice is} 7. Bd3 {, but even here it's not so
simple for White to achieve anything tangible:} (7. Ne5 Bg7 8. Be2 {is less
committal, but Black equalized with ease after} (8. f4 O-O (8... Be6 9. Bd3 Qc8
$6 10. Bd2 Bf5 11. Bxf5 gxf5 12. b4 Nbd7 13. a4 Ne4 14. Nxe4 Nxe5 15. fxe5 fxe4
16. O-O O-O 17. Be1 Qe6 18. Bh4 f6 19. exf6 exf6 20. Bg3 Rae8 21. Bd6 Rf7 22.
axb5 axb5 23. Ra6 Rc8 24. Qe2 $14 {Eljanov,P (2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)/WCup
Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 9. Bd3 Be6 (9... Qc7 10. O-O Be6 11. g4 Nbd7 $5 12. f5
(12. g5 $11) 12... Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Bd2 Nxc5 16. Bc2 Bxe5
17. Qe2 a5 18. a3 a4 19. Rad1 Bg7 20. Bc1 e5 $44 {/=/+,Eljanov,P (2729)
-Malakhov,V (2706)//WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 10. g4 Qc7 11. Bd2 (11. O-O
Nbd7 {-9...Qc7}) 11... a5 12. g5 b4 $1 13. Na4 Ne4 14. Nb6 Ra7 15. Qe2 $6 (15.
Bxe4 dxe4 16. Nec4 Nd7 17. Qc2 Bf5 18. O-O-O $13) 15... f6 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Nxd7
Qxd7 18. gxf6 exf6 19. O-O-O Bf5 20. Rdg1 b3 21. a3 Nf2 $1 $40 {Eljanov,P 
(2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)//WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 8... O-O 9. O-O Be6 10.
f4 Ne4 $5 11. a4 f6 12. Nd3 Nd7 13. Nb4 Qc7 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bd2 f5 16. Qc2
Nf6 17. Ra3 Qb7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rfa1 Rxa3 20. bxa3 Nd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd5 22. a4
bxa4 23. Rxa4 Rb8 $11 {Caruana,F (2670)-Svidler,P (2739)/Amsterdam/2009/}) {
More logical and usual is} 7... Bg7 {, which Malakhov had to face himself:} (
7... Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 (9. gxf3 Nbd7 10. f4 e6 $13 {/<=>}) 9... Bg7 10. g4
(10. Qe2 $5 {/\} O-O 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. f4 $1 $14 {(),Galicek,S-Jirka,J (1885)/
Plzen op/1995/}) 10... e5 11. Qg3 Nfd7 12. Ne2 Qe7 13. O-O h5 14. f3 Nf8 15. a4
b4 16. Bd2 a5 $13 17. e4 $6 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Ne6 19. Rae1 h4 20. Qf2 O-O 21. f4
exd4 22. f5 Nxc5 23. Bb1 d3 24. Nc1 Qd6 $17 {Svidler,P (2754)-Malakhov,V (2706)
//WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 8. Qc2 (8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Bg4 $132) 8... O-O 9.
O-O a5 $5 10. Re1 (10. a3 Nbd7 11. e4 $6 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Nf6 14.
Qh4 Bg4 $1 15. Ne5 Qxd4 16. Re1 b4 17. Na4 bxa3 18. Rxa3 Qb4 19. f3 Be6 $17 {
Malakhov,V (2709)-Ni Hua (2724)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2009/ and Black is simply a
healthy P up.}) 10... Bg4 (10... Nbd7 $5 {/\Qc7,e5<=>}) 11. Ne5 Be6 12. h3 h6 (
12... Nfd7 $142) 13. Bd2 Qc8 14. e4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 $5 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Qxf5 17. Qc1
Kh7 18. a4 b4 19. Ne2 Nd5 20. Nf4 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 $36 {Kozul,Z (2604)-Sebenik,M 
(2490)/SLO-chT Rogaska Slatina/2009/}) 6... Bg4 7. h3 {An ambitious try -
White is willing to invest time to win the ^^.} ({A similar try, which also
gave Black sharp <=>, was} 7. Bd2 Nbd7 $5 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 b4 10. Na4 e5 $1
11. Rc1 Bd6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Qd1 O-O 15. Be2 a5 16. Rc2 Qe7 17.
Bc1 Rad8 18. Bb2 Ng6 19. O-O Ne4 20. Bd4 Nh4 21. Bd3 Nf5 $132 {Carlsen,M (2776)
-Wang Yue (2739)/Linares/2009/}) (7. Be2 {is by far the most usual reaction,
but this is rather tame and Black should solve his opening problems with
simple development:} e6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Bb2 Bd6 11. Ne5 Bxe2 12. Nxe2
Qc7 (12... bxc4 $5 13. bxc4 O-O 14. Qc2 Qc7 15. Nd3 Ne4 {is also close to full
equality.}) 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Rc1 Qb8 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 $5 (15... Nxd7 16. e4 dxe4
17. d5 O-O 18. dxe6 Nc5 19. Nf4 Ra7 20. Bd4 (20. Nh5 Nxe6 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22.
Qg4+ Ng5 23. Bxf6 h6 24. Rc6 Bh2+ 25. Kh1 Be5 26. h4 Bxf6 27. Rxf6 Qc8 {
Morovic Fernandez,I (2573)-Leitao,R (2573)/Santos/2004/} 28. Rf5 f6 29. hxg5
hxg5 30. Qxe4 Rh7+ $11) 20... Bxf4 21. Bxc5 Bxc1 22. Bxf8 Qxf8 23. Qxc1 {
does give White a minute edge, although Black should be able to hold after} Re7
$11 {/+/=}) 16. f3 Qb7 $132 {is perhaps a safer option.}) 7... Bxf3 ({If
Kramnik's idea proves dangerous, Black should start looking for alternatives
earlier on, perhaps even here. While} 7... Bh5 8. g4 Bg6 9. Ne5 {seems rather
passive, it leads to typical Slav positions. If White wants something
substantial from the opening, he should go for the complications after} e6 10.
h4 (10. Bd2 Nfd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Qc2 Nb6 13. c5 N6d7 14. O-O-O Be7 15. Bg2 a5
16. Ne2 Na6 17. a3 b4 18. a4 Bh4 19. Rhf1 Nc7 20. Kb1 Qe7 21. e4 dxe4 22. Bxe4
Nd5 $132 {Malakhatko,V (2590)-Wirig,A (2487)/Differdange/2007/}) 10... Ne4 11.
Nxe4 Bxe4 12. f3 f6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. fxe4 dxe4 15. Bd2 $14 {/~~}) 8. Qxf3 (8.
gxf3 {compromises White's P-structure and lessens his chances to get a
positional pull:} Nbd7 9. f4 e6 10. c5 Ne4 $5 11. Nxe4 (11. Bd2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3
a5 13. Bd3 f5 14. h4 Nf6 15. h5 Ne4 16. Bb2 Be7 17. Qc2 a4 18. b4 Kf7 19. O-O-O
Nf6 20. Rh3 Qd7 21. Rdh1 Rag8 22. f3 Bd8 $11 {Ivanchuk,V (2786)-Gelfand,B 
(2719)/Dresden olm/2008/}) 11... dxe4 12. Bg2 f5 13. f3 exf3 (13... Nf6) 14.
Bxf3 Rc8 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. Bd2 Qd7 17. Rg1 Kf7 18. O-O-O g6 19. Kc2 Be7 {1/2,
Gustafsson,J (2634)-Ni Hua (2710)/Reggio Emilia/2008/ Black's light-squared
setup is very solid and White can't make any inroads without excessive risk.})
8... e5 {This sharp blow is the main reason why White used to avoid 7.h3.
However, even here Black can deviate from the main line and he even has 2
plausible alternatives:} (8... bxc4 9. bxc4 e5 10. c5 $5 (10. dxe5 Bb4 11. Bd2
Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Ne4 13. Bb4 Qb6 14. a3 a5 15. cxd5 ({For} 15. e6 {see the 13.e6
line below.}) 15... cxd5 16. Bd2 Qb2 17. Rd1 Nc6 {Dlugy,M (2550)-Bologan,V 
(2520)/New York/1993/} 18. Bd3 Nxe5 19. Qe2 O-O 20. O-O Qxa3 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22.
Qb5 {/\Ra1=}) (10. Rb1 Qa5 11. Qf5 Nbd7 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. Qc2 O-O 14. Bd3 exd4
15. exd4 Rfe8+ 16. Ne2 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 18. Kxd2 c5 $132 {1/2,Gleizerov,E 
(2525)-Berezjuk,S (2380)/Katowice/1992/}) 10... Nbd7 11. Be2 {Cuts off the Q
on the >>.} (11. Qd1 $142 $5 {[%cal Yd1a4] /\Qa4 gives White chances for an
advantage.}) 11... g6 12. O-O Bg7 13. Rb1 O-O 14. Bd1 Ne8 15. Ne2 Nc7 16. Ba4
Nb5 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Rfd1 Rb8 19. Bb3 Qe7 20. Rd2 Rb7 $11 {/=/+,Pinter,J (2580)
-Komliakov,V (2415)/Manila olm/1992/}) ({The more restrained choice is} 8... e6
9. Bd2 Bb4 10. Bd3 (10. Qd1 O-O 11. Be2 bxc4 12. bxc4 c5 $1 $11) (10. Rc1 $5 {
/\} Qa5 11. Rc2 {gives better chances to retain the tension.}) 10... Qa5 11.
Rc1 (11. Nb1 Nbd7 $132) 11... Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Qxa2 13. Qd1 dxc4 14. bxc4 bxc4 15.
Ra1 Qb3 16. Qxb3 cxb3 17. Ke2 Nbd7 18. Rhb1 c5 19. Rxa6 Rxa6 20. Bxa6 O-O 21.
Rxb3 Rb8 22. Rxb8+ Nxb8 23. Bd3 cxd4 24. Bxd4 Nc6 25. Bb2 h6 26. g4 Nd5 $11 {
/+/=,L'Ami,E (2610)-Laznicka,V (2601)/Liverpool/2008/ While formally White has
a pleasant _|_, with P only on the >> a draw is the most likely outcome.}) 9.
dxe5 {[%mdl 64] The principled reaction, which leads to great tactical
complications.} (9. c5 Nbd7 $13 {promises White less, than in the above line
with the open <-> b.}) 9... Bb4 10. Bd2 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bb4 bxc4 (12...
c5 $2 13. Rd1 (13. O-O-O $5 Ng5 14. Rxd5 Nxf3 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Ba5+ $36)
13... Ng5 (13... cxb4 14. Rxd5 Qh4 15. g3 $18) 14. Qf4 (14. Qxd5 Qxd5 15. cxd5
cxb4 16. Rd4 $16) 14... Ne6 15. Qg3 cxb4 16. cxd5 Nc5 17. Qxg7 Rf8 18. e6 Ne4 {
1-0 Nadanian,A (2445)-Wang Rui (2420)/Seoul 2008/EXT 2010 (56)} 19. Qe5 Nd6 (
19... Nc3 20. d6 $18) 20. Be2 $18 {->}) 13. Qg4 $5 {After a series of forced
moves White has a wider choice, but other continuations promise him little:} (
13. e6 fxe6 (13... Ra7 14. bxc4 Qb6 {It seems that White at best barely has
equality after} 15. Rb1 $5 (15. a3 a5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Rc1 Nc6 18. Bd3 (18.
Qf5 axb4 19. exf7+ Rxf7 20. Qe6+ Re7 21. Qxd5 Nxf2 22. Be2 Re5 23. Qd6 Nxh1 24.
Rxc6 Qxe3 25. Rc8+ Kf7 26. Rc7+ Re7 $19 {Even the rest of the game is
entertaining!} 27. Qd5+ Kf6 28. Rc6+ Re6 29. Rxe6+ Qxe6 30. Qf3+ Kg6 31. Qh5+
Kf6 32. Qf3+ Qf5 33. Qc6+ Kg5 34. Qc1+ Kh4 35. Qc4+ Kg3 36. Qc7+ Qf4 37. Qxg7+
Kh2 38. Qxh8 Qc1+ 39. Bd1 Qe3+ 40. Be2 Ng3 {0-1,Mukhaev,A-Krivoshey,S/Moscow/
1994/}) (18. exf7+ Rxf7 19. Qg4 Nd8 20. Bc3 O-O 21. Bd4 Qd6 22. f4 Qxa3 23. Rb1
Nc6 24. Qd1 Qe7 {0-1,Ovsejevitsch,S-Komliakov,V (2435)/Nikolaev zt/1993/})
18... axb4 19. Bxe4 fxe6 20. Qh5+ Ke7 21. Qg5+ Kf8 22. O-O $2 (22. Qf4+ $11)
22... dxe4 23. Rfd1 Ne7 24. axb4 (24. Rc8+ Nxc8 25. Rd8+ Qxd8 $1 26. Qxd8+ Kf7
27. Qxh8 bxa3 $19) 24... Qb8 25. b5 {Krivoshey,S (2410)-Juergens,P (2275)/
Passau/1996/} h6 $5 26. Qg4 Kf7 $17) 15... a5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Bd3 axb4 18.
Bxe4 dxe4 19. exf7+ Rxf7 20. Qxe4+ Re7 21. Qxb4 $11 {Neiman,E (2292)-Sanchez,L
(2239)/Clichy/2002/}) 14. Qh5+ (14. bxc4 $5 $146 Nd7 (14... c5 15. cxd5 Ng5 16.
Qg4 cxb4 17. h4 $13) (14... Qb6 15. Rb1 $1 (15. a3 a5 16. Qh5+ Kd8 17. Bc3 Nxc3
18. Qg5+ Kc8 19. Qxg7 Qb2 20. Qxh8+ Kc7 $36) 15... c5 (15... a5 $2 16. Qh5+ $18
) 16. cxd5 Nf6 17. dxe6 Nc6 18. Bc4 (18. g4 $5) 18... cxb4 19. O-O $44) 15.
cxd5 cxd5 16. Bd3 Rb8 17. Bxe4 Rxb4 18. Qh5+ {So,W (2640)-Malakhov,V (2706)/
WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/} Ke7 19. Bd3 g6 20. Qe2 Nc5 21. O-O Qd6 $11) 14...
g6 15. Qe5 Kf7 16. Qf4+ (16. Bxc4 $2 Nd7 17. Qf4+ Kg7 18. Bd3 Qb6 19. Bd6 Rhf8
$1 $19 {Krivoshey,S (2553)-Jakovenko,D (2662)/playchess.com INT/2006/}) 16...
Kg7 17. Qe5+ Kf7 $11 (17... Qf6 18. Qxf6+ Kxf6 19. bxc4 Nd7 $11)) (13. Bxc4 {
Simpler is} Qb6 (13... Ng5 14. Qe2 dxc4 15. Rd1 Nd7 (15... Qb6 $5 16. Qxc4 Qb5
$13 {Rogozenco}) 16. Qxc4 c5 17. Bc3 Ne6 18. O-O O-O 19. f4 g6 20. Rd6 Qe7 21.
Rfd1 $44 {/+/=,Markos,J (2526)-Timoscenko,G (2494)/SVK-ch Banska Stiavnica/
2006/ See Rogozenco's notes in CBM 113.}) 14. a3 a5 15. Bd6 Nxd6 16. exd6 O-O (
{Again the safe choice, risky is} 16... dxc4 17. Qe4+ Kd8 18. Qxc4 $44 {|^})
17. Be2 Qc5 18. O-O (18. e4 Nd7 19. Rd1 Ne5 20. Qf5 Qxd6 21. exd5 cxd5 22. O-O
g6 $11) 18... Qxd6 19. e4 (19. Rfc1 Nd7 20. Qf5 Rfb8 $132) 19... Nd7 20. exd5
cxd5 21. b4 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qxb4 $11 {Wang Yue (2736)-Ni Hua (2692)
/JinZhou/2009/}) ({Tame moves like} 13. Qd1 $2 c5 $17 {are insufficient.}) (13.
bxc4 Qb6 {transposes to 8...bxc4 above.}) 13... c5 (13... g6 $6 14. Bxc4 (14.
bxc4 $5 Nd7 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. e6 $14) 14... h5 15. Qf4 Qb6 16. Bd6 $2 (16. a3
$142 $1 a5 17. Bd6 Nd7 18. Be2 Qxb3 19. Rc1 $36) 16... Nxd6 17. exd6 Qa5+ 18.
Ke2 dxc4 19. Qe4+ Kf8 20. Qe7+ (20. Qxc4 $15) 20... Kg7 21. Qb7 cxb3 (21... Qb5
$1 22. Qxa8 cxb3+ 23. Kf3 b2 24. Rab1 Qb6 25. a4 a5 $19 {/\Nd7}) 22. a4 Qc3 23.
Rac1 Qb2+ 24. Kf3 Qf6+ (24... a5 $1 25. Qxa8 Nd7 $19 {-> Rogozenco}) 25. Ke2
Qb2+ $11 {Timoscenko,G (2515)-Grigorieva,A/Guichen op/1992/}) 14. f3 $1 (14.
Qxg7 Rf8 15. bxc4 (15. Rd1 Qb6 16. Bd2 c3 17. Bc1 c2 18. Rd3 c4 19. Rxd5 Qb4+
20. Ke2 Nc3+ 21. Kf3 Nxd5 22. Bxc4 {Hillarp Persson,T (2507)-Ibragimov,I (2554)
/Skelleftea/1999/} Nc3 $5 $19) 15... Qb6 16. Bc3 Nxc3 17. Bd3 dxc4 18. Bxh7 {
Rousselot,B (2375)-Sedlacek,O (2515)/corr/1994/} Nc6 $15) (14. Bxc4 cxb4 15.
Rd1 Nc3 16. Qxg7 Rf8 17. Bxd5 (17. O-O $2 Qa5 18. Bd3 Nxd1 19. Rxd1 Nc6 20. e6
Qc5 21. exf7+ Rxf7 22. Qh6 O-O-O $19 {Szilagyi,P (2409)-Berebora,F (2404)/
HUN-chT2/2002/}) 17... Nxd1 18. Bxa8 Qd3 19. Qg4 Nc3 20. Qc8+ Qd8 21. Qg4 {
and it's up to Black whether to repeat moves, or to strive for more with} h5 $5
22. Qxh5 Qd3 $36) 14... cxb4 ({It would be interesting to know Kramnik's
intentions after} 14... Nc6 $5 15. fxe4 (15. Qxg7 Qh4+ 16. Kd1 Nxb4 17. fxe4
O-O-O $1 $15) 15... Nxb4 16. Qxg7 Rf8 {I suspect White's idea was the complex
sacrificial} 17. exd5 $1 (17. Kf2 Qh4+ 18. g3 Qxe4 19. Bg2 Qf5+ $1 (19... Nd3+
20. Kg1 Qxe3+ 21. Kh2 O-O-O 22. Qg4+ $6 (22. Qf6 $142 Rg8 23. Qc6+ $11) 22...
Kc7 23. Rhf1 Nxe5 24. Qh4 Rg8 25. bxc4 dxc4 26. Rf5 Rd3 27. g4 Re8 28. Rb1 {
Grivas,E (2495)-Andrianov,N (2460)/Athens/1993/} Rd2 $1 $19) 20. Kg1 cxb3 21.
axb3 Qg6 $5 22. Qxg6 fxg6 $15) 17... Nc2+ 18. Kf2 Nxa1 (18... Qxd5 19. Be2 Nxa1
(19... Qe4 20. Qh6 $36) 20. Rxa1 cxb3 21. axb3 $14) 19. Bxc4 Nc2 20. Qh6 $5 Rg8
(20... Qd7 21. Rf1 (21. Qf4 Nb4 22. d6 $44) 21... Na3 22. Kg1 Nxc4 23. bxc4 $44
) 21. d6 Ra7 (21... Qg5 $2 22. d7+ $1 Kxd7 23. Qd6+ Kc8 24. Qxc5+ Kb8 25. Qd6+
Kc8 26. Qc6+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Kc8 28. Bd5 $1 $18) 22. Rc1 (22. e6 Qg5 23. exf7+
Rxf7+ 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qxh7+ Rg7 26. Qe4 Qg3+ $15) 22... Nb4 (22... Qa8 23.
g4 Qe4 24. Qf4 $1 Qxf4+ 25. exf4 $36 {[%csl Gd6,Ge5,Gf4] [+]}) 23. a3 Nc6 24.
e6 Qg5 25. exf7+ Rxf7+ 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qxh7+ Ke6 (27... Rg7 28. Qe4 $16) 28.
Qe4+ Kxd6 29. b4 Qg3+ 30. Kg1 c4 $1 $132 {/\} 31. Rxc4 Qe1+ 32. Kh2 Qg3+ $11)
15. fxe4 O-O {Tucking away the K is the most circumspect option.} (15... c3 16.
Qxg7 (16. exd5 $5 Qxd5 (16... O-O 17. Qxb4 Qxd5 18. Qxc3 $16) 17. Rd1 Qc5 18.
Qxg7 Rf8 19. Kf2 Nc6 20. Bc4 Qxe5 21. Qg4 $40 {עe8}) 16... Rf8 17. Qg3 dxe4
18. Rd1 Qc7 19. Bc4 Nd7 20. O-O Qxe5 21. Qg4 (21. Qh4 $1 $36) 21... O-O-O 22.
Rd5 Qe7 23. Bxa6+ Kc7 24. Qf4+ Kb6 25. Bc4 Nc5 26. Re5 Qc7 27. Qh6+ Ka7 28. Qh5
f5 $1 $17 {[%csl Gc3] o^c3,Gorbatenko,K (2129)-Egorova,V (2207)/Novokuznetsk/
2007/}) (15... cxb3 16. Qxg7 Rf8 17. axb3 (17. exd5 Qh4+ 18. Kd2 Qe4 19. axb3
Qxd5+ 20. Kc2 $14) 17... Qh4+ 18. Kd1 $5 (18. Kd2 d4 $5 19. Rc1 $1 (19. Bb5+
axb5 20. Rxa8 Qf2+ 21. Kd1 dxe3 22. Rxb8+ Kd7 23. Qg4+ Kc7 24. Qe2 Rxb8 25.
Qxf2 exf2 26. Rf1 Kd7 27. Rxf2 Ke7 28. Rd2 Ke6 $132) 19... Nd7 (19... Qf2+ 20.
Kd1 Nd7 21. e6 fxe6 22. Rc7 Rf7 23. Qg8+ Nf8 24. Rxf7 Qxf7 25. Qxf7+ Kxf7 26.
exd4 Rd8 27. Bxa6 Rxd4+ 28. Ke2 Rxe4+ 29. Kf3 $14) 20. Kd3 $5 $13 (20. exd4
Qf4+ 21. Kd1 Qe3 $132)) 18... Qxe4 19. Bb5+ Nd7 20. Rf1 $36) 16. exd5 cxb3 $146
{[%mdl 8]} (16... Qxd5 17. Bxc4 Qxe5 18. O-O Ra7 $142 $5 {Kalyndu,A (2111)
-Polonskiy,Y/Irkutsk/2009/} (18... Qxe3+ 19. Kh1 Ra7 (19... Nc6 20. Rae1 Qd4
21. Rxf7 Qxg4 22. Rf4+ Kh8 23. Rxg4 $16 {_|_}) 20. Rae1 Qc5 (20... Qc3 $2 21.
Qf4 $18 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Re1e8] ><f7,/\Re8}) 21. Rf5 Qd6 22. Rd1 Qb6 (22... Qg6
23. Qf4 Rd7 24. Re1 $16 {/\} Rc8 25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Re7 Qf6 27. Rxf7 Qxf4 28.
Rxf4+ Kh8 29. Be6) 23. Rdf1 $44 {|^}) 19. Qf4 (19. Qd4 $5) 19... Nc6 20. Rac1
$14) 17. Qd4 (17. Qe4 $5 bxa2 18. Bd3 g6 19. O-O Nd7 20. Bc4 $13) 17... Nd7 {
Ni Hua offers a P to attack White's [+].} ({An interesting alternative is} 
17... bxa2 18. Bc4 Nd7 19. e6 Ne5 20. Bxa2 (20. Qxe5 $2 Qh4+ $17) 20... Qd6 21.
O-O Rac8 $13 {The o^ of both sides are blockaded for the time being and the
position is difficult to evaluate after e.g.} 22. Rf4 a5 23. Raf1 f6) 18. axb3
Qg5 19. Qf4 Qxe5 $2 {[%mdl 4096] After the Q-swap only White will have winning
chances.} (19... Qg6 $142 $1 20. Rd1 (20. Qg4 Qh6 $1 21. Qxd7 Qxe3+ 22. Be2
Qc3+ 23. Kf2 Qd4+ 24. Kf3 Qc3+ $11 25. Ke4 Qc2+ 26. Bd3 $2 Qxg2+ 27. Ke3 Qg3+
28. Ke4 f5+ $40) 20... Rae8 21. Bd3 Qb6 (21... Qxg2 $4 22. Rh2 $18) 22. Bf5
Nxe5 23. Qd4 (23. d6 g6 $1 (23... Ng6 24. Qd4 Rxe3+ 25. Kf2 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 Re5
27. g4 $36) 24. Bb1 (24. d7 Nxd7 25. Bxd7 Rxe3+ 26. Kf1 Rxb3 $17) 24... Re6 25.
O-O Rd8 $15 {disarms the o^.}) 23... Qd6 $11) 20. Qxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxa6 Rfc8 (
21... Ra7 22. Ra4 Rd8 23. e4 Nd7 24. Bb5 $5 (24. Bd3 Rxa4 25. bxa4 Nc5 26. Kd2
Nxa4 27. Rb1 Rb8 $14 {is less convincing}) 24... Rxa4 25. bxa4 Nc5 26. Kd2
Nxe4+ 27. Kc2 Rxd5 28. Re1 Re5 (28... Rd4 29. a5 f5 30. Re2 $1 $16) 29. Re2 f5
30. Kb3 $16 {[%csl Ga4] o^a4}) (21... Rfd8 22. Ke2 $8 (22. e4 $4 Rd6) 22...
Rxd5 23. Bb7 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Rd8 25. Ra4 Nd3 26. Bd5 $1 g6 27. Bc4 Ne5 28. Rxb4
$16) 22. Kd2 Rc3 (22... Rc5 23. Bb7 $1 (23. e4 $143 Rc3 {/\Rg3<=>}) 23... Rd8 (
23... Ra3 24. Rxa3 bxa3 25. Ra1 Ra5 26. Bc6 Ra6 27. Ba4 (27. b4 $16 {/\} Nxc6
$2 28. b5) 27... Rg6 28. Rxa3 Rxg2+ 29. Kc3 $18) 24. Rhc1 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Kf8 26.
e4 $16 {[%csl Rb4] /+-,><b4}) 23. Rhb1 ({Simpler was} 23. Bc4 $1 Rc8 24. Rhc1
$16) 23... f5 ({More resilient was} 23... Rd8 $142 $1 24. Ra5 Kf8 $5 (24... Nd7
25. Bc4 Nf6 26. Rba1 $16 {/\Ra8}) 25. Be2 Nd7 26. Rb5 Nf6 27. Bf3 (27. Rxb4
Rxe3) 27... Re8 $14) 24. Ra4 Rc5 $8 {It seems that Black has managed to
generate <=>, but once again White makes full use of his tactical resources to
simplify into a technically won _|_.} (24... Rb8 $2 25. Rxb4 $18) 25. e4 $1 (
25. Bb7 $6 Rb8 $13 {/\} 26. Rxb4 $2 Rc7 $15) (25. Rd1 $5 Kf8 (25... Rxd5+ 26.
Ke2 {/\} Rxd1 27. Bc4+ $18) 26. e4 $16 (26. Ke2 $5 {is also promising, but the
text-move is a much cleaner solution.})) 25... fxe4 26. Ke3 $1 {[%cal Re3d4] /
\Kd4} Rc2 ({The main point is} 26... Rxd5 27. Bb7 Rd3+ 28. Kxe4 Re8 29. Ra8 $5
(29. Bd5+ Kh8 30. Bf7 $1 $18) 29... Rxa8 30. Bxa8 Rd8 31. Bd5+ Nf7 32. Rf1 Rd7
33. Kd4 $18 {and White wraps up into a simply won P_|_.}) (26... Rc3+ 27. Kxe4
Re8 28. Kd4 Rc2 29. Bc4 (29. Rd1 Rxg2 30. d6 $16 {/+-}) 29... Rxg2 30. Rxb4 $16
{/+- and White's P, supported by the rest of his forces, should decide the
game.}) 27. Bd3 $1 {The decisive simplifying blow.} (27. Kd4 $5 Nd7 28. Bd3 {
is similar}) 27... Rxa4 28. Bxc2 Ra2 29. Bxe4 $18 {[%csl Rb4,Gd5,Ge4,Re5]
White has an extra o^ and active B, moreover ><b4 is vulnerable. The rest is a
matter of technique, although Kramnik admitted he relaxed and didn't play with
maximum efficiency, Black's position remains beyond saving to the very end.}
Kf7 (29... Nf7 30. Kd4 Nd6 (30... Ng5 31. Re1 $1 $18 {[%csl Gd5] ?d5}) 31. Bf3
Rc2 32. Ra1 {/\Ra4+-}) 30. Rc1 (30. Kd4 Nd7 31. Re1 $1 $18 {/\Kc4} (31. Kc4 Re2
$16)) 30... Kf6 (30... Rb2 31. Kd4 Nd7 32. Rc2 $5 Rxb3 33. Rc7 Ke8 $8 34. Bf5
Nf6 35. d6 $18) 31. Rc2 Ra1 (31... Rxc2 32. Bxc2 $18 {/\Kd4-c5}) 32. Kd4 Rd1+
33. Kc5 h5 34. Rf2+ (34. Ra2 $142 $18) (34. Re2 $5) 34... Ke7 35. Re2 Nd7+ 36.
Kc6 (36. Kb5 $1 Kd6 37. Bf3 Rd4 (37... Ne5 $2 38. Rxe5) 38. Re6+ Kc7 39. d6+ $1
Rxd6 40. Rxd6 Kxd6 41. Bxh5 $18) 36... Rc1+ (36... Ne5+ $5 37. Kb5 Ra1 (37...
Kd6 38. Ra2 $1) 38. Kxb4 Kd6 {was somewhat more tenacious.}) 37. Bc2+ $1 {
Now there will be no blockade on d6.} Kd8 38. Kd6 Nf6 39. Ke6 h4 40. d6 Rf1 41.
Re5 $6 ({More incisive was} 41. Bf5 $1 $18 {/\Ra2}) 41... Rf2 $6 (41... Ne8 $1
42. Re4 Rf6+ 43. Ke5 Nxd6 44. Rxh4 Ke7 $5 $16 {would have prolonged the
struggle.}) 42. Bf5 g6 (42... Rxg2 43. Ra5 Kc8 (43... Re2+ 44. Kf7) 44. Be4 $5
Nxe4 45. d7+ Kc7 46. Ra7+ Kb6 47. d8=Q+ Kxa7 48. Qa5+ Kb7 49. Qxb4+ $18) 43.
Bxg6 Nd7 {[%cal Rd7f8] /\Nf8} 44. Rg5 $1 Rf6+ 45. Kd5 Nb6+ 46. Kc6 (46. Kc5
Nd7+ 47. Kxb4 $18) 46... Nc8 47. Kc5 Nxd6 (47... Rxd6 48. Bf5 $18) 48. Bd3 {
White will soon win Black's P.} (48. Rg4 $18) (48. Bd3 Nf7 49. Rh5 $18 {/\} Rf4
50. Bg6 $1 {dominating the N.}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 {[The Bishop's Opening was known to the 16th pioneers of chess
(as we know it). It is not fashionable at the higher levels of the game.
Though there is nothing specifically wrong with it (and it often transposes
into better known openings), it lacks the sort of bite that the super-GMs look
for when playing White.]} Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 (3... c6 {is another move often seen
here, planning to drive back the c4 bishop with d7-d5. One snag with the
Bishop's Opening is that it doesn't oblige Black to play Nc6 to defend his
e-pawn; consequently, Black has a little extra flexibility of choice.}) 4. Nf3
O-O 5. Nc3 ({Snatching a pawn with} 5. Nxe5 $2 {is unthinkable at this level.
The game might proceed} d5 6. exd5 Re8 7. d4 Bxd4 $1 {(looks clever but most
experienced players at club level would know this trick)} 8. Qxd4 Nc6 {and
White is struggling. Elite players would dismiss such a continuation within
nanoseconds, but Vlad Kramnik was kind enough to take the trouble to show us
this variation in the commentary room. He is a relaxed and entertaining
commentator, striking exactly the right note with his audience.}) 5... d6 6.
Na4 {[If you've got one of those old Fred Reinfeld chess books for
near-beginners, he would probably tell you that all White's problems stem from
this - making two moves with the same piece in the opening. Well... on this
occasion, I would be inclined to agree. This looks insipid to me.]} Bb6 7. c3
Be6 8. Bb3 ({If} 8. Bxe6 fxe6 {, the doubled pawns aren't much of a problem
for Black. He can usually even them out later on by playing d7-d6 and he gets
an open file for his f8 rook into the bargain.}) 8... Bxb3 9. axb3 {[Again,
the argument in favour of doubling the pawns is to give the rook some scope.]}
Nbd7 10. b4 {#[White's opening has not been a success but now Black plays
rather a surprising move.]} Bxf2+ $5 {[This looks like a tactical blow but in
fact Black was probably thinking more of its positional consequences.]} 11.
Kxf2 b5 {[That is the tactical point: the white knight cannot escape the pawn
attack, so material equilibrium will be restored immediately.]} 12. Bd2 bxa4
13. Qxa4 {[The previous sequence may look a little unsophisticated at first
sight but I'm quite sure both players would have been already focusing on this
position (and perhaps beyond) for a number of moves previously. McShane must
have considered it reasonably defensible, but Kramnik now begins to exert his
authority on the position.]} c5 $1 14. b5 ({Although it would offer him the
chance to undouble his pawns, White cannot contemplate} 14. bxc5 $2 Nxc5 15.
Qc2 Qb6 {when Black has several nasty threats.}) 14... d5 $1 {[Black has one
eye on White's exposed king on f2 and he is trying to open up a central file
in order to menace it.]} 15. exd5 ({With hindsight,} 15. Rhe1 {seems better.
At least it doesn't leave the h1 rook out of play as in the game. Black has
several ways to proceed, e.g.} c4 $5 16. exd5 Nb6 17. Qc2 Re8 {though I'm not
entirely convinced.}) 15... Nb6 16. Qc2 c4 17. Nxe5 $2 ({After this, White is
history:} 17. Rhe1 Re8 {would transpose to the line given above and at least
leave White with his full complement of pieces to play with.}) 17... Qxd5 18.
d4 Ne4+ 19. Kg1 ({White has to go backwards and incarcerate his own h1 rook. If
} 19. Ke3 $2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Rae8 {he will lose material.}) 19... Rfe8 20. Nf3 ({
There is no time for} 20. Re1 {because of} Rxe5 $1 21. dxe5 Nxd2 {with a
substantial material and positional advantage.}) 20... Qxb5 21. h4 {#[White
has few useful moves and he plays this in a desperate attempt to get his h1
rook into play. Spectating grandmaster were no longer bothering to follow this
game, dismissing it as a routine win for Black.]} Qb3 $1 22. Qb1 (22. Qxb3 cxb3
{and Black will play Nc4, tightening the grip on White's position.}) (22. Qc1 {
is even worse:} Ng3 {would threaten the h1 rook and a king/queen fork with
Ne2+.}) 22... Nd5 23. Rh3 h6 {[Removing another square from the scope of
White's already desperately restricted bishop.]} 24. Qc1 Qb6 25. Ra4 Rab8 26.
Ra2 ({After} 26. Rxc4 Qxb2 27. Qxb2 Rxb2 28. Be1 Rb1 {it is becoming clear
that the bishop is doomed. Consequently, White is tied to the defence of the
b2 pawn.}) 26... Qb3 27. Qa1 Rb6 28. Kh2 {[The knot is getting tighter. White
is running out of moves to play.]} Ndf6 29. Be1 ({White was now very short of
time. If} 29. Kg1 Ng4 30. Bf4 Ngf2 31. Rh2 Nd3 {it is close to the end.}) 29...
Ng4+ 30. Kg1 Nef6 31. d5 Nxd5 32. Rg3 Ndf6 33. Bd2 Rd6 34. Ra3 Qb6+ 35. Kh1
Nf2+ 36. Kh2 N6g4+ (36... N6g4+ {Let's look at one finish:} 37. Rxg4 Nxg4+ 38.
Kg3 Qf2+ 39. Kxg4 Qxg2+ 40. Kf4 Rf6#) 0-1

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 {This opening can't quite make up its
mind whether it is the Ragozin variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined or a
line of the Nimzo-Indian. But, as William Shakespeare said, what's in a name?}
5. Qb3 c5 (5... Ba5 {is an idea here.}) 6. cxd5 exd5 7. dxc5 Nc6 8. Bg5 $5 ({
You won't find that move on your database - it is fresh from 'Laboratoire
Kramnik'. Why did he inflict it on Short? Because he's worth it...} 8. e3 O-O
9. Be2 Be6 10. Nd4 Bxc5 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. O-O Qe7 {which was Karpov-Kramnik,
Monte Carlo 1997. Kramnik won that game.}) 8... Be6 9. O-O-O {Things are
already a bit tricky for Black. He decides to sacrifice a pawn.} Qa5 10. Bxf6
gxf6 11. Nxd5 O-O-O 12. e4 f5 13. Bc4 Bxc5 (13... Qxc5 {is a bold try but} 14.
Kb1 fxe4 15. Ng5 {looks very useful for White.}) 14. Ng5 fxe4 15. Nxe4 Bd4 16.
Ndc3 Rhe8 17. Bxe6+ Rxe6 18. f3 Ne5 ({Perhaps} 18... Kb8 {is called for,
though White is still better.}) 19. Nb5 {#Kramnik was heard to say in the
commentary room, and at a later video interview, that his position was very
strong after this.} Rb6 ({If Black backs off with} 19... Bb6 {then} 20. Rxd8+
Kxd8 21. Nbd6 {starts to get very unpleasant.}) 20. Qc2+ Rc6 21. Nec3 Bxc3 ({
The only other move worth contemplating is} 21... Be3+ 22. Kb1 Kb8 23. Rxd8+
Qxd8 24. Rd1 Qg8 {but really Black is a pawn down for no compensation after
this.}) 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. Nxc3 Kc7 24. Rd1 a6 25. Qxh7 {#} Kb8 ({It is
surprising that neither player gave much thought to} 25... Qxa2 {here, as it
is perfectly logical and apparently quite playable. When the players were
discussing this in the commentary room, they looked at} 26. Qh8 Rxc3+ $5 27.
bxc3 Qa1+ 28. Kd2 Qb2+ 29. Ke1 Qxc3+ 30. Kf1 Qc4+ 31. Kg1 Qc5+ 32. Kh1 {
#, etc, etc, and Kramnik concluded he was winning, so they moved onto another
position. But it was suddenly apparent to the spectators that IM Lawrence
Trent was desperately straining to say something. On and on went Kramnik,
barely pausing for breath and oblivious to Lawrence's attempts to catch his
eye. Eventually the Kramnik stream of consciousness abated for a second and
Lawrence seized his chance: "Can we go back to the earlier position?" (the one
in the diagram). Then Lawrence dropped his bombshell: "Black plays} Nd3 $3 {
"... the super-GMs were temporarily bemused by the sheer effrontery of the
young English commentator... Kramnik tried to rescue his line... "I play} 33.
Rf1 {", but Lawrence was ready for him: "... then} Nf2+ $3 {"... another
super-grandmaster pause. Kramnik, finally recognising a choice between being
mated on the back rank or being caught by Philidor's legacy, smiled in that
closed-eye way of his and said: "Well... I wouldn't have played 26 Qh8!", to a
gale of mirth from an audience which was thoroughly enjoying young Trent's
moment of triumph over his elders and betters. Back to the game...}) 26. Kb1
Nc4 27. Qh8+ Rc8 28. Qd4 Qb4 29. b3 a5 30. Ka1 Na3 31. Qxb4 axb4 32. Nd5 Rc2 {
It is hard to resign when you can place a rook on the seventh and perhaps
threaten something. But in fact Kramnik had calculated it all through to the
finish.} 33. Nxb4 Rxg2 34. Rh1 {The rook sits behind the pawn and pushes.
Simple chess.} Ka7 35. h4 Kb6 36. h5 Ka5 37. h6 Kxb4 38. h7 Nc2+ 39. Kb1 Na3+
40. Kc1 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Smeets, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2657"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 $1 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. Be2 (5. Qd2 {is more common: ist
gelдufiger:} b5 6. f3 Nbd7) 5... Bg7 6. Qd2 (6. h4 $5 {After 5.Be2 this
continuation seems more logical. Nach 5.Be2 sieht diese Fortsetzung logischer
aus.} b5 7. h5) 6... b5 7. Bh6 O-O 8. e5 (8. h4 b4 $1 9. Nd5 Nxe4 10. Qe3 Bxh6
11. Qxh6 e6 12. Ne3 Qf6) (8. Bxg7 $142 {It is already time for White to think
about equalising. Es wird fьr WeiЯ bereits Zeit, ans Ausgleichen zu denken.}
Kxg7 9. Bf3 $11 e5 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. O-O Bb7 12. d5) 8... dxe5 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10.
Bf3 (10. dxe5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Rd8+ 12. Ke3 Ng4+ 13. Bxg4 Bxg4 14. h3 Bf5 $15)
10... c6 (10... Ra7 11. dxe5 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rd8+ 13. Ke3 Nfd7 $15 14. Rd1 Rf8
15. Kf4 Nc5) 11. dxe5 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rd8+ 13. Ke3 Ng4+ (13... Nfd7 14. Rd1 Rf8
15. Kf4 $1 f6 16. exf6+ Nxf6 17. Kg3 Bf5 18. Re1 $13) 14. Bxg4 Bxg4 $15 15. h3
Bf5 {Black has to be fast, otherwise White will consolidate and equalise.
Schwarz muss schnell sein, ansonsten wird sich WeiЯ konsolidieren und
ausgleichen.} (15... Be6 16. f4 c5 17. Ne4 Bd5 18. Nf3 $11 Nc6 19. Rhd1 Nb4 20.
Ne1) 16. g4 {The most principled and probably the best move here. Der
prinzipiellste und vermutlich beste Zug hier.} (16. Nf3 Bxc2 (16... c5 17. Ne4)
17. Nd4 b4 18. Nxc2 bxc3 19. bxc3 Nd7 20. f4 Nb6 21. Nd4 c5 $15) (16. Rc1 Nd7
17. g4 Be6 18. Nf3 Nb6 $15) 16... Bxc2 $1 (16... Be6 17. Nge2 Nd7 18. f4 b4 19.
Ne4 $11) 17. Rc1 b4 $1 (17... Rd3+ 18. Ke2 Rxc3 19. bxc3 Be4 20. Nf3 Nd7 21.
Rhd1 Bd5 {Black definitely has enough for the exchange, but probably not more
really. Schwarz hat definitiv genug fьr die Qualitдt, aber wohl nicht wirklich
mehr.} 22. Ke3 Nb6 $13) 18. Rxc2 bxc3 19. Nf3 (19. Rxc3 Rd1 $1 $17 {and the
pin seems to be more than annoying. und die Fesselung ist offenbar mehr als
lдstig.}) 19... cxb2 20. Rb1 Rd5 21. e6 $6 {Too delicate, it was better just
to take the b2-pawn immediately with good drawing chances. Zu heikel, besser
war es, einfach sofort den b2-Bauern zu nehmen, mit guten Remischancen.} (21.
Rbxb2 $142 Nd7 (21... e6 22. Rd2 $11 Nd7 23. Rxd5 cxd5 24. Rb7 Rd8 25. Ra7 Nb8
26. Rb7) 22. e6 Ne5 23. exf7 Rd3+ 24. Ke4 Rxf3 25. Kxe5 Rxh3 26. Rxc6 Kxf7 27.
Rb7 Rf3 28. Re6 Re8 29. Rxa6 Rxf2 $15) 21... c5 (21... fxe6 $5 {actually also
was possible, but I wanted to activate my knight as soon as possible. war
tatsдchlich ebenfalls mцglich, aber ich wollte schnellstens meinen Springer
aktivieren.} 22. Rbxb2 c5 23. Rb6 Kf7) 22. exf7 Nc6 23. Rbxb2 Rad8 24. Ke4 Kxf7
(24... Nb4 $1 $17 {The most precise, since after Am genauesten, denn nach} 25.
Rc3 {Black has hat Schwarz} R8d6 $1 26. Ne5 Re6 27. f4 Rd4+ 28. Kf3 Nd5 29.
Rxc5 Rxf4+ 30. Kg3 Rxe5 31. Rxd5 Rxg4+ 32. hxg4 Rxd5 33. Rf2 Kf8) 25. Rc3 Nd4
26. Ne5+ ({Since my opponent already was in time trouble, I expected him to
simplify the position with Da mein Gegner bereits in Zeitnot war, erwartete
ich, dass er die Stellung vereinfachen wьrde mit} 26. Nxd4 Rxd4+ 27. Ke3 {
and the chances are fifty fifty for Black to win and for White to manage a
draw. , wonach die Gewinnchancen fьr Schwarz und die Remischancen fьr WeiЯ
fifty-fifty sind.} c4 28. Rbc2 Rd3+ 29. Ke2 R8d6 30. Rxc4 Rxh3 31. Ra4 h5 $17)
26... Ke8 {More human. Menschlich.} (26... Kf6 $5 {is the computer style move.
ist der Zug im Computerstil.} 27. Rb6+ R5d6 28. Rb2 Nc6) 27. Rb6 $2 (27. Rb7 $1
$15 Nb5 $140 28. Re3 $1 {A very difficult move to find in time trouble, and
now if Black forces the rook endgame, he can't win it. Ein in Zeitnot sehr
schwer zu findender Zug, und wenn Schwarz jetzt das Turmendspiel forciert,
kann er es nicht gewinnen.} Rxe5+ 29. Kxe5 Nd6 30. Rc7 Nc4+ 31. Kf4 Rd4+ 32.
Kg5 Nxe3 33. fxe3 Rc4 34. Kh6 Rc2 35. Kxh7 Kf7 36. h4) 27... Nb5 28. Rc2 (28.
Re3 $142 {was the only way to stay in the game, although the white position is
difficult. war der einzige Weg, in der Partie zu bleiben, obwohl die weiЯe
Stellung schwierig ist.} R5d6 29. Rxd6 Nxd6+ 30. Kf4 c4 31. Rc3 Rc8 $17 32. Ke3
Rc5 33. f4 g5) 28... R5d6 $1 29. Nc4 (29. Rxd6 exd6 30. Nc6 Rc8 31. Nb4 Kd7 32.
Nd5 Re8+ 33. Kd3 Rf8 34. f4 Nc7 35. Nxc7 Kxc7 36. Rf2 d5 $19) 29... Rd3 $19 30.
Ne3 Ra3 (30... R3d4+ $142 {was simpler, achieving a technically winning
endgame. war einfacher, was ein technisch gewonnenes Endspiel erreicht.} 31.
Kf3 R4d6 32. Rxd6 exd6) 31. Rb2 (31. Rxc5 $142 {probably would not save him,
but allows White to resist for a while. wьrde ihn wohl nicht retten, erlaubt
WeiЯ aber, eine Weile Widerstand zu leisten.} Rxa2 32. Nd5 Kf7) 31... c4 {
Now Black is completely winning.  Nun steht Schwarz komplett auf Gewinn.} 32.
Ke5 c3 33. Rc2 Rd2 {I was now trying to choose the most accurate way to win,
although probably there were shorter ones. I did not bother to search for one,
there is no point in such a position. Nun versuchte ich, den genausesten
Gewinnweg zu wдhlen, obwohl es wahrscheinlich kьrzere gab. Danach suchte ich
gar nicht erst, das hat in einer solchen Stellung keinen Sinn.} 34. Rc1 Rxf2
35. Nd5 c2 36. Nb4 Re3+ 37. Kd5 Rd2+ 38. Kc6 Rc3+ 39. Kb7 Nd6+ 40. Ka8 {
Despite his active king, White is not doing great, it seems. Trotz seines
aktiven Kцnig ist es um WeiЯ offenbar nicht gut bestellt.} a5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2641"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Ng4
9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 c5 11. O-O Nh6 12. a3 Na6 13. Ne1 Qe7 14. Nd3 g5 15. Bg3 f5
16. f3 f4 17. Bf2 Rf6 {A typical KI position has arisen, with Black attacking
on the kingside and White trying to break through on the queenside. White's
task looks more difficult; therefore it is extrenely instructive to see how
Vladimir Kramnik solves it.} (17... Bd7 {, played in another game featured by
the same position, doesn't allow the white queen to a4. The game continued} 18.
b4 b6 19. Rb1 Bf6 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Rb7 Rfb8 22. Rxb8+ Rxb8 23. Nb5 Rb7 24. h3
Nf7 25. Qc2 Qf8 26. Rb1 Qb8 27. Rb2 Bd8 28. Be1 Bb6 29. Qb1 Bd8 30. Bd1 h5 31.
Kf1 Nc7 32. Ba4 Nxb5 33. Bxb5 Bc8 34. Bc3 Kf8 35. Ke2 Qc7 36. Ba4 Rb6 37. Rxb6
Qxb6 38. Qb5 Qxb5 39. cxb5 Ke7 40. Bb3 g4 41. hxg4 hxg4 42. a4 gxf3+ 43. gxf3
Kd7 44. Bc4 Kc7 45. Nb2 Kb7 46. Bd3 Bd7 47. Nc4 Bc7 48. Be1 Bd8 49. Bc3 {
1/2 Markus,R (2586)-Damljanovic,B (2625)/Vrsac 2006/CBM 115}) 18. b4 {[%mdl 32]
} b6 19. bxc5 bxc5 20. Rb1 Nf7 21. Qa4 {[%cal Ra4c6]} Nd8 22. Rb2 h5 23. Rfb1
Rg6 (23... g4 $2 24. Bh4) 24. h3 {Most of Black's pieces are caught up on the
queenside so it is not easy for him to prepare ...g5-g4.} Bf6 (24... g4 25.
fxg4 hxg4 26. hxg4 Nc7 27. Rb8 Bxg4 28. Bxg4 Rxg4 29. Qd1 $16) 25. Kf1 Qd7 26.
Bd1 g4 {Still! But after the queen exchange Black has no attack.} 27. fxg4 hxg4
28. hxg4 Qxa4 29. Bxa4 $5 Bxg4 30. Bb5 Nc7 31. Bc6 Rc8 (31... Nxc6 32. dxc6 {
[%csl Gc6]}) 32. Rb8 Rxb8 33. Rxb8 {[%mdl 4096]} Kh7 34. Ba4 Rg7 {White has
invaded b8 but what can he do next?} 35. Bd1 $1 {The white bishop has
fulfilled its task facilitating the invasion of the white rook (moves 30-31).
Now it is time to exchange the protector of the light squares.} Na6 (35... Bd7
{is hardly good as this bishop will disturb Black.}) 36. Ra8 Bxd1 37. Nxd1 Rb7
38. Nc3 Nc7 39. Rc8 Nf7 40. Bxc5 $3 $16 {[%mdl 512] An excellent piece
sacrifice! White's passed pawn must now decide the game.} dxc5 41. Nxc5 Nd6 $8
42. Nxb7 Nxc8 43. c5 Na6 $1 44. Ke2 (44. d6 $2 Nxc5 45. Nxc5 Nxd6) (44. Nb5
$142 $5 Kg7 (44... Nb8 45. N7d6 Nxd6 46. Nxd6 {[%cal Yc5c6,Yd6b7]}) (44... Nxc5
45. Nxc5 Be7 46. Nd3 a6 47. Nc7 Nd6 48. Nc5) 45. c6 Kf8 {and only now} 46. Ke2)
44... Kg6 (44... Bg7 $5 45. c6 Bf8 46. Nb5 Nb8 {[%cal Ya7a6]}) 45. Kd3 $2 {
"Centralization of the king in the endgame is almost never wrong. However, it
can be ill-timed." (M.Shereshevsky. Endgame strategy)} (45. Nb5 $1) 45... Be7 (
45... Kf7 $5 46. Kc4 Ke7 47. Nb5 Nb8 48. c6 (48. N7d6 Nxd6+ 49. Nxd6 Kd7 50.
Nb5 a6 51. c6+ Nxc6 52. dxc6+ Kxc6 $11) 48... a6 49. Nc7 Bh4 {and it is
unclear how White is going to win.}) 46. Na4 (46. Kc4 $2 Bxc5 $1 47. Nxc5 $140
$2 Nd6+) (46. d6 Nxc5+) 46... Kg5 $1 47. Kc4 Bxc5 $2 {Losing by force.} (47...
Nxc5 {still led to a draw:} 48. Naxc5 Kg4 49. a4 $1 (49. Nd3 Bxa3 $1 (49...
Nd6+ $2 50. Nxd6 Bxd6 51. Kb5) (49... Kg3 50. a4) 50. Nxe5+ Kg3 51. Nd3 Kxg2
52. e5 (52. Nxf4+ Kf3) 52... f3 53. d6 f2 54. Nxf2 Kxf2 55. Kd5 a5 56. e6 Ne7+
$1) 49... Kg3 50. Nd3 Kxg2 (50... Nd6+ $2 51. Nxd6 Bxd6 52. Kb5 Kxg2 53. Kc6
$18) (50... Bd6 $2 51. Kb5 $18) 51. Nxe5 Nb6+ $1 (51... f3 52. Nd3 f2 $2 53.
Nxf2 Kxf2 54. Kd4 $3 (54. e5 Ke3 55. d6 Ke4 56. dxe7 Nxe7 $11) 54... Kf3 55. e5
Kf4 56. d6 Kf5 57. a5 $1 $18 {[%cal Yd4d5]}) 52. Kb5 (52. Kd4 $2 Bf6) 52... f3
53. Nd3 Nd7 $1 54. d6 Bg5 55. Ne1+ (55. Nbc5 Ne5 $1) 55... Kg3 56. Nxf3 Kxf3
57. Kc6 Ne5+ 58. Kd5 Bf4 59. Nc5 Ng4 $1 60. d7 Bc7 61. Nb7 Kf4 {etc.}) 48.
Naxc5 Nxc5 49. Kxc5 Kg4 50. d6 Nb6 51. Kc6 Kg3 52. Nc5 Kxg2 53. d7 Nxd7 54.
Nxd7 f3 55. Nxe5 f2 56. Ng4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O c6 8. Rb1 {
From theoretical point of view, this is less topical than 8. d5 and 8.b3, but
has a lot of strategic substance. White removes the rook from the corthe event
of the opening of the centre and prepares either a bold attack with b4-b5 or,
in some other cases, the more solid b3.} Ne4 {This is considered to be one of
Black's best replies, but after this game the evaluation may change. After all,
Black's whole queenside is undeveloped, why start exchanging already developed
pieces?} ({Kramnik had faced} 8... Na6 {15 years ago in a semi rapid game.} 9.
b4 Ne4 10. Bb2 $5 (10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Nd2 d5 12. b5 {looks more consistent,
like in Beliavsky,A (2620)-Nikolic,P (2670)/Polanica Zdroj 1996/CBM 055/
[Beliavsky] (1-0, 38)}) 10... Be6 11. b5 {This was recommended by Beliavsky in
the Chess Informant.} (11. Qb3 $2 b5 12. Nxe4 Bxc4 13. Qe3 fxe4 14. Qxe4 Nxb4
15. Bh3 Kh8 $17 {Kramnik,V (2715)-Ivanchuk,V (2700)/Monte Carlo 1995/CBM 046
ext (1/2, 51)}) 11... cxb5 $5 ({Beliavsky only analyses} 11... Nc7 12. bxc6
bxc6 13. Qa4 Rb8 14. Ba1 $1 $14) 12. cxb5 Nc7 (12... Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Nc7 14. Ng5
Bxa2 15. Rc1 d5 16. Qa4 Bc4 17. Ba5 $36 {[%cal Gc1c4]} Bxb5 18. Qb3 $16 {
[%cal Gc1c7]}) 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Ng5 Bxa2 15. Rc1 Bh6 16. h4 Bd5 $13) (8... Qe8
{[%cal Ge7e5]} 9. d5 $5 Na6 (9... e5 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. b3 $1 {We can see the
usefulness of the Rb1.} Qe7 $14 {Black has practically lost a tempo and has
failed to get early counterplay.}) 10. b4 cxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5+ Kh8 13.
Bb2 $14 {Larsen,B (2540)-Kortschnoj,V (2605)/Buenos Aires 1993/CBM 035 (1-0,
43). In his youth, Korchnoi was one of the promoters of the Leningrad Dutch,
but his later tastes changed radically and it is surprising to see him on the
black side in 1993.}) (8... Qc7 9. d5 e5 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. b3 $14 {Black has
avoided losing a tempo in this line, but his queen is not especially well
placed on c7.}) 9. Qc2 ({According to Kramnik, it was around 3 a.m. when he
realized that White should refrain from} 9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Nd2 d5 11. e3 Be6 12.
b4 b5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Nd7 16. Qa2 Bf7 17. Nb3 (17. Bb2 {
Beliavsky,A (2645)-Spraggett,K (2560)/Elista 1998/CBM 066 ext/[Hecht] (1/2, 64)
}) 17... Nb6 {Beliavsky,A (2618)-Agrest,E (2554)/Batumi 1999/CBM 074/
[Tsesarsky] (1-0, 35)}) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 $1 {This move gives meaning to
White's previous play. The b-file has been opened for the rook and, since ...
e5 is unavoidable, we can also state that the white centre has been
strengthened.} (10. Qxc3 e5 {does not pose Black any problems.} 11. dxe5 dxe5
12. e4 (12. Qa3 {Adla,D (2435)-Tovillas,D (2335)/Buenos Aires 1991/EXT 2000 
(1-0, 33)} e4 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nh3 Be6 15. b3 g5 $11) (12. Nxe5 Nd7 13. f4 Qe7
$15) 12... f4 13. b4 (13. b3 Qe7 14. Bb2 Bg4 15. Qa5 c5 $15 {[%cal Gb8c6,Gc6d4]
Skembris,S (2455)-Leow Leslie M (2455)/Novi Sad 1990/TD (1/2, 22)}) 13... g5
14. Bb2 Qe7 15. Rfe1 (15. Nxe5 $2 Nd7 $19) 15... Be6 (15... g4 16. Nh4 {
[%csl Gf5]}) 16. Rbd1 Nd7 17. c5 Bf6 18. a3 g4 $132 {Ionesi,C (2232)-Grunberg,
M (2403)/Predeal 2006/CBM 113 ext (0-1, 36)}) 10... e5 $146 {Black
consequently fights for space on the whole board, but his poor development
will prevent him from consolidating properly. I find it hard to recommend an
entirely adequate continuation.} (10... Qa5 11. c5 dxc5 12. Qb3+ e6 13. Bf4 Re8
14. Ne5 cxd4 15. cxd4 $32 {Giri,A (2517)-Reinderman,D (2560)/Hilversum 2009/
CBM 131 Extra (1/2, 43)}) 11. Rd1 e4 {Black is more or less forced to release
the tension. Otherwise, White would get a strong initiative.} (11... Qe7 12. c5
$1 dxc5 (12... e4 13. cxd6 Qxd6 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. Ne5 $16) 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5
Qxe5 15. Bh6 ({If I reached this position in a game, I most surely would
continue with} 15. Bf4 $16 {[%cal Gf4d6,Gd6c5] but the surprising line
suggested by the computer is even better.}) 15... Re8 16. Rxb7 Bxb7 17. Qb3+
Kh8 18. Qxb7 $18) (11... Qe8 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Ba3 Rf7 14. e4 $16) 12. Ng5 h6 {
This creates new weaknesses, but the white knight is incredibly versatile, as
we can notice in the following line.} (12... Na6 13. f3 exf3 14. exf3 Nc7 15.
Re1 Qf6 16. f4 $1 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gg5f3,Gc1a3,Gc4c5] followed by Ba3, c5 and
the d6-pawn and the occupation of the e5-square. We can feel the power of the
doubled pawns. One of them is used for active purposes, while the other stays
back to defend the d4-pawn.}) 13. Nh3 g5 14. f3 d5 ({Once again, White would
have a clear plan of installing his knight on e5 if Black releases the tension:
} 14... exf3 15. exf3 Na6 16. f4 g4 17. Nf2 Nc7 18. Nd3 $14 {[%csl Ge5][%cal
Gc4c5]}) 15. Nf2 Kh8 {This move does not seem to be connected with any
concrete plan. In some lines Black must have feared an attack along the a2-g8
diagonal. However, it should be mentioned that the king move does not
contribute to the queenside development in any way.} (15... Rf7 $5 {[%cal
Gc8e6]} 16. Qb3 {White should delay the exchange on d5 until Black has
developed his knight, in order to avoid ...Nc6} (16. cxd5 cxd5 17. c4 Rc7 18.
c5 Nc6 $11) 16... Na6 (16... Be6 $2 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. fxe4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 $16) (
16... Qb6 $5) 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. c4 Be6 $14) 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. c4 {Black will
lose stability soon, but Nakamura had prepared an interesting trick.} e3 $5 {
Only this way can the activation of the g2-bishop be prevented. However, Black
may lose the courageous pawn later.} 18. Nd3 (18. Bxe3 $2 f4 {[%cal Gc8f5]} 19.
Bd2 Bf5 20. Qb2 (20. Nd3 $2 Nc6) 20... Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Nc6 $15) 18... Nc6 19.
Bxe3 ({The hurried} 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 {would leave the g2-bishop caged
after} f4 $44 {[%csl Gg2]}) 19... Nxd4 ({According to the joint post mortem
analysis by Kramnik and Nakamura,} 19... Qe8 {would have been better, although
they concluded that after} 20. Qc1 dxc4 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Qxe5 23. f4 $36 {
White maintains the initiative.}) 20. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 {The position has
been opened and White has achieved a huge advance in development. However, the
situation is not entirely clear yet, because the next move will leave the
g2-bishop passive.} f4 22. Rb5 $5 {An elegant move, increasing the pressure in
the centre.} (22. Nxf4 gxf4 23. Rxd4 Bf5 {[%csl Gb1]}) (22. cxd5 Be3 {[%csl
Gg2]}) 22... Qf6 23. Rxd5 Be6 $2 {The decisive mistake, probably caused by a
miscalculation.} ({Black could have stayed in the game with} 23... Be3 $5 $14 {
consolidating his grip on the dark squares. Although White is a pawn up and
has an impressive domination in the centre, for practical purposes he is a
piece down for the time being. Probably, he should look for a way to exploit
the exposed position of the black king (to be compared with the absolutely
safe residence of his white rival), combined with the possibility of
exchanging the e3-bishop for his knight. Engines are very enthusiastic when
evaluating the position, but the passivity of the g2-bishop is something they
do not understand easily.}) 24. Nxf4 gxf4 ({He might have overlooked that after
} 24... Bxd5 25. Ng6+ Kg8 26. Nxf8 Bc6 {the knight gets out with} 27. Ne6 $1
$18) 25. R5xd4 fxg3 26. hxg3 $18 {White is two pawns up and can repel Black's
attack quite easily. The game is practically over.} Rg8 27. Rf4 Qg5 28. Rh4 Rg6
29. Qc3+ Kh7 30. f4 Qxg3 31. Qxg3 Rxg3 32. Bxb7 Rb8 33. Be4+ Kg7 34. Kh2 Re3
35. Rg1+ Kf7 36. Bg6+ Ke7 37. Bd3 Rb2 38. Rg2 Rxa2 39. Rxh6 Bf7 40. Rh7 Kf6 41.
c5 Ra4 42. c6 Rxf4 43. c7 Re8 44. Rxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {In the end of the press conference after
his win over Nakamura, just the day before, Kramnik complained that he had
been Black in his last three games against Carlsen and the situation would
repeat itself in Wijk aan Zee. As if this were enough, Carlsen decides to
force the former World Champion to fight against one of his trademark openings,
the Catalan.} dxc4 {There is not much to be said about this move, but I would
like to insert here two games that bear some similarity with two types of
structures featured in the main game.} (4... dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5
Bd7 8. Na3 cxd4 9. Naxc4 Bc5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Qxb7 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Rb8 13. Qf3 Bd6
14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 e5 16. Rb1 Rb6 17. Qa4 Qb8 18. Bg5 Be7 19. b4 Bxb4 20.
Bxf6 gxf6 21. Qd7 Qc8 22. Qxa7 Rb8 23. Qa4 Bc3 24. Rxb8 Qxb8 25. Be4 Qc7 26.
Qa6 Kg7 27. Qd3 Rb8 28. Bxh7 Rb2 29. Be4 Rxa2 30. h4 {Kasparov,G (2795)-Comp
Deep Blue/Philadelphia 1996/CBM 050 ext (1-0, 73). Carlsen may have been
inspired by this game when heading for the position after, say 25 moves.
However, there is an important difference: Carlsen's knight will be passive on
a4, failing to contribute to the fight for the critical squares in any way.}) (
4... Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bc1 Nhf6
11. b3 b6 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nbd2 Rc8 14. e4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Rac1 Qb8 17. e5
Ne8 18. h4 h6 19. Nf1 c5 20. Qe2 dxc4 21. d5 $1 {The same type of sacrificial
break as Carlsen's 17.d5!! True, in this game Black's kingside has not been
weakened previously, but after the inevitable structural modifications White
will be left with a dangerous majority on this wing.} Bxd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23.
Bh3 Rd8 24. Ne3 Nc7 25. Nf5 Rfe8 26. Nxg7 $40 {Marin,M (2515)-Horvath,J (2535)/
Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993/CBM 036 (1-0, 53)}) 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Nc3 $5 {
This natural developing move was first met in a top level game during the Tal
Memorial 2009.} (7. Qc2 Bxd2+ (7... Ra6 $5 {Marin,M (2551)-Kortschnoj,V (2611)/
Reggio Emilia 2008/CBM 122/[Marin,M] (1/2, 58)}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {Kramnik,V (2743)
-Topalov,V (2813)/Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 75)}) (7. O-O $5 O-O 8.
Bg5 {Ivanchuk,V (2740)-Alekseev,E (2711)/Foros 2008/CBM 125/[Marin,M] (1-0, 53)
}) 7... O-O 8. a3 ({Deviating from} 8. Bg5 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Kramnik,V (2772)/
Moscow 2009/CBM 133/[Marin,M] (1/2, 81)}) 8... Be7 $146 {White is allowed to
retrieve the pawn, in the hope that the time spent by the queen moving around
will allow adequate queenside counterplay.} ({After} 8... Bxc3 {Black can keep
his extra pawn, for a while at least, but White's centre would be strengthened.
It is hard to draw any conclusion from the only game played so far:} 9. bxc3 b5
10. Ne5 Ra6 11. O-O Nfd7 12. a4 c6 13. Nxc6 Rxc6 14. Bxc6 Nxc6 15. axb5 Ne7 16.
Qa4 $16 {Scarella,E (2348)-Del Cuadro,N (2186)/Villa Ballester 2004/CBM 101
ext (1-0, 29)}) 9. Qa4 ({We can see the fruits of the apparent loss of time ...
Bb4+ and ...Be7: with the bishop on d2,} 9. Ne5 {leaves the d4-pawn hanging.})
9... c6 10. Qxc4 b5 11. Qb3 $6 {A slightly strange move. The queen is rather
passive on this square.} ({I believe that} 11. Qd3 $1 {is crucial for the
evaluation of the whole variation. White keeps an eye on the h7-square and
enables Ne4, which would clear the c-file for the rook and the e1-a5 diagonal
for the bishop.} Nbd7 ({Carlsen may have been worried about} 11... Ba6 {
, but after} 12. Ne4 b4 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qe4 $14 {the queen is quite active
in the centre, defending the e2-pawn at the same time (thus allowing castling).
}) 12. Ne4 Bb7 ({In the event of} 12... Ba6 13. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc6] we
can notice that Bd2 may be useful. In this line, the manoeuvre of the black
dark-squared bishop can be considered a mere loss of time.}) (12... Nd5 13. Rc1
Bb7 14. O-O {[%cal Ge4c5]} Qb6 15. Nfg5 $16 {[%csl Gd3]}) 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {
Apart from castling, with just a more pleasant position for White, he can try
the sharp attack} 14. h4 $5 e5 (14... h6 $6 15. g4 $40) 15. Ng5 g6 16. Nxh7
Kxh7 17. h5 $40) 11... Ba6 12. Bg5 {We can feel the effects of the uninspired
queen retreat to b3. White has to spend some time to defend the e2-pawn before
castling.} Nbd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 $6 {In certain lines of the Catalan, this way of
capturing is necessary in order to avoid the minor pieces being diverted from
the control of the c5-square, in order to keep the threat of ...c5 alive. In
our game, Carlsen will find a brilliant way to take advantage of the kingside
weaknesses.} ({Besides, there would be nothing wrong with the natural} 13...
Bxf6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. O-O b4 $132) 14. Qc2 b4 15. Na4 Rc8 16. O-O c5 {When
playing his 13th move, Kramnik may have evaluated this position as being in
his favour. Indeed, the white queen will be in some trouble after the
apparently inevitable opening of the c-file, while the e2-pawn would be
hanging.} 17. d5 $3 {This brilliant pawn sacrifice changes the course of the
game radically. White provokes the weakening of the f5-square and ensures a
safe life for his queen. Suddenly, it appears that several black pieces (his
knight and a6-bishop, for instance) are far from optimally placed.} exd5 18.
Bh3 $6 {This is too slow and offers Black the few tempi he needs in order to
organise his position. When both sides' regroupings will have come to an end,
the passivity of the a4-knight will become an important factor.} ({Several
commentators gave recommended} 18. Rfd1 $1 {In fact, it is quite logical.
Black completes his development (the a1-rook is developed in view of the
permanent threat of axb4) and starts fighting for the light squares in the
centre.} d4 (18... Bb7 19. Nh4 $16 {retrieves the pawn with huge strategic
advantage.}) 19. Qf5 $40 {Black faces the strong (and, apparently, inevitable)
threat of Nxd4, followed by either Be4 with a mating attack, or Rxd4 with a
deadly pin along the d-file.}) 18... Bb5 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rfd1 d4 21. Bf5 Ne5
$1 {Black activates his position without hanging on to his material advantage.}
22. Bxh7+ (22. Bxc8 Qxc8 {would lead to a similar position as in the game,
with the difference that the h7-pawn is still on board, defending the black
king.}) 22... Kg7 23. Nxe5 fxe5 24. Bf5 {With the knight on c4, White would
have a dream position, but the way it is the situation remains very
complicated. In the next phase of the game, Kramnik will keep activating his
pieces, even if this will cost him a significant amount of material.} Rc6 25.
Qe4 Rh8 26. Qxe5+ Bf6 27. Qe4 Re8 28. Qg4+ Kf8 29. Be4 c4 $1 $44 {Finally
shattering any dreams of blockade with b3 and Nb2-c4.} 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 {Black's
bishops and his mobile mass of pawns offer Black excellent compensation. In
mutual time trouble, Carlsen will go down relatively quickly.} 31. Qh5 Re5 32.
Qh6+ Ke7 33. e4 $5 {An attempt to get some counterplay.} (33. Qd2 {is
ineffective because of} c3 34. bxc3 Qd5 35. f3 dxc3 $36) 33... d3 $1 {Not
letting himself be distracted from the main plan, consisting of advancing the
pawns.} (33... Rxe4 34. Nc5 $16) (33... Bxe4 34. Qd2 $16) 34. Qe3 Bxe4 35. Nb6
$2 {A blunder in an unpleasant position.} Bb7 $19 {winning the knight. The
centralisation of the e5-rook is impressive.} 36. Qf4 Qxb6 37. Qxc4 Re2 38. Rf1
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 Nc6 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. e3 e6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bb5
O-O 9. Nge2 h6 10. Bh4 Ne7 11. g4 b6 12. Qd2 c5 13. Bg3 a6 14. Ba4 Bd7 15. Bb3
Bb5 16. Nf4 cxd4 17. exd4 Nc6 18. O-O-O Na5 19. h4 Rc8 20. Kb1 Nxb3 21. axb3
Bd7 22. h5 g5 23. Nd3 Nh7 24. Rhe1 f5 25. Nxd5 Rf7 26. Ne5 fxg4 27. Nxf7 Bf5+
28. Ka1 Qxd5 29. Nd6 Rc2 30. Nxf5 Qxb3 31. Qxc2 Qxc2 32. fxg4 Nf6 33. Rc1 Qa4+
34. Kb1 Nd5 35. Be5 Nb4 36. Rc8+ Kh7 37. Bxg7 Qa2+ 38. Kc1 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Qxb2+
40. Ke3 Nd5+ 41. Kf3 Qb3+ 42. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 b5 5. cxb5 a6 6. e4 Bg7 7. e5 Ng8 8. f4 d6 9.
Nf3 Nd7 10. Nc3 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nxe5 12. bxa6 Qa5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bb5+ Kf8 15.
Qf3 Kg7 16. O-O Bd4+ 17. Be3 Nf6 18. d6 Bf5 19. a4 e5 20. Ne2 Qd8 21. Bxd4 cxd4
22. Qg3 Ng4 23. h3 Ne3 24. Qxe5+ f6 25. Qxd4 Nc2 26. Qc5 Nxa1 27. Rxa1 Qc8 28.
b4 Bxh3 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Qe7+ Kh6 31. Bxd7 Qxa6 32. Nd4 Qd3 33. Qxf6 Rhf8 34.
Qh4+ Kg7 35. Ne6+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Bg4 8. Bg2
cxd4 9. exd4 Bb4 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 Be6 12. Ne5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc8 14. g4 Qxc3
15. Rb1 Nc6 16. Rb3 Qa5 17. Rxb7 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. f4 Nc3 20. Qd2 d4 21. f5
Bc4 22. Re1 Qxa2 23. Rb2 Qa1 24. f6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Qg4 Nc6 11. Bh6 Bf6 12. Rad1 Ne7 13. Bc1 c5 14. Ba3 Qc7
15. Qh5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 b6 17. Bd3 Ng6 18. Bc1 Bb7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bc1 Nxe5 21.
Rfe1 f6 22. f4 Nxd3 23. Rxd3 Rad8 24. Rg3 Rd5 25. Qxh6 Qd7 26. h3 Rf7 27. Kh2
Rd1 28. Rxd1 Qxd1 29. f5 e5 30. Be3 Qe2 31. Qg6 Bxg2 32. Rxg2 Qxe3 33. h4 Qf4+
34. Kh3 e4 35. h5 e3 36. h6 Re7 37. Qh5 e2 38. Rxe2 Qf1+ 39. Rg2 Qh1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Bf4 Rd8 12. Rd2 d6 13. Rad1 Ne8 14. Nb5 Na6 15.
Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nac7 18. Qc2 g6 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Qd3 Nce8 21.
Qf3 Rab8 22. Nce4 Qb7 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Qc7 25. Qf4 e5 26. Qh4 Kg7 27. f3
Rd7 28. Rd5 Rbd8 29. Qh3 Re7 30. g4 h6 31. Qh4 a5 32. g5 hxg5 33. Qxg5 f6 34.
Qd2 Ra8 35. Nxd6 Nxd6 36. Rxd6 a4 37. Qd5 Rb8 38. Rc6 Qa7 39. Qd6 Rf7 40. Ra6
Qb7 41. Rxa4 e4 42. Qd5 exf3+ 43. Qxf3 Qe7 44. Ra6 Re8 45. Rd2 Qe5 46. Rad6
Qg5+ 47. Qg3 Qf5 48. R6d5 Re5 49. h3 Qb1 50. Rxe5 fxe5 51. Kh2 e4 52. Rd6 e3
53. Qe5+ Kh7 54. Rf6 Rxf6 55. Qxf6 Qxa2 56. Qe7+ Kh6 57. Qxe3+ Kh7 58. Kg3 Qb2
59. Qe7+ Kh6 60. Kf3 Qa3 61. Qe3+ Kh7 62. h4 Qa8+ 63. Qe4 Qa3 64. h5 Qxb3+ 65.
Kg4 Qd1 66. Qxg6+ Kh8 67. Qf6+ Kh7 68. Qe7+ Kh6 69. Qe3+ Kg7 70. h6+ Kf7 71.
Qf3+ Ke7 72. Qb7+ Kf6 73. Qc6+ Ke7 74. Qxc5+ Ke8 75. Qe5+ Kf8 76. h7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 c5 8.
e3 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. e4 Bxc3
15. Qxc3 Qxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 17. Nxc4 Nb6 18. Nd2 Bd7 19. c4 Rac8 20. Rfc1 Na4
21. Rab1 b6 22. Nf1 Kg7 23. h4 h6 24. Bf4 f6 25. Ne3 g5 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Bd6
f5 28. c5 Kf7 29. Nd5 Re6 30. Nc7 Rh6 31. Be5 bxc5 32. dxc5 Bc6 33. Rc4 Rd8 34.
Rd4 Rxd4 35. Bxd4 Rg6 36. Nb5 Bxb5 37. Rxb5 Ra6 38. c6 Rxc6 39. Rxf5+ Kg6 40.
Ra5 Nc3 41. Be3 Ne2+ 42. Kf1 Nf4 43. g3 Ne6 44. Rxa7 g4 45. a4 Nc7 46. Ra5 Rc4
47. Rc5 Rxc5 48. Bxc5 Kf5 49. a5 Ke6 50. Ke2 Kd5 51. Bb6 Ne6 52. a6 Kc6 53. a7
Kb7 54. Ke3 Ng5 55. Kf4 Nf3 56. Kxg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bf4 Bb4 7. e3 c5 8. Bd3 cxd4
9. exd4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11. Bd2 Nc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Be7 14. a5 b5 15.
Nxd5 exd5 16. Bd3 g6 17. h3 Bf6 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Qf4
Qd8 22. Re1 Bh8 23. Ng5 Qe7 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Rc1 Nxd4 26. Rc7 Qe8 27. Qd6 Bf6
28. Bf4 Qd8 29. Qb6 e5 30. Bh6 e4 31. Qb7 Ne6 32. Rd7 Qe8 33. Bf1 d4 34. Qxe4
Qxd7 35. Qxa8+ Kf7 36. Qxa6 d3 37. Bd2 Bg5 38. Bxg5 Nxg5 39. Bxd3 Qxd3 40. Qb7+
Kf6 41. a6 Qd1+ 42. Kh2 Qd6+ 43. g3 Qd4 44. Qc6+ Ne6 45. Kg2 b4 46. Qb7 Nc5 47.
Qf3+ Kg7 48. a7 Nd3 49. Qb7+ Kh6 50. a8=Q Qxf2+ 51. Kh1 Ne1 52. Qb5 b3 53. Qc4
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 O-O 9. Rc1 g5 10. Bg3 Ne4 11. e3 Qa5 12. Be5 Qxa2 13. Bd3 Qxb2 14. Bxe4
dxe4 15. Rc2 Qb3 16. Nd2 Qe6 17. Bd6 Rd8 18. O-O b6 19. Ncxe4 Nd7 20. Qa1 bxc5
21. Rb1 Bxd2 22. Bc7 Qxe4 23. Rxd2 Re8 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Smeets, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 Nbd7 8.
O-O Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Qe2 Rc8 11. Rd1 c5 12. Nc3 Ne4 13. Ne1 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qa5
15. Bd2 Rc7 16. e4 Bg6 17. Nd3 Qa6 18. Qe3 Nb6 19. Qf3 Nc4 20. Bf4 Rd7 21. h4
h6 22. h5 Bh7 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 e5 26. Bc1 Qxa2 27. Bf1 Na5
28. Qd3 Qa4 29. f3 f5 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. exf5 Bxf5 32. Bxh6 gxh6 33. Qxe5+ Kg8
34. Rd6 Qe8 35. Qf4 Qe1 36. Rxh6 Qxf1+ 37. Kxf1 Bd3+ 38. Kf2 Rxf4 39. gxf4 Nc6
40. Rd6 Bf5 41. Kg3 a5 42. Kh4 a4 43. Kg5 Bb1 44. Rd1 Bc2 45. Rc1 Bd3 46. Ra1
Bc2 47. f5 Ne7 48. Re1 Nxf5 49. Re2 Bd3 50. Rd2 Bb1 51. Rb2 Bd3 52. Rxb7 Ng7
53. c6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8.
Qc2 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bh3 Kg7 14. Rae1 Nb6
15. Bxc8 Raxc8 16. Bxf6+ Kxf6 17. f4 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Na4 19. f5 Kg7 20. f6+ Kg8
21. Nb1 Re4 22. Rf3 Rce8 23. Qf2 b5 24. Qd2 Qb6 25. h3 h6 26. a3 Kh7 27. Qf2 a5
28. Kh1 Qd6 29. Kg1 R4e6 30. Kh1 b4 31. axb4 axb4 32. cxb4 Qxb4 33. Nd2 Nb2 34.
Rb1 c3 35. Nf1 Qc4 36. Qc2 Nd3 37. Kg1 Ra8 38. Rb7 Kg8 39. Nd2 cxd2 40. Qxd2
Ra1+ 41. Kh2 Qc8 42. Re7 Qb8+ 43. g3 Qb1 0-1

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2639"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qa4 Nb6 9. Qa3 Na6 10. d3 Nb4 11. Ne1 a5 12. Be3 Bd4 13. Bh6 Re8 14. Rc1 Bh8
15. Ne4 Qd4 16. Rc3 Bg4 17. Nf3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 N6d5 19. Rxc5 Qxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxb2
21. Rb1 Bd4 22. Rc4 Ba7 23. a3 Nc6 24. Nd2 e6 25. Rxb7 Ne5 26. Rc2 Nxf3+ 27.
Nxf3 Reb8 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. Ne5 f6 30. Nc6 Rb1+ 31. Kg2 Bb6 32. e4 Nc7 33.
Ne7+ Kf7 34. Nc8 Ne8 35. Nxb6 Rxb6 36. Rc5 g5 37. Rxa5 Rb3 38. Ra7+ Kg6 39. Bf8
Rxd3 40. Re7 Rd8 41. a4 Ra8 42. a5 g4 43. a6 1-0

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. a4 Bb7 5. axb5 Nxd5 6. Bg3 g6 7. e4 Nb6 8. Nd2
Bg7 9. c3 O-O 10. Ngf3 d6 11. Bd3 a6 12. O-O axb5 13. Rxa8 Nxa8 14. Bxb5 Qb6
15. Qe2 Bc6 16. Bxc6 Nxc6 17. Rb1 Nc7 18. h4 Ra8 19. Qc4 Qb5 20. Qxb5 Nxb5 21.
Bf4 f5 22. g3 Ra4 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Nf1 e5 25. Bd2 d5 26. Ne3 Ne7 27. c4 dxc4
28. b3 cxb3 29. Rxb3 Nd4 30. Rb8+ Kf7 31. Ng5+ Kg6 32. Rb6+ Bf6 33. Kg2 Nec6
34. Nd5 Bd8 35. Rb1 h6 36. h5+ Kxh5 37. Nf7 Bg5 38. Bxg5 hxg5 39. Nd6 g4 40.
Rc1 Nb4 41. Ne3 Kg6 42. Rxc5 Nd3 43. Rc8 Ne1+ 44. Kh1 Ra1 45. Nf1 Nd3 46. Kg2
Ra2 47. Ne3 Rxf2+ 48. Kh1 Nf3 49. Ndxf5 Rh2# 0-1

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.05.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 7. O-O e5 8. Be3
c6 9. d5 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 12. a3 Bd7 13. Ne1 Nh6 14. f3 Nf7 15. Nd3
Qe7 16. b4 Rfc8 17. Qb3 b6 18. Bf2 f5 19. a4 cxb4 20. Nxb4 Nc5 21. Qb1 Nd8 22.
a5 bxa5 23. Rxa5 Ndb7 24. Ra2 Qf8 25. Na6 Nxa6 26. Qxb7 Nc7 27. Bxa7 Bh6 28.
Kh1 Qd8 29. c5 dxc5 30. d6 Be6 31. Bb6 1-0

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.05.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Minzer,C"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{La partida decisiva con la cual Kramnik obtendrнa el primer puesto con 5
puntos sobre 7 posibles superando a Mamedyarov y Kamsky por mejor desempate.
Vamos a ver un resumen con las partidas de Kramnik jugando la Variante de los
cuatro caballos de negras.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {La Variante
Berlinesa, como siempre, esta con Kramnik en los momentos importantes.} 4. Nc3
{Diagrama # Sutovsky no quiere entrar en la lнnea mencionada y opta por la
Variante de los Cuatro Caballos.} Nd4 {Kramnik ha jugado en varias ocasiones
este salto de caballo sin haber sufrido ninguna derrota como veremos en los
comentarios siguientes:} ({La gran alternativa es entrar en la simetrнa con} 
4... Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7 (8... Ne7 9. Nh4 $1 Ng6
10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. f4 $14) 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 $14) 5. Bc4 ({En las partidas de
Kramnik podemos encontrar otras continuaciones:} 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7.
exf6 Qxf6 {el juego se simplifica y las blancas no han obtenido nada de la
apertura} 8. dxc3 (8. Qe2+ Be7 9. dxc3 O-O 10. O-O d5 11. Bd3 Rd8 12. Bf4 Qxf4
13. Qxe7 Be6 14. g3 Qd6 15. Qh4 h6 16. Rfe1 Re8 $11 {Jenni,F-Kramnik,V/Zuerich
2001}) 8... Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bxd7 Bxd7 11. Qxd7 Rad8 $44 {Con buena
compensaciуn por el peуn} 12. Qb5 (12. Qxc7 $4 Qxf2+ 13. Rxf2 Rd1#) 12... b6
13. Qc4 Qf5 14. b4 Bd6 15. Be3 Rfe8 16. g3 Qxc2 $11 {se recupera el peуn con
neta igualdad} 17. Rac1 Qf5 18. Rcd1 h5 19. Rd5 Qf3 20. Rfd1 Re4 21. R1d4 Rde8
22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Rd4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 f6 {1/2-1/2 Morozevich,A-Kramnik,V/Monte
Carlo 2002}) (5. Ba4 {Esta retirada, en cambio, es mбs ambiciosa} c6 ({tambiйn
} 5... Nxf3+ 6. Qxf3 Bc5 7. d3 c6) 6. Nxe5 d6 7. Nd3 ({las blancas no quieren
volver con su caballo a f3} 7. Nf3 {por} Bg4 {con una molesta clavada que
puede estropear la estructura blanca del flanco rey en cualquier momento}) 7...
b5 8. Bb3 a5 9. a3 d5 10. e5 (10. exd5 Bd6 $5 $36) 10... Ne4 11. O-O Nc5 12.
Nxc5 Bxc5 13. Kh1 O-O 14. Ne2 a4 15. Ba2 f6 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. c3 Bxe5 18. d4
$11 {Adams,M-Kramnik,V/Linares 1999}) ({O} 5. O-O c6 6. Bc4 d6 7. Nxd4 exd4 8.
Ne2 Nxe4 9. d3 Nc5 10. Nxd4 d5 11. Bb3 Be7 12. Qh5 O-O 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Be3 Ne6
15. Nxe6 Bxe6 $11 {Minkov,A-Kramnik,V/Moscъ 2005}) 5... Bc5 ({En la partida
Vallejo Pons,F-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo 2005 Kramnik permitiу un ataque al estilo
Fegatello con} 5... d6 6. Ng5 d5 7. exd5 h6 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Bb4
11. O-O O-O 12. d3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Qxd5 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. Bb2 $11
{y luego de los cambios el juego se encaminу a las tablas.}) 6. Nxe5 Qe7 {
Diagrama # Jugada por primera vez por Marshall, las negras no defienden en f7
apostando por un mejor desarrollo.} ({Seguramente a Kramnik no le convenciу} 
6... d5 7. Bxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 O-O 9. c3 Re8 10. cxd4 Bxd4 11. O-O Rxe5 12. d3 c6
13. Nf4 b6 14. Qc2 Rc5 15. Qe2 Ba6 16. Be3 Qd6 17. Rac1 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Be5 {
1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Cazorla 1998}) 7. Nf3 ({Antiguamente las blancas
retiraban su caballo a d3:} 7. Nd3 d5 $1 8. Bxd5 (8. Nxd5 Qxe4+ 9. Ne3 Bd6 10.
O-O b5 $1 11. Bb3 Bb7 12. Ne1 Qh4 13. g3 Qh3 14. c3 h5 15. cxd4 h4 16. Qe2 $4
Qxh2+ $1 {0-1 Belsitzman,Z-Rubinstein,A/Varsovia 1926}) 8... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Qxe4+
10. Ne3 Bd6 11. O-O Be6 $36 {Nimzowitsch-Alekhine, St Petersburg 1914}) ({
Tambiйn} 7. Nxf7 Rf8 (7... Nxe4 $2 8. Nd5 $1) (7... O-O $5) 8. O-O b5 $5 $13 {
pero esta ъltima jugada aъn no se ha practicado.}) ({Es mala} 7. Bxf7+ $2 Kf8
$17 {y las piezas blancas estбn en problemas.}) 7... d5 8. Bxd5 {Otras jugadas
no son mejores:} (8. Nxd5 Qxe4+ 9. Ne3 Bg4 10. Be2 Nxe2 11. Qxe2 O-O-O $36 {
con un rбpido desarrollo.}) ({o} 8. Nxd4 dxc4 9. Nf3 Nxe4 10. O-O O-O 11. d4
cxd3 12. cxd3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bg4 {y la posiciуn de las negras es preferible,
Spielmann,R-Rubinstein,A/San Sebastian 1912}) 8... Bg4 {Diagrama # Kramnik
apuesta todo por el desarrollo, la presiуn sobre el caballo de f3 es muy
molesta.} 9. d3 ({Es muy peligroso} 9. Bxb7 $4 Rb8 10. Ba6 Nxe4 11. O-O O-O $17
{con un gran juego de piezas, por ejemplo:} 12. Re1 $2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Qg5+ 14.
Kf1 Nxf2 $1 $19) 9... O-O-O (9... c6 $5 {es una alternativa a tener en cuanta.}
) 10. Bg5 $146 ({Se habia jugado} 10. Be3 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Rxd5 $5 {sacrificio de
calidad para mantener la iniciativa} 12. exd5 Re8 13. c3 (13. O-O Bxf3 14. gxf3
Qh4 $44) 13... Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Qh4 $1 15. Kd2 $8 Rxe3 $1 16. fxe3 Qf2+ 17. Kc1
Bxf3 18. Qe1 Bxe3+ 19. Kb1 Bxh1 20. Qxh1 Qe2 $1 21. a4 Qxd3+ 22. Ka2 Qc4+ 23.
Kb1 Qd3+ 24. Ka2 Qc4+ 25. Kb1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons, F-Dominguez Perez,L/
Cuernavaca 2006}) 10... Bh5 11. Kf1 c6 12. Bc4 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 b5 $44 {
Diagrama # Kramnik tiene una gran iniciativa por el peуn, mientras que la
situaciуn del rey blanco en f1 hacen que la torre de h1 tenga problemas en
entrar en juego.} 15. Bb3 b4 16. Na4 ({Una situaciуn difнcil para el blanco,
se podнa probar} 16. Bc4 $5 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxf3 18. gxf3 {entregando pieza a
cambio de un fuerte centro, mientras hay mejores posibilidades de activarse
por la columna b con Tb1, por ejemplo:} Kb7 19. Kg2 Ka8 20. Re1 {etc.}) 16...
Nxe4 $1 {Diagrama #} 17. Qe1 (17. dxe4 $2 Nxb3 $19) 17... Bxf3 18. dxe4 Be2+
19. Kg1 Bb5 20. c4 $4 {Sutovsky quiere terminar drбsticamente con las amenazas
de su rival.} ({Pero era mejor} 20. h3 {dando la casilla h2 al rey.}) 20...
Bxa4 $6 ({Ganaba directamente} 20... Nxb3 $1 21. axb3 (21. cxb5 Nxa1 22. Qxa1
Qxe4 $1 23. Nxc5 $140 Qe2 $19) (21. Nxc5 Nxa1 $19) 21... Bxa4 22. bxa4 (22.
Rxa4 Qxe4 $1 $19) 22... Rd4 $1 $19) 21. Bxa4 h5 (21... Rhe8 $142) 22. h4 Rhg8
23. Bd1 f5 24. hxg5 Rxg5 $2 ({Habнa que desviar el alfil con} 24... Nc2 $1 25.
Bxc2 Qxg5 $40 {con amenazas por la columna g.}) 25. Bh4 Rdg8 26. Kf1 $6 (26.
Bxg5 Qxg5 27. Rh2 $16) 26... f4 27. Bf3 Qe5 28. Bxg5 Rxg5 29. Qd1 $2 ({Mejor
poner en juego la torre del flanco dama con} 29. Rd1 $1) 29... Kb7 $2 (29...
Nxf3 $142 30. Qxf3 Qxb2 $44) 30. Rxh5 Rxh5 31. Bxh5 Kb6 32. Qg4 Qxe4 33. Re1
Qd3+ {Seguramente jugado en apuros de tiempo.} 34. Kg1 Qd2 35. Rd1 Qxb2 36.
Qxf4 Ne6 37. Qd2 Qf6 38. Rb1 a5 39. a3 $2 {Esto permite contrajuego al
permitir el siguiente ataque doble.} Qf5 $1 $132 40. Rb2 $2 {Entrega la pieza
con miras a encontrar un perpetuo con un segundo sacrificio, pero en realidad
no es tan claro.} (40. Qe1 $142) 40... Qxh5 41. axb4 axb4 42. Rxb4+ Kc7 {
Kramnik quiere complicar la lucha} (42... Bxb4 43. Qxb4+ Ka6 $11) 43. Rb1 Nd4
44. Qf4+ $6 {Pierde la iniciativa y, mбs importante, el rey blanco pierde su
refugio.} Bd6 45. Qxd4 Qh2+ 46. Kf1 Qh1+ 47. Ke2 Qxb1 $15 {/-/+ Diagrama #
Pieza por dos peones con ambos reyes en situaciуn expuesta. En realidad todo
el riesgo de perder cae del lado de las blancas.} 48. Qg7+ Kc8 49. Qg8+ Kb7 50.
Qg7+ Bc7 51. Qf7 $2 {El riesgo de perder algъn peуn era grande.} ({Mayor
resistencia daba} 51. Qd4) 51... Qe4+ 52. Kf1 Qd3+ 53. Ke1 Kb6 54. c5+ Kb7 55.
Qe7 Qd4 56. Ke2 Qg4+ 57. Ke3 Qxg2 58. Qh7 $19 ({El segundo peуn se gana con} 
58. Qh7 Qg5+ 59. Kf3 Qxc5) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 {Decades ago, this was
considered to be the absolute main line of the open Catalan, but then it got
completely out of fashion.} 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qa4 (7. Ne5 {is more ambitious, see
for instance Leko,P (2734)-Kramnik,V (2790)/Dortmund 2010/CBM 138/[Marin] (1/2,
31)}) 7... Bd7 8. Qxc4 cxd4 {This line, based on repeated release of the
tension in the centre, had some revival over the past years.} ({After the
Buenos Aires Olympiad back in 1978 (see the next comment), Black started
relying on} 8... b5 9. Qd3 Rc8) 9. Nxd4 Rc8 10. Nc3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qh4
O-O {This is the new trend. Black sacrifices the b7-pawn in order to get
active counterplay.} ({The position arising after} 12... Bc6 {seems to have
been submitted to thorough analysis by the components of the Hungarian team
who won the 1978 Olympiad. Here are the first two games in which Black got
punished for neglecting the kingside development:} 13. Rd1 Qb6 14. Bxc6+ Rxc6
15. Bh6 $1 $16 gxh6 (15... Bf8 16. Rd2 e5 17. Be3 Qa6 18. Rad1 Be7 19. Qg5 O-O
20. Qxe5 $16 {Ribli,Z (2585)-Ljubojevic,L (2605)/Buenos Aires 1978/EXT 2000 
(1-0, 49)}) 16. Qxf6 O-O 17. Ne4 $16 {Portisch,L (2630)-Radulov,I (2490)/
Buenos Aires 1978/EXT 2000 (1-0, 35). The evaluation of this whole line as
favourable for White never was shaken.}) 13. Bxb7 (13. Bg5 {is an important
alternative, leading to microscopical white advantage, which is quite
difficult to convert, though.} h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17.
Bf3 Rxb2 18. Rfd1 Be8 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6 Bb5 22. Kf1 Rb8 23. a4
Bc4 {and Black managed to hold his own in Shirov,A (2745)-Wang Yue (2738)/
Sofia 2009/CBM 131 (1/2, 44)}) 13... Rb8 14. Bf3 Rb4 {This is an important
element in Black's strategy. Although his plan involves a loss of a tempo (...
Rc8-b8) with the rook, the lack of conmfort of the white queen makes the
position unclear.} 15. Qg5 Bd4 16. Qd2 {Not a great square for the queen, but
apparently Kramnik does not feel bothered at all; see also Kramnik,V (2790)
-Leko,P (2734)/Dortmund 2010/CBM 138/[Marin] (1/2, 47)} Qc7 {So far, play had
a rather linear character. This position has been reached in several games,
but they all diverged at this point. Abstractly speaking, Black should have
good compensation for the pawn, in view of his advance in development. However,
play may be slightly easier to carry out with White in over the board play,
because of his lack of weaknesses. The worst what could happen is to lose the
extra pawn and reach an equal or maybe slightly more pleasant position.} 17.
Nd1 $5 $146 {Geometrically speaking, an elegant retreat. There is certain
symmetry now in White's position. Black's main strategic threat consisted of
spoiling the queenside structure with ...Bxc3, which justifies Kramnik's
decision to improve the knight's position with Ne3.} ({The spectacular} 17. Nb5
{is ineffective:} Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Rxb5 19. b3 Bc6 20. Bb2 Bxf3 21. exf3 Rd8 22.
Rc1 Qb8 23. Qe3 Nd5 24. Qd4 f6 $11 {Schmidt,R (2387)-Nyback,T (2624)/Rijeka
2010/CBM 136 (1/2, 45)}) (17. a4 {is an interesting way of activating the
queen's rook without the necessity of developing the bishop.} a5 {not really
forced.} 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5 Rd8 20. e3 Be5 $2 {This is hard to understand:
White is allowed to complete his development in comfortable way.} ({The obvious
} 20... Bxb2 {would lead to unclear play:} 21. Qxb2 Rxb2 22. Bxb2 Nd5 23. Rfc1
Qb6 24. Be2 Ra8 {White certainly has strong compensation for the queen, but
Black is very much in the game still.}) 21. Qe2 $14 Ne4 $2 {weakening the
defence of the back rank.} 22. Bxe4 Rxe4 23. Bd2 $1 Qc2 $2 24. Rfc1 Qxb2 25.
Qd3 $1 {1-0 Buhmann,R (2565)-Meier,G (2608)/Saarbruecken 2009/CBM 128 Extra}) (
17. a3 {weakens the queenside light squares too much.} Rc4 18. Qd3 Bxc3 19.
bxc3 Rxc3 $6 {This pawn was one of Black's best friends, by restricting the
c1-bishop.} (19... e5 $1 $44) 20. Qd1 (20. Bf4 $5 e5 21. Rfc1 Rxd3 22. Rxc7
Rxf3 23. exf3 exf4 24. Rxa7 {The a-pawn is very dangerous. In case of a rook
exchange, White would get good winning chances.}) 20... Bc6 21. Bb2 Rc4 22.
Bxc6 Qxc6 23. Rc1 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Qb5 25. Qc2 Nd5 26. Rc1 $14 {Nyback,T (2643)
-L'Ami,E (2615)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135 (1/2, 33). White retains some micro
initiative, but Black should be able to draw with careful play.}) (17. Rd1 Rfb8
(17... Bc6 $5) 18. Qd3 Qc5 19. e3 Be5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxd7 {Avrukh,B (2657)
-Nielsen,P (2662)/Dresden 2008/CBM 128 (1/2, 32). Again, White's position is
microscopically better.}) 17... Rfb8 18. a3 Rc4 {Possibly not best.} ({In view
of the ulterior course of the game,} 18... Ra4 $5 {make sense.}) 19. Ne3 Ra4 $6
{Black keeps losing time with this rook.} ({The only way to fight for equality
would be} 19... Bxe3 20. Qxe3 e5 {, when White's coordination would be far
from perfect yet.}) 20. Rb1 e5 21. b4 $14 {White is ready to complete his
development with Bb2, while the a4-rook is out of play.} a5 {This obvious
attempt to open the queenside is refuted tactically.} 22. Qc2 $1 {The start of
an interesting forced sequence.} Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Bf5 (23... Bc3 24. Bb2 $14) 24.
Nxd4 $1 Bxb1 25. Nc6 Re8 26. Nxa5 $16 {White has two pawns for the exchange,
and the a4-rook is trapped.} Be4 27. Bb2 Bxf3 28. exf3 e4 29. fxe4 Rxe4 (29...
Nxe4 30. Re1 $1 $16 {leads to the exchange of a rook pair, leaving the other
rook in big danger.}) 30. Rd1 h5 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. Kf1 {Heading for b3.} h4 33.
f3 Re7 34. g4 Rc7 35. Ke2 Nd7 36. Kd2 f6 37. f4 Nc5 38. Rd4 Kg6 ({Black had
the possibility of freeing his rook with} 38... Rxa5 39. bxa5 Nb3+ 40. Kd3 Nxd4
41. Bxd4 {but this would have left the other rook in the danger of being
trapped!} Kg6 (41... Rc6 42. h3 $1 {It is important to block the enemy pawn on
a dark square, see also the main line.} Kg6 43. Ke4 Kf7 44. Kd5 Ra6 45. Bb6 $18
{[%cal Gd5b7]}) 42. a6 Kf7 43. a7 Rc8 44. Bb6 Ra8 (44... h3 45. Bc7 Ra8 46. Bb8
$18) 45. Kc4 Ke6 46. Kb5 Kd7 47. Ka6 Kc6 48. h3 $1 Rh8 49. Bf2 Ra8 50. Bxh4 $18
{White wins by creating a kingside passed pawn.}) 39. Kc3 Kf7 40. f5 Ne4+ 41.
Kb3 Nc5+ 42. Ka2 Na6 43. Rc4 Rxc4 (43... Nxb4+ 44. Kb3 $1 $18) 44. Nxc4 Nc7 45.
Na5 Na6 46. Kb3 Nc5+ 47. Kc4 Ne4 48. Kb5 Nc3+ 49. Bxc3 Rxa3 50. Kc4 Ra2 51. b5
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5 8.
dxc5 Qa5 9. Rc1 Ne4 10. Qxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3+ 12. Kd1 O-O {This line was
thoroughly examined by GM I.Stohl in his annotations to Kramnik - Ponomariov 
(CBM 133).} 13. Bc4 (13. Be7 $6 Re8 14. Bd6 Nf6 15. Qb3 Ne4 16. Bc4 Be6 17. Ke2
Bxc4+ 18. Qxc4 b5 19. Qd5 b4 $17 {1/2 Gurevich,D (2578)-Gareev,T (2614)/Irvine
USA 2010/The Week in Chess 822 (53)}) 13... Nf6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Ke2 b5 16.
cxb6 $146 {[%mdl 8] A simple course, instead of the unclear and complicated} (
16. c6 Ba6 17. Qf5 $5 Qa3 $2 (17... Bb2 18. Rc2 g6 $13 {I.Stohl}) 18. Bd3 Rfd8
19. c7 $2 (19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. c7 $16 {I.Stohl}) 19... Qxa2+ 20. Nd2 Rxd3 $1 21.
Qxd3 b4 $13 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2772)-Ponomariov,R (2739)/Moscow 2009/CBM 133/
[Stohl] (81)}) 16... Qxd5 $6 (16... axb6 $142 17. Qxa5 Rxa5 18. Rhd1 (18. Rc2
Bf5 $44) 18... Ba6 {with good drawing chances as Black recaptures the a2 pawn.}
) 17. Bxd5 Ba6+ 18. Bc4 axb6 19. a4 {White now keeps his extra pawn. The best
Black can get is the endgame "R+B+3p" vs. "R+N+4p" with pawns on the same side,
which is not easy to hold.} Bb2 20. Rc2 Rfc8 21. Nd2 b5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. Rb1
Bxc4+ 24. Rxc4 Bf6 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 {[%mdl 4096]} 26. Ne4 Re8 27. f4 ({The rook
endgame after} 27. Nxf6+ gxf6 {is drawn - here doubled pawns help Black's
defence.}) 27... Bd4 $4 {A strange decision. Black himself creates a passed
pawn for White, after which the rook ending will be winning for him. Something
wrong with the nerves?} (27... Be7 {, tenaciously defending.}) 28. exd4 Rxe4+
29. Kd3 f5 30. g3 Re7 31. Rb5 (31. Rb5 g6 32. d5 Kf7 33. Kd4 h5 34. d6 Re2 35.
Re5 $18 {[%csl Gd6]}) 1-0

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 (6. O-O Rb8 {doesn't
necessarily transpose into 5...a6 lines - Black will play this move only if
it's necessary. For this reason White mostly prefers the game continuation,
aiming to regain the sacrificed pawn as soon as possible.}) 6... Bb4+ (6... Nd5
{(d7)} 7. Qxc4 Nb6 {is another plausible attempt in this line:} {Perhaps White
should also reconsider the older} 8. Qd3 (8. Qb5 a6 9. Qd3 e5 10. Nxe5 Nb4 11.
Qd1 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc2+ 13. Kd1 Nxd4 14. Be3 Nf5 15. Bxb6 cxb6 {A more recent
try is} 16. Nd2 (16. Nc3 Bc5 17. e3 (17. Nd3 O-O 18. Ne4 Be7 19. e3 Bd7 20. Ke2
Bc6 21. Rhc1 Rfe8 22. g4 Nh6 23. Bf3 Rad8 24. h3 f5 25. gxf5 Nxf5 $36 {
Rodshtein,M (2609)-Naiditsch,A (2691)/EU-ch Rijeka/2010/}) 17... O-O 18. Ke2
Re8 19. Nd3 Rb8 20. Rhc1 Be6 21. Bd5 Bd7 22. Ne4 Bf8 23. Rc7 Rbd8 24. Nc3 Nd4+
25. Kd2 Be6 $132 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Naiditsch,A (2654)/Dortmund/2007/ for more
see notes by marin in CBM 119.}) 16... Bd6 (16... Bc5 17. Nd3 Rb8 (17... O-O
18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. Rc1 $16) 18. Rc1 Be7 19. e3 O-O 20. Ke2 Bd7 21. Nc4 Bd8 22.
Rhd1 Re8 23. b3 Bb5 24. Bh3 Bxc4 25. Bxf5 Bb5 26. a4 Bxd3+ 27. Rxd3 $16 {
Eljanov,P (2717)-Naiditsch,A (2685)/CRO-chT Sibenik/2009/}) 17. Nd3 O-O 18. Rc1
Rb8 19. e3 Be6 20. a3 Rfe8 21. Rc3 Be7 22. Rc7 Nd6 23. Nf4 Bg4+ 24. Bf3 Bd8 25.
Rc3 Bxf3+ 26. Nxf3 b5 27. Nd5 Ne4 28. Rc2 Nf6 $132 {1/2 Gongora Reyes,M (2451)
-Oms Pallisse,J (2494)/Barbera del Valles 2010/The Week in Chess 818 (39)})
8... e5 9. Nxe5 Nb4 10. Qc3 Qxd4 11. O-O Qxc3 12. Nxc3 f6 13. Nf3 c6 14. Nd4
Bd7 15. a3 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 {with the idea} 17. Bd2 $5 Bd6 18. e4 Nc7 19.
Rac1 g6 20. Bc3 $14 O-O-O $6 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Bxf6 Rhe8 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. f4
$16 {Haba,P (2536)-Babula,V (2594)/CZE-chT/2008/}) 7. Bd2 Nd5 (7... Bd6 8. Na3
$5 Bxa3 9. Qxa3 Ne4 10. Be3 $44) 8. Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. Nc3 {This move recently
became popular mainly thanks to Aronian himself.} ({The line} 9. a3 b5 10. Qxb5
Nc2+ 11. Kd2 Bd7 $5 ({Black doesn't have to go for} 11... Nxa1 12. Qxc6+ Bd7
13. Qxc4 c5 14. Qa2 Qa5+ 15. Nc3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Rd8 17. Rxa1 $13 {/+/=}) 12.
Kxc2 Nxd4+ 13. Nxd4 Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Rb8 15. N1c3 O-O 16. Rhd1 Qf6 $132 {gives
Black sufficient <=> and perhaps even chances to fight for more than that.}) ({
After} 9. O-O Rb8 10. Na3 ({After the older continuation} 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ne5
O-O 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Qxc4 Qd6 15. e3 Rxb2 16. Rab1 Rb6 {White
has compensation for the P, but not more than that:} 17. f4 a5 18. Qa4 Ba6 19.
Rfd1 c5 20. Ne4 Qd5 21. Rxb6 Qxe4 22. Rxa6 {1/2,Filippov,V (2574)-Rausis,I 
(2508)/Dubai op/1999/}) 10... O-O 11. Qb5 b6 12. Qxc4 Ba6 13. Nb5 Qd5 14. Qxd5
Nxd5 15. a4 Na5 16. Ne5 Rbd8 17. Bxd5 Bxb5 18. axb5 Rxd5 19. b4 Nb3 20. Nc6 (
20. Rxa7 Nxd4 21. Nc6 Nxe2+ 22. Kg2 {Cernousek,L (2436)-Klovans,J (2428)/Mlada
Boleslav/2008/} Rd7 23. Ne5 Rd5 $11) 20... Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Ra8 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23.
Nxd5 exd5 24. Rc1 Rc8 25. Ra1 Ra8 26. Rc1 Rc8 27. Ra1 {1/2,Rodshtein,M (2609)
-Macieja,B (2639)/Copenhagen/2010/ White already repeated moves - if Black's K
get over to d7 and manages to play c6, he can already take over the initiative.
}) 9... Bd7 {The main point why White postponed castling shows after} (9... a6
10. Ne5 O-O (10... Rb8 11. Nxc6 Nxc6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxc6+ Qd7 14. Qxd7+
Bxd7 15. O-O-O Ke7 16. e4 Rb6 17. Rhe1 g5 18. Rd2 h5 19. f3 h4 20. g4 Rd8 21.
Re3 $14 {Georgiev,K (2669)-Arnaudov,G (2404)/Kyustendil/2010/}) 11. Nxc6 Nxc6
12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qxc4 Rb8 14. b3 Qd6 15. Ne4 Qb4+ 16. Qxb4 Rxb4 17. O-O-O $1
e5 18. Rd2 a5 19. Rhd1 a4 20. Nc5 axb3 21. axb3 Be6 22. Kb2 Rb5 23. Rc1 Rfb8
24. Rc3 exd4 25. Rxd4 $16 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7] ק, Aronian,L (2750)-Adams,M (2712)/
Wijk aan Zee/2009/}) 10. O-O a5 $5 (10... Rb8 11. Qb5 {and White wins the P
back with a space advantage. If Black gets more ambitious, he can end like
this:} Nc2 $2 12. Rad1 N2xd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qc5 Nf5 15. Nb5 $1 c6 16. Nd6+
Nxd6 17. Rxd6 b6 18. Qxc4 {1-0,Georgiev,K (2669)-Gutov,A (2437)/EU-ch Rijeka/
2010/}) ({Somewhat more risky than the text-move, but still playable is} 10...
a6 11. Ne5 b5 12. Qa3 (12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Qd1 Rb8 14. Ne4 O-O 15. b3 Be8 16. e3
e5 $15 {Batchuluun,C (2391)-Ghaem Maghami,E (2593)/Subic/2009/}) 12... Rb8 13.
Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Qc5 (14. d5 Ne7 (14... b4 15. Qxa6 Nd4 16. Qxc4 e5 17. Ne4 O-O
18. Rfe1 b3 19. a4 Nc2 20. Red1 Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Qe7 22. Qc5 Qxc5 23. Nxc5 Bc8 24.
Bf1 (24. e4 $5) 24... f5 25. e3 Rd8 26. Bb5 Rxb5 27. axb5 Rxd5 28. Rc1 Rd2 29.
Nxb3 Rxb2 $11 {Degerhammar,R (2488)-Pinkovetsky,S (2645)/corr/2004/}) 15. dxe6
fxe6 16. Qxa6 Rb6 17. Qa5 O-O 18. Rfd1 Qc8 19. Ne4 Rf5 20. Nc5 Rxc5 21. Qb4 Rd5
22. Qxe7 Rdd6 23. Be4 Qe8 24. Qh4 h6 25. Bc2 Bc6 $132 {Schroeder,M (2113)
-Kokkila,T (2628)/corr/1999/}) 14... Ne7 15. a4 bxa4 16. Qxc4 Bb5 17. Qc5 Qd6
18. Qxd6 cxd6 19. Rfb1 Kd7 20. e3 Rhc8 21. Nxa4 Rc2 22. Be4 Rd2 23. Nc3 Bc4 24.
b3 Bd3 {Pavlovic,M (2515)-Van den Doel,E (2568)/Dieren op/2008/}) 11. Qd1 O-O
12. e3 (12. Nd2 Nxd4 13. Bxb7 Rb8 {1/2,Heinig,W (2338)-Teske,H (2487)/
Bundesliga 0506/2006/} 14. Bg2 Bc6 $11) 12... a4 13. Qe2 Na5 14. Ne5 Nd5 $5 ({
This is more enterprising than the rather passive, but solid} 14... Qe8 15.
Nxc4 Bb5 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Rfc1 Nd5 18. Bf1 Nxc4 19. Rxc4 c6 20. a3 Rfd8 21.
Rac1 Qb6 22. Qc2 Ra5 23. Rc5 g6 24. Qd2 Ra7 25. h4 Nf6 26. Qc2 {1/2, Dziuba,M 
(2556)-Landa,K (2626)/Moscow/2009/}) 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxd5 Bh3 17. Qf3 {
Initiatiates complications, but in the end doesn't promise White any advantage.
} ({However, Black has no problems whatsoever after the more sedate} 17. Bg2
Bxg2 18. Kxg2 f6 19. Nf3 Qe7 $11 {[%cal Ya4a3,Ye7e4,Yc7c5] <=>,/\a3,Qe4,c5})
17... Bxf1 {Black must accept the challenge, otherwise he is seriously worse.}
18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Rxf1 Nc6 (19... Ra6 20. Qe4 $36) (19... Qf6 $6 20. Qh5 Qh6
21. Qxh6 gxh6 22. Bxc4 $16) 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Qh5 Rb8 22. Bxc4 {Logical, White
chops off a potentially dangerous o^.} (22. Bg6 $143 $6 h6 23. Qe2 Qf6 24. Bb1
c5 $1 25. Rd1 Rfd8 (25... cxd4 26. exd4 c5 $1 27. Qc2 g6 $17) 26. Qxc4 Rxb2 27.
Bc2 cxd4 28. exd4 {Rodshtein,M (2609)-Landa,K (2598)/Copenhagen/2010/} Qf3 29.
Qxc7 Rf8 $36) 22... Rxb2 23. Bd3 g6 24. Bxg6 Qe7 25. Bb1 {Reliably protects
Pa2, on the other hand the B is passive on b1.} (25. a3 Rb5 26. Qh3 Rb3 27. Bf5
Rxa3 28. Rc1 Rxe3 $1 29. fxe3 Qxe3+ 30. Kg2 Qd2+ 31. Kf3 Qd3+ 32. Kf4 Qxd4+ 33.
Kf3 Qd3+ 34. Kf4 Qd4+ 35. Kf3 Qd3+ 36. Kf4 {1/2, Khairullin,I (2620)-Alekseev,
E (2691)/RUS-ch 1L Irkutsk/2010/}) 25... Qf7 {It's time to take stock. White
has 2P for the exchange, moreover his P-structure is ver compact, while
Black's P are all isolated. Nevertheless Black is OK, as his major pieces are
very active.} 26. Qc5 ({After} 26. Qe5+ $142 $5 Qf6 (26... Kg8 27. Qg5+) 27.
Qe4 Qg6 28. Qe5+ Qf6 29. Qe4 {I can't see, how can Black effectively avoid
repetition. Aronian was not playing for a win, as a move later he is willing
to force a perpetual...}) 26... Rxf2 27. Qe5+ Rf6 {Kramnik must continue the
fight to get a chance to qualify.} (27... Kg8 28. Qg5+ $11) 28. Rf4 $6 {
Natural, but inaccurate.} (28. g4 Kg8 29. Bf5 $44) (28. Bd3 $5 {/\} Kg8 29. Rc1
) 28... Qg7 $1 29. Bf5 Rd6 {Suddenly White has to tread with care.} 30. Bc2 (
30. Qe4 c5 31. Rh4 h6 $15) (30. Qc5 Rd5 {[%cal Rc6c5] /\c5|^}) 30... Rxf4 31.
Qxf4 a3 32. g4 $6 {Another weakening, which complicates White's task.} (32. Qe4
Rf6 33. Qd3 $15) 32... Qe7 33. g5 c5 $1 {Black activates his R and starts a
direct ->.} 34. dxc5 Rd2 35. Bb3 Kg7 $6 {Kramnik errs as well. however, with
approaching time-trouble it's difficult for a human player to realize, that
after} (35... Qg7 $1 36. Bc4 (36. Qf6 Qxf6 37. gxf6 Re2 $19) 36... Qa1+ 37. Bf1
Qxa2 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. g6 Qb3 $1 {White will run out of checks.}) 36. h4 Rd3 37.
Kg2 $2 {Unnecessarly loses the Pe3. After} (37. Kf2 $142 Qf8 (37... Rxb3 38.
Qd4+ $132) 38. Be6 Rc3 39. Kg2 $132 {the outcome of the game remains fully
open.}) 37... Rxe3 38. Qd4+ Re5 39. Bd5 c6 $138 (39... h6 $1 {retains the
c-pawns and should win more easily.}) 40. Kg3 $5 h6 $1 (40... cxd5 41. Kf4 Kg8
42. Qxe5 Qxc5 $11) 41. gxh6+ $8 Kxh6 42. Qf4+ Kh7 43. Bxc6 Rxc5 44. Qe4+ {
Leads to an _|_, in which White in the long run can't hold his P.} ({However,
once White must avoid a Q-swap, he will gradually lose after} 44. Be4+ Kg8 45.
Kh3 Qe5 $19) 44... Qxe4 45. Bxe4+ Kg7 46. Kf4 Kf6 47. Ke3 (47. Bd3 Rh5 48. Kg3
(48. Ke4 Rxh4+ {wins as in the game.}) 48... Rd5 49. Bc4 Rc5 50. Bg8 Rc8 51.
Bd5 Ke5 52. Bf7 Rc7 53. Bg6 Kf6 54. h5 Rd7 $19) 47... Ke5 48. Kd3 Rb5 49. Kc4
Rb2 50. Bh7 (50. Ba8 Kf4 ({Black shouldn't hurry to tak the P, after the
premature} 50... Rxa2 $2 51. Kb3 Ra1 52. h5 $11 {he can't improve his position
- if he lets White's K reach a1 the theoretical draw is perfect.}) 51. h5 Kg5
52. Kc3 Kxh5 53. Bd5 Rb8 $19) 50... Rh2 51. h5 Rxh5 {Black has reached a won
TB position.} 52. Bc2 (52. Bg6 Rh6 53. Bf7 Rb6 $19) 52... Rh2 (52... Rh6 $19 {
immediately is a quicker win.}) 53. Kb3 Kd4 54. Bg6 Rh3+ (54... Rh6 $19) ({
The online first showed the strange move-order} 54... Rh4 $2 55. Kb4 $2 (55.
Kxa3 Kc3 56. Be4 $1 $11) 55... Rh6 $19) 55. Kb4 Rh6 56. Bf7 Ra6 57. Bg8 Ra7 58.
Be6 Kd3 59. Bb3 Kd2 60. Ba4 Rb7+ 61. Kc4 (61. Kxa3 $2 Kc3) 61... Kc1 62. Kc3
Kb1 63. Bb3 Rc7+ 64. Kd3 (64. Kb4 Kb2 {[%cal Rc7c1,Rc1a1,Ra1a2] /\Rc1-a1-a2})
64... Kb2 65. Kd2 Rd7+ 66. Ke3 Kc3 67. Bg8 Re7+ 68. Kf2 Kd2 69. Kf3 Kd3 70. Kf2
Re2+ 71. Kf3 Re8 (71... Re8 72. Bb3 Rf8+ 73. Kg2 Kc3 {[%cal Rc3b2,Rf8c8,Rc8c1,
Rc1a1] /\Kb2, Rc8-c1-a1xa2}) 0-1

[Event "Shanghai Masters playoff"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.09.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qc2 e6 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. Nf3 Bb4 12. O-O Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. Ne5
Rc8 15. Qb3 Qa5 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. a3 Bxc3 18. Qxb7 O-O 19. bxc3 Nb6 20. Bc7 Qb5
21. Qxa7 Nc4 22. Bg3 Ra8 23. Qe7 Rfc8 24. h3 Qa5 25. Qb4 Nxa3 26. Bd6 Qxb4 27.
cxb4 Nc4 28. Bc5 Na3 29. Ra2 Nb5 30. Ra5 Rab8 31. Rfa1 h6 32. Ra6 Kh7 33. R1a5
Nc3 34. Ra7 Kg6 35. Rd7 Nb5 36. f3 Rc6 37. Kh2 f6 38. e4 dxe4 39. fxe4 Kh7 40.
d5 exd5 41. exd5 Rcc8 42. d6 Rc6 43. Rxb5 Rxb5 44. Rc7 Rbb6 45. Rxc6 1-0

[Event "Shanghai Masters playoff"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "172"]
[EventDate "2010.09.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. Qe1 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bc5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. a4 a5 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. Bd2 b6 14. Nh4 Ne8
15. Kh2 f6 16. b3 Nd6 17. Nb2 Rfe8 18. Nd3 Nf7 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Kh1 Rad8 21.
Bc3 Ne6 22. Nf5 c5 23. Ne3 Nd4 24. f3 Qc8 25. h4 Nd6 26. Rd1 Bf7 27. Qf2 Qc6
28. Rd2 Qa8 29. Rfd1 b5 30. axb5 N6xb5 31. Bb2 a4 32. bxa4 Qxa4 33. f4 Nd6 34.
fxe5 fxe5 35. c3 Bg6 36. cxd4 Nxe4 37. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 38. Ng2 exd4 39. Re1 Rf8 40.
Qg1 Ba8 41. Kh2 Qc6 42. Rde2 Rb8 43. Bc1 Qf3 44. Bf4 Rbd8 45. Rf2 Qc6 46. Re7
Rd7 47. Qe1 Rxe7 48. Qxe7 Rf7 49. Qd8+ Rf8 50. Qe7 Rf7 51. Qe2 h6 52. Qa2 c4
53. Be5 d3 54. Rxf7 Kxf7 55. Bc3 Qd5 56. Qf2+ Kg8 57. Kg1 Qe4 58. Kf1 Bd5 59.
Ne1 Qh1+ 60. Qg1 Qe4 61. Qh2 Qf5+ 62. Kg1 Qe4 63. h5 Qg4 64. Qh4 Qxh4 65. gxh4
Bf7 66. Kf2 Bxh5 67. Ke3 g5 68. hxg5 hxg5 69. Kd4 Be2 70. Bd2 g4 71. Ke3 Kf7
72. Kf4 Ke6 73. Bc3 Kd5 74. Ng2 Kc5 75. Ne3 Kb5 76. Ke5 Ka4 77. Kd4 Kb3 78. Be1
g3 79. Ng2 Kc2 80. Ne3+ Kb3 81. Nxc4 g2 82. Bf2 Kc2 83. Ke3 Kb3 84. Nd2+ Kc3
85. Ne4+ Kc4 86. Nd2+ Kd5 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.22"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sedlak, Nikola"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "YUG"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d5 Na6
9. Ne1 Nc5 10. f3 a5 11. Be3 Bd7 12. dxc6 Bxc6 13. Qd2 Qb8 14. Nc2 b6 15. Rfd1
Rd8 16. b3 Qb7 17. Rab1 h5 18. Bf1 Bf8 19. Qe1 Be7 20. Na3 Nh7 21. Nab5 h4 22.
Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Ng5 24. Rbd1 h3 25. Qg3 hxg2 26. Bxg2 Nge6 27. Nxd6 Bxd6 28.
Rxd6 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Nf4 30. Bxf4 exf4 31. Qxf4 b5 32. Qe3 Qc7 33. Rd5 Ne6 34.
cxb5 Nf4 35. Rc5 Qd6 36. Bf1 Rd8 37. Rc1 Qf6 38. b6 Qg5+ 39. Kh1 Rd3 40. Qg1
Qh5 41. b7 Qxf3+ 42. Bg2 Nxg2 43. b8=Q+ Kh7 44. Qg3 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.03"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Qb3 {Quite a harmless
way to avoid the Cambridge Springs.} Be7 (6... Qa5 $1 {is more aggressive and
strong.}) 7. e3 h6 (7... O-O) 8. Bh4 b6 $6 {Hardly a good "version of the TMB
system".} (8... O-O $142) 9. cxd5 exd5 {White will now prepare e3-e4.} 10. Bd3
(10. Be2 $143 Bb7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 Re8 13. Rac1 Bd6 14. a3 Qe7 15. Bd3 {
Still, after losing a lot of time!} Qf8 (15... Qe6 $5) 16. Qc2 $13 {1-0 Fuster,
G-Florian,T/Gyor 1946/EXT 2000 (64)}) 10... O-O 11. O-O Bb7 12. Rac1 {Probably
too modest.} (12. Qc2 $5 $14 {preventing ...Ne4.}) 12... Ne4 $1 13. Bg3 $5 (13.
Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rfd1 $5 (14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Nd2 c5 $5 $132)) 13... Nxg3 14. hxg3
Nf6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 (17... Qc7 $5) 18. Bxe4 Bf6 $6 (
18... Bd6 $5 19. Ne5 Qe7 20. f4 (20. Bxc6 $6 Bxe5 21. Bxb7 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bxd4)
20... c5 (20... Bxe5 $143 21. dxe5 c5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Rd6 $14) 21. Bxb7 Qxb7
22. d5 $140 b5 $132) 19. Qa3 $6 (19. Ne5 $142 Bxe5 (19... Qd6 20. f4) 20. dxe5
Qe7 21. f4 Rfd8 (21... c5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Rd6 $14 {[%cal Gd1d8]}) 22. Kh2 $1
$14) 19... a5 $2 {[%mdl 16384] This move not only allows Nf3-e5 but also
weakens the b6-pawn.} (19... Qc7 $1 20. d5 $140 c5 21. d6 Qb8 {, and the d6
pawn is rather weak than strong.}) 20. Ne5 $1 {Finally!} Qe8 21. Re1 Qd8 22.
Qf3 Rc7 (22... Re8 23. Rcd1 Bxe5 24. dxe5 Qc7 25. Bc2 $1 $36 Rxe5 $4 26. Rxe5
Qxe5 27. Rd7) 23. Rcd1 g6 (23... Qd6 24. Nc4 Qb4 25. Qf5 g6 26. Qxf6 Qxc4 27.
Qd6 Rfc8 28. a3 $16 {[%csl Gd6]}) 24. Qb3 Kg7 $2 {Losing the b6-pawn and
consequently the game.} (24... b5 {was still possible altgough after} 25. a4 $1
(25. Nxg6 $2 a4) (25. Bxg6 $2 a4) 25... bxa4 26. Qxa4 {White is obviously
better.}) 25. Qxb6 Re7 26. Qc5 Rfe8 27. Bxc6 Bxc6 28. Qxc6 Qb8 29. Qc3 Qb4 30.
f4 Qxc3 31. bxc3 Rc7 32. Rd3 Rec8 33. Ree3 Rb7 34. d5 Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Ra1 36. Nd7
Bd8 37. Re8 Rxa2 38. d6 a4 39. Ne5 a3 40. d7 Rb8 41. Rxd8 Rxd8 42. Nc6 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 {About 40 years ago, when
Black's 4-th move was still regarded as only an experiment, this Q-sortie was
considered to be the strongest reaction and almost refutation of 4...Ba6.
Nowadays things have changed a lot, White tries to build up some pressure
without too much risk.} ({The main move is} 5. b3 {, with heavily analysed
theory after} Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 ({and especially} 7. Bg2 {often going on
far beyond the opening and even middlegame.})) ({The sharp alternative,
connected with a P-sacrifice, is} 5. Qc2 $5 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O {This line has quickly developed in the past 5 years and is still
highly topical. However, it hardly suits Kramnik's style, so the ex-champion
adopts the more restrained old move. Lately it has become fasionable again and
it occurred in quite a few high-level games.}) 5... Bb7 (5... c5 6. Bg2 ({
The usual reaction, as} 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 {is a rather inferior version
of the aforementioned P-sacrifice.}) 6... Bb7 {is only a transposition.}) ({
Interesting and less explored is} 5... c6 6. Nc3 (6. Bg2 {is too soft due to}
b5 $1 7. cxb5 cxb5 8. Qd1 Nc6 9. O-O Rc8 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Nb3 b4 12. Re1 d5 13.
Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. e3 O-O 16. Nc5 Bb5 17. Bf1 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 e5 (18... Be7
$11) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxc5 21. Nd3 Rc4 $132 {Smejkal,J-Kavalek,L/CS-ch
Luhacovice/1968/}) 6... b5 $5 ({This positional sacrifice in the spirit of the
Volga/Benko gambit is the main point, otherwise Black risks getting under
positional pressure. An old example is} 6... d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Bg5
Be7 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. f4 a5 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. e4 b5 16.
Qc2 Na6 17. Rc1 Nc7 18. Rfd1 Qe6 19. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 20. exd5 cxd5 21. Qc7 Ra7 22.
Qc5 $16 {Furman,S-Keres,P/URS-ch Moscow/1948/}) 7. cxb5 cxb5 8. Nxb5 Qb6 9. Nc3
Bb4 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Bxc3 (11... Rc8 12. Bd2 Nc6 13. Qd1 d5 14. Na4 Qb5 15.
Bxb4 Qxb4 16. Nc5 Qa5 17. Rc1 Rab8 18. b3 Ne4 19. Qe1 Nxc5 20. Qxa5 Nxa5 21.
Rxc5 Nb7 $1 $11 {1/2 Appolonov,S-Berzinsh,R/Alma-Ata 1991/TD (35)}) 12. bxc3
Bxe2 13. Re1 Bb5 14. Qb3 d5 (14... Bc6 15. c4 Na6 16. Bf4 Be4 17. Be5 d5 18.
Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qe3 Nb4 20. Qh6 $40 Qd8 21. Nh4 Bxg2 22. Nxg2 Kh8 23. Nf4 Rg8 24.
Rab1 Nc2 $2 25. Nxe6 $1 {1-0,Skembris,S (2545)-Timman,J (2620)/Corfu m/1993/})
15. Ne5 Nbd7 16. Be3 Rab8 17. Rab1 $6 (17. a4 Ba6 18. Qa3 $13) 17... Qa6 18.
Qd1 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nd7 20. Bd4 Bc4 21. Qd2 h6 $15 {Leriche,E (2319)-Gervasio,R 
(2310)/FRA-chT2/2004/}) 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 {White tries to keep more tension in
the position. Nikolic's favourite is} (7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 Qc7 10.
Rd1 a6 11. Nc3 Qb7+ (11... Be7 12. f3 O-O 13. Bf4 Qb7 14. e4 d6 15. Nde2 Rd8
16. Rd2 Nc6 17. Rad1 Ne8 18. a3 Rdc8 19. h4 h6 20. h5 Na5 21. b3 Qc7 22. e5 Rd8
23. exd6 Bxd6 24. Ne4 Bxf4 25. Nxf4 Rxd2+ 26. Rxd2 Nc6 27. b4 Ne5 28. c5 Nf6 $5
$132 {Browne,W-Andersson,U/Buenos Aires/1978/}) 12. f3 Be7 13. Bg5 h6 (13...
Nc6 14. Bxf6 $142 $5 (14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qxc6 dxc6 17. Ne4 Ke7 18.
Nxf6 Kxf6 19. Rd6 Rhd8 20. Rad1 (20. Rxc6 Rd2 $44 {<=>}) 20... Ke7 21. Rxd8
Rxd8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 {1/2,Nikolic,P (2630)-Psakhis,L (2565)/ECC Eupen/1997/})
14... gxf6 (14... Bxf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 dxc6 18. Nd6+ $36)
15. Nxc6 Qxc6 (15... dxc6 16. Ne4 $1 $36 (16. Rd3 O-O 17. Rad1 Rfd8 18. Rxd8+
Rxd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Qd1 Be7 21. Qd4 Qc7 22. Ne4 Qd8 23. Qxd8+ Bxd8 24. g4
Be7 25. f4 Kf8 26. f5 $14 {Molina,R (2322)-Bittencourt,J (2448)/BRA-ch Rio de
Janeiro/2007/})) 16. Rd3 (16. Qxc6 dxc6 17. Rd3 $14) 16... Qxa4 17. Nxa4 b5 18.
cxb5 axb5 19. Nb6 Ra7 {Chetverik,M (2289)-Gerstner,B (2144)/Bad Wiessee/2006/}
20. Rb3 $14) 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Rd3 (16. Qb3 Qc7 17. Rac1 O-O 18. f4
Nc6 19. Nf3 Rfd8 20. Qe3 Rac8 21. g4 d5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Ng3 (23. Nd4 Qb7 $11)
23... Bc5 24. Qd2 a5 25. a3 Qe7 26. Qd3 Qf6 27. Qd2 Qe6 28. f5 Qe7 $15 {
Nikolic,P (2659)-Karpov,A (2696)/Monte Carlo blindfold rpd/2000/}) 16... O-O
17. Rad1 Rc8 18. Qb3 Ra7 19. e3 Qc7 20. a3 {Hoefer,H (1960)-Skrzynski,I (1713)/
corr/2000/} Nc6 $11 {<=>}) 7... bxc5 {An important moment, which defines the
character of the ensuing struggle. Taking towards the [+] is natural, but
equally logical is the even more often played developing move} (7... Bxc5 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Be7 (9... Ne4 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Qxc3 d5 12. Rd1 Nd7 13. Bg5 {
Die korrekte Verteidigung bestand in} Be7 $5 (13... Qe8 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. b4
Be7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Nd4 Nf6 19. b5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rd5 21. Nc6
Qd7 22. Qc2 Qb7 23. a4 h6 24. e4 Rc5 25. Qd3 $36 {Dautov,R (2606)-Polgar,J 
(2656)/Istanbul olm/2000/}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Rac1 Nc5 17. Ne5 $1
(17. b4 Na4 $1 18. Qc2 b5 19. a3 a5 $11 {Dautov}) 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 a5 19.
Qf3 Rac8 20. h4 (20. Nc4 $5 Qc7 21. Qf4 $14) 20... f6 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Nd6 Rcd8
23. Nb5 Qe5 24. Nc3 f5 25. Qc6 Qb8 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rxd1 28. Nxd1 Qb7 29.
Qxb7 Nxb7 30. Kf3 Nd6 31. Kf4 Kf7 32. Ke5 Ke7 33. Ne3 {Nikolic,P (2652)
-Istratescu,A (2561)/EU-ch Ohrid/2001/} b5 $5 {/\Nf7,Kd6=}) 10. Rd1 Na6 11. Bf4
Nc5 12. Qc2 Qc8 {A more recent attempt is} 13. Rd4 $5 (13. Rac1 Nce4 14. Nd4
Nxc3 15. Qxc3 a6 (15... Bxg2 16. Kxg2 a6 17. Qf3 Ra7 18. a4 Qb7 19. Qxb7 Rxb7
20. f3 Rc8 21. e4 d6 22. Ne2 Ne8 23. h4 Kf8 24. b3 Rc6 25. Rd3 Bf6 26. Rcd1 Be7
27. h5 $14 {(),Ftacnik,L (2596)-Sax,G (2568)/ECC Saint Vincent/2005/}) 16. Qb3
Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Qf3 Ne4 $5 ({More enterprising than} 18... Ra7 19. Qxb7
Rxb7 20. f3 Rc8 21. e4 d6 22. Ne2 Ne8 23. b3 h5 24. h4 g6 25. Rd2 Rbc7 26. Rd3
Rc5 27. a4 R5c6 28. Rcd1 Rc5 29. Kf1 Bf8 30. Nc3 Rb8 31. R1d2 Rb7 32. Ke2 $14 {
Piket,J (2633)-Chuchelov,V (2518)/NED-chT/2000/ Similar to Ftacnik-Sax above,
Black must patiently defend a slightly worse _|_.}) 19. Nb3 f5 20. Nd2 (20. Kg1
Bf6 $132) 20... g5 $1 21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Qg4 h5 23. Qxh5 gxf4 24. Qg6+ Kh8 25.
Qh6+ Kg8 {1/2,Van Wely,L (2654)-Chuchelov,V (2603)/Bundesliga 2003/}) 13... d5
14. cxd5 (14. Rc1 Nce4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Ne5 g5 $5 (16... Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Qxd8
18. Rd1 Qe8 19. Be3 h6 20. a3 Rc8 21. b4 Rc7 22. h4 Qc8 23. Qb3 Ba6 24. Rd4 Ne8
25. Bxe4 Bf6 {Timman,J (2591)-Jackova,J (2388)/Marianske Lazne /2009/} 26. Qd3
$5 Bxc4 27. Rxc4 Bxe5 $11 {/+/=}) 17. Be3 $5 (17. Bxg5 Qc5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19.
Rd7 Bc8 20. Ng4 Bg5 21. b4 $5 (21. Rdd1 f5 22. b4 Qxb4 23. Rb1 Qc5 24. Rb5 Qc7
25. h4 (25. f4 $2 exf3 26. Bxf3 Ba6 27. Re5 Rad8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Kg2 Bc8 30.
h4 Be7 $19 {Koneru,H (2600)-Zhao Xue (2462)/Ulan Bator/2010/}) 25... Be7 26.
Bxe4 Rb8 27. Bxf5 exf5 28. Nh6+ Kh8 29. Nxf5 Bf6 $15 {/~~}) 21... Qf5 22. Bxe4
Qxg4 23. Rd4 f5 24. h3 Qxe4 25. Rxe4 Bxc1 26. Qxc1 (26. Rd4 Bg5 $13) 26... fxe4
27. Qg5+ Kh8 $11) 17... Qc7 18. f4 exf3 (18... Bc5 19. Qc3 gxf4 20. gxf4 Bxd4
21. Bxd4 $44 {->,Turov,M (2628)-Filip,L (2470)/Rethymnon/2010/}) 19. Nxf3 h6 $5
$13 {/=/+} (19... e5 20. Qf5 $1 exd4 21. Qxg5+ Kh8 22. Bxd4 Qd8 23. Rd1 $44) (
19... Bc5 $5)) 14... Nxd5 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Nf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. b4 h6 19.
Nf3 (19. Nxf7 Qxf7 20. bxc5 Rac8 $132) 19... Ncd7 20. Nb5 Rfc8 21. Qd2 Rc6 22.
Rd1 a6 23. Nd6 Qc7 24. e4 e5 25. Rd3 Rc2 26. Qe1 a5 $132 {Aronian,L (2752)
-Leko,P (2740)/Wijk aan Zee/2006/}) 8. O-O Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 ({
After the main alternative} 10... d6 11. Bf4 Qb6 {White faces a choice:} 12.
Rab1 $5 {is a more recent idea, here Black is still searching for a reliable
road to equality:} ({The older move} 12. Rd2 {is more or less harmless and
even gives Black more satisfactory options:} h6 (12... Nc6 13. Bxd6 Bxd6 14.
Rxd6 Qxb2 15. Rb1 Qxc3 16. Rxb7 Nd4 17. Qd1 Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 Qxc4 19. a4 $44 {
gives White compensation, but no advantage.}) 13. Rad1 e5 14. Be3 Nc6 15. Qb5
Qc7 16. Qb3 a6 17. Nh4 Rfb8 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. f3 e4 {Onischuk,A (2664)-Eljanov,
P (2687)/Foros/2008/} 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Rxd6 $44) (12. Qb3 Rd8 13. Qxb6 axb6 14.
Nb5 Ne8 15. a3 h6 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Ne1 Na5 18. Bd2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nc6 $11 {
Vallejo Pons,F (2686)-Anand,V (2786)/Linares/2005/}) 12... Bc6 (12... Na6 13.
a3 (13. Nb5 Rfd8 $5 (13... d5 14. Ne5 d4 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. e3 dxe3 17. Bxe3 $14
{Pelletier,Y (2525)-Alterman,B (2600)/Elista olm/1998/}) (13... Ne8 14. a3 Be4
15. Rbc1 Rd8 16. b4 Bc6 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Qxa7 Qxa7 19. Nxa7 Ba4 20. Re1 Nf6
21. Nd4 Rd7 22. Nac6 $16 {Zhigalko,S (2640)-Franco Alonso,A (2490)/ECC Plovdiv/
2010/}) 14. Bd2 Nb4 15. a3 Bc6 16. Bxb4 (16. axb4 a6 17. Qa5 Qxa5 18. bxa5 axb5
19. b4 $13) 16... cxb4 17. Qxb4 Be4 18. Rbc1 Rab8 $11) 13... Rac8 14. Qc2 Rfd8
15. e4 Nd7 (15... Bc6 16. Qe2 h6 17. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 (17... exd5 18. exd5 Ba4 19.
b3 Bxb3 20. Rdc1 $16 {[%cal Rf3d2,Re2e7] /\Nd2}) 18. exd5 Bd7 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20.
Nd2 Bf8 21. Qd3 Qc7 (21... Nc7 $142) 22. Ne4 Bg4 23. f3 Bh5 24. Bh3 $16 {
Giri,A (2677)-Infante,M (2276)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/}) (15... h6 16. Qe2
Nb8 {Nikolic,P (2629)-Volke,K (2455)/Bundesliga/1999/} 17. b4 $14) 16. Qe2 h6
17. h4 (17. Nb5 Nf8 18. Qe1 Rd7 19. Rd3 Nc7 20. Nc3 Ng6 21. Be3 Qa6 22. Bf1 Ne8
23. Rdd1 Bf6 $11 {Ikonnikov,V (2527)-Volke,K (2450)/Vlissingen/2002/}) 17...
Ba8 18. g4 $5 Nf8 19. g5 h5 20. Bg3 g6 21. Rd2 Nb8 22. Qd1 a6 23. Rd3 e5 24.
Nd5 Qa7 25. Qd2 Nc6 26. Rd1 Nd4 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. f4 $14 {Van Wely,L (2668)
-Leko,P (2736)/Monte Carlo blindfold rpd/2003/}) (12... Nbd7 13. b4 cxb4 14.
Qxb4 $1 $36 (14. Rxb4 Bc6 15. Qa3 Qc5 16. Be3 Qh5 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Qxh3 19.
Bg2 Qh5 20. Bf3 Qh3 21. Bg2 Qh5 22. Bf3 {1/2,Lautier,J (2666)-Gelfand,B (2700)/
Enghien les Bains/2003/})) 13. Qa3 (13. Qc2 Rd8 14. e4 Qb7 $132) 13... Rd8 14.
b4 cxb4 15. Rxb4 Qa6 16. Rb3 $5 (16. Qb2 Qc8 17. Nb5 Na6 18. Ra4 Qb7 19. Qb1
Nc5 20. Rb4 Be4 $36 {Lysyj,I (2638)-Carron,J (2394)/Zьrich /2010/}) 16... Qxa3
17. Rxa3 h6 18. h4 Nh5 19. Be3 a6 20. g4 Nf6 21. g5 hxg5 22. hxg5 Ne8 23. g6
Rc8 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. c5 Nd7 26. cxd6 Bxd6 27. Rb3 $14 {Dronov,A (2617)
-Mikeshin,S (2591)/corr/2007/}) 11. Bf4 Rd8 {Carlsen keeps his P on d7 and
makes a useful move.} (11... d6 {-10...d6 transposes into the lines from the
previous note.}) (11... Qxb2 $4 12. Rab1 Qxc3 13. Rxb7 $18 {[%csl Rc3][%cal
Rd1c1,Rf4d2,Rf4e5] /\Rc1,Be5,Bd2}) 12. Rab1 {Kramnik doesn't insist on
occupying the <->d with his R and adopts a similar set-up, as we have already
mentioned above. His R supports the future b4 advance.} (12. Rd2 d6 (12... d5
$6 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Ne5 Na6 15. Rad1 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. exd5
Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Bd6 20. Qf5 $16 {Lautier,J (2672)-Macieja,B (2593)/ECC Saint
Vincent/2005/}) 13. Rad1 h6 $142 (13... Ne8 14. Nb5 (14. e4 Bc6 15. Qc2 Qb7 16.
Qb3 $6 Qxb3 17. axb3 f6 $1 18. Ne1 Nd7 19. Ra1 Rdb8 20. Ra3 Rb7 21. e5 Nxe5 22.
Bxe5 Bxg2 23. Bxd6 Nxd6 24. Kxg2 Nf5 $15 {Gustafsson,J (2603)-Leko,P (2741)/
Dortmund/2008/}) 14... Na6 15. Bg5 $1 $146 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nac7 18.
Qc2 g6 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Qd3 Nce8 21. Qf3 Rab8 22. Nce4 Qb7 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4
Qc7 25. Qf4 e5 26. Qh4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2790)-Karjakin,S (2725)/Nice blindfold
rpd/2010/}) (13... a6 14. Ng5 $5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 e5 16. Be3 Qb7+ 17. f3 $1 (17.
Kg1 h6 18. Nf3 Nc6 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Rxd5 Nb4 21. R5d2 Nc6 22. Rd5 Nb4 23. R5d2
Nc6 {1/2,Leko,P (2751)-Bacrot,E (2728)/Nalchik/2009/}) 17... Ng4 18. Bxc5 Nd7
19. Bg1 Bxg5 20. Rxd6 Ngf6 21. h4 Bh6 22. b3 $16 {Sargissian,G (2675)-Zhigalko,
A (2587)/EU-ch Rijeka/2010/}) 14. Qb5 Ne8 15. e4 g5 16. Be3 Nd7 17. h4 g4 18.
Ne1 Kg7 $5 (18... Qxb5 19. cxb5 $5 (19. Nxb5 Ne5 20. b3 a6 $11) 19... Bf8 20.
Nc2 Ne5 21. Na3 Rdc8 22. Bf4 Bg7 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Nc4 Bd4 25. Ne2 e5 26. a4
Kf8 27. Rc2 {Navara,D (2722)-Leko,P (2724)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/} Rab8 {
Navara,/\} 28. Na5 Ba8 $13 {/+/=}) 19. Bf4 Bc6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Nc2 (21. e5
Bxg2 22. exd6 Bf6 23. Nxg2 Bxc3 24. bxc3 e5 25. Be3 Ra4 $36) 21... Ne5 22. Ne3
Nf3+ 23. Bxf3 gxf3 24. h5 Bf6 25. Ng4 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxe4 27. Bxh6+ Kh7 28. Bg5
Rd7 29. Bf4 f6 {Wang Yue (2732)-Bacrot,E (2716)/Nanjing/2010/} 30. Bxd6 Rad8
31. Bf4 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 Rxd2 33. Bxd2 Bd3 $11) 12... h6 (12... Na6 13. a3 (13. e4
$14 {/\} Nxe4 $2 14. Ne5 $36) 13... Bc6 14. Qc2 Qb7 15. e4 (15. Bd6 $5) 15...
d6 16. Ne1 Rac8 17. e5 dxe5 18. Bxe5 Nb8 $11 {Kantorik,M (2390)-Stefansson,H 
(2588)/Sarajevo/2010/}) (12... d5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Ne5 $14 {is still risky
for Black, although here it's more justified than with White's R on d2.}) 13.
Qb5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This novelty doesn't seem too enterprising.} ({More logical
seems to be} 13. a3 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4 , but Kramnik already played this
earlier and Carlsen was undoubtedly prepared. However, we can only guess what
exactly he had on his mind.} a5 (13... Nc6 14. Nb5 a6 15. Nd6 $14) ({A
probably playable alternative is} 13... Bc6 $5 14. Qc2 a5 15. e4 d6 $132) 14.
Qb5 Qxb5 15. cxb5 (15. Nxb5 $5 {seems more promising.}) 15... d5 16. Ne5 g5 17.
Be3 Nbd7 $132 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. bxc6 Ne5 20. Na4 Nxc6 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Nxc5
Rab8 23. e4 dxe4 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Nd4 27. Kg2 Nb3 $11 {
Kramnik,V (2759)-Bacrot,E (2721)/Dortmund/2009/}) 13... Bc6 {Contrary to the
previous note, here Black can force his opponent to swap the L. However, he
had other plausible and possibly stronger moves at his disposal:} (13... d5 $5
{seems more to the point now,} 14. cxd5 (14. Nd2 Qxb5 15. Nxb5 Nc6 16. cxd5
Nxd5 $11) 14... Nxd5 (14... exd5 15. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5}) 15. Ne5 (15. Qc4
Nd7 $5 $11) 15... g5 16. Bd2 Nc6 $13 {leads to a complex position, in which
Black's piece-play compensates his shaky P-structure.}) (13... Nc6 14. Ne5 (14.
Qxb6 axb6 15. Bc7 Rdc8 16. Bxb6 $2 Ra6 $17) 14... g5 $5 (14... d5 15. cxd5 Qxb5
16. Nxb5 Nxd5 17. Nc7 $1 Nxf4 18. gxf4 $14) 15. Qxb6 (15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bxc6
dxc6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Bc7 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 b5 $11) 15... axb6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17.
Bc7 Rdc8 18. Bd6 Kf8 {and Black should gradually equalize.}) 14. Qxb6 (14. Qb3
d6 $11) 14... axb6 15. b3 (15. Bc7 $5 Rc8 16. Bxb8 (16. Bxb6 $2 Ra6 17. Bxc5
Bxc5 18. b4 Ra3 $19) 16... Rcxb8 (16... Raxb8 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 d6 19. Nf3
{can be very similar to the game.}) 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 d5 19. a3 {[%csl Rb6,
Rc5] is an interesting try to stabilize Black's <<P on the dark squares. Black
should probably refrain from} dxc4 (19... d4 $5 20. Nb5 $13 {/+/=}) 20. Nb5 c3
(20... Ra4 21. Rbc1) 21. bxc3 $36 (21. Nxc3 Rb7 22. Nb5 Ra5 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24.
Rxd6 b5 {and Black gradually consolidates.})) (15. Bxb8 Rdxb8 {-15.Bc7 leads
to the same position as the line above with one move less.}) 15... g5 $6 {
Provocative and positionally risky.} ({Carlsen was probably getting ambitious,
as much simpler is} 15... Ne4 $142 $1 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Rb2 Nc6 $11 (17... d5
$11 {and Black has no problems whatsoever.})) ({Even} 15... d6 {is a more
solid choice.}) 16. Bxb8 $5 {[%mdl 32]} ({Even here Kramnik could play} 16. Bc7
Rc8 17. Bxb8 {, but he prefers the direct swap. In the long run White's main
strategic aim is to achieve a position with a strong N against a passive B.} (
17. Bd6 Kf8 18. a4 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 Ke7 20. Rbd1 Ne8 21. R6d3 d6 $11)) 16... Raxb8
(16... Rdxb8 $5 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 d5 {deserves attention, leading to a
position from the note to White's 15-th move, only with the extra moves b3 and
g5. It's not so easy to exploit this with White, as} 19. cxd5 (19. a4 Bd6 20.
Nf3 g4 {/\ Be5<=>}) 19... Nxd5 (19... exd5 20. a4 $1 d4 21. Nb5 $36) 20. Nxd5
exd5 21. a4 (21. Rxd5 Rxa2 22. e4 Re8 $11) 21... d4 22. e3 dxe3 23. fxe3 b5 24.
Rd7 Bf8 $132 {is not too impressive.}) 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rbc8 {[%cal Yd7d6,
Yd7d5] /\d6,d5} 19. e4 {Black had to loses a tempo to cover the c6-square,
enabling White to prevent the immediate d5.} ({He needn't worry unduly about} 
19. Na4 d6 20. Nxb6 Rb8 $5 (20... dxe5 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 $11) 21. Nc6 (21. Nd5 Nxd5
22. Nc6 Nb4 $15) 21... Rxb6 22. Nxd8 Bxd8 23. b4 cxb4 24. c5 Rb8 25. cxd6 Nd5
$11) 19... d6 20. Nd3 ({More accurate is} 20. Nf3 $1 g4 21. Ne1 h5 22. Rd2 $14
({or} 22. f4 $5 $14 {and White retains some pressure.})) 20... Kf8 $6 ({
Black should have used his chance to play the active} 20... d5 $142 21. e5 Ne8
22. Nb5 $5 $13) 21. h3 (21. Nb2 $5 $14 {/\Nba4,Nb5+/=}) 21... Nd7 ({Black
still could have gained space with} 21... d5 $142 $5) 22. f4 $1 {[%csl Rg5,Rh6]
Another drawback of Black's 15-th move is he loosened his >>.} Nb8 {[%cal
Yb8c6,Yc6d4,Ye7f6] /\Nc6-d4,Bf6 This plan is too slow and doesn't achieve the
desired result.} (22... Ra8 $142 23. Rd2 $14) 23. Na4 {Forces the N back.} (23.
Nb5 Na6 $5 {/\Nc7+/=} (23... Nc6 24. Nb2 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6] /\Na4,Rd2,Rbd1,><b6,d6
}) (23... d5 24. exd5 exd5 25. Ne5 $36)) 23... Nd7 $8 24. Nf2 $36 Ra8 25. Rd2
Ra5 {[%cal Yb6b5] /\b5 Black finds a way to chase away the nagging Na4} (25...
Rxa4 $2 26. bxa4 {[%cal Rf2d1,Rd1c3] /\Nd1-c3} Ra8 27. e5 $18) 26. Nc3 Nb8 (
26... Bf6 27. Nb5 d5 28. exd5 exd5 29. Rxd5 $5 Rxa2 30. Rbd1 $16) 27. Rbd1 (27.
a4 Nc6 28. Nb5 {stops Black's idea from the game, but allows} Na7 $14) 27...
Nc6 28. Nb5 gxf4 (28... Nd4 29. Nxd4 cxd4 30. a4 $1 (30. Rxd4 gxf4 31. gxf4
Rxa2 32. e5 Bh4 $11) 30... Bf6 31. Ng4 Bg7 32. Nh2 $14 {[%cal Yh2f3,Yf3e1,
Ye1d3,Yd3b4] /+/-,/\Nf3 will force Black to play e5, killing his B. White can
then proceed to transfer his N to the dominant square d5 (Ne1-d3-b4) and
prepare either b4, or opening the >>.}) 29. gxf4 d5 $5 {Although this doesn't
solve Black's problems, one can understand Carlsen's liberating attempt.} (
29... Nd4 {is similar to 28...Nd4 and might be safer , but it offers little or
no active <=>.}) 30. exd5 exd5 31. cxd5 Rxb5 (31... Nd4 $5 32. Nxd4 cxd4 33.
Rxd4 Rxa2 34. R4d2 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 f5 $1 36. Nd1 Bc5 37. Kf3 Kf7 $16 {/+/=}) 32.
dxc6 Rc8 33. Ng4 Rxc6 (33... c4 34. bxc4 Ra5 35. Ne5 $16) 34. Ne5 $36 {[%csl
Rb5,Ge5] White has achieved his strategic aim and his N dominates in the [+].
This together with the misplaced Rb5 and vulnerable K makes the defence very
difficult.} Re6 35. Kf3 (35. Nd7+ Ke8 36. f5 Re4 (36... Rc6 37. Ne5 Rc7 (37...
Rf6 38. Nc4 $1 {[%cal Rd1e1] /\Re1+-->}) 38. Re2 $40) 37. f6 Rd4 $1 38. Rxd4
cxd4 39. Rxd4 Bd8 $14 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6] ><f6,Nd7}) 35... Ra5 $2 $138 (35... Rb4
$142 36. Rd5 $5 {/\} (36. Rd7 b5 $5 $14 {/\c4<=>}) (36. Rg2 $6 Bf6 $11 {/\} 37.
Nd7+ Ke7 38. f5 Ree4) 36... Bf6 37. Nc4 $16) 36. Rg2 {[%cal Gg1g8,Re5d7]
-><->g,/\Nd7} (36. Rg1 f5 (36... f6 37. Rg6 $18) 37. a4 $1 $18) 36... f6 (36...
Bf6 37. Nd7+ Ke7 38. f5 $18 {wins an exchange, as here the R can't go to e4.})
(36... f5 37. Rd7 {[%cal Rd7b7] /\Rb7+-}) 37. Nc4 $1 {Again the strategic
approach, Kramnik is in no hurry to win material and tightens the screws.} (37.
Rg6 Rxa2 38. Rdg1 Rxe5 39. fxe5 fxe5 40. Rxb6 $18) 37... Ra7 (37... Ra8 38. f5
Rc6 39. a4 $1 $18 {is similar.}) 38. f5 Rc6 39. a4 $1 $18 {[%csl Rb6,Rc5,Re7,
Rf6,Rh6] All Black's P are vulnerable and his miserable B has no moves.} Rb7 (
39... Ke8 40. Rg7 Rac7 41. Rh7 Bf8 42. Re1+ (42. Rxc7 Rxc7 43. Nxb6 $18) 42...
Kd8 43. Rxc7 Kxc7 44. Re8 Bd6 45. Ke4 $18) 40. Rg6 h5 (40... b5 41. Na5 $18)
41. Rdg1 {[%cal Rg6g8,Rg1g7]} Ke8 (41... Kf7 42. Ne5+ $18) 42. Ne5 $1 {The N
joins the -> and wraps up the game.} Rc8 43. Rg8+ Bf8 44. Ng6 Rf7 45. Rd1 $22 {
The most clinical solution.} ({After} 45. Rd1 Ra8 46. Rd6 Rb8 47. Rh8 {Black
is fully paralysed and can't avoid heavy material losses.}) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 O-O 11. exd4 Nd5 {The defence with the knight move to
the blockading square is preventing the advance of the d4-pawn.} (11... Nb4 12.
Bg5 Bd7 13. Ne5 Bc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. a5 Nfd5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Na4 Nf6 18. Nc5
Rab8 19. a6 Rb6 20. Na4 Rbb8 21. Nc5 Rb6 22. b3 {1/2-1/2 Zhou Jianchao (2650)
-Nguyen Huynh Minh,H (2469)/Olongapo City 2010 (28)}) 12. Bb3 (12. Qe4 Nf6 13.
Qh4 Nb4 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bd2 b6 (15... Bd7 16. Ne5 Bc6 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 Nh7
19. Bd3 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Bg5 21. Qh5 Qf6 22. Rg3 $18 {1/2-1/2 Kulaots,K (2592)
-Jakovenko,D (2726)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010 (60)}) 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18.
Qxh6 Nh7 19. Bd3 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Bg5 21. Qh5 Qf6 22. Rh3 Qg7 23. Rg3 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A (2756)-Karjakin,S (2725)/Nice 2010 (30)}) 12... Na5 (12...
Ncb4 13. Ne5 Bd7 14. Qg4 (14. Qf3 Bc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. a5 Rb8 17. Bd2 Qc8 18.
Ne4 Qa6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf6 21. Rdc1 Rfd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Krush,I (2475)
-Hera,I (2544)/Lubbock 2007 (61)}) 14... Nf6 15. Qg3 Bc6 16. Bh6 Ne8 17. Rac1
Kh8 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bf4 Nd6 20. Be5 Nf5 21. Qh3 Qb6 22. Ne4 $16 {1-0
Kasimdzhanov,R (2702)-Perez Garcia,R (2426)/Lugo 2009 (54)}) 13. Ba2 (13. Bc2
Nb4 14. Bf4 Nxc2 15. Qxc2 Nc6 16. Rac1 $14) 13... Nb4 $2 {[%mdl 4] Both
knights have moved to the edge of the board in the interest of the fight
against the light-squared bishop. Shirov somehow managed to forget, that after
the last move White can open the centre.} (13... Nc6 14. h3 Ncb4 15. Bc4 b6 16.
Ne5 Bb7 $13) 14. d5 $1 Nxa2 (14... exd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Qe8 17. Re1 Qd7
18. Qe4 Bf6 19. Ng5 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 $16) 15. Rxa2 Bf6 {The sharp struggle is
beginning at a moment when Black is ill prepared for the combat. The real
solution is a pipedream; the various defences are different only in the level
of damage.} (15... Bd6 16. b4 Bxb4 17. dxe6 Qe8 18. Nd5 Bxe6 19. Nxb4 Bxa2 20.
Qxa2 $16) (15... exd5 16. Rxd5 Qc7 17. Rxa5 Qxa5 18. Qxe7 $18) 16. dxe6 (16. d6
e5 17. Ne4 Nc6 18. b3 Bf5 19. Ba3 Re8 20. d7 Bxd7 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. Rad2 Nd4
23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Qf3 $16) 16... Qe7 $2 {Not quite sufficient, but still the
best continuation was hidden in the retreat of the queen to the e8-square.} (
16... Qe8 $1 17. exf7+ Qxf7 18. Nd5 Bg4 19. Ra3 Rad8 20. Rad3 $16) 17. Nd5 $1
Qxe6 18. b4 Nc6 (18... Nb3 $2 19. Be3 $1 Qe4 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bh6 $18) 19. b5
Ne5 {The problems of the defence have been magnified, since Kramnik created
the additional possibility of developing the bishop to the a3-square.} (19...
Ne7 20. Nxf6+ $1 (20. Nc7 Qxe2 21. Rxe2 Rb8 22. Ba3 Be6 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Rxe6
$16) 20... gxf6 21. Qd2 Re8 22. Ra3 $16) 20. Nc7 (20. Ra3 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Bd8
22. Re3 Qg6 23. Qe2 Bg4 24. f3 Be6 25. Nf4 $16) 20... Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Qxe2 22.
Rxe2 Be6 {Shirov will not be able even to pretend to have some compensation
for the missing exchange.} (22... Rb8 23. Ba3 Bf5 24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Rde1 $16) (
22... Bh3 23. Nxa8 Rxa8 24. Bb2 Bg5 25. Rc2 $16) 23. Nxa8 Rxa8 24. Bb2 Rc8 {
Black is desperatelly trying to complete his development in order to try
building some resistance.} (24... Bg5 25. Rxe6 $5 fxe6 26. Rd7 Bf6 27. Bxf6
gxf6 28. Rxb7 $18) 25. Rc1 (25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Ree1 Rc4 27. Rd8+ Kg7 28. Re4 $16
) 25... Rd8 (25... Rxc1+ 26. Bxc1 h6 27. Bb2 Bg5 28. Bd4 $18) 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27.
Kg2 {The white king had no desire to become locked after the possible Bh3 move.
} a6 28. bxa6 (28. Rc7 axb5 29. axb5 Rd5 30. Rxb7 Rg5+ 31. Kh1 Bc4 32. Rb2 Bd5
33. Rb8+ Kg7 34. h4 Bxf3+ 35. Kh2 Rg2+ 36. Kh3 f5 37. b6 $18) 28... bxa6 29.
Rc6 Kg7 (29... Rd5 30. h4 Ra5 31. Re4 $18) 30. Re4 f5 31. Rh4 {The rook move
makes a strange impression, but the h4-square is a safe retreat for the rook
along the 4th rank. Improving the pieces will not be any problem for Kramnik.}
(31. Re5 Kf6 32. Ra5 $18) 31... Ra8 32. a5 Kg6 33. Kg3 Kg5 34. Rd4 h5 35. h4+
Kf6 36. Kf4 Rb8 (36... Ra7 37. Rdd6 $18) 37. Rxa6 Rb2 38. Ra4 Rxf2 39. Rxe6+ $1
{The shortening of the enemy's suffering can be seen as a humanitarian act of
mercy...} fxe6 40. a6 Re2 41. a7 (41. a7 e5+ 42. Kg3 f4+ 43. Kh3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. e3 (9. Nf3 Qa5+ 10. Nd2 $5 {is more aggressive here.}) 9... Qa5+
10. Bd2 Nxd2 (10... Qxc5 {is less common.}) 11. Qxd2 dxc4 (11... Qxc5 {is
possible here, too.}) 12. Bxc4 (12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Rc1 b5 $5 14. cxb6 Bb7 $5 $44
{is the main topic of today's theoretical discussions in this system.}) 12...
Qxc5 13. Rc1 Qe7 ({The endgame after} 13... Qg5 14. f4 Qh4+ 15. Qf2 Qxf2+ 16.
Kxf2 Ke7 {is nearly equal, e.g.} 17. Nf3 Bd7 18. b4 Rac8 19. g4 h6 20. h4 Rc7
21. Be2 Rhc8 22. g5 Nd8 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Ne5 Be8 25. Rd1 hxg5 26. fxg5 f6 $11
{1/2 Sokolov,I (2684)-Ribli,Z (2574)/Germany 2002/EXT 2003 (35)}) {However,
Black prefers to keep queens, posing more problems to out-of-form GM Pavel
Eljanov.} 14. Nf3 O-O 15. b4 {[%cal Yd2b2]} (15. O-O Rd8 16. Qc3 (16. Bd3 e5
17. e4 Be6 18. Qe3 f6 $11 {1/2 Koneru,H (2622)-Hou,Y (2570)/Nalchik 2010/CBM
136 (75)}) 16... Bd7 17. b4 a6 18. Bd3 (18. e4 Na7 19. e5 Bc6 20. Be2 Nb5 21.
Qe3 a5 $132 {1/2 Fridman,D (2630)-Cruz,C (2534)/Leon 2008/CBM 127 Extra (49)})
18... Rac8 19. Qb2 Na7 20. h3 Bb5 21. Bxb5 Nxb5 22. Ne5 h6 23. a4 Nd6 24. Rfd1
Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Ne8 26. a5 Nc7 {1/2 Bocharov,D (2582)-Riazantsev,A (2617)/
Novokuznetsk 2008/CBM 126}) 15... Rd8 16. Qb2 Bd7 17. O-O (17. b5 Na5 18. Be2
b6 19. Qb4 Qxb4+ 20. axb4 Nb7 21. Ne5 Nd6 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. bxc6 a5 $1 $132 {
0-1 Morozevich,A (2771)-Karjakin,S (2706)/Nice 2009/CBM 129 Extra (68)}) 17...
Qf6 {After all Black decides to trade queens. The resulting position is,
however, slightly preferable for White due to his better bishop and Black's
inferior pawn sructure.} (17... Rac8 $5 18. Rfd1 a6) 18. Qxf6 gxf6 $14 19. Be2
(19. Rfd1 Be8 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Bb5 Kf8 22. Kf1 Ke7 23. Ke2 Bd7 24. Bd3 f5 25.
g3 Rg8 $6 (25... a6) 26. Rc5 f6 27. e4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Rg7 29. Bxc6 Bxc6 30. Nd4
$16 {1-0 Palme,R-Eliskases,E/Berlin 1938/HCL (56)}) 19... a5 $6 {Too
aggressive.} (19... Rac8 20. Rfd1 Kf8) (19... Ne7 $5 20. Rfd1 a6 21. Rc7 $140
$6 Nd5) 20. b5 Ne7 {[%csl Ra5,Rb6,Rb7,Rd7] Blackґs bishop is now constricted,
and his queenside pawns are vulnerable.} 21. Rfd1 Nd5 (21... Be8 22. Nd2 $1 {
[%cal Yd2c4,Ya3a4,Yd2e4]}) 22. e4 $1 (22. g3 Be8) 22... Nf4 23. Bf1 {[%cal
Yg2g3]} e5 {This weakening is practically forced; otherwise Black's pieces
can't breathe!} 24. Nh4 $1 Bg4 $6 (24... Kf8 {may be more to the point but
after} 25. g3 {White keeps a clear plus:} Nh3+ (25... Ng6 26. Rc7 Bg4 27. Rxd8+
Rxd8 28. Nf5 Bf3 29. Ne3 $1 Bxe4 30. Bg2 $16) (25... Ne6 26. Nf5) 26. Kg2 Ng5
27. f3 {[%csl Rg5]} Be8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rc7 Rd2+ 30. Kg1 Rd7 31. Rc8 $16) 25.
f3 Be6 26. Nf5 $6 (26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Rc7 $16 {[%csl Gc7]} Rd7 $140 28. b6 $1
Kf8 29. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 30. exf5 Rd1 31. Rxb7 Rb1 32. Rb8+ Ke7 33. b7 {, and White
should convert his extra pawn.}) 26... Bxf5 27. exf5 Nd5 28. Rd3 $6 (28. Kf2
$16 {[%cal Yf1d3,Yd3e4] was still very strong.}) 28... Rd7 29. Rc4 (29. Rcd1
Rad8 $11 {[%cal Yd5b6]}) 29... Rad8 30. Ra4 $6 {Starting a series of awful
rook moves.} (30. Kf2 $11) 30... b6 31. Rg4+ Kf8 32. Rh4 $2 (32. Rc4 Ne7 33.
Rxd7 Rxd7 34. g4 Rd2 $1 35. Rc7 Nd5 36. Rc6 $15) 32... Ne7 $1 33. Rxd7 Rxd7 {
[%cal Gd7d1,Re7f5,Rf5e3][%mdl 4096]} 34. Rxh7 Nxf5 35. Rh5 {This poor rook
still remains out of play! But its activation (after losing so much time)
didn't solve White's problems:} (35. Rh8+ Kg7 36. Rb8 Rd1 $1 37. Kf2 (37. Rxb6
Ne3 38. Kf2 Nxf1 39. Ra6 Rb1 40. Rxa5 Nd2) 37... Rd2+ 38. Ke1 Ra2 39. Rxb6 Ne3
$5 40. Ra6 (40. Bd3 Nxg2+ 41. Kf1 Nf4 $17) 40... Ra1+ 41. Kf2 Nxf1 42. Rxa5 Nd2
43. Ra4 $1 Ra2 $1 44. Ke3 $1 Nb3 $1 {In this sharp endgame Black keeps good
winning chances.}) 35... Ne3 $1 {[%cal Rd7d1] And the white bishop is caged,
too!} 36. Kf2 (36. Be2 Rd2 37. Kf2 Nxg2 (37... Nc2 $5)) 36... Nc2 $1 37. f4 (
37. Rh8+ Kg7 38. Rb8 Rd2+ $1 39. Kg1 $8 Ne3 40. Rxb6 Rd1 (40... f5 $5 41. Rc6
Rd1 42. Kf2 Nxf1 43. b6 Rb1 44. Rc5 Nd2 45. Rxe5 Nc4 46. Rc5 Nxb6 47. Rxa5 f4)
41. Kf2 Nxf1 42. Ra6 Rb1 43. Rxa5 Nd2 {- see annotation to move 35.}) 37... e4
{[%csl Ge4]} 38. Rh8+ Kg7 39. Rc8 (39. Rb8 $142 e3+ 40. Kf3 Re7 {[%cal Rc2d4]}
41. Rd8 Nxa3 42. Bd3 Nb1 $1 {[%cal Yb1d2,Yd2b3]} 43. Rc8 Nd2+ 44. Ke2 Nb3 45.
Rc4 a4 $1 $17) 39... Rd2+ 40. Be2 Nxa3 41. Ke3 {The white king will be
vulnerable here.} (41. Rb8 {was, however, hopeless enough. Here is a possible
line, and look at the moves of the black knight:} Rb2 $1 (41... Nxb5 42. Ke1
Rd5 43. Rxb6 Nc3 $17) 42. Rxb6 a4 {[%cal Ra3c2,Ra4a3,Ra3a2]} 43. Ra6 Nxb5 {
[%cal Rb5c3]} 44. Ke3 Nc3 $1 45. Bc4 f5 $1 46. Kd4 Nd1 47. Ra7 (47. Rxa4 Rd2+
48. Ke5 Nb2 49. Rb4 e3 $19) 47... e3 $1 48. Rxf7+ Kg6 49. Re7 (49. Ke5 Rb5+ $1
50. Bxb5 Kxf7 $19 {[%csl Ga4,Ge3]}) 49... Rxg2 {, and Black should win.}) 41...
Rb2 42. Rb8 (42. g4 Nxb5 43. Bxb5 Rxb5 $19 {_|_}) 42... f5 $1 {[%cal Ra3c2]}
43. Bf1 Rb1 44. Be2 Rb3+ 45. Kf2 Nxb5 46. Rxb6 e3+ $1 47. Kg3 Nd4 48. Rxb3 Nxb3
49. Kf3 $2 (49. Bb5 $8 {could have prolonged White's torture:} Nd4 {[%csl Gd4]}
50. Bc4 (50. Ba4 Kf6 51. Bd7 Ke7 52. Ba4 Kd8 $22 53. h4 {This pawn must move
forward to its death!} Ke7 54. h5 Kf6 55. Be8 Kg7 56. Bd7 (56. h6+ Kxh6 57.
Bxf7 a4 58. Bc4 a3 {[%cal Yh6g7,Yg7f8,Yf8e7,Ye7d6,Yd6c5,Yc5b4,Yb4c3]}) 56...
Kh6 57. Be8 Kxh5 58. Bxf7+ Kh6 59. Be8 Kg7 $19 {[%cal Yg7f8,Yf8e7,Ye7d6,Yd6c5,
Yc5b4]}) 50... a4 51. Bd5 a3 52. Bc4 Kf8 53. Bd5 Ke7 54. h4 (54. Bc4 Kd6 55.
Ba2 Kc5 $1 56. h4 Kb4 57. h5 Kc3 $19) 54... Kf6 55. h5 Kg7 56. Bc4 f6 57. Bd5
Kh6 58. Bf7 Ne2+ 59. Kf3 Nc3 60. Kxe3 a2 61. Bxa2 Nxa2 $19) 49... a4 (49... a4
50. Bd1 Nd4+ $1 51. Kxe3 a3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Rc1 {A rare move. It can transpose into the main 8.Qd2 line but Vladimir
Kramnik's idea is different.} h6 (8... Bb4 9. a3 (9. Qd2 {leads to the main
theoretical line}) 9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O $6 (10... Qxa3 {is similar to the
game}) 11. e4 N5f6 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bxf6 (13. Bh4 $5) 13... Nxf6 14. O-O Rd8 15.
Qe2 Nd7 16. e5 Qxa3 17. Nd2 Nf8 18. Ne4 $36 {1-0 Ghane Gardeh,S (2374)-Ataman,
A (2197)/Izmir 2003/EXT 2004 (28)}) 9. Bh4 Bb4 (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qxa2 11. Bd3
$44) 10. a3 $5 {[%mdl 512]} Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxa3 12. Qd2 b5 $1 {Preparing the
retreat ...Nd5-b6.} (12... O-O $6 13. e4 {leads to a well-known position
arising from the 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 0-0 line, which is not good for Black.}) 13.
Bd3 O-O 14. O-O Bb7 15. c4 $5 bxc4 16. Bxc4 N5b6 17. Bd3 Rfc8 18. Bb1 c5 $1 {
Black has successfully solved his problems. White's compensation for the pawn
can only be enough for equality.} 19. dxc5 $6 (19. Be7 $5 {A possible line:}
Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nd5 21. Bd6 Rc6 22. dxc5 Rac8 23. e4 $1 Qxf3 (23... Nc7 $6) 24.
exd5 Rxd6 25. cxd6 Qg4+ $11) 19... Nxc5 20. Qd6 Qa4 (20... Nd5 $5 21. Nd4 (21.
Ne5 Qa6 $1) 21... a5 $17) 21. Nd4 Qd7 (21... Ne4 $5 22. Qe7 (22. Qe5 Nd2) 22...
Qd7 $15) 22. Qf4 $1 g5 $6 {An extremely unfortunate weakening.} (22... Qd5 23.
f3 e5 24. Qf5 g6 25. Qg4 h5 26. Qg3 exd4 27. Bxg6 fxg6 28. Qxg6+ Kf8 {is good
enough for a draw but Black can, of course, play for a win by means of}) (22...
Ba6 $1 23. Rfd1 Nd3 $1 24. Bxd3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Bxd3 26. Rc7 $140 $6 Rc8 $1) 23.
Qf6 $1 (23. Bxg5 {was also possible but less convincing:} Nd5 $1 (23... Qd5 $2
24. Bh7+ $3 $18) 24. Qe5 hxg5 25. Qxg5+ Kf8 26. e4 $44) 23... gxh4 24. Qxh6 f5
(24... Ne4 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. f3 e5 27. fxe4 exd4 28. Ba2 Rc7 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 31. Qg6+ Kf8 32. exd4 $16 {_|_}) 25. Rxc5 $1 Rxc5 26. Nxe6 {[%csl
Rg8][%mdl 128] Black is temporarily a rook up but must gradually give back all
his material advantage. His defense is quite difficult due to the completely
exposed position of his king.} Rac8 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Bxf5 Rxf5 30.
Qxf5 Bd5 (30... Qe7 $142 31. Qg6+ Kh8 32. Ng5 (32. e4 Rc6 $1) 32... Qg7 (32...
Rf8 $143 33. Rd1) 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. Qxh4 Rc5 35. Ne4 Bxe4 36. Qxe4 $14 {Here,
at least, Black gets rid of White's annoying knight.}) 31. Qg5+ Kf7 32. Nf4 Bc4
33. Ra1 $1 {Not only attacking the a7-pawn but also creating the idea Ra1-a5
to bring this rook into his kingside attack.} Rg8 (33... Qe7 34. Qh5+ Kg8 35.
Ra5 $1 Bb5 36. h3 Rc5 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Qb1 $1 {[%cal Ra5b5,Rf4g6]} Be8 39. Qa1+
Kg8 40. Rxa7 $16) 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qxh4 Bf7 36. h3 Rg7 37. Qh8+ Rg8 38. Qf6 Nd5
39. Qd4 $1 Qf5 40. Rxa7 {White has collected a fourth pawn for the piece and
easily converts his material advantage.} Nxf4 41. exf4 Qd5 42. Qb4+ Kg7 43. Qe7
Kh8 44. Qh4+ Qh5 45. Qf6+ Rg7 46. f5 $1 Kg8 47. Kh2 Qe2 48. Qd4 Qc4 49. Qxc4
Bxc4 50. Rxg7+ Kxg7 51. g4 Kf6 52. Kg3 Ke5 53. h4 Bd5 54. h5 Bb3 55. h6 Bg8 56.
Kh4 Kf6 57. f3 Bh7 58. Kh5 Bg8 59. g5+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Nd5 8. h4
Bg4 9. h5 c5 10. hxg6 hxg6 11. Rh4 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nb4 13. Bc4 e6 14. Qh3 Nxc2+
15. Kf1 Nxd4 16. Ne4 Nf5 17. Bg5 Qd4 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Rxd4 Bxg5 20. Rg4 Bh6
21. Bd3 Ne3+ 22. Kf2 Nxg4+ 23. Qxg4 Nc6 24. Rh1 Bg7 25. Qh4 Rfd8 26. Bxg6 fxg6
27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Rf1 Rd7 29. Qxg6 Rf7+ 30. Ke1 Nxe5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 c5 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e5 Nc6 7. Bb5 Nh6 8. O-O
Bg4 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. h3 Bd7 12. Nb3 f6 13. Nc5 Bf5 14. Re1 Nf7 15.
Qa4 fxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qb6 18. Be3 Qxb2 19. Bd4 Qb5 20. Qa3 h5 21.
Rac1 Rab8 22. Qxa7 Qb4 23. Na6 Qb5 24. Nxb8 Rxb8 25. Qxe7 Qa4 26. Ba1 Bf8 27.
Qf6 Bg7 28. Qxc6 Qxa2 29. e6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. h3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Rc8 13. Qd2 h5 14. Bg5 Nh7 15.
Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 e5 17. Nf3 Na4 18. Nxa4 Bxa4 19. b3 Bc6 20. c4 Qf6 21. a4 a5
22. Rad1 Rfd8 23. h4 Qg7 24. Qe3 Nf8 25. Qb6 Ra8 26. Rd2 Qf6 27. Red1 Ra6 28.
Qe3 Raa8 29. Bh3 Qe7 30. c5 dxc5 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Rxd8 Qxd8 33. Nxe5 Be8 34.
Nc4 b6 35. e5 Qd1+ 36. Bf1 Bc6 37. Qd3 Qe1 38. Qe3 Qa1 39. f4 Ne6 40. Kf2 Nd4
41. Qd2 Qb1 42. Qb2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
Rb8 9. h3 a6 10. f4 Bd7 11. a4 Ne8 12. Be3 Nd4 13. Rb1 b5 14. axb5 axb5 15.
cxb5 Bxb5 16. g4 Nc7 17. Ng3 e6 18. f5 Qh4 19. Bf2 Qg5 20. h4 Qd8 21. g5 exf5
22. exf5 Nxf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Bg3 f6 25. Rxf5 fxg5 26. Rxg5 Kh8 27. Ne4 Ne6
28. Rxg7 Nxg7 29. Bxd6 Qxh4 30. Qd2 Rbd8 31. Bxf8 Rxf8 32. Qc3 Qf4 33. Qxc5
Bxd3 34. Re1 Bxe4 35. Rf1 Rg8 36. Qe5 Ba8 37. b4 Re8 38. Qf6 Bd5 39. b5 Kg8 40.
b6 Ne6 41. Qe5 Bb7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bg4 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Qc7 6. Bb5+ Nd7 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8.
gxf3 e6 9. d4 Ngf6 10. e4 a6 11. Be2 dxe4 12. fxe4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg5 Be7
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Qa5+ 17. Kf1 O-O 18. f4 Ng6 19. e5 Rad8 20. Rd1 Nxf4 21.
Nxf4 Qxe5 22. Nh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Bg5 24. Qg3 Qc5 25. Rg1 Bh6 26. Nxg7 Kh8 27.
Nh5 f6 28. Kg2 Rg8 29. Bg4 f5 30. b4 Qd5+ 31. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2721"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. h3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Re1 Rc8 11. Bf1 Ne5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15.
Qd3 Nd7 16. Nd4 Ne5 17. Qd2 Bxh3 18. b3 Rxc3 19. Qxc3 Qd7 20. gxh3 Rc8 21. Qd2
Qxh3 22. f4 Ng4 23. Rad1 e5 24. Nb5 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 Qg4+ 26. Kf1 exf4 27. Rd3 f3
28. Qf2 Qh3+ 29. Ke1 Be5 30. Rxf3 Qg4 31. Nxd6 Rxc2 32. Qxc2 Qxf3 33. Qd3 Bc3+
0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Bd3 Qxb2 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Ngf3 e6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Be7 11. Ned2 Qb6 12. Qe2 Qd8 13. c4 Nh5 14. Bg3 O-O
15. Rad1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
b6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Rc1 Nh5 11. Bd2 Nhf6 12. Bf4 Nh5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Ne5 Nxf4
15. Nc6 Qe8 16. gxf4 Bd6 17. e3 Ba6 18. Re1 Nf6 19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Ne5 Qxa4 21.
Nxa4 Rfc8 22. a3 Kf8 23. Nc3 Ke7 24. Nb5 Ne8 25. Bf1 f6 26. Nf3 a6 27. Nxd6
Nxd6 28. Bd3 a5 29. Kf1 Bc6 30. Ke2 Nc4 31. Bxc4 dxc4 32. Nd2 b5 33. Rg1 g6 34.
f3 b4 35. axb4 axb4 36. Nxc4 Bb5 37. Kd3 Ra2 38. Rg2 b3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Re1 Bg4 8. Nbd2
e5 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Nbd7 11. b3 Re8 12. Bc2 Nh5 13. Bg5 Qa5 14. Qd2 exd4 15.
cxd4 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 c5 17. g4 Nhf6 18. e5 dxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 20. Be4 Nb4 21. Bxb7
Rab8 22. Bxb4 cxb4 23. Bc6 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxe5 Bxe5 26. Rd1 Rc8 27. Bb5
Rc7 28. Bc4 Kg7 29. Kg2 Re7 30. Rd5 h6 31. Rb5 Bc3 32. Rd5 Kf8 33. f4 Kg7 34.
Kf3 Rc7 35. h4 Re7 36. h5 Rc7 37. hxg6 fxg6 38. Rd6 Bf6 39. Bd3 Rf7 40. Kg2 g5
41. f5 Re7 42. Kf3 Kf7 43. Bc4+ Kg7 44. Rc6 Rd7 45. Be6 Rd3+ 46. Ke2 Rd4 47.
Rc7+ Kh8 48. Rf7 Be5 49. f6 Rd8 50. Kf3 Re8 51. Bc4 a5 52. Re7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Nc3 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Qd3 a6 11. Bg5 Bf5 12. Qd2 Rb8 13. Rac1 b5 14. Nd5 Be6
15. Bxf6 exf6 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Nb4 Qa5 18. a3 f5 19. Rfd1 Rfc8 20. Rxc8+ Rxc8
21. Qxd6 Bf6 22. Nc6 Qc7 23. Qd2 Qb6 24. Rc1 Kg7 25. e3 Rc7 26. Nd4 Rxc1+ 27.
Qxc1 Bc4 28. Bf1 Bxf1 29. Kxf1 b4 30. axb4 Qxb4 31. Qc3 Qb7 32. h4 Qh1+ 33. Ke2
Qb1 34. b3 Qa2+ 35. Qc2 Qa3 36. Nf3 Qa6+ 37. Qd3 Qa1 38. Nd2 Qb2 39. Kd1 Qa1+
40. Qb1 Qa8 41. Ke2 Qa6+ 42. Nc4 Qb5 43. Qd3 Qa6 44. Kf3 Qb7+ 45. Ke2 Qa6 46.
Kf1 h5 47. e4 fxe4 48. Qxe4 Qb5 49. Qd3 Qb7 50. Ne3 Qh1+ 51. Ke2 Qa1 52. Nd5
Qb2+ 53. Kf3 Be5 54. Ne3 Bf6 55. Qc2 Qa1 56. b4 Qa6 57. Qc4 Qb7+ 58. Nd5 Be5
59. b5 Qd7 60. Kg2 Qf5 61. b6 Qb1 62. Qb4 Qd3 63. Ne3 Bd6 64. Qc4 Qd2 65. b7
Qb2 66. Qd5 Bb8 67. Nc4 Qf6 68. Qf3 Qe6 69. Na5 Bc7 70. Nc6 Qd6 71. Qc3+ Kh7
72. Qc4 Kg7 73. Qb5 Qe6 74. b8=Q Bxb8 75. Nxb8 Qd6 76. Nc6 Qd1 77. Qe5+ Kh7 78.
Nd4 Qa1 79. Qd5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Be3 Nbd7 8. Nd2
b5 9. f4 Nb6 10. Bf3 Qc7 11. Qe1 a5 12. Qh4 b4 13. Ne2 e6 14. Kh1 d5 15. e5
Nfd7 16. g4 c5 17. c3 cxd4 18. cxd4 Qc2 19. f5 exf5 20. gxf5 Qxf5 21. Nf4 g5
22. Qh5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 gxf4 24. Qxf5 Bxf5 25. Bxb6 Bxe5 26. Rg1+ Bg6 27. Bxd5
Ra6 28. Nc4 Bxb2 29. Raf1 Bg7 30. Rxf4 a4 31. h4 b3 32. a3 b2 33. Bd4 Bxd4 34.
Rxd4 b1=Q 35. Rxb1 Bxb1 36. Ne5 Kg7 37. Rg4+ Bg6 38. h5 Ra5 39. hxg6 Rxd5 40.
gxf7+ Kf6 41. Nf3 Rxf7 42. Rxa4 Rg7 43. Rh4 Rd3 44. Rf4+ Ke6 45. a4 Rg3 46. Ng1
Rd1 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. d4 Rc8 11. Rad1 c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Qb1 Qe7 14. Ng5 Nfe4 15.
Ngxe4 dxe4 16. Rd2 Bb8 17. Rfd1 Qg5 18. g3 Qf5 19. Bf1 Nd3 20. Bg2 Ne5 21. Nb5
Nd3 22. Rxd3 exd3 23. Bxb7 Rcd8 24. Nd4 Qg6 25. Bg2 Rd7 26. Bf1 Rfd8 27. Bxd3
Qh5 28. Nc6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 Nxc3 5. bxc3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Rb1 Nc6 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. Qc2 Qd7 11. d3 e5 12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Nd2 Rad8 14. Ne4 Ba8
15. Ba3 Rfe8 16. Qa4 h6 17. Qb5 Kh7 18. Nd2 f5 19. e3 a6 20. Qa4 a5 21. Qb5 Na7
22. Qxd7 Rxd7 23. Bxa8 Rxa8 24. d4 Rad8 25. Kf1 Nc6 26. Nc4 Rd5 27. Nd2 R5d7
28. Ke2 Re8 29. Kf1 Red8 30. Nf3 e4 31. Nd2 Ne5 32. Ke2 Ng4 33. h3 Nf6 34. c4
Kg8 35. Rb5 Kf7 36. Nb1 Ne8 37. Nc3 c5 38. dxc5 Rxd1 39. Nxd1 Rxd1 40. Kxd1 Bc3
41. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "32"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O Be7
9. cxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 O-O 11. b3 Bxc5 12. Ne2 Bg4 13. Bb2 Qe7 14. Rc1 Bd6 15.
Ng3 Ne4 16. Be2 Rfd8 17. Nd4 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Qe6 21.
Qb2 f6 22. b4 Rac8 23. b5 axb5 24. Qxb5 Qf7 25. Rfd1 Bf8 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Bb6
Rc4 28. a5 d4 29. Bxd4 Rb4 30. Qf5 Qb3 31. Rc1 Rb5 32. Qd7 Rxa5 33. g4 Qd5 34.
Qc8 Rb5 35. Qe8 Ra5 36. Rc8 Qf7 37. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "35"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. h3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nb3 Rc8 12. Nxc5 Rxc5 13. Be3 Rc4 14. Bd4 b5
15. a3 a6 16. Nd5 Rxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Bxb2 19. Rad1 Be6 20. Qd3 Bc4 21.
Qe3 Qa5 22. Rb1 Bc3 23. Red1 Rc8 24. h4 Qxa3 25. Bh3 Rc5 26. Bf1 Bxf1 27. Rxf1
Bb2 28. Qe2 Bd4 29. Kg2 Qc3 30. Rfd1 e5 31. Rbc1 a5 32. h5 a4 33. h6 Kf8 34.
Qg4 Ke7 35. Qg5+ f6 36. Qg4 a3 37. Ra1 Qxc2 38. Rxa3 Qxf2+ 39. Kh3 Rc2 40. Rh1
Qe2 41. Qxe2 Rxe2 42. Rb1 Bc5 43. Ra8 b4 44. Rh8 f5 45. Rxh7+ Kf6 46. Rb7 Ra2
47. h7 Ra8 48. g4 fxe4 49. Kh4 e3 50. Rf1+ Ke6 51. Re1 d5 52. Kg5 d4 53. Rc7
Kd6 54. Rg7 Rh8 55. Rxg6+ Kd5 56. Rh1 e2 57. Rgh6 d3 58. Kg6 d2 59. Kg7 Rxh7+
60. Rxh7 e1=Q 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "36"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 b6 6. Bb2 Bb7 7. g3 Nbd7 8. Bg2
Bd6 9. d4 O-O 10. O-O h6 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Nd2 Rfd8 13. e4 dxe4 14. Ndxe4 Ba3 15.
Bxa3 Qxa3 16. Qe2 a5 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. Na4 Nd7 20. d5 cxd5 21.
cxd5 Qf6 22. dxe6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 fxe6 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Nxb6 Rad8 26. Nxd7 Rxd7
27. Rc8+ Kf7 28. Qh5+ Ke7 29. Re8+ Kd6 30. Qxa5 Qd4 31. Qa6+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Qe2 {Short avoids the main theoretical paths at the
very beginning.} Bc5 (3... Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 {would transpose to the Italian
Opening with an early Qd1-e2.}) 4. d3 O-O 5. Bg5 (5. f4 $2 d5 {is just bad for
White.}) 5... c6 {Kramnik follows the plan of seizing space in the centre.} 6.
Nd2 h6 (6... b5 7. Bb3 a5 8. a4 {is not the best plan for Black.}) 7. Bh4 Re8
8. Ngf3 {There was no more point in delaying this natural developing move.} Bf8
{A typical classical manoeuvre in this structure, while Black's pawn is still
on d7 and not on d6.} 9. a4 (9. O-O-O $2 {would be way too optimistic. After}
b5 10. Bb3 a5 {White's king wouldn't feel safe at all.}) (9. c3 d5 10. Bb3 {
is possible. In this case the position is equal. White's plan is standard and
includes the manoeuvre Nd2-f1-e3.}) 9... d5 10. Bxf6 $5 {This decision is
controversial. It is tempting to spoil the opponent's pawn structure. However,
Black gets the bishop pair and more influence in the centre. As the
continuation of the game showed, from a practical point of view it would be
easier to play the resulting position as Black.} (10. Ba2 Be6 ({In the event of
} 10... g5 $5 11. Bg3 Nh5 {White can consider} 12. O-O-O $5 {Here both kings
are vulnerable, the position is double-edged.} (12. Bxe5 $2 g4 {loses a piece.}
)) 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Rfe1 {would be a safe positional continuation with equal
chances.}) 10... gxf6 11. Ba2 f5 $15 {This is exactly what I was meaning by
"more influence in the centre".} 12. O-O Na6 {The knight finds a good route
without obstructing the light-squared bishop.} 13. Rfe1 Bg7 {This is the idea
behind 8...Bf8. Black has made a sort of fianchetto, and now bishop isoffering
good protection to the weakened shelter of Black's king.} 14. c3 (14. Nf1 {
was called for, trying to provoke the advance f5-f4, which would release some
of the pressure on the centre.}) 14... Be6 15. exd5 $6 {Giving up the fight
over the centre can't be recommended. Again, the manoeuvre Nd2-f1 was an
option. Some fascinating complications could arise.} (15. Nf1 dxe4 (15... Nc5
16. Ng3 Nxd3 17. exd5 (17. Qxd3 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Bf5 19. Nfd2 dxe4 20. Qe2 $11)
17... Nxe1 18. dxe6 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 fxe6 20. Qxf5 Qf6 21. Qg4 $44) 16. dxe4 fxe4
17. N3d2 $1 (17. Qxe4 Nc5 18. Qe3 Bxa2 19. Rxa2 Qd5 20. Raa1 e4 21. Red1 exf3
22. Rxd5 Rxe3 23. Rxc5 Re2 24. Rb1 fxg2 25. Kxg2 Rd8 $15) 17... Bxa2 18. Rxa2
f5 19. Ne3 Rf8 20. g4 Qg5 21. Kh1 fxg4 22. Nxe4 Qf4 23. Qxg4 Qxg4 24. Nxg4 $11)
15... Bxd5 (15... cxd5 $6 16. Nxe5 $1 d4 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. cxd4 f6 19. Ndf3
fxe5 20. dxe5 {In this, materially balanced position, I would prefer to be on
the white side, as Black's king is vulnerable.}) 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. g3 {[%cal
Gf3h4]} Bf6 18. Qe3 Kh7 19. Nb3 {White's main problem in this position is the
lack of clear plan. Meanwhile, Black can improve his position step by step.}
Qd7 20. Nc5 {The exchange of one pair of knights will make White's game a bit
easier.} Nxc5 21. Qxc5 a6 22. Re2 Re6 23. Rae1 Rae8 24. c4 $2 {This impatient
move only helps Black to perform a central breakthrough.} (24. d4 $2 e4 25. Nd2
b5 $1 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gf6e7] suddenly finds White's queen in danger.}) ({
A waiting move like} 24. Qb4 {would have been better.}) 24... b6 25. Qb4 d4 {
From now on Kramnik's play reminds one of a bulldozer.} 26. Qb3 e4 27. Nd2 e3
28. fxe3 dxe3 29. Nf3 f4 $1 30. d4 $1 {The best practical chance.} (30. gxf4 $2
Qc6 31. Rf1 Rg8+ 32. Kh1 (32. Rg2 e2 $19) 32... Rg4 $19) 30... Re4 ({The
following line is convincing, but very unhuman:} 30... Bxd4 31. Qd3+ (31. Rd1
Rd6 32. Qd3+ f5 33. Nxd4 Re4 $19) 31... Re4 32. Rd1 f5 $1 33. Nxd4 Rd8 34. Qb1
f3 $1 $19) 31. Qxb6 Bxd4 32. Qxa6 $2 {This loses by force.} (32. Rd1 $1 Bxb6 (
32... Qg4 33. Nxd4 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Qxe2 35. Rxf4 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 {and Black doesn't
have more than a perpetual check.}) 33. Rxd7 Rxc4 34. Rxf7+ Kg6 35. Rd7 {
would still allow White to keep his head above water.}) 32... fxg3 $19 33. Qb5
Qg4 34. Nxd4 gxh2+ 35. Kh1 Rxd4 {White can't save his monarch.} 36. Qb7 Qf5 37.
Rxh2 e2 38. Qg2 Rd1 {Well played by Vladimir Kramnik!} 0-1

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Bg5 f6 {For this line - see
Jakovenko - Ponomariov in CBM 137.} 13. Be3 {Probably the most solid reply.} (
13. Bf4 {has been played in some recent games:} Qa4 (13... exd5 14. exd5 Bf5
15. Be2 Be4 16. d6 Nd7 17. h4 h5 18. O-O Qa4 19. Rfe1 Kh7 20. Bb5 $1 Qxb5 21.
Rxe4 $16 {1-0 Potkin,V (2626)-Zhou Jianchao (2668)/Ningbo 2010/CBM 138 (28)})
14. c4 (14. Qc2 Qxc2 15. Rxc2 exd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. Rb2 Be4 18. c4 Bxf3 19.
gxf3 b6 20. Re2 Na6 21. a3 Kf7 22. h4 h5 23. Kd2 Re8 $11 {1/2 Ragger,M (2614)
-Bosiocic,M (2562)/Chur 2010/CBM 136 Extra (47)}) 14... exd5 (14... Nc6 15. Be3
exd5 16. exd5 Nb4 17. Bxc5 a5 18. Nd4 Re8+ 19. Be2 Qxa2 20. Nb5 Bf5 21. Qxa2
Nxa2 22. Ra1 Nb4 $13 {0-1 Sargissian,G (2677)-Svidler,P (2731)/Khanty-Mansiysk
RUS 2010/The Week in Chess 830 (39)}) 15. exd5 Na6 16. Be2 Nb4 17. O-O Qxa2 18.
Qe3 Bf5 19. Qxc5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Qxe2 21. Rfe1 Qa2 $13 {1/2 Ernst,S (2587)
-Gustafsson,J (2646)/Baden-Baden GER 2010/The Week in Chess 831 (27)}) 13...
exd5 (13... Nc6 14. Bd3 {(a recent improvement by GM V.Potkin)} (14. c4 Nb4) (
14. h4 exd5 15. exd5 Bg4 16. Be2 Ne7 (16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Ne7 {1/2 Harika,D 
(2445)-Gupta,A (2565)/Paleohora 2009/CBM 131 Extra} 18. d6 $36) (16... c4 $5)
17. c4 Qc7 18. Ng5 Bf5 19. Nh3 Nc8 20. g4 Bd7 21. h5 gxh5 22. Nf4 hxg4 23. Qc2
f5 24. Bxg4 Nd6 25. Be2 $44 {1-0 Sundararajan,K (2526)-Konguvel,P (2420)/
Chennai IND 2010/The Week in Chess 796 (48)}) 14... exd5 15. exd5 c4 16. Bxc4
Be6 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. dxe6 $1 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Qxc3 (19... Nf5 $5) 20. Bb3 Qc1+ 21.
Rd1 Qc3+ 22. Ke2 $5 a5 23. Rd7 a4 24. Rc1 $44 {1/2 Potkin,V (2646)-Svidler,P 
(2722)/Moscow RUS 2010/The Week in Chess 841 (42)}) 14. exd5 Na6 $6 {Not the
best way to develop the knight.} (14... Nc6 15. Bd3 {- see above}) 15. Be2 Be6
$6 (15... c4 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Rd1 Nc7 18. dxe6 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 {- this version
of the queen sacrifice is more favourable for White than it was in
Potkin-Svidler.}) (15... Bf5 16. O-O Rac8 17. c4 $14 {may be the lesser evil.})
16. c4 Qxd2+ 17. Nxd2 Bd7 18. Ne4 b6 {A typical pawn structure has arisen.
Black has not set up a blockade on d6; therefore, White's chances are better.
To convert his advantage, he must open a second front on the kingside.} 19. h4
$1 {[%mdl 36]} Bf5 20. Nc3 Nb4 21. Kd2 Nc6 {The knight enters the game a bit
too late.} 22. h5 Kf7 {Hardly a useful move.} (22... Ne5 $142) 23. g4 Bc8 24.
hxg6+ hxg6 25. Ne4 Ba6 (25... Ne5 $142 26. f3 $16) 26. Rh7 $1 Kg8 27. Rch1 $1
Ne5 28. Kc3 $2 {Allowing a tactical trick.} (28. g5 $1 fxg5 29. Bxg5 Rf8 $8 30.
Kc3 $1 $16 {leads to the game position.}) 28... Nf7 $6 ({But Black misses} 
28... Rxd5 $1 {e.g.} 29. g5 $1 (29. cxd5 $143 Bxe2) 29... fxg5 30. cxd5 Bxe2
31. Nxg5 Bf6 32. Ne4 Bg7 {holding on.}) 29. Bd3 Ne5 $6 (29... Bc8 $142 $1) 30.
g5 $1 fxg5 31. Bxg5 {White doesn't fear the discovered check as the black
bishop can always be captured.} Rf8 32. Be2 $1 Nf3+ 33. Nf6+ (33. Rxg7+ Kxg7
34. Bh6+ Kg8 35. Bxf8 Rxf8 36. a4 $16 {was equally good.}) 33... Rxf6 34. Rxg7+
Kxg7 35. Bxf6+ Kxf6 36. Bxf3 $16 {[%mdl 4096] This ending is clearly better
for White due to his strong d5-pawn. Black fails to put up any resistance.} Re8
37. Rh7 Re7 38. Rh8 Ke5 $6 (38... Kg7 $142 39. Ra8) 39. Bg4 $1 {[%cal Rh8g8,
Rg8g6]} b5 $6 40. Rd8 Rf7 41. Re8+ Kf4 42. Be6 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Old rivals Alexey Shirov and Vladimir Kramnik have already played dozens of
sharp and exciting games. The current battle wasn't an exception.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9.
Nc3 Bb7 {This move is relatively rare. The main lines are 9...Qe6 and 9...a5.}
10. Bd2 g6 {Instead, 10...0-0-0 followed by f7-f6 at some point is another
idea. We are already entering unexplored territory.} 11. Ne4 {This move is
required. The possible alternative is 11.f4 which needs practical testing.}
O-O-O 12. a4 ({The latest example on this theme is from the "Aeroflot" open:} 
12. f4 c5 13. O-O-O d6 14. Bc3 Bh6 15. Ng5 dxe5 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Qxe5 Qd7 18.
b3 f6 19. Qxf6 Qd1+ 20. Kb2 Kb8 21. Ne6 Rd6 22. Qe5 Bg7 23. Nxg7 $4 (23. Qxg7 {
[%csl Rc7]} Rxe6 24. Ba5 Be4 25. Qc3 Qb1+ 26. Ka3 Rd6 27. Qb2 Qxb2+ 28. Kxb2
Rd1 $17) 23... Na4+ $1 {This forces mate.} 24. Ka3 (24. bxa4 Rb6+ 25. Ka3 Bc6
$19 {[%csl Ra4]}) 24... Qc1+ 25. Bb2 Nxb2 {0-1 Kotsur,P (2559)-Volokitin,A 
(2678)/Moscow RUS 2011/The Week in Chess 850}) 12... Ba6 13. Qe3 $1 (13. a5
Nxc4 14. Ra4 Bg7 15. Rxc4 (15. f4 d5 $17) 15... Bxe5 16. Qe3 (16. Nc5 d5 17.
Nxa6 dxc4 $17) 16... d5 17. Bb4 Qe8 18. Qxa7 Bxc4 19. Bxc4 Bc3+ $1 {Nice trick.
} 20. Bxc3 Qxe4+ 21. Be2 Rhe8 22. Qa6+ Kb8 $19) 13... Qxe5 $1 {Now matters are
becoming extremely sharp.} (13... d5 $2 14. exd6 cxd6 15. c5 $1 Bxf1 16. Nxd6+
Rxd6 17. Qxe7 Bxe7 18. cxd6 Bxg2 19. Rg1 Bxd6 20. Rxg2 $16) 14. Bc3 Bb4 15.
Bxb4 Rhe8 {Black's compensation for the piece is obvious. All his pieces are
in action, whilst the white king is unsafe.} 16. f3 $1 (16. Bd3 Bxc4 17. Bc3
Qe6 18. a5 Bxd3 19. axb6 Qxe4 20. bxc7 Kxc7 21. Ba5+ Kb7 22. Kd2 $1 Qxe3+ 23.
fxe3 Be4 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 $15) (16. O-O-O Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Rxe4 18. a5 Nd5 19. f3
Rxc4+ 20. Bxc4 Bxc4 $15) (16. a5 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. f3 Qb5 19. Bc3 f5 $17)
16... d5 17. a5 $2 {An important moment. Shirov is faithful to his style and
goes for the sharpest continuation. It is impossible to calculate all the
lines; in such cases a player must rely, partly, on intuition. This time it
was a wrong choice, as after this moment I couldn't find a way for White to
keep the balance.} (17. cxd5 $1 Bxf1 18. Kxf1 cxd5 19. a5 Nc4 (19... dxe4 20.
axb6 Qb5+ 21. Kf2 Qxb4 22. bxa7 Kb7 $11) 20. Qc3 dxe4 21. Qxc4 exf3 22. gxf3
Rd4 23. Qa6+ Kd7 24. Bc3 Qe3 25. Bxd4 Qxf3+ 26. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 17... Nxc4 18.
Qxa7 Qxb2 19. Qxa6+ Kd7 {It's clear that the black king is far safer, compared
to his counterpart.} 20. Rd1 (20. Bxc4 Qxa1+ 21. Kf2 Qd4+ 22. Kg3 Rxe4 $1 (
22... dxe4 23. Bxf7 exf3 24. Bxe8+ Rxe8 25. gxf3 Re5 26. Be1 $1 Rg5+ 27. Kh3
Rb5 $1 28. Qa8 Qf4 29. Kg2 Rg5+ 30. Bg3 Qd2+ 31. Kh3 Rh5+ 32. Bh4 Rxh4+ 33.
Kxh4 Qf4+ 34. Kh3 Qxf3+ 35. Kh4 Qxh1 36. Kg5 $1 Qxh2 37. a6 Qh5+ 38. Kf6 g5 39.
a7 Qg6+ 40. Ke5 $11) 23. Bxd5 $1 (23. fxe4 $2 Qe3+ 24. Kh4 h5 25. g3 g5+ 26.
Kh3 g4+ 27. Kg2 Qxe4+ 28. Kg1 dxc4 $19) 23... Qe5+ 24. Kf2 Qxd5 25. fxe4 Qd4+
26. Kf3 Rb8 $1 (26... Qxb4 27. Rd1+ Ke7 28. Rxd8 Kxd8 29. Qa8+ Kd7 30. a6 {
and Black must give a perpetual check.}) 27. Rc1 (27. Qe2 Qf6+ 28. Kg3 Rxb4 $17
) 27... Qf6+ 28. Ke2 Rxb4 29. Rd1+ Ke7 30. Qd3 Qd6 $17) 20... Qxb4+ 21. Kf2
Rxe4 $1 {Eliminating the key defender.} 22. fxe4 Qc5+ 23. Ke1 Qb4+ 24. Kf2 Qc5+
25. Ke1 Nb2 $1 {Despite being a rook down, Black has every ground to play for
a win!} 26. exd5 (26. Be2 Nxd1 27. Bxd1 Re8 $17) (26. Rd2 Qc1+ 27. Ke2 Re8 $19)
26... Qc3+ 27. Rd2 Qc1+ $6 {It was more precise to start with the rook check.}
(27... Re8+ $1 28. Be2 Qc1+ 29. Kf2 Qxd2 30. Rb1 Qxd5 {and Black should be
winning.}) 28. Ke2 Re8+ 29. Kf3 Qxd2 30. Qxc6+ Kd8 31. Qf6+ Re7 32. Kg4 $2 (32.
Kg3 Nd3 33. Bxd3 Qxd3+ 34. Kh4 Ke8 $1 35. Rf1 Qd2 36. Qc6+ Kf8 37. Qf6 Re4+ 38.
Kg3 Re3+ 39. Kh4 Qxd5 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Qf6+ Ke8 42. Qh8+ Kd7 43. Rxf7+ $1 Qxf7
44. Qd4+ Kc6 45. Qxe3 Qf6+ 46. Kh3 Kb5 {and after all the effort, the endgame
is still very difficult for White.}) (32. Ba6 $5 {From a practical point of
view this was the best chance. Black has the upper hand at the end of all the
following fascinating lines. However, in this case Kramnik had to be very
precise, as his king is also in danger along the way.} Nd3 $1 (32... Qe3+ $2
33. Kg4 h5+ 34. Kh4 Qe4+ 35. Kg3 {is not more than a perpetual check.}) 33. Kg3
(33. Qh8+ Re8 34. Qf6+ Kd7 35. Qxf7+ (35. Bb5+ Kc8 36. Ba6+ Kb8 37. Rb1+ Nb4
$19) 35... Kd6 $1 36. Qf6+ Kxd5 37. Bb7+ Kc5 38. Qc6+ Kb4 39. Rb1+ Ka3 40. Qxe8
Qf2+ 41. Ke4 Qe2+ 42. Kd4 Qxe8 $19) 33... Qe3+ 34. Kh4 Nc5 35. Qh8+ Kd7 36.
Bc8+ (36. Bb5+ c6 37. Bxc6+ Kc7 $19) 36... Kd6 37. Qf6+ Kxd5 38. Rd1+ Kc4 39.
Ba6+ Kb4 40. Rb1+ Nb3 $19) 32... Nd1 $1 33. Qh8+ Kd7 34. Bb5+ c6 {The same
idea, as we saw in some of the above-mentioned lines, wins for Black.} 35.
Bxc6+ Kc7 36. d6+ Qxd6 {White's checks are over, all his pieces are
discoordinated and can't help their own monarch.} (36... Kxc6 {wins faster
according to an engine, but Kramnik's choice is way more human.}) 37. Rxd1
Qxd1+ 38. Bf3 h5+ 39. Kg3 Qe1+ 40. Kh3 Qe6+ 41. Kh4 g5+ $1 42. Kxg5 Qg6+ 43.
Kf4 f6 $1 {[%mdl 68] An outstanding game, and another example of superb
opening preparation of Vladimir Kramnik!} (43... f6 $1 {[%cal Rg6g5]} 44. h4
Re8 45. Qxh5 Re4+ $1 46. Bxe4 Qxh5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Qd7 8.
Qb3 O-O 9. Be3 c5 ({Black usually starts with} 9... b6 {here, then ...Bc8-b7
and only later ...c7-c5.}) 10. d5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (10. Rd1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nc6
12. Nf3 (12. d5 $142) 12... Qd6 13. a3 Bg4 14. e5 Qd7 15. Be2 {1-0 Jorczik,J 
(2381)-Strache,M (2218)/Saarbruecken 2009/CBM 128 Extra (40)} Rad8 $15 {
[%cal Yg4e6,Ye6d5]}) 10... e6 $5 11. Bc4 $1 (11. Bxc5 $6 Qc7 $1 12. Qa3 exd5 $1
13. exd5 Nd7 $1 14. Bd4 $8 Bxd4 15. cxd4 Re8+ $17) 11... exd5 12. Bxd5 Qc7 (
12... Na6 $5 {[%cal Ya6c7]}) 13. Ne2 Nd7 14. Bf4 Ne5 15. O-O $14 {[%csl Gd5]}
c4 (15... Rb8 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 16. a4 Bd7 17. Rfd1 $14) 16. Qb4 Re8 17. Bg3 Rb8
$5 {Black gives up a pawn to ease Whiteґs pressure.} 18. Qxc4 Qxc4 19. Bxc4 Bd7
20. Rfd1 Nxc4 (20... Bc6 21. Bd5) 21. Bxb8 (21. Rxd7 $143 Rbd8 22. Rad1 Rxd7
23. Rxd7 Rxe4) 21... Ba4 22. Bxa7 Bxd1 23. Rxd1 {[%mdl 4096]} Rxe4 (23... f5 $5
{In both cases Black regains one of the pawns with good drawing chances due to
Whiteґs poor pawn structure.}) 24. Rd8+ Bf8 25. Bc5 Rxe2 26. g4 Rxa2 (26... Kg7
$5 27. Bxf8+ Kf6 28. Rd4 Ne5 29. Kg2 {[%cal Rd4d6]} h5 $1 30. Rd6+ Kg5 31. gxh5
gxh5 {, and White can hardly convert his advantage.}) 27. g5 $5 Ne5 $6 (27...
b6 28. Bxf8 f5 $1 29. gxf6 Kf7 30. Be7 h5 {The f6 pawn is now weak rather than
strong, and Black should not lose.}) 28. Bxf8 f6 $6 {The last inaccuracy. It
was still better to play} (28... Nc6 $1 29. Rc8 f5 $1 {, although White can
now reply} 30. Be7+ $1 Kf7 31. Bf6 $16 {[%csl Rb7,Rh7][%cal Yc8c7] restricting
Blackґs knight and then attacking his b7- and h7-pawns.}) 29. Be7+ Kf7 30. Bxf6
{[%csl Rb7,Gf6,Rh7] White has gained a pawn once again, setting up his bishop
on a strong position; Black's b7- and h7-pawns are weak.} Ra5 31. Kg2 Ng4 32.
Rd7+ Ke6 33. Re7+ Kf5 34. Bd4 Kxg5 35. Rxh7 {[%cal Rh7b7,Rg2g3]} Ne5 36. Rxb7 {
, and White converted two extra pawns without major problems:} Nc4 37. Rc7 Nd6
38. Be3+ Kf5 39. Kf3 Ra4 40. Bd4 Ke6 41. Rg7 Kf5 42. Ra7 Rxa7 43. Bxa7 Nc4 44.
Bb8 Nb2 45. Bg3 Nc4 46. h3 g5 47. Ke2 Ke4 48. f3+ Kd5 49. Bc7 Ke6 50. Kd3 Kd5
51. f4 gxf4 52. Bxf4 Nb2+ 53. Kc2 Nc4 54. h4 Ke4 55. Bc1 Ne5 56. h5 Nd7 57. h6
Nf6 58. c4 Nh7 59. Kb3 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d3 {A new attempt to get a long
game against the direct Grьnfeld which is so deeply analysed nowadays. Most
probably it is not the refutation of the opening, but who knows...} Nxc3 (5...
Bg7 6. Bd2 Nxc3 (6... O-O 7. g3) 7. Bxc3 {now it is possible to take with the
bishop; that is why my opponent decided to take on c3 earlier.}) 6. bxc3 Bg7 7.
Qc2 (7. Qd2 {Probably would be Magnus' choice here.}) 7... O-O (7... c5 {
I think this is more practical, just developing pieces and castling only after
White has played} 8. g3 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 {and no need to worry about h4 here,
equalising comfortably.}) 8. g3 c5 9. Bg2 Nc6 10. h4 $1 {That was my idea
behind this d3 setup. Now Black has to think how to react to White's
aggression.} Nb4 {I do not like this move.} (10... Bf5 $1 {was a good choice,
planning c4:} 11. Nd2 (11. Qd2 Qa5 12. Bb2 Rad8 13. h5 c4 $13) 11... Nb4 12.
cxb4 Bxa1 13. bxc5 $13 Qd7) (10... h5 {stopping White's play once and for all,
but seriously weakening the g5-square.} 11. Ng5 $14) (10... h6 {is a half
solution, for example} 11. Rb1 b6 $140 12. h5 g5 13. Nxg5) 11. Qd2 Nd5 12. Bb2
{/\c4} Qa5 13. h5 $1 {The pawn on c3 is not really hanging!} Nb6 $1 (13... Bxc3
14. Bxc3 Qxc3 15. Qxc3 Nxc3 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Kd2 {with powerful play for
White.} Nd5 18. Ng5 e6 19. Rh4 {Even without the queens this attack might be
very strong.}) 14. hxg6 hxg6 (14... fxg6 {the computer claims that it is not
as bad as it looks, but no human would go for it.}) 15. a4 $1 {The only way to
fight for an advantage, otherwise Black puts his knight to a4 and gets a
comfortable position.} (15. Kf1 Na4 $11 16. Rc1 Nxb2 17. Qxb2 Rd8) 15... Bd7 $2
(15... Nxa4 {looks scary, but good or bad, has to be played. In fact there is
nothing decisive for White here, and Black is fully in the game in all lines}
16. Ra3 $1 {a difficult move, probably the best one} (16. Qf4 {my opponent was
afraid of this move, but it does not seem to work in fact.} Qb6 $1 (16... Bxc3+
$2 17. Kf1 Bxb2 18. Qh6 Rd8 19. d4) 17. Qh4 Rd8 18. Bc1 Bxc3+ 19. Kf1 Bxa1 20.
d4 Qf6 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Bg5 Bxd4 23. Bxf6 Bxf6) (16. Rh4 Bd7 {Black's position
looks suspicious, but seems to be playable, according to the computer.} 17. Kf1
(17. Ng5 Rad8 18. Kf1 b5 19. Ra3 Qb6) 17... b5 18. Ne5 Rad8) (16. Kf1 $5 Qb5 $1
17. Bc1 $1 Nxc3 18. Qg5 Nxe2 $1 19. Qh4 Nxg3+ 20. fxg3 Qxd3+ 21. Kg1 g5 22.
Qxg5 Qg6 {no problem here}) 16... Bd7 (16... Qb5 $140 17. Bc1 {and c3 is
protected by the rook now}) 17. Kf1 {with good play for the pawn} Rfd8 (17...
Bc6 18. Bc1 c4 19. d4) 18. Bc1 c4 19. d4) 16. Kf1 $1 {Preparing to transfer
the queen to h4 and to attack for free.} Nxa4 {Suddenly Black is in real
trouble, so he decides that if he must suffer at least he will have a pawn.} (
16... c4 17. d4 Nxa4 18. Ne5 $1 Rad8 19. Qf4 {and mate will come in the near
future it seems.}) 17. Qg5 $1 {More accurate, not letting the opponent's queen
enter the game.} (17. Qf4 c4 $1) 17... Qb6 (17... Rfc8 {The computer is still
rather optimistic about Black's position, but after a couple of moves starts
to understand...} 18. Qh4 Kf8 19. c4 $1 f6 {and here anything wins} (19... Bxb2
20. d4) 20. Qh7 Qb6 21. Bc1 g5 22. Rh6 {for instance.}) 18. Qh4 {now even the
fearless metal box understands that something is wrong with Black's king here}
Rfe8 (18... f6 19. Bc1 {is similar to the game} Qb3 20. Bh6 g5 21. Bxg5 Rfd8
22. Bh6) 19. Bc1 $1 {Just mating.} e5 {Not the most resilient, but there was
already nothing acceptable anyway.} 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Bh6 Bxh6 22. Qxh6+ Ke7 23.
Nxe5 {Winning some material.} 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 Be7 7. b4 Nxb4 8. Nxe5
O-O 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. a3 Na6 11. f4 c6 12. Rb1 Qe7 13. Ndf3 Ng4 14. Nxd4 Nxe5 15.
fxe5 Bxe5 16. e3 g6 17. Nb3 Bg7 18. d4 Rb8 19. e4 b6 20. Bf4 Rb7 21. e5 Qe8 22.
Nd2 Bf5 23. Qa4 Nb8 24. Rbe1 Qd7 25. d5 cxd5 26. Qxd7 Nxd7 27. Bxd5 Rbb8 28. e6
fxe6 29. Bxe6+ Bxe6 30. Bxb8 Bf5 31. Bd6 Rc8 32. Nf3 Bd3 33. Rf2 Bxc4 34. Rc2
b5 35. Re7 Nc5 36. Rxa7 Ne4 37. Be5 Bf8 38. Bd4 Rd8 39. Rc7 g5 40. g4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D01"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bxf6 gxf6 6. Bd3 Bg6 7. h4 e6 8.
Nge2 Nd7 9. g4 Qb6 10. h5 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 c5 12. Qb5 Rc8 13. Qxb6 Nxb6 14. O-O-O
Rg8 15. Rdg1 Nc4 16. Nd1 cxd4 17. exd4 b5 18. f4 Bb4 19. Rh3 Ke7 20. Rd3 Rc6
21. Rg2 a5 22. g5 f5 23. Ng1 Bd6 24. Rf2 Rgc8 25. Rg3 b4 26. Ne3 Nxe3 27. Rxe3
Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Rxc2+ 29. Kd1 Rc1+ 30. Kd2 R8c2+ 31. Kd3 Rxb2 32. Re2 Rc3# 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Be7 8. b4 b6
9. Nf4 c6 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Be2 Qc7 12. O-O bxc5 13. bxc5 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Qd4 Ned7 16. Na4 Re8 17. Rac1 Bf8 18. f3 Rb8 19. Bc3 Rb3 20. Ra1 Qb8 21. Rfc1
Ne4 22. Bb4 Ng5 23. Rc3 Rxc3 24. Bxc3 f6 25. Kf2 Ne5 26. Qb4 Qc7 27. Qa5 Qe7
28. Bd4 Bf5 29. Nc3 Rb8 30. g4 Bc2 31. Rc1 Bg6 32. Nxg6 Nxg6 33. Rb1 Rxb1 34.
Nxb1 Ne6 35. Nd2 f5 36. Nb3 Qh4+ 37. Kg1 fxg4 38. fxg4 Qh3 39. Qd2 Nh4 40. Bd1
Nf3+ 41. Bxf3 Qxf3 42. Be5 Ng5 43. h4 Nh3+ 44. Kh2 Nf2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8.
dxc5 Qa5 9. Rc1 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nd4 Ne4 12. Bf4 Re8 13. f3 Nexc5 14. Be2
Ne5 15. Nb3 Nxb3 16. axb3 Ng6 17. Bg3 Rxe3 18. O-O Bf5 19. Bf2 Re7 20. Qd2 Qc7
21. Rfe1 Qf4 22. Qxf4 Nxf4 23. Bf1 Re6 24. Red1 a6 25. b4 h6 26. Bg3 Ne2+ 27.
Bxe2 Rxe2 28. Rxd5 Be6 29. Rd4 a5 30. bxa5 Rxa5 31. Re4 Rxe4 32. fxe4 Bd7 33.
Rc2 Bc6 34. e5 Rc5 35. c4 Be4 36. Rc3 Ra5 37. Re3 Bf5 38. Be1 Ra2 39. c5 Be6
40. Rd3 Kh7 41. h3 Ra1 42. Kf2 Rb1 43. Bc3 Rc1 44. Kg3 g5 45. h4 Kg6 46. hxg5
hxg5 47. Rf3 Bd5 48. Rf6+ Kh5 49. Bd2 Rc2 50. Rf2 Be6 51. Be3 Rc3 52. Kf3 Bd5+
53. Ke2 Kg4 54. Kd2 Ra3 55. Rf1 Ra2+ 56. Kd3 Rxg2 57. Rg1 Rxg1 58. Bxg1 Kf3 59.
Kd2 g4 60. Bd4 g3 61. Ke1 Bc4 62. e6 Bxe6 63. Bf6 Bc4 64. Kd2 Kf2 65. Bh4 f5
66. Kc3 f4 67. Kxc4 Ke2 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 Nf6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. e3 c5
9. Nc3 Nc6 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. d4 Qd8 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxb7 Rb8 15.
Bg2 cxd4 16. exd4 Nd7 17. d5 exd5 18. Qxd5 Bf6 19. Rad1 Bxb2 20. Qxd7 a5 21.
Rfe1 Qxd7 22. Rxd7 Ba3 23. Bd5 Bc5 24. Re4 Rfd8 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26. Be6 Rxd7 27.
Bxd7 Rd8 28. Bb5 Rd2 29. Rf4+ Ke7 30. a4 Rd4 31. Rf3 Rd6 32. Rf4 Rf6 33. Re4+
Re6 34. Rg4 g6 35. Kg2 h5 36. Rc4 Kf6 37. Rf4+ Kg7 38. Rc4 Kf6 39. h4 Re5 40.
Rc3 Rd5 41. Rc2 Re5 42. Rd2 Kg7 43. Bc4 Kf6 44. Rd8 Kg7 45. Bd3 Re6 46. Bc4 Rd6
47. Rg8+ Kh7 48. Re8 Rd2 49. Be2 Kg7 50. Re6 Rb2 51. f4 Rxb3 52. Bb5 Re3 53.
Rc6 Kh7 54. Rc7+ Re7 55. Rc8 Kg7 56. Bd3 Rd7 57. Be4 Rd2+ 58. Kh3 Rd7 59. Rc6
Rd6 60. Rc7+ Kf6 61. Bc2 Rd4 62. Bb3 Be7 63. Bc4 Rd6 64. Kg2 Rd2+ 65. Kf3 Rd6
66. Ke4 Rd8 67. Bd5 Rd6 68. Rb7 Rd8 69. Rxb6+ Rd6 70. Rb5 Bd8 71. Rb7 Be7 72.
Ra7 Rb6 73. Rxa5 Rb4+ 74. Kf3 Rd4 75. Ra6+ Kg7 76. Be4 Rd6 77. Rxd6 Bxd6 78. a5
Bc5 79. a6 Kf6 80. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Qd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Nf4 13. Be3 Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 f5
15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Ng3 Qf7 17. Rac1 Bd7 18. b3 a5 19. a4 Be5 20. Bf4 Bg7 21. Kh1
b6 22. Be3 Re6 23. Ne2 Ree8 24. Nc3 Bc6 25. exf5 Qxf5 26. Bd4 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Re5
28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. cxd5 Qf7 30. Qc4 Re7 31. h3 Rae8 32. Rc2 h5 33. Kh2 Kh7 34.
Rfc1 Rd7 35. f4 Rde7 36. Qd4 Kg8 37. Qf2 Rf8 38. Rc4 Qg7 39. Re1 Rfe8 40. Rxe7
Rxe7 41. Qg3 Qf6 42. h4 Kg7 43. Qg5 Kf7 44. Rc2 Qf5 45. Rc3 Qf6 46. Qxf6+ Kxf6
47. Kg3 Kf5 48. Kf3 Re4 49. Rc4 Re7 50. g3 Kf6 51. Re4 Rf7 52. Re6+ Kf5 53. Re8
Kf6 54. Ke4 Kg7 55. Re6 Kh7 56. Kf3 Kg7 57. g4 hxg4+ 58. Kxg4 Kh7 59. h5 gxh5+
60. Kg5 Kg8 61. f5 Rh7 62. f6 h4 63. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.12"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Bb6 8. Ba4
Ne7 9. Bc2 c6 10. h3 Ng6 11. d4 Re8 12. Re1 h6 13. Nf1 d5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Rxe5 16. Bf4 Re8 17. e5 Nh7 18. Qd3 Nf8 19. Rad1 Qh4 20. Bg3 Qg5 21. Kh2
Qg6 22. Qd2 Bf5 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Rad8 26. Qd4 b6 27. Rf3 Qe6
28. Rfd3 Rd7 29. f4 Qf5 30. Qa4 Rc8 31. c4 Ne6 32. b4 Rcd8 33. Qxc6 Nxf4 34.
Rd4 Ne2 35. Rxd5 Rxd5 36. cxd5 Nxg3 37. Kxg3 Rc8 38. Qb5 Qxe5+ 39. Kf2 Rc2+ 40.
Kg1 Qe3+ 41. Kh2 Qe5+ 42. Kh1 Qd6 43. Qe8+ Qf8 44. Qe4 Rc7 45. d6 Rd7 46. Qc6
Qe8 47. b5 g6 48. a4 Qe6 49. Qc8+ Kg7 50. Qc3+ Qf6 51. Qc6 Qe6 52. Kg1 h5 53.
Qc3+ Qf6 54. Qc6 Qe6 55. Qc3+ Qf6 56. Qg3 h4 57. Qa3 Qe5 58. Qb4 g5 59. Qg4
Qe3+ 60. Kh1 Rxd6 61. Rxd6 Qe1+ 62. Kh2 Qe5+ 63. g3 Qxd6 64. Qxg5+ Kf8 65. Qxh4
Qd2+ 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[Annotator "Ponomariov,R"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Last year, I managed to win the Dortmund tournamewnt, in large measure thanks
to a striking win against one of the favourites, Vladimir Krtamnik, at the
start of the tournament. This time, the draw brought us together in the very
first round, and there was no doubt that a principled battle would ensue,
which might well have a large say in the future course of the tournament.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 $5 {A small surprise. Here Vladimir thought for a time,
wondering whether I was planning to play the Grьnfeld Defence, which he had
pointedly avoided in his Candidates match against Grischuk, by playing English
setups.} 3. Nc3 {But no; I had decided to trust my luck with the King's Indian.
} Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O exd4 ({In his match with me,
Nakamura chose either} 7... Nc6) ({or} 7... Na6 {and although he did not solve
all his opening problems, the positions reached are quite complicated, with
chances to confuse matters. In preparing for the match, I had to look at other
alternatives for Black, one of which I decided to try here.}) 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3
c6 10. Kh1 {Logical prophylaxis against ...Qb6.} ({It is well known that the
transposition into the Gligoric System favours Black after} 10. Be3 d5 $1 {
Admittedly, if White wishes to simplify the game, this is not so bad. For
example, several games have continued} 11. cxd5 Nxd5 ({or} 11... cxd5 12. Qb3)
12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qb3 Nc6 14. Rad1 {and it is not so easy for Black to
complicate matters, if he needs to win at all costs.}) 10... Nbd7 ({Not} 10...
d5 $6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bg5 {which looks dangerous for Black. The most
well-known example of this is the game Tal -Spassky,Montreal 1979.}) ({But
there is the interesting} 10... Nh5 $5 {which Alexander Grischuk tried at the
recent Monaco tournament. In choosing the game continuation I was motivated
more by subjective criteria than by trying to find the strongest move. During
the Candidates matches in Kazan, Kramnik's opponents were Radjabov and
Grischuk, so he was bound to have looked at the King's Indian. But I thought
he was likely to have given less attention to the text move, whilst such a
development of his pieces should not be so bad for Black.}) 11. Be3 $5 {
But Vladimir is not caught out and shows that in every line, he has his ideas.}
({The main move is considered to be} 11. Bg5 {preventing d5.}) 11... a6 $5 ({
Here too, Black should look at} 11... d5 $5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 $1 ({If} 12... cxd5 {
then there is the very unpleasant} 13. Ndb5 dxe4 14. Bf4 $1) {But I did not
like the fact that White has quite a pleasant choice between simplifying with}
13. exd5 ({and the more ambitious} 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Nb5 Nb6 (14... dxe4 15.
Nd6 $14) 15. Bf4) 13... Rxe3 14. dxc6 {Probably, Black should have
compensation for the pawn here. But White is not risking much. In the game, I
wanted to retain more tension and not exchange so many pieces.}) ({In any
event, this variation has not been explored much and it is hard to say what is
best. Again, an interesting alternative is the Grischuk-style idea} 11... Nh5
$5 12. g4 Nhf6) ({or} 11... a5 $5 12. Qd2 a4 {If one looks at the games from
the 1953 Zurich Candidates tournament, one can find games with the same pawn
structure, only there it was with the white bishop on g2, rather than e2. So,
whom does this favour?}) 12. Nc2 $5 {[%csl Rd6] Judging by the times, I think
here Vladimir started to play on his own resources, The move he played is
quite ambitious; he emphasises the main weakness of the black position, the
weak pawn on d6. But at the same time, without positional grounds, White
retreats his knight from the centre. However, at the board it is impossible to
calculate every line and the choice is about one's confidence in one's own
strengths.} ({Admittedly, White cannot play totally routinely. On} 12. Qd2 {
there is already the very strong} d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 $132) ({
But the cautious} 12. Bg1 {is possible, after which I intended to drive the
white knight from the centre by} c5 $5 ({The computer even recommends losing a
couple of tempi by} 12... Nh5 13. f4 Nhf6 14. Bf3 Nb6 15. b3 c5 16. Nde2 Bg4
17. Qd2 Bxf3 18. gxf3 $13 {[%csl Rd6,Rf3,Rf4] but I think it is easier to play
White here.}) ({Black does not solve all his problems by} 12... d5 13. cxd5
cxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 15. Qb3 Nfxd5 (15... Nbxd5 16. Bc4 $16) 16. Ne4 $36 ({or} 16.
Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bc4 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Be6 19. Rfd1 Qg5 20. Bf1 Re7 21. Rac1 $14 {^^})
) 13. Nc2 Ne5 {and the later possibilities include Be6, Nc6, Nd7 in general,
Black has sufficient counterplay}) 12... Ne5 {Also principled. Black must play
actively, else his weaknesses will gradually tell.} 13. f4 (13. Qd2 Be6 14. b3
b5 $132) 13... Neg4 14. Bg1 h5 $1 {The last three moves are reminiscent of the
Modern Benoni. Black is prepared to sacrifice a knight for active play.} 15.
Bf3 ({A good example of Black's idea is the direct} 15. h3 $6 Nxe4 $1 16. Nxe4
Rxe4 17. hxg4 Qh4+ 18. Bh2 hxg4 $5 19. g3 Qe7 20. Bd3 b5 $1 {and the white
king is quite unsafe.}) 15... Be6 16. b3 $6 {The first step in the wrong
direction. Of course, it is natural to defend the pawn on c4, but at the same
time, the move b2-b3 weakens the long diagonal and gives Black additional
tactical possibilities.} ({The correct continuation for White was pointed out
by Konstantin Landa, in his online analysis:} 16. Qd3 $1 {after which I think
White's chances are better, although Black still has ways to defend his
position} b5 ({Either} 16... g5 17. Bxg4 Nxg4 18. h3 $1 gxf4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20.
Rxf4 Be5 21. Qg3 $16) (16... Nd7 17. Qxd6 $1) 17. Rfd1 $1 Bh6 $5 ({The
exchange of queens turns out to be bad for Black after} 17... Bxc4 18. Qxd6 {
since the knight on g4 is out of play.}) 18. g3 g5 19. cxb5 axb5 $13 {and
White still has to find a series of accurate moves to neutralise Black's
activity.}) 16... Qa5 $1 $13 17. Qe1 $6 {[%csl Rc3,Re4][%cal Ge8e1] A strange
move, which I did not even consider during the game. The white queens stands
on the e-file, opposite the black rook on e8. As a result, the number of
possible tactical blows grows.} (17. Qd2 {is stronger although White has to
see in advance that after} Nd5 $5 {he has the not very human move} 18. Nb1 $1
Qxd2 19. Nxd2 {and Black now has} Nxf4 20. Bxg4 Bxg4 21. Rxf4 Bc3 $1 $132 22.
Nf3 (22. Be3 Bxa1 23. Nxa1 Be2) 22... Bxa1 23. Nxa1 Bxf3 24. gxf3 d5 25. cxd5
cxd5 $132 {and the bad position of the white pieces cancels out his small
material advantage, although not more than that.}) ({I would note too that on} 
17. Qd3 {Black has another tactical trick} d5 $1 {Although here too, White
should be able to maintain equality.} 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxa1 20. Bb6 Qb5
21. Qxb5 axb5 22. Nc7 Bc3 23. Nxe8 Rxe8 24. h3 Nf6 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4 $11)
17... b5 $6 ({Of course, we both saw the pin} 17... Bf5 $1 {but it seemsed to
us both that Black is not threatening to take on e4, and so White has a move
to consolidate. However, this is not the case. On} 18. h3 $6 ({Or} 18. Nd4 Qd8
$36) {I did not see the quiet move} 18... Qd8 $3 {after which White has very
serious problems with the e4 pawn. But such retreating moves are not so easy
for a human to see, especially when the queen has only recently come from d8.
Instead of this, I played another natural move, keeping the tension.}) 18. c5
$2 {It is strange, but my opponent did not take long over this decision,
although the position appears very complicated. In addition, White does not in
any way solve the problem of his hanging centre.} ({This was a good moment for
the consolidating move} 18. h3 $1 {and if} bxc4 19. Nd4 $1 {returning the
knight to the centre. Frankly speaking, I do not see anything clear for Black,
and if his activity dioes out, his position is strategically hopeless.}) 18...
b4 19. Na4 {Another important moment in the game, and maybe the tournament.}
Bc4 $2 {Sadly, I saw this move and could immediately understand why it was bad.
} ({I saw the blow} 19... Nxe4 $1 {If there were no other moves in the
position, one would play it automatically. But I was rather put off by the
fact that Vladimir had allowed it so happily. The variations are not so
complicated, but I did not manage to assess them properly.} 20. Qxe4 (20. Bxe4
$6 Bd5 $5 ({Less clear is} 20... Bf5 21. Bxf5 Rxe1 22. Raxe1 gxf5 23. cxd6 $13
{Black has won the queen, but the white passed pawn is very unpleasant}) 21.
Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Nxb4 Bxe4 23. Rae1 a5 24. Nb6 axb4 25. Nxa8 d5 $1 26. Nb6 Bc3 $5
$36 ({Or} 26... Nh6 {and Black has excellent compensation for the exchange})) (
20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Nxc5 {Unlike the game, Black cannot be worse in the
complications} ({Also interesting is} 21... Nef2+ $5 22. Bxf2 Nxf2+ 23. Kg1
dxc5 (23... Ng4 24. Nxc6 Bxa1 25. Rxa1 dxc5 26. Nb6 Rab8 27. Nxb8 Rxb8 28. Na4
c4 29. Nc5) 24. Kxf2 Bd4+ 25. Kg3 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 cxb4 27. Bxc6 Bf5 $11)) 20...
Bxb3 21. axb3 Rxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 {I was afraid that I could lose all
my queenside pawns and the minor pieces would be stronger than the queen. But
in reality, White has more problems here, because of the bad position of his
king. The computer suggests} Re8 $1 ({but also good is the human move} 23...
Qc7 $5) 24. cxd6 (24. Bxc6 $140 Re2 25. Nb6 Nf2+ 26. Bxf2 Rxf2 $19) 24... Qd8
25. Bxc6 Re6 $36 {[%csl Rh1] with excellent play}) 20. Qxb4 {Giving up the
exchange, but at the same time, the queens are exchanged and many dangers are
past for White.} Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Nxe4 23. Nb6 {Only now did I
understand that things are not so simple for Black. Although he has an extra
exchange, it is his move, and his pieces, especially the knights, are very
active, I could not find anything to do. The white pieces somehow seem to slip
away from the attacks.} ({ПFor some reason, at first I only reckoned on the
capture} 23. cxd6 Rad8 24. Bxe4 Rxe4 25. Bc5 Bf8 $1 26. Nxc6 Rxd6 27. Bxd6 Bxd6
{White has regained the exchange and even has an extra pawn, but because of
his king, he still has problems.}) 23... Ra7 $5 ({Nor is there anything clear
for Black after} 23... dxc5 24. Nxc6 {I decided not to hurry returning the
exchange.}) 24. cxd6 Nxd6 25. Bxc6 {Staring from move 20, with queens gone,
Vladimir starts to play very well, choosing the most unpleasant moves for
Black.} ({Black's play would be easier after} 25. Nc4 Nxc4 (25... Rae7 $5 26.
Nxd6 Re1 27. Rxe1 Rxe1 28. h3 Bd4 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. Bxg4 Bxg1 31. Nd3 Ra1 32.
Nc4 $13) 26. Bxa7 Nd2 27. Bxc6 (27. Rd1 Nxf3 28. gxf3 Ne3 $132) 27... Re7 $1
28. Bc5 Re6 29. Rc1 (29. Rd1 Bf8 $1) 29... Bb2 30. Rd1 Ba3 31. Bf3 Nxf3 32.
gxf3 Nf2+ 33. Bxf2 Bxb4 $132 {and because of his weak pawns, it is quite hard
for White to realise his small material advantage.}) 25... Re2 26. N6d5 ({
Someone at the press conference suggested} 26. Bf3 {, but again, it is easier
for Black to play here:} Rd2 27. Nc4 Nxc4 28. Bxa7 Nce3 {and the activity of
his pieces gives Black good grounds for optimism.}) 26... Nc8 $8 {Almost
unnoticed, my knight has retreated from the centre to the edge of the board,
whilst White has brought his knight from a4 into the centre!} 27. h3 Nh6 $2 {
I was still too optimistic and hoped to seize the initiative, although after
his latest knight manoeuvres, Black should be a little careful.} ({Otherwise I
would of course have played} 27... a5 $1 $14 {with good drawing chances, eg.}
28. hxg4 (28. Nd3 Nh6) 28... axb4 29. Nxb4 (29. Bxa7 Nxa7 30. Nxb4 Nxc6 31.
Nxc6 Rxa2 32. gxh5 Rc2 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Nd5 Rd2) 29... hxg4 30. Bb5 Re4 31. Rc1
Nd6 32. Bxa7 Nxb5 33. Bc5 Rxf4 34. Nd5 Re4 35. a4 Nd4 $132) 28. Rc1 $1 {
It turns out that White does not have to rush to take the rook on a7, as it is
not going anywhere.} Nf5 {To my horror, I realised that in the tactics, White
can take the Nc8 with check, after which the Ra7 becomes indefensible. At the
same time, I cannot even organise perpetual check, because when the bishop on
g1 takes the Ra7, it frees g1 for the white king!} ({No better is} 28... Kh7
29. Ba4 Nf5 30. Kh2 $1 Nfd6 31. Bxa7 Nxa7 32. Rc2 {and White neutralises the
activity of the black pieces.}) 29. Bb5 $1 Ng3+ ({Maybe more practical chances
were offered by} 29... Rc7 $5 {which at least is a very striking move. But
after} 30. Nxc7 (30. Rxc7 $140 $2 Ng3+ 31. Kh2 Nf1+ $11) 30... axb5 31. Nxb5
Nce7 {there are still no threats to the white king, whilst the white passed
pawns should decide.}) 30. Kh2 Nf1+ 31. Rxf1 axb5 {Unfortunately, now Black
does not have the resource a6-a5 and the white knight feels totally
comfortable.} 32. Bxa7 Nxa7 33. Kg3 $1 ({After} 33. Rc1 {White traps the enemy
knight, but after} h4 {his king still has problems.}) 33... Nc8 34. Rd1 {
[%csl Rc8]} Bf8 $138 35. Kf3 Rb2 36. g4 $5 Kg7 {It is hard for Black to defend
and my time-trouble made White's task easier.} ({It was dangerous, but still
possible to open the h-file by} 36... hxg4+ 37. hxg4 Kg7 38. g5 Rh2 $1 {
Instead, I decided to try to activate my pieces at the cost of a second pawn,
but my opponent was very accurate.}) 37. gxh5 Nd6 ({Here too, there was the
more tenacious} 37... gxh5 38. Rg1+ Kh6 {and in any event, White cannot play
for a direct attack:} 39. Nd3 $6 Rd2 $1 40. Ke3 Rh2 41. Ne5 $4 Bc5+) 38. hxg6
fxg6 39. Nc7 $1 Kf7 $6 (39... Nf5) 40. Nd3 $1 Rxa2 41. Ne5+ Kf6 ({Or} 41... Kg8
42. Nxg6 $18) 42. Nd7+ {and in view of further material losses Black resigned.
Probably, the choice of opening in this game, and my play in general, was
rather risky. But as Vladimir's game from the final round showed, it is
perfectly possible to play the King's Indian against him. If I had utilised my
chances in this game, with 17...Bf5 or 19...Ne4, maybe the tournament also
would have ended differently. In the next two rounds, I managed to win both in
a row, despite this defeat. But after his start, Vladimir made a fantastic 4,5
out of 5 in the first cycle and as a result, won Dortmund for the tenth time.
I would like to congratulate him on this unique achievement! .} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Re8 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Ne5 Na6 (12... Nbd7 {is another
option in this old theoretical line.}) 13. Bf4 {Or else:} (13. Nb5 c5 14. dxc5
bxc5 15. Qe1 Bf8 16. Bc3 $2 (16. Nd3 $11) 16... Qb8 17. Nf3 d4 $19 {0-1 Zhu
Chen (2497)-Chiburdanidze,M (2513)/Batumi 2001/CBM 086 (36)}) (13. Na4 Bd6 14.
Nd3 Qe7 15. Re1 Ne4 16. Bf4 {1-0 Blagojevic,D (2425)-Dizdarevic,E (2505)/
Kladovo 1991/TD (45)} Ba3 17. Rc2 Rad8 $13) (13. Bg5 Ne4 (13... c6 14. e3 Rc8
15. Re1 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Bh3 g6 $11 {1-0
Magerramov,E (2565)-Aseev,K (2560)/Podolsk 1992/EXT 1997 (37)}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7
15. e3 c5 16. Nd3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 (17... Nc7 18. Re1 Qd6 19. Nf4 {1/2
Gligoric,S (2510)-Spassky,B (2615)/Bugojno 1984/MCD}) 18. Nb5 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 Nb4
20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22. Qc7 Qxb5 23. Qxb7 Qb4 24. Qd7 Qe7 25. Qxe7 Rxe7
{1/2 Gyimesi,Z (2529)-Farago,I (2533)/Lillafured 1999/CBM 070}) (13. Be3 c6 (
13... h6 14. Qc2 c6 15. f4 Bd6 16. Bf2 Qe7 17. Bf3 Rac8 18. Qb1 Nc7 19. Rfd1 {
1-0 Pinter,J (2565)-Sax,G (2535)/Szirak 1985/MCD (39)} Ba3 20. Rc2 Nb5 $1 21.
Nxb5 cxb5 $132 {[%cal Yf6e4]}) 14. Qd3 (14. f4 Bb4 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. Rfd1 Nc7 17.
Qb2 Qe7 18. Nb1 Nb5 19. Bd2 c5 $1 $36 {0-1 Berebora,F (2390)-Dizdarevic,E 
(2515)/Solin 1994/EXT 1997 (37)}) 14... Ba3 15. Rb1 Nc7 16. b4 Qe7 17. Bd2 Bxb4
18. Rxb4 Qxb4 19. Nxd5 Qd6 20. Bb4 Qd8 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Rc1 Rac8 $13 {
1-0 Makovsky,P (2457)-Skeels,J (2327)/IECG 2006/Telechess 117 (53)}) 13... h6 (
13... c5 14. Nb5 {[%csl Gb5]} (14. e3 $5 h6 $5) 14... Ne4 $6 (14... h6 {
- see below}) 15. dxc5 $1 Bxc5 16. Nd3 Qd7 17. a4 d4 18. b4 (18. Nxc5 $142 bxc5
19. f3 Nf6 20. e4 $1 $16) 18... Nxb4 19. Nxb4 Bxb4 20. Rc7 Qd5 21. Qxd4 $14 {
1/2 Fridman,D (2661)-Miroshnichenko,E (2690)/Eforie Nord 2009/CBM 132 Extra 
(27)}) (13... c6 {needs checking:} 14. e4 Nc7 15. exd5 cxd5 16. a4 Ne6 17. Be3
Bb4 18. Qd3 a6 19. Bh3 h6 $11 {0-1 Schandorff,L (2497)-Hansen,S (2553)/Koge
2005/CBM 105 ext (59)}) 14. Nb5 (14. Qd3 c5 $1 (14... Ba3 15. Rcd1 Bf8 16. h3
c5 17. g4 Nc7 18. Bg3 Qc8 19. Rc1 Ne4 $132 {1/2 Petursson,M (2565)-Stefansson,
H (2555)/Iceland 1998/EXT 2000 (32)}) 15. Qf5 (15. Nb5 Nb4 16. Qd2 a6) 15...
cxd4 16. Nb5 Bc5 17. Nf3 Rxe2 18. Nfxd4 Rxa2 19. Be5 Ne4 $17 {1/2 Hebden,M 
(2500)-Langeweg,K (2405)/Benidorm 1992/TD (46)}) (14. Nd3 Bf8 15. Rc2 c6 16.
Qa1 Nb4 17. Nxb4 Bxb4 18. a3 Bf8 19. Rd1 Qd7 20. Qb2 Qf5 {1/2 Vescovi,
G-Spraggett,K/Buenos Aires 2005}) (14. g4 c5 15. e3 Nc7 16. Bg3 Ne6 17. dxc5
bxc5 18. h3 Bd6 19. Ne2 h5 $132 {0-1 Roobol,M (2342)-Spoelman,W (2546)/
Vlissingen 2009/CBM 131 Extra (35)}) (14. h4 $5 {needs more tests as the games
played so far are not too convincing:} c5 (14... Ba3 $5 15. Rc2 c6) 15. dxc5 (
15. Nb5 $5) 15... Nxc5 (15... Bxc5 16. Nd3 Ba3 17. Rc2 Qd7 18. Ne5 Qe7 19. Nb5
Bc5 20. Nd3 Red8 21. Qb1 $14 {1/2 Jussupow,A (2645)-Chuchelov,V (2550)/Ohrid
2001/CBM 084 (25)}) 16. Be3 Bd6 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. Rc2 Rb8 20. Rd2
d4 21. Bxb7 Rxb7 22. Na4 Ne4 $15 {1/2 Radjabov,T (2729)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Monte
Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (46)}) 14... Bf8 (14... c5 15. Nc4 (15. dxc5 $5 bxc5 16.
Nc4) (15. a3 $5 Bf8 16. Bh3 {can lead to the game position}) 15... Bc6 $1 16.
Ncd6 Rf8 (16... Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Qd7 18. a4 Rac8 19. Qd2 Nb4 $11 {V.Ivanchuk}) 17.
dxc5 bxc5 18. Nd4 (18. Qd2 Qd7 19. Qa5 {V.Ivanchuk} Nb8 $1 {[%cal Re7d8,Ra7a6]}
20. e4 $1 a6 $1 21. Nc7 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. exd5 Ra7 $1 24. dxc6 Qxc7 25.
Qxc5 a5 $1 $13) 18... cxd4 $1 19. Rxc6 Nb4 20. Nb7 Qe8 21. Rc7 Na6 22. Rc1 Qb5
23. Nd6 Qd7 24. Qd3 $1 Bxd6 25. Qxa6 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Qg4 27. Qd3 $1 Qxf4 28. Rcd1
Rfe8 29. Rfe1 Rac8 30. Qxd4 Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rc2 $11 {1/2 Aronian,L (2752)
-Ivanchuk,V (2729)/Morelia/Linares 2006/CBM 112/[Avrukh,B] (35)}) 15. Bh3 $146
{[%mdl 8]} (15. Nc6 Qd7 16. Nbxa7 $2 (16. Qc2 $142 Nb4 $1 17. Nxb4 Qxb5 18. Nd3
Ba3 19. Rcd1 Re7 $11) {doesn't work due to} 16... Rxa7 $1 17. Nxa7 Ra8 18. Qc2
c5 19. a3 Rxa7 20. Rfd1 Qe6 $17 {0-1 Onischuk,A (2670)-Alekseev,E (2708)/Biel
2008/CBM 126 (52)}) 15... c5 16. a3 {Now both White's b5-knight and a3-pawn
restrict Black's pieces on the queenside.} Ne4 (16... Nh5 $5) 17. Rc2 g6 18.
Qc1 g5 {Black must weaken his position to lift the pressure. The play becomes
extremely complicated.} 19. Be3 Bg7 20. Nf3 $6 {Too passive.} (20. f4 f6 21.
Nd3 c4 22. bxc4 dxc4 23. Rxc4 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Qd5 25. Kf2 Qxb5 $132) (20. f3 $142
$1 Nd6 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. f4 f6 $140 23. Nd3 c4 24. bxc4 dxc4 25. Rxc4 Qd5 26.
Ne1 $1 Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Qxh2+ 28. Bg2 $14) 20... Qe7 (20... Bc6 $1 21. Nc3 Bd7 $1 {
K.Landa} 22. Bxd7 Qxd7 23. Rd1 Rad8 $15) 21. Rd1 Rad8 (21... Bc6 $5 22. Nc3
Rad8) (21... Bc8 $5 22. Bxc8 Raxc8 23. dxc5 $140 $2 bxc5 24. Rxd5 $2 Qb7) 22.
Nxa7 Nd6 23. a4 Nb4 (23... Ra8 $5 24. Nb5 Nxb5 25. axb5 Nb4 26. Rcd2 Ra5 $132)
24. dxc5 bxc5 25. Rxc5 Na2 26. Qc2 Nb4 27. Qc1 (27. Qb1 $5 Ba6 28. Nb5 Nxb5 29.
Rxb5 (29. axb5 d4 $1) 29... Bxb5 30. axb5 Qb7 31. Nd4 Bxd4 32. Bxd4 Qxb5 33. e3
$44) 27... Nc4 $6 {[%mdl 2048] A risky attempt to set a "fire on board"
instead of repeating moves:} (27... Na2) 28. bxc4 d4 29. Bxg5 $2 (29. Nxd4 Qxc5
30. Nf5 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Qxc4 32. Qd7 Rb8 33. Ne7+ Kh8 34. Nac8 $1 Rxc8 35. Qxb7
$1 $16 {(K.Landa) Of course, it was very difficult for White to find the right
way under time pressure.}) 29... Qxc5 30. Bxd8 d3 $1 31. Ne1 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (
31. e4 $1 Qxa7 32. Qa3 Qc5 33. Rb1 Rxd8 34. Qxb4 Qxb4 35. Rxb4 Bxe4 36. Bg2 {
was the only way to put up any resistance, according to K.Landa}) 31... Rxe2
32. Qf4 Rxf2 $1 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {As expected. Since Hikaru has
started working with Kasparov this has become his favourite weapon against the
Nimzo Indian.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3 {A rather forgotten line
nowadays, but it was played by Kasparov several times in the eighties.} (8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 {is the most fashionable nowadays.}) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nc6
10. cxd5 Na5 11. Qc2 Nxd5 12. O-O (12. Qd3 {was Garry's choice in this
position, but after} Qc7 {was found, the whole line went out of fashion} 13.
Nb5 Qc6) 12... Qc7 (12... Bd7 {is a serious alternative here.}) 13. Re1 {
This makes sense, but it's hard to believe that White can seriously pretend to
be better with such a slow move.} (13. e4 Nxc3 {I guess that it is what Hikaru
did not like} (13... Nb6 {is always an option, of course}) 14. Bb2 (14. Bd2
Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Qxc2 16. Nxc2 Nc6) 14... Nb5 15. Qxc7 Nxc7 {and although White
definitely has enough play for the pawn, it seems very drawish.}) 13... Bd7 {
Logical.} (13... Rd8 14. e4) 14. e4 Nb6 (14... Nxc3 {is already not working
here:} 15. Bd2 Rac8 16. Rac1) 15. e5 {So far White had not spent any time on
his moves, so I started to search for a decent move which would make him think.
} Ba4 {Right choice! Nakamura started to think here finally!} (15... Rfc8 {
is perfectly playable, of course, but too logical to be a surprise :)}) 16. Qd3
Qc4 {That is the point, I start to bother his pieces immediatly, not allowing
White to gather his forces around my king.} (16... Rac8 17. Be4 $36) 17. Qf3 (
17. Qxc4 {might be the best choice actually, but somehow I was sure Hikaru
would not do it :)} Nbxc4 18. Rb1 Rab8 19. f4 {might be little better for
White, but nothing to worry about really, I thought.}) 17... Nc6 {The move
which I had to see in advance, otherwise Black's operation would not make
sense at all.} 18. Re4 {Probably the best move, played after ve-e-e-ery long
reflection, approximately one hour! Usually experience shows, that after such
a long thought a player comes up with a bad move, but this time it is an
exception to the rule.} (18. Qg4 {was possible, but gives me a wide choise of
interesting options:} Bc2 (18... Kh8 {might be the simplest}) (18... h5 19. Qh4
$13 Qxc3 (19... Nd5)) 19. Ba3 (19. Bh6 Bg6) 19... Rfc8) 18... Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc6
{Again a very important move which I had to have foreseen in advance, solving
all problems, if there were any at all.} 20. Rxc4 {There is no other sensible
way for White to play for advantage.} Bxf3 21. Rc7 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Rab8 23. Rb1
Rfc8 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Rb3 {Already strange, since White obviously can't win
anymore.} (25. Be3 {was a forced draw:} Rxc3 26. Bxb6 axb6 27. Rxb6 Rc7) 25...
h5 26. Be3 Nd5 27. Bd4 $2 {Probably the voice of the blood. Hikaru, like a
true samurai, is making hara-kiri :)} (27. Bxa7 {leads to a draw in all lines:}
Rxc3 28. Rxc3 (28. Rxb7 Ra3) 28... Nxc3 29. a3) 27... b6 {Obviously Black is
just much better here. Plus Nakamura was already getting into time trouble.}
28. f4 {I would prefer to leave this pawn on f2.} (28. Kf3 $142) 28... Rc4 {
Very important. Now my rook gets to a4 and White's position starts to collapse
slowly but surely.} 29. Kf1 (29. Ra3 $142 a5 {/\a4} 30. Rb3 a4 (30... Kh7 31.
Kf3 a4) 31. Rb2 Nxc3 32. Bxb6 Nd5 33. Bf2 {with some drawing chances} Kh7)
29... Ra4 30. Rb2 (30. a3 Ne7 $1 {/\ Nc6, Na5} 31. Be3 Nc6 $17 32. Bc1 Re4)
30... Kh7 {No need to hurry, Black gets his king into play with decisive
effect.} 31. Kf2 Kg6 32. Rc2 Ra3 33. h3 b5 34. Rb2 a6 35. Rc2 Kf5 (35... h4 {
is not bad either, but I decided that it is time to force matters already.})
36. Kf3 b4 37. g4+ hxg4+ 38. hxg4+ Kg6 39. Ke4 bxc3 40. Rh2 (40. f5+ Kg5 41.
fxe6 fxe6 42. Kf3 Ra4 $19) 40... Ra4 41. Rf2 a5 {Strangely enough White is in
some kind of zugzwang here, therefore I decided to ask him to move.} 42. Kd3 (
42. Rc2 Nxf4) (42. f5+ Kg5) 42... c2 {This is the end of the story.} 43. f5+
Kg5 44. Bb2 Nb4+ 45. Kc3 Rxa2 46. Rf1 Kxg4 47. fxe6 fxe6 {I am very strong in
such positions, so Hikaru resigned here.} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 (7. Nf3
c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O $132 {
is the line White is trying to avoid - see the notes to Akobian-Negi, Wijk aan
Zee B 2010.}) 7... c5 8. Qd2 ({Until January 2011 Kramnik preferred the move
order} 8. Rc1 O-O (8... Qa5 9. Qd2 {transposes into our game}) 9. Nf3 (9. Qd2
e5 $5 10. dxe5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 b6 12. Bc4 Bb7 13. f3 Bxe5 14. Ne2 Nc6 15. Bd5
Rad8 16. Kc2 Na5 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rcd1 Na5 19. Nf4 Nc4 20. Bc1 f5 $11 {
/=/+,Babula,V (2569)-Anand,V (2788)/HUN-chT/2009/}) 9... Bg4 $5 10. Be2 (10.
Qd2 Bxf3 11. gxf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 e6 13. Bb5 Nc6 $5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Rxc6 Qd7
$132) 10... Qa5 {However, he was possibly discouraged by his game against
Vachier-Lagrave:} 11. O-O (11. Qd2 e6 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 (13... c4 $142
$5 $132) 14. c4 Qa3 15. O-O Rae8 (15... Rfe8 $142 $1 {/\} 16. h3 Bf5 $1 17. g4
Be4 18. Ng5 Bb2 19. Rcd1 Bc3 20. Qc1 Bb2 $11) 16. Rfe1 f5 $2 (16... b6 $14) (
16... Bf5 $142 $5) 17. d6 $1 Kh8 18. h3 Bxf3 $6 19. Bxf3 Ne5 20. Bg5 $1 $18 {
Volkov,S (2621)-Sutovsky,E (2692)/EU-ch Aix-les-Bains/2011/ - see the notes to
this game by Krasenkow in CBM 142.}) 11... Qxa2 12. Bg5 Qe6 13. Re1 Qd7 14. d5
e5 15. Qb3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Na6 17. Be2 c4 18. Qxc4 Qd6 19. Bg4 f5 20. exf5 gxf5
21. Bh5 Nc5 22. Rcd1 Rac8 23. Qh4 $13 {1/2,Kramnik,V (2784)-Vachier-Lagrave,M 
(2715)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) 8... Qa5 ({An independent alternative is} 8... cxd4
9. cxd4 Nc6 10. Rd1 Bg4 $5 11. Be2 (11. f3 Bd7 12. d5 Ne5 13. Bd4 O-O 14. f4
Ng4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 $132) 11... Bxe2 12. Nxe2 O-O (12... Na5 13. Rc1 (13. Qb4 O-O
14. O-O b6 15. d5 Qd6 16. Qb5 Qe5 17. Rd4 Qb8 18. Ra4 Rc8 19. Nd4 Rc5 $11 {
Lputian,S (2605)-Kasparov,G (2851)/Wijk aan Zee/2000/}) 13... O-O 14. O-O b5
15. Qb4 a6 16. a4 Nc4 17. axb5 Nxe3 18. fxe3 axb5 (18... Rb8 $142 $5 19. Rc5 e5
20. d5 Re8 {/\Bf8~~, Kasparov}) 19. Qxb5 Ra3 20. Rf3 Bh6 21. Rc3 Ra1+ 22. Rf1
Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 $14 {Kramnik,V (2785)-Aronian,L (2808)/Monte Carlo rpd/2011/ -
see the notes to this game by Marin in CBM 142.}) 13. O-O e6 $5 (13... Na5 {
-12...Na5}) 14. d5 (14. Bh6 Qa5 15. Qe3 Qxa2 $5 (15... Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Qxa2 17.
Nf4 Ne7 18. Qg5 f6 19. Qb5 b6 20. Ra1 Qc2 21. Nxe6 $16 {Roiz,M (2658)-Avrukh,B
(2641)/Netanya/2009/}) {and White doesn't seem to have more than} 16. Bxg7 Kxg7
17. Nf4 Rfe8 18. d5 exd5 19. Nh5+ gxh5 20. Qg5+ Kh8 (20... Kf8 21. Qh6+ Ke7 22.
Qg5+ Kd7 23. Rxd5+ Kc7 24. Qf4+ Kb6 25. Qe3+ Kc7 $11) 21. Qf6+ {1/2, Iskusnyh,
S (2471)-Jaracz,P (2539)/Kalamaria/2009/} Kg8 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ {1/2,
Iskusnyh,S (2471)-Jaracz,P (2539)/Kalamaria/2009/}) 14... exd5 15. exd5 Ne5 16.
Qb4 Qd7 17. Qb3 (17. d6 $5 Rfc8 $132 {Kasparov}) 17... Rfe8 18. h3 b5 19. Nd4
a6 20. Bf4 Nc4 21. Qf3 (21. Nc6 Re4 22. Bg3 Rae8 23. Nb4 Re2 $17 {Kozul,Z 
(2605)-Avrukh,B (2575)/Belgrade/1999/}) 21... Nb2 22. Rd2 Nc4 $11) (8... O-O 9.
Nf3 Qa5 10. Rc1 Rd8 $5 {is the main line - see Pashikian-Zhou Jianchao,
Kramnik-Howell and Pashikian-Cornette.}) 9. Rc1 (9. Rb1 {went out of fashion
due to} b6 {/\Ba6} ({Also viable is} 9... cxd4 $5 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 O-O
12. Nf3 Rd8 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. d5 Na5 15. Bg5 f5 16. Bxe7 Bh6+ 17. Bg5 fxe4 18.
Bxe4 Bf5 19. Bxf5 Rxd5+ 20. Bd3 Bxg5+ 21. Nxg5 Rad8 22. Rhd1 $11 {Sanikidze,T 
(2524)-Le Quang,L (2687)/FRA-chT Mulhouse/2011/ We have already mentioned
White is trying to avoid this type of _|_, in which his K can be exposed in
the [+].}) 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Be2 Bc6 $132) 9... cxd4 {Giri opts for the _|_, in
which Black has been doing quite well recently.} ({The transposition} 9... O-O
10. Nf3 Rd8 $5 $13 {is still possible.}) 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 {Nowadays the
main move.} ({White has gradually started to refrain from exposing his c with
the committal} 11. Kxd2 O-O 12. Bb5 ({Pleasant for Black is} 12. Bd3 Rd8 13.
Ne2 Nc6 14. Rc4 f5 $1 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. Rb1 Rd7 18. Ke1 Rad8 19.
Kf1 Kf7 20. Rc5 e6 21. g3 Ne7 $11 {/=/+,Aronian,L (2783)-Mamedyarov,S (2756)/
Khanty Mansiysk ol/2010/}) (12. Nf3 Nc6 $132 {once again leads to to
Akobian-Negi, Wijk aan Zee B 2010.}) 12... Rd8 13. Ne2 Nc6 $5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15.
Rhd1 (15. f3 e5 16. Rxc6 exd4 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Nf4 Re5 $1 19. h4 (19. Rhc1 $142
$1 $11) 19... Ra5 20. Ra1 Bb7 21. Rc7 d3 $36 {Graf,A (2661)-Ruck,R (2575)/
Budapest/2004/}) (15. Rc5 $2 e5 16. Bg5 f6 17. Be3 exd4 18. Bxd4 Ba6 19. Rd1
Rd6 20. Ke3 Bxe2 21. Kxe2 Rad8 22. Ke3 Bf8 {0-1,Hjartarson,J (2400)-Stohl,I 
(2305)/WChJ Copenhagen/1982/}) (15. Rxc6 Bb7 16. Rc7 Bxe4 17. f3 Bf5 18. Rd1
Kf8 19. Ke1 Ke8 20. d5 Rd7 21. Rc5 Rb7 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Nc6 Rc8 $15 {[%csl Gd7,
Gg7] ^^,Kelecevic,N (2390)-Smejkal,J (2570)/Sarajevo/1982/}) 15... Rb8 16. Ke1
Rb2 17. Rxc6 Bb7 18. Rc7 Bxe4 19. f3 Bd5 20. Rxa7 Bxa2 $11 {Grabowski,P (2260)
-Coenen,N (2379)/NRW Liga 0607/2007/}) 11... O-O (11... Nc6 12. d5 Nd4 13. Nf3
f5 14. Bc3 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Bxc3+ 16. Rxc3 fxe4 17. fxe4 Rf8 18. f3 Bd7 19. Kf2
Kd8 20. Ke3 $36 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4,Gf3] [+],Zugic,I (2450)-Ftacnik,L (2602)/
Montreal/2002/ Despite simplification White's [+]P are a major factor.}) 12.
Nf3 ({A drawish _|_ arises after} 12. d5 e6 13. Bb5 Bd7 14. Bxd7 Nxd7 15. dxe6
fxe6 16. Nf3 Rfc8 17. Ke2 Nc5 18. Ng5 h6 19. Be3 hxg5 20. Rxc5 Rxc5 21. Bxc5 g4
$1 $11 {Schmidt,W-Jansa,V/Vrnjacka Banja/1983/}) 12... e6 ({Here an important
alternative is the more straightforward} 12... Bg4 13. Be3 (13. Rc7 Bxf3 14.
gxf3 Bxd4 15. Rxb7 Nc6 $32 16. Ba6 {1/2,Kramnik,V (2770)-Svidler,P (2727)/
Dortmund/2004/} Rab8 $11) (13. d5 Nd7 14. Ng5 Nb6 15. h3 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rfc8 (
16... h6 17. Nf3 e6 18. d6 Bc6 19. O-O Rad8 20. Bb4 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 e5 22. Nd2
Bf8 23. Nc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Rd7 $11 {Lybin,D (2576)-Hamarat,T (2630)/corr/2001/})
17. O-O Na4 18. Bb4 h6 19. Nf3 e6 $132 {Pinter,J (2512)-Shirov,A (2726)/EU Cup
Izmir/2004/}) (13. Ne5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Nc6 15. f4 Rfd8 16. Be3 Rac8 17. Be2 h5
18. Bxg4 hxg4 19. Ke2 $11 {1/2,Gehret,A (2378)-Bernad Suarez,A (2190)/corr/
2000/}) 13... Nc6 (13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 e6 (14... Nc6 {-13...Nc6}) 15. Bc4 (15.
Bb5 $1 $14) 15... Nc6 16. d5 exd5 17. Bxd5 Nb4 18. Bxb7 Nd3+ 19. Ke2 Nxc1+ 20.
Rxc1 Rab8 21. Rb1 Rbd8 22. Bxa7 Bd4 23. Bxd4 Rxd4 24. Ke3 Ra4 25. Bd5 $11 {
Sargissian,G (2667)-Navara,D (2708)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) (13... Nd7 14. Rc7 e5
15. d5 Rfc8 $1 16. Rxb7 Nc5 17. Rb4 Bf8 18. Nxe5 Nd7 19. Nd3 Bxb4+ 20. Nxb4
Rcb8 $132 {Rodshtein,M (2637)-Kovchan,A (2554)/Biel op/2011/}) 14. d5 Bxf3 (
14... Na5 15. Bd3 (15. Be2 $142 $5 {/\} e6 16. h3 $14) 15... e6 16. Bd2 b6 17.
O-O exd5 18. exd5 Rad8 19. Bxa5 bxa5 20. Rc5 a4 21. Bc2 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Bd4 $11 {
Ragger,M (2628)-Areshchenko,A (2664)/Bundesliga 1011/2011/}) 15. gxf3 Nd4 16.
Bh3 f5 17. Kf1 Rfc8 $5 (17... e6 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. exf5 gxf5 20. Rd1 Rad8 21.
Rxd8 Nxd8 22. Kg2 (22. Bxa7 $5) 22... Nc6 23. Rd1 $14 {Sargissian,G (2667)-Li,
C (2649)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) 18. Kg2 Kf8 19. Rxc8+ (19. Rhd1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 f4
21. Bd2 Be5 $11) 19... Rxc8 20. Rd1 Rc4 $132) 13. h4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An
interesting novelty, prepared already for the match against Kasparov in 2000.}
(13. Bb5 Nc6 (13... a6 $2 14. Bb4 $16) 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. O-O (15. Ne5 Bb7 16.
Bb4 Rfd8 17. Bc5 f6 18. Nc4 Ba6 19. Na5 Rac8 20. f3 Bh6 21. Rc2 Be3 22. Nb3 f5
23. e5 Bb5 24. Rc3 f4 $36 {[%csl Re1] עe1,Lazarev,V (2440)-Ernst,T (2525)/
Oberwart/1991/}) 15... Ba6 16. Rfe1 Bb5 17. Bb4 Rfd8 18. Bc5 a5 19. h4 a4 20.
Rc3 f6 21. e5 fxe5 22. Nxe5 Rd5 23. f4 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Rd7 $11 {[%csl Gb5,Gc5] /
+/=,Kramnik,V (2790)-Mamedyarov,S (2761)/Moscow/2010/ White's edge is more or
less platonic, the ^- are a strong neutralizing factor.}) 13... Nc6 {A logical
reaction.} ({Rather artificial is} 13... Bd7 14. h5 Bc6 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. Bd3
$14) 14. e5 {[%csl Rg7] White's idea is to limit the Bg7.} Bd7 ({It's
difficult to take the engine suggestion} 14... Rd8 15. Bg5 Rd5 16. Bc4 Ra5 {
[%csl Ra5] seriously, as Black can have problems with his exposed R.}) ({
The direct} 14... f6 {was perhaps a better choice:} 15. Bc4 (15. exf6 {is
inconsistent:} Bxf6 $11) (15. Bc3 fxe5 16. dxe5 Rf4 $13) (15. h5 $5 $44) 15...
fxe5 (15... Rd8 16. Bc3 {[%csl Re6] keeps Black under pressure, ><e6 is
vulnerable (we will see this later in the game as well).}) 16. d5 e4 $5 17.
dxe6 Re8 18. Ng5 h6 $132) (14... h6 $6 {tries to keep the <->h closed, but
Black has to reckon with} 15. h5 g5 16. Nxg5 $1 Rd8 (16... hxg5 17. h6 Bh8 18.
h7+ Kg7 19. Bxg5 $16 {->}) 17. Ne4 $16) ({The radical} 14... h5 $5 {also
deserves attention.}) 15. Rb1 (15. h5 Rfc8 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Rb1 Rc7 18. Bg5
Be8 $13 {[%cal Yc7d7,Yc6e7,Ye7d5] /\Rd7,Ne7-d5<=> It's difficult for White to
transfer his Rb1 to the <->h and Black has <=> in the [+] and on the <<.})
15... b6 $6 {[%csl Ra6,Rb5,Rb7] ><a6,<<} (15... Rfd8 $142 $5 16. h5 (16. Rxb7
Bc8 $11) (16. Bg5 Rdb8 $13 {and due to} 17. h5 h6 {White can't open the <->h
so easily.}) 16... Be8 $132) 16. h5 Ne7 17. hxg6 fxg6 $6 {[%mdl 32] Now
Kramnik gets a permanent strategic advantage, which he will convert very
smoothly.} ({Giri was obviously afraid to play} 17... hxg6 18. Ng5 $5 $36 {
[%cal Gh1h8] Although White's -> is more dangerous than in the previous note,
Black still retains defensive resources.}) 18. Bc4 Rac8 19. Bb3 Nd5 20. Ng5 $16
{White can develop his initiative with natural moves.} h6 (20... h5 21. f3 $16
{[%csl Gg5][%cal Yg2g4] ><g5,/\g4 and White will gradually prepare the opening
of the >>.}) 21. Ne4 g5 {[%csl Rh6] ><h6} (21... h5 {was possibly slightly
more resilient.}) 22. Nd6 Rc7 23. Ke2 $1 Rd8 24. Rh3 {[%cal Yb1h1,Rh3h6] /
\Rbh1,Rh6->} Bc6 25. Rbh1 Rf8 26. Rc1 $5 {[%cal Rb3d5] /\Yd5} ({More
consistent was} 26. Rxh6 $1 Bxh6 27. Rxh6 $16 {/+- , but Kramnik's move is
also strong.}) 26... Bd7 $8 27. Rxc7 Nxc7 28. Rc3 {White combines play on both
flanks, the Nd6 exerts unbearable pressure.} Na6 (28... Nb5 29. Nxb5 Bxb5+ 30.
Ke3 Re8 31. Rc7 $18) (28... Nd5 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rc7 Rd8 31. Ke3 {[%cal Rd6b7]
/\Nb7+-}) 29. g3 $1 {[%cal Yf2f4] /\f4} (29. d5 exd5 30. Bxd5+ Kh7 31. e6 Bxc3
32. Bxc3 $16 {is good enough, but White doesn't need to hurry.}) 29... Rd8 (
29... g4 30. Rc1 $1 {[%csl Rh6] /\Rh1, ><h6 and White targets the >> again.})
30. f4 Bf8 (30... gxf4 31. gxf4 {[%cal Yc3g3] gives White an extra attacking
option Rg3.}) 31. f5 Bxd6 32. exd6 Bb5+ {The rest is just agony, as e6 is
indefensible.} (32... Re8 $2 33. fxe6 Bxe6 34. d7 $18) 33. Ke3 Rxd6 34. fxe6
Kf8 35. Rc8+ Ke7 36. d5 Rd8 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38. d6 Nc5 39. Bd5 {[%cal Re3d4,
Rd4f6] /\Kd4-e5-f6} Bd7 40. exd7 Kxd7 41. Kd4 Kxd6 42. Bb4 a5 43. Bxc5+ bxc5+
44. Kc4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 a6 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4
c6 9. Ne5 a5 10. Bf4 Bf5 11. Qb3 Ra7 12. Rfd1 Nbd7 13. Rac1 h6 14. a3 Qb6 15.
Qxb6 Nxb6 16. f3 Re8 17. e4 Bh7 18. Be3 Raa8 19. Bf2 Rad8 20. Re1 Bf8 21. h3
dxe4 22. fxe4 Nfd7 23. Nd3 Nc4 24. Re2 Nb8 25. Na4 Nd6 26. Ndc5 Re7 27. Nb6 Nc8
28. Nc4 b6 29. Nb3 a4 30. Nbd2 Rb7 31. e5 Na7 32. d5 Bc5 33. Bxc5 bxc5 34. e6
Kf8 35. Na5 Rc7 36. Rxc5 fxe6 37. dxc6 Ke7 38. Ndc4 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Bd3 40. Re3
Bxc4 41. Rxc4 Rd2 42. Rce4 Nbxc6 43. Rxe6+ Kf7 44. Nc4 Rc2 45. Nd6+ Kg8 46. h4
g5 47. Nf5 gxh4 48. Kh3 Rc5 49. Rg6+ 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. O-O e5 8. a3
Be7 9. b4 O-O 10. bxc5 Bxc5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Ne4 Rb8 14. d3 Nb5 15.
Nfg5 Nc7 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 18. e3 Qa5 19. Rc4 Red8 20. Rfc1 Qb6 21. Qc2
Na5 22. Rc3 Rd7 23. Nd2 Rbd8 24. Nf3 Rd5 25. Ba1 Qa6 26. Rb1 Nc6 27. Bf1 Bxa3
28. d4 Qa5 29. Rxb7 Bc5 30. Rxc5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Qxa1 32. Qf5 Rf8 33. Rxf7 Rxf7
34. Qxe6 e4 35. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 e5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d4 {These lines with ...c5 and ...
e5 were subjected to intense testing during the Candidates' Matches in Khanty
Mansyisk (see also my theoretical survey published with CBM 143).} e4 6. Ne5 g6
7. Be2 $146 ({I had words of praise for} 7. Rb1 {, played in Kramnik,V (2785)
-Grischuk,A (2747)/Kazan 2011/CBM 143/[Marin] (1/2, 65), but, apparently, the
former World Champion has his own view.}) 7... Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 {Not
fearing any ghosts along the long diagonal, Kramnik decides that he can
develop normally, without the preparatory Ra1-b1.} ({In view of the possible
improvements for Black on the next move, I would think that} 9. Rb1 {deserves
serious attention, though. Let us check what could happen if Black plays as in
the game, or as in the lines recommended in the next comment.} {Finally, in
the event of the game plan:} cxd4 (9... Ne7 $2 {simply does not work now:} 10.
dxc5 Ne8 11. f4 ({In fact, even} 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12. Nxe4 $44 {is playable,
since the rook is not hanging anymore.}) 11... exf3 12. Nxf3 $16 {This way of
saving the knight is possible only because its colleague is defended.}) (9...
Re8 {can be met with} 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. dxc5 {, since there are no dangers
along the a1-h8 diagonal.} Nd7 12. Qc2 $1 (12. Na4 {places the knight on a
passive square and allows strong black counterplay on the opposite wing:} Qg5
13. b4 Ne5 14. Kh1 Bg4 $44) 12... Nxc5 (12... f5 13. b4 $16) 13. b4 Nd3 14.
Nxe4 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bf5 16. Bd3 {Despite the engines' lack of enthusiasm, I
see that White has an extra pawn, without any obvious plan for Black to
compensate for it.}) 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {, the rook can be
useful on b1, too:} 13. b4 {(planning a4, b5, etc)} d5 $140 14. c5 $1 {
followed by b4-b5, with strong queenside initiative.}) 9... cxd4 $6 {
Nepomniachtchi wrongly assumes that, once b2-b3 has been played, the bishop
would automatically go to b2, so that the opening of the c1-h6 diagonal does
not bother him. Instead of this unnecessary concession, he had at least two
good alternatives.} (9... Ne7 $5 {leaves the e5-knight in some danger:} 10. Bb2
(10. dxc5 Ne8 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 {does not work out well for White. He will have to
lose some time to solve the pin before becoming active.}) (10. f3 {is a bit
artificial and offers Black good counterplay against the d4-pawn.} d6 11. Ng4
Nxg4 12. fxg4 Nc6 13. Nxe4 Re8 {A dream position for a Grьnfeld player.}) 10...
d6 11. Ng4 Nxg4 12. Bxg4 Bxg4 13. Qxg4 f5 {Black has little to fear.}) ({
The immediate} 9... Re8 $1 {may be the simplest:} 10. Bb2 (10. Nxc6 dxc6 11.
dxc5 Nd7 $1 {[%cal Gg7a1] does not look right for White.}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4
d6 ({There is no real need for} 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Rxe5 13. Nb5 Re6 14. Qd2
$44 {with active play for White.}) 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {Compared with the game
position, this is a much better version for Black. The bishop is passive on b2,
being sort of dominated by its rival and failing to stabilise the centre (...
e4-e3 is a permanent threat).}) 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 $1 (11. Nxc6 dxc6 {
would open the d-file for Black's counterplay. This would be just what a
Grьnfeld specialist would hope for, in order to exert pressure against the
d4-pawn.}) 11... d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 $14 {Despite Black's space advantage,
White's play is easier. His structure is more flexible and he has the
possibility of building up a queenside attack.} d5 14. Qd2 ({Under the given
circumstances, the plan based on} 14. c5 {does not promise anything special
anymore:} a5 15. a3 Ba6 $11 {Black has solved most of his strategic problems.})
14... Ba6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h3 {In the next phase of the game, Kramnik will be
restricting himself to half-waiting moves, as if he would not find a clear
plan. Maybe he hoped that his opponent would get bored of his passive position
and starts some premature counterplay. To a certain extent, the ulterior
course of the game will justify such an approach.} dxc4 {A first sign of
Black's impatience. By giving up the tension, he avoides being left with a
weak pawn on d5 and hopes to get some counterplay against White's central
pawns.} 17. bxc4 Nd7 (17... Qa5 18. Nxe4 ({This is not really necessary, since
the queen is not doing much on a5. The more neutral} 18. Qc2 Rcd8 19. Rb1 $14 {
/\Na4 also retains White's advantage.}) 18... Qxd2 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxd2 Rcd8
21. Rcd1 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 24. Bh6 f6 25. Rd7 $14) 18. Na4 $1 {
Possibly underestimated by Black.} Bf8 19. Bf1 (19. Rb1 $5 {/\Rb3}) 19... h5
20. Qc3 {A bit mysterious.} Qf6 21. Be3 c5 22. Qa5 {Now that pawn contact has
been established, Kramnik switches to dynamic mode.} (22. d5 $5 $14 {also
looks promising. The c5-pawn is a target, the a6-bishop is passive and the
d5-pawn can become dangerous in the event of mass simplifications.}) 22... cxd4
23. Bxd4 Qc6 24. Nc3 $1 {Re-centralising.} (24. Bxa7 $2 Re5 25. c5 $8 {[%csl
Ga4]} Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Rg5 $40 {[%cal Ge4e3,Gc8a8]}) 24... Bh6 (24... Bc5 25. Bxc5
Nxc5 26. Nb5 Bxb5 27. cxb5 Qb6 28. Qa3 $14) 25. Nd5 $5 {Quite imaginative.
Decades ago, I had come in contact with Petrosian's positional exchange
sacrifices and started carrying them out myself. More than once, I ignored
such threats as ...Bxc1, by making some active move on another sector of the
board. Subjectively, I like Kramnik's last move a lot, although objectively
the position did not require it really.} (25. Rc2 $14 {[%cal Gc3d5]}) 25...
Bxc1 26. Rxc1 $44 {White is strongly centralised and Black is poorly
coordinated and weak on the dark squares.} Bb7 $2 {This is the right time to
mention the psychological impact of the positional exchange sacrifice,
something Petrosian liked to speak about. Black has "won" an exchange for no
pawn, which may cause either some sort of euphoria or panic in front of 
(possibly illusory) threats. This depends on the player's character, of course.
With his last move, Black aims to regroup as soon as possible and exchange the
molesting knight. However, since ...Bxd5 is not a threat yet anyway, the move
order chosen by him is wrong.} (26... Qd6 $1 {is the only way to parry the
game threat under favourable circumstances.} 27. Bb2 Bb7 $1 {This is
well-timed now.} 28. Rd1 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Qe7 30. Qc3 f6 31. Qe3 Nb6 32. Rd4 {
White has pressure on both wings and his bishops look threatening. From the
practical point of view, it may be not that pleasant to play with Black, since
there is no immediate way to release the pressure, for instance:} Rcd8 33. c5
$1 {based on} Qxc5 $4 34. Rxd8 Qxe3 35. Rxe8+ Kf7 36. fxe3 $18) 27. Qb4 $1 $16
{Suddenly, the threat of Ne7+ (attacking four pieces at the same time!) cannot
be parried adequately.} a5 28. Ne7+ Kf8 (28... Kh7 29. Qa3 $16) 29. Nxg6+ Kg8
30. Ne7+ Kf8 31. Ng6+ Kg8 32. Ne7+ Kf8 33. Nxc6+ axb4 34. Nxb4 Nc5 35. Rb1 $16
{White has two pawns for the exchange, an unchallenged dark-squared bishop,
and the safer king position. This is enough to claim a clear advantage.} Red8 (
35... Nd3 {has been recommended by Zagrebelny, but it fails to solve Black's
problems if White just ignores the knight.} 36. Be3 $1 (36. Nxd3 exd3 37. Bxd3
Be4 $11 {Zagrebelny}) 36... Red8 37. a4 (37. Nxd3 exd3 38. Rxb7 d2 39. Bxd2
Rxd2 $11) 37... Rd7 38. Bxd3 exd3 39. c5 {/\a5} d2 40. Rd1 $16) 36. Nc2 Ba8 (
36... Ba6 $5 $16 {[%csl Gb5] ><b5}) 37. Rb5 Nd3 38. Rxh5 $18 {White has some
material advantage already, while keeping all his previous trumps.} Ke8 (38...
Ke7 39. Ne3 $1 Rxd4 $2 40. Nf5+) (38... Rxc4 39. Bf6 $1 $18) 39. Bb6 Rd6 40. c5
{Consolidating the bishop and planning the advance of the a-pawn.} Rd5 41. Rh6
Rg5 (41... Nxc5 42. Rh8+ Kd7 43. Bb5+ Bc6 44. Rxc8 Kxc8 45. Bxc6 Rd6 46. Nb4
Nd3 47. Nd5 $1 $18) 42. Nd4 Rg6 (42... Nxc5 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Bb5+ $18) 43. Rh5
Ke7 44. a4 Nf4 45. Re5+ Kf8 46. g3 Nd3 47. Rh5 Kg8 48. a5 Re8 49. a6 Re5 50.
Rxe5 Nxe5 51. Bb5 e3 52. a7 Kf8 53. Bc7 (53. Bc7 {The knight is sort of
trapped.} f6 $8 54. Kf1 $5 {Not the only move, but the simplest one. The
e3-pawn is neutralised and the strength of the threat f2-f4 is increased, by
avoiding ...Rxg3+.} exf2 55. Bxe5 fxe5 56. c6 Ke7 57. c7 Rg8 58. Nf5+ {It
appears that preventing Nd6 with} Ke6 {drops material to} 59. Bc4+ Bd5 60.
Bxd5+ Kxd5 61. Ne7+) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {It would have been interesting to make bets during the first few moves,
regarding which opening will actually be played. After each move, the
expectations will change drastically, as we will see.} d6 {So, Kramnik invites
his opponent to the Pirc, an opening that he has included in his repertoire
just a few years ago.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. f3 {White prefers to threaten with a
transposition to the Sдmisch King's Indian, after c4 and Nc3.} c5 {Declining
the offer and launching a new invitation to the Benoni!} ({I must confess that
recently I got tricked by this move order. I played} 3... g6 4. Be3 Nbd7 {
, being ready for either the Pirc or the KI, but then got out of my
preparation rather soon.} 5. Qd2 $1 {Inviting Black to define his intentions.}
({I was ready for} 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qd2 c5 {, which I had studied with
a pupil of mine some time ago.}) 5... c6 ({In the Pirc, I do not tend to
develop the bishop too soon:} 5... Bg7 6. Nc3 {followed by Bh6.}) 6. c4 (6. Nc3
b5 {was my last hope.}) 6... a6 7. Nc3 e5 8. O-O-O {Perez Mitjans,O (2452)
-Marin,M (2548) Barcelona 2011 (1-0, 42). Finally, I got trapped in a
variation that I had never studied and eventually lost.}) 4. Ne2 {After all
probabilities, it will now become a Sicilian English Attack.} (4. d5 {may
transpose to a Benoni, although some deviations are possible:} g6 (4... e6 5.
c4 b5 {Dreev,A (2676)-Saldano Dayer,H (2414)/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092/[Erenburg]
(1-0, 31)}) 5. c4 Bg7 6. Ne2 O-O 7. Nec3 e6 {Sadler,M (2667)-Tkachiev,V (2634)/
Enghien les Bains 1999/CBM 070/[Tsesarsky] (0-1, 44). The position looks like
a Benoni, but the disposition of White's knights is slightly different.}) (4.
c3 {would lead to an Alapin Sicilian! One interesting way to fight for the
initiative is} e6 (4... cxd4 5. cxd4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nge2 e5 9. d5
Nbd7 10. Be3 {unexpectedely leads to a genuine Sдmisch KI!! Usually, the
exchange of the c-pawns takes place after d4-d5, ...c6xd5, as happened in some
of Kasparov's games.}) 5. dxc5 d5 $5 {Shibut,M (2336)-Khachian,M (2473)/
Minneapolis 2005/CBM 107/[Rogozenko] (0-1, 22)}) 4... e6 5. Be3 {Renewing the
invitation to a Sicilian.} (5. dxc5 Qa5+ 6. Nbc3 dxc5 (6... Qxc5 $5 7. Nd4 a6
8. Be3 {leads to a Scheveningen in which Black may wonder why he had developed
his queen so soon.}) 7. Be3 a6 8. g3 Be7 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qe1 Nc6 12.
Kh1 Qc7 13. f4 b6 14. h3 Bb7 $13 {Kurnosov,I (2419)-Zablotsky,S (2381)/
Vladimir 2002/CBM 087 ext (1-0, 40)}) 5... d5 $5 $146 {A new possibility pops
up: the French!} 6. dxc5 {Finally, the game takes an independent course. The
game belongs to B07. In other words, it is a Pirc, as I had announced a long
time ago!} (6. e5 Nfd7 7. f4 Nc6 {looks nice for Black. White's minor pieces
are far from optimally placed for the French structure.}) 6... Nbd7 {The
players are not too interested in solving the pawn tensions at this stage of
the game. Development is more important.} 7. Nbc3 (7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bd4 Bxc5 $11
9. Bxg7 $2 Qb6 $40) 7... dxe4 8. b4 b6 $5 {Very sharp.} ({He could have
carried out a similar break under less complicated circumstances with:} 8... a5
9. a3 exf3 10. gxf3 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 b6 $132 13. c6 $2 Ne5 $17) 9.
c6 Bxb4 $1 10. cxd7+ Bxd7 $44 {At the cost of a piece, Black has obtained the
freer development and the possibility of taking the king to a safe place.
White will remain underdeveloped for almost all the rest of the game and his
king will be under permanent attack.} 11. a3 Ba5 12. Qd4 Qe7 13. fxe4 e5 {
Somehow, the central structure ressembles the Sicilian now, but maybe it is
now too late to speak about the opening.} 14. Qd3 O-O 15. Bg5 Rac8 16. Bxf6
Qxf6 $1 17. O-O-O (17. Qxd7 Qh4+ 18. g3 Qxe4 {[%cal Ga5c3]} 19. O-O-O Qxh1 $17)
17... Be6 18. Nd5 {The most natural way to try getting developed. Otherwise,
the knights would have remained immobile.} Bxd5 19. exd5 e4 $1 {[%cal Gf6a1] /
\ 20...Qa1#} 20. Qd4 (20. Qb3 Qa1+ 21. Qb1 Qxa3+ 22. Qb2 Qc5 $40) 20... Qd6 21.
h4 $6 {After giving up his a3-pawn, White's material advantage will become
almost insignificant, while his king will be even more exposed.} (21. Kb2 {
was necessary, although Black would have good play anyway:} Rfe8 22. h4 b5 $44
{[%cal Gc8c4,Gb5b4,Ga5b6,Gb6c5]}) 21... Qxa3+ 22. Qb2 Qc5 $40 23. Rh3 {The
counterattack initiated by this move is too slow.} (23. h5 $5 {[%cal Gh5h6]
may cause a bit more confusion.} h6 24. Rh4 f5) 23... e3 24. Rg3 Bd2+ 25. Kb1
g6 26. h5 Rfe8 $1 {Anticipating the threats with developing moves.} 27. hxg6 (
27. h6 Re5 $1 {[%csl Gc2]}) 27... hxg6 28. Rh3 Re5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gc5d5]} 29.
Nc1 Bc3 30. Qb3 $2 (30. Qa2 Re4 31. Nb3 Rb4 32. Ba6 Rc7 $40 {/\...b5, ...Ra4})
30... Re4 $19 31. Na2 (31. Qa2 Rb4+ 32. Nb3 a5 $19) 31... Qa5 32. Ba6 Rb4 33.
Bxc8 Rxb3+ 34. cxb3 e2 35. Nxc3 Qxc3 $1 {An imaginative attacking game,
reminding us of Kramnik's youth, when he frequently played the sharp lines of
the Rauzer Sicilian.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b5 $6 2. e4 $1 {The most energetic way to meet Black's extravagant move.
Carlsen may have underestimated Kramnik's readiness to switch to dynamic play
at such an early stage of the game.} Bb7 $6 ({It almost looks safer to avoid
the pawn exchange with} 2... a6 3. d4 Bb7 4. Bd3 {, transposing to 1.e4 a6, as
experimented in the famous game Karpov,A (2725)-Miles,A (2545) Skara 1980
EU-chT [ChessBase] (0-1, 46)}) 3. Bxb5 Bxe4 {Generally speaking, the exchange
of a knight pawn for a central one should favour Black. However, the bishop is
exposed in the centre and the time invested in this operation (two tempi, ...
Bxe4-b7) is too high a price to pay. At the same time, the b5-bishop is active.
For instance, it prevents an early occupation of the centre with ...d5.} 4. O-O
Nf6 5. d4 e6 ({Playing for the centre with} 5... c6 6. Ba4 d5 {would leave
Black desperately underdeveloped:} 7. Ne5 Qb6 8. c4 $16) 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 {
White is better developed and has been the first to occupy the centre. We have
actually got a reversed Sokolsky (1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5) with an extra
tempo for White, in what is a questionable position anyway.} 8. d5 {There is
no reason to refrain from this new territorial gain.} ({The slow manoeuvre} 8.
Ba4 O-O 9. Bc2 {is relatively popular, but it contradicts Steinitz' teaching
according to which the player having an advantage is bound to attack! Black
gets a reasonable Hedgehog-type of position after} d6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 c5 {
, for instance:} 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Qe2 Qb6 (13... a6 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Rfe8
16. Nd4 Rac8 {1/2 (22) Timoscenko,G (2536)-Tomescu,V (2453)/Padova 1999/CBM
073 ext}) 14. Rad1 Rfd8 15. Rfe1 a5 16. Ng5 h6 17. Nge4 Ncxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19.
Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 a4 $132 {1/2 (38) Iskusnyh,S (2440)-Zhelnin,V (2475)/Orel
1997/EXT 1999}) 8... O-O 9. Bf4 $5 $146 {It is strange that such a natural
developing move is new.} ({Here, too, White usually retreats with his other
bishop, as if fearing ...c6 (or what else?) True, this also is enough for an
advantage, which speaks against the system of development chosen by Black.} 9.
Ba4 Na6 (9... Bb4 10. Bg5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 h6 {Speelman,J (2530)-Hodgson,J/London
1985/EXT 2007 (1-0, 27)} 12. Bxf6 $5 Qxf6 13. Re1 $32 {It is not clear how
Black could develop. Among other things, the d7-pawn needs protection.}) 10.
Re1 (10. a3 Nc5 11. Bc2 a5 12. Be3 exd5 13. cxd5 $14 {Wojtkiewicz,A (2560)
-Bronstein,D (2400)/Reykjavik 1994/CBM 039 ext (1-0, 44)}) 10... Bb4 11. Bg5
Nc5 12. Bc2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 d6 14. Bh4 h6 15. Nd4 exd5 16. Nf5 $16 {Eingorn,V 
(2475)-Semeniuk,A/Soviet Union 1984/EXT 2000 (1-0, 40)}) 9... Na6 (9... c6 $2 {
is not a threat at all:} 10. d6 $1 cxb5 11. dxe7 Qxe7 12. Bd6 Bxf3 13. gxf3 $18
) 10. Re1 Qc8 {Avoiding the pin created by Bg5 after ...Bb4. However, the last
move takes the queen too far from the kingside.} 11. Nd4 Bb4 12. Bg5 $1 Ne8 (
12... Bxc3 13. Bxf6 Bxe1 (13... gxf6 14. bxc3 Nc5 15. Re3 $40) 14. Qg4 g6 15.
Qf4 {[%cal Gf4h6]} Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Nc5 {hoping for a fork on d3 or e4.} 17. Kg1
$1 $18 {Black has exhausted his defensive resources and can resign.}) 13. Re3 {
The logical continuation, building up a decisive kingside attack.} ({The
continuation suggested by the computer,} 13. Qa4 $5 Bxc3 14. Bxd7 $16 {looks
good enough, but in a rapid game players usually play according to known
patterns and rarely notice such "incidental" possibilities.}) 13... c6 {
Finally, but... too late. While Black will eliminate the central white pawns,
his king will get into deadly trouble.} 14. Bxa6 Bxa6 15. Qh5 f6 (15... Bxc4
16. Rh3 h6 17. Bxh6 $40) 16. Rh3 $1 {Most of Black's pieces (the queen, the
queen's rook, the bishops) are completely out of play and cannot contribute to
the defence. Although White's attack implies a piece sacrifice, he will enjoy
material superiority on the critical area of the board.} fxg5 17. Qxh7+ Kf7 18.
Qh5+ Kg8 (18... Ke7 19. Qxg5+ Kf7 20. Qh5+ Ke7 21. Qh4+ Nf6 (21... Rf6 22. Ne4
$18) (21... Kf7 22. dxe6+ dxe6 23. Ne4 $18) 22. dxe6 dxe6 23. Re1 Kf7 24. Nf3
$18) 19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Ne4 Bxc4 21. Qh5+ Ke7 (21... Kg8 22. Nxg5 $18) (21... g6
22. Qh7+ Ng7 23. Rf3+ $18) 22. Qxg5+ Kf7 23. Qh5+ Ke7 24. Qg5+ Kf7 25. dxe6+
dxe6 26. Nf3 $1 {[%csl Yc4][%cal Gf3e5] An elegant regrouping move.} Kg8 27.
Qh4 {Threatening Ng5 (either of them) followed by Qh8 mate.} Rxf3 28. Qh7+ (28.
Qh7+ Kf8 29. Rxf3+ Ke7 30. Qh4+) 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3
{- Kramnik,V (2781)-Giri,A (2701)/Dortmund/2011/ See the notes to this game in
CBM 144. This time Kramnik tries a different approach...}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 Bg7 ({Kramnik indicated his plans against} 3... d5 {a few rounds later by}
4. Qa4+ {- see Kramnik,V (2791)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2715)/Hoogeveen/2011/ Giri
said he was inspired by Nakamura's recent games against Kramnik and doesn't
mind entering King's Indian territory. However, his opponent was certainly
prepared, as Anish has already played this opening earlier this year.}) 4. e4
d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O (7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Qd2 d5 11.
exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 Qa5 (13... Rxe3 $5 14. Qxe3 Qf8 $44 {was
introduced in the last K-K match in 1990.}) 14. Bf2 Nxd4 $6 (14... a6 $142) 15.
Bxd4 Qb4 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. a3 Qb3 18. Bd3 Rad8 19. Bc2 Qc4 20. b3 Qa6 21. b4 b6
{Popov,V (2565)-Giri,A (2690)/RUS-chT Olginka/2011/} 22. Bd3 Qb7 23. Rab1 $36)
7... Nc6 {Kramnik has been playing the Classical line for two decades and has
vast experience with it.} ({The less usual} 7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 {also had
some recent outings:} 9. f3 c6 (9... Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Qd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Nf4
13. Be3 Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 f5 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Ng3 Qf7 17. Rac1 Bd7 18. b3 a5 19. a4
Be5 20. Bf4 Bg7 21. Kh1 b6 $11 {Kramnik,V (2788)-Radjabov,T (2744)/Kazan/2011/
Later in the nervous tie-break White managed to outplay his opponent, but from
the opening Black was doing OK.}) 10. Kh1 Nbd7 (10... Nh5 $5 11. g4 Nf6 12. Bf4
h5 13. g5 Nh7 14. Qd2 Nd7 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Rg1 Ne5 17. Qe1 Nf8 18. Qf2 a6 19.
Nb3 Be6 20. c5 Rad8 21. cxd6 Rxd6 $13 {Gelfand - Griscuk, Monaco rapid 2011}
22. Qc5 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nfd7 $11 {Gelfand,B (2733)-Grischuk,A (2747)/Monte Carlo
rpd blindfold/2011/}) 11. Be3 ({More usual is} 11. Bg5 {already played by
Kramnik in the past:} Qb6 12. Nb3 a5 13. Qd2 a4 14. Be3 c5 $6 15. Nc1 Ne5 16.
Rb1 Be6 17. b3 axb3 18. axb3 Qa5 19. Rd1 Red8 20. Nb5 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 Ne8 22. Na2
f5 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. Rbd1 Nc6 25. g4 Be6 26. Nac3 Na5 27. Rb1 b6 28. Kg2 h6 29.
Bd3 g5 30. Be4 Bxc3 31. Nxc3 Rac8 32. h4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2770)-Polgar,J (2670)/
Dortmund/1997/}) 11... a6 $5 (11... d5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Ndb5 $1 $36) 12. Nc2
$146 (12. Bg1 {/\} d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 15. Qb3 $1 $14 {Ponomariov}) (
12. Qd2 Ne5 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Nc2 Be6 15. b3 Rad8 16. f4 Neg4 17. Bg1 Bc8 18. h3
Nh6 19. Qd3 $2 (19. Bf3 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. e5 Ne4 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Bd4 Nf5
24. Nxe4 f6 $132) 19... Nxe4 $1 20. Nxe4 Bf5 $17 {Korolev,A (2235)-Domogaev,S 
(2469)/Bogoroditsk/2011/}) 12... Ne5 13. f4 Neg4 14. Bg1 h5 $5 15. Bf3 (15. h3
Nxe4 $1 $44) 15... Be6 16. b3 $6 (16. Qd3 $142 $1) 16... Qa5 17. Qe1 b5 $6 ({
Pocitacove} 17... Bf5 18. h3 Qd8 $1 $36 {[%cal Rf6e4] /\Ne4}) 18. c5 $6 (18. h3
$1 $14) 18... b4 19. Na4 Bc4 $2 (19... Nxe4 $1 $36) 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Bxf1
22. Rxf1 Nxe4 23. Nb6 Ra7 24. cxd6 Nxd6 25. Bxc6 Re2 26. N6d5 $14 {Kramnik,V 
(2781)-Ponomariov,R (2764)/Dortmund/2011/ For more details see the notes by
Ponomariov to this game in CBM 144.}) 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 ({Although this line is
Kramnik's trademark, lately he has also played} 9. Nd2 {, albeit without much
success:} a5 (9... Ne8 10. b4 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. a4 f4 13. Nc4 g5 14. Ba3 g4 $6
15. cxd6 cxd6 16. b5 Ne8 17. Bxg4 Qc7 18. Be2 f3 19. b6 axb6 20. Nb5 fxe2 21.
Qxe2 Qd8 22. Nbxd6 Nxd6 23. Bxd6 Rf7 24. Bxe5 $36 {/+/-,Kramnik,V (2780)
-Nakamura,H (2733)/Khanty Mansiysk olm/ 2010/ In the later course of the game
Black managed to escape - see the notes by Krasenkow in CBM 139.}) ({Fischer's
move} 9... c5 {is not too popular nowadays, here both} 10. Rb1 ({and} 10. dxc6
bxc6 11. b4 {allow White to fight for an edge.})) 10. a3 Kh8 11. Rb1 Nd7 12. b4
f5 13. f3 f4 (13... Ng8 {[%cal Yg8f6] /\Ngf6 was introduced by Kasparov and is
played more often.}) 14. Nb5 b6 15. Qc2 (15. c5 $5 $44) 15... a4 $5 {A
paradoxical new idea, which takes b3 away from the N and thus greatly
complicates the c5 break.} 16. Rd1 ({Kramnik was worried about} 16. Nc3 g5 17.
Nxa4 Nf6 18. c5 g4 $13 {, but it's not so clear how strong the -> really is.
Therefore this was a more testing and principled reaction.}) 16... g5 17. g4 h5
18. h3 Rf6 19. Bb2 Rh6 20. Kg2 Ng6 21. Rh1 Bf8 22. Kf2 Nf6 23. c5 dxc5 24. Nc4
Bd6 25. Bc3 Kg7 26. Qb2 cxb4 27. axb4 Qe7 28. Rbg1 Bd7 29. Nbxd6 cxd6 {[%cal
Ra8h8] /\Rah8->,Kramnik,V (2785)-Nakamura,H (2774)/Monte Carlo 2011 - see
notes to this game by Krasenkow in CBM 142.}) ({Giri's own recent game
featured the older main line} 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 fxe4 ({Unusual,} 
11... Nf6 12. f3 f4 $13 {is the standard continuation.}) 12. Nxe4 Nf5 13. Rc1 (
13. Bc3 $5) 13... Nf6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bg4 b6 17. Rc3 a5 18. Ne1
Bg7 19. Nc2 h5 20. Bh3 Bh6 21. Re1 Kh7 22. Ng3 Qg5 23. Rf3 Bd7 24. b3 Rf7 25.
Re4 Raf8 $15 {Renet,O (2497)-Giri,A (2687)/FRA-chT Mulhouse/2011/}) 9... Nh5
10. g3 {The older alternative, played already in the 1950s.} ({If only
statistically speaking the main move here is} 10. Re1 {, but Kramnik played
this a lot in the past. Suffice to say that after he beat Kasparov in Novgorod
1997 in this line the latter stopped playing the KID in classical games.
However, lately Kramnik has been doing some experimenting in the Bayonet
Attack. His recent choice here has been} f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 (12. f3 {
was played in no less than 5 (!) Van Wely-Radjabov games. The last one from
2009, annotated by Van Wely in CBM 129, illustrates the problems Black has to
face after} Kh8 13. Rb1 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6) 12... c6 13. Ba3 (13. Be3 {
is a move, introduced by Kramnik in the late 1990s. However, here extensive
practice has shown that} h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4
d5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bc2 b6 $11 {doesn't give White an advantage.}) 13... h6
14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Bxe4 $5 (16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18. cxd5 cxd5
19. b5 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Bxe7 Re8 {is known to lead to a drawish _|_.})
16... d5 $142 $1 (16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 d5 18. Nc5 $1 Qd6 (18... e4 19. Rc1 $36)
19. Nxb7 Qxe6 20. b5 cxb5 21. cxd5 Qd7 22. d6 Nf5 23. Nc5 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Nxd6
25. Ne4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2788)-Grischuk,A (2728)/WCh Moscow blitz/2008/}) 17.
Bc2 (17. cxd5 cxd5 18. b5 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Bxe7 Re8 $11 {
only transposes to 16.Ne4.}) 17... Qd6 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bb3 Kh7 20. Qe2 Nh5
21. Rad1 Nf4 22. Qf1 Rad8 $5 $132 (22... Rac8 23. Ne4 Qxe6 24. b5 $44) (22...
Qxe6 23. b5 Rad8 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 $14 {Chabanon,J (2455)
-Touzane,O (2287)/FRA-chT/2010/})) ({Another try is} 10. c5 Nf4 11. a4 (11. Bc4
Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Re1 Kh8 $1 14. Bf1 f5 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Rc1 a5 17. a3 $6 (
17. bxa5 Rxa5 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Be2 $11) 17... axb4 18. axb4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 (19.
Qxf3 Ra3 $1 $36) 19... fxe4 20. Rxe4 Nf5 21. Rc4 Qg5+ 22. Kh1 Bxc3 23. R4xc3
Ra2 24. R3c2 {Bykhovsky,A (2405)-Avrukh,B (2495)/Beersheba/1996/ - see
Avrukh's notes in CBM 53.} Rxc2 25. Qxc2 Qf6 $15) 11... f5 12. Bc4 fxe4 13.
Nxe4 h6 14. Re1 $146 (14. g3 Nh5 (14... Nh3+ $5 15. Kg2 Bg4 $132) 15. Nfd2 Kh8
16. Ra3 a6 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. b5 Bf5 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Qe2 Qd7 21. Bxa6 $6 (21.
Rb3 $1 $14) 21... Nxd5 22. Bb5 Qe7 23. Bc6 Ndf4 $1 24. gxf4 Nxf4 25. Qe1 Rac8
26. Bb5 d5 27. Ng3 Bh3 $44 {|^, Bareev,E (2677)-Amonatov,F (2649)/RUS-chT
Dagomys/2008/}) 14... Bg4 15. Ra3 g5 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bxf4 Rxf4 18. g3 Rf8 19. a5
Kh8 20. Kg2 Rb8 21. Qd2 b6 22. axb6 axb6 $11 23. Nfxg5 $5 hxg5 24. Qxg5 Bg6 $13
{Kramnik,V (2781)-Nakamura,H (2770)/Dortmund/2011/ Later on White misplayed
the complications and lost - see notes to this game by Krasenkow in CBM 144.})
10... f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 $5 {Natural enough, but very rare. Now we have a
position from the previous note, in which White has played g3 instead of Re1.
It's necessary to compare these lines, their pluses and respective drawbacks.}
({The older move is} 12. f3 f4 {and here White should perhaps reconsider} 13.
Kg2 $5 (13. b5 fxg3 14. hxg3 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Qxe6 18. Nxc7
Qh3 19. Rf2 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Rxf2 21. Kxf2 Rf8+ 22. Ke3 Qxg3+ 23. Kd2 Rf2 24. Ne8
Qf3 $1 25. Nxd6 Bf6 26. c5 Nd5 $1 27. exd5 e4 28. Ke1 {Van Wely,L (2655)
-Stellwagen,D (2630)/Amsterdam/2009/ This game still remains the last word in
the 13.b5 line.} Bc3+ $1 29. Bd2 Qg3 30. Bxc3 e3 $19 {[%cal Rf2f1] /\Rf1})
13... h6 (13... Nh5) (13... a5 {and}) (13... c6 $5 $13 {are all viable
improvements, leading to complex play.}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 c6 16. b5 Qc7
17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Ba3 Rfd8 19. Qa4 Qc8 20. Rab1 Kh8 21. Rfd1 Qxe6 22. Qa6 h5
23. Rb7 g5 24. Rxa7 Rab8 {Van Wely,L (2585)-Ye Jiangchuan (2535)/Biel izt/1993/
} 25. Rb7 $1 $16 {/\} Ra8 $2 26. Rxd6 $1) 12... c6 {The standard reaction.} (
12... h6 13. Ne6 Bxe6 14. dxe6 fxe4 (14... c6 15. b5 fxe4 {-12...c6 13.b5}) 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 c6 17. Be3 (17. Qg4 d5 18. Bxg6 Nxg6 19. Qxg6 Qe8 20. Qg4
Rf6 $11) (17. b5 d5 18. Bg2 Qd6 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Qb3 Qxe6 21. Ba3 $14) (17.
Qb3 $5) 17... d5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bg2 Kh7 $6 (19... b6 $5 20. Qb3 Qd6 21. Rad1
Rad8 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. e7 Qxe7 24. Rxd5 $14) 20. Bc5 e4 21. Rc1 Rf6 22. Bxe7
Qxe7 23. Qxd5 Rxe6 24. Rc7 Qxc7 25. Qxe6 $16 {[%csl Re4,Gg2,Rg7] f^-,Shneider,
A (2537)-Zakurdjaeva,I (2308)/Aghios Kirykos/2008/}) ({Black usually avoids
the committal} 12... fxe4 13. Ncxe4 Nf5 $14 {, but even here White's advantage
is only small.}) 13. Ba3 $146 {Here practical examples are scarce and this is
already new.} (13. Rb1 cxd5 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bg2 Qd6 20. b5 Rad8 21. Qa4 Qxe6 22. Qxa7 Ra8 23. Qxb7
Rfb8 24. Qc7 Rc8 25. Qb7 Rcb8 {1/2,Zubov,O (2306)-Efimenko,Z (2546)/Kramatorsk/
2002/}) ({Seemingly more natural is} 13. b5 {Maybe Kramnik disliked} cxd5 (
13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Qc7 $2 (15... fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18.
Bg2 $1 $14 {- see the 12...h6 line above.}) 16. Ba3 Rad8 17. Qb3 fxe4 18. Nxe4
Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Qc8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Rfd1 Qxe6 22. Bxd6 $1 $18 {Podzielny,K 
(2506)-Koch,F/Kleve /2000/}) 14. cxd5 fxe4 15. Ngxe4 Nf5 16. Bg2 Nd4 17. Ba3 (
17. a4 $5 Bf5 $132) 17... Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxb5 19. Qb3 a6 20. Bb2 Rf7 21. a4 Nd4
22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Qb4 $44 {Podzielny,K (2456)-Klein,D (2262)/Groningen/2009/
White has about enough for the P, but can hardly claim an advantage.}) 13...
cxd5 {Giri subsequently reproached himself for this move, which gives White a
chance to change the character of the position and further complicate it.} ({
Instead he suggests} 13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 {Perhaps more
promising is} 16. Bxe4 $5 (16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bg2 ({
To give g3 some sense. Kramnik had intended} 19. b5 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.
Bxe7 Re8 22. Bc5 Rxe6 23. Rfd1 {Here White is a tempo up on the aforementioned
_|_, as he already has some luft with g3, However, this doesn't give anything
tangible after} a6 24. b6 Rc8 25. Be3 Re7 $11) 19... e4 $142 $1 (19... Qd6 20.
Qb3 b5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bc1 $1 $14 (22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. e7 Qxe7 24. Rxd5 Kh7 25.
Rxb5 e4 $44) {/\} 22... Qxe6 23. Be3) 20. b5 $5 (20. Rc1 b5 $1 {/\} 21. Rc5 Qb6
22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Qxd5 Rad8 24. Qxe4 Rxf2 $1 25. Rxf2 Rd2 26. Qe1 Rxf2 27. Kh1
Rf8 $15) {This worried Giri during the game, but Black is OK after} 20... Bxa1
21. Qxa1 Rc8 22. Qd4 Rc2 $1 23. Bb2 Rxb2 24. Qxb2 Qd6 25. Qd2 (25. Qd4 Qb6 $5)
25... Qxe6 26. Qxh6 Nf5 $132) 16... d5 17. Bg2 Qd6 18. cxd5 Nfxd5 (18... Nexd5
19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Qb3 Qxe6 (20... b5 21. Rac1 $16) 21. b5 Rfd8 22. Rac1 $14) (
18... cxd5 19. Qb3 Qxe6 20. b5 $14 {[%csl Gg2,Rg7][%cal Ya3e7,Yc3d5] /\Be7,
Nd5^-}) 19. Ne4 $5 (19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Qb3 b5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bc1 $1 $14 {
transposes into 16.Nxe4.}) 19... Qxe6 20. b5 $44) 14. exd5 $5 ({Kramnik is
spoiling for a fight and avoids transposing into the previous note with} 14.
cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 {/\d5 - see 13...h6.}) 14... e4 15. Be2 $1 {
No fianchetto, the B doesn't belong to g2 here.} (15. Bg2 $143 h6 (15... Ng4
16. Rc1 Ne5 17. Qb3 $5 $13) 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 d5 $11 {/=/+}) 15... Ne8 $1 {
Black transfers his N to liquidate the o^ after the coming Ne6.} (15... Nfxd5
$2 {fails to} 16. Nxd5 Bxa1 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qd5+ $1 Kg7 19. Rxa1 Qxg5 20.
Bb2+ Kh6 21. Qxd6 Rf7 22. h4 Qe7 23. Qf4+ g5 24. hxg5+ Qxg5 25. Qd6+ Qg6 26.
Qd2+ Qg5 27. Qd5 $18 {[%cal Yg1g2] ->,/\Kg2}) (15... f4 {is less clear:} 16.
Ngxe4 (16. c5 $5) 16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 fxg3 18. hxg3 Bf5 19. Bd3 Bxe4 20. Bxe4
Bxa1 21. Qxa1 Nf5 22. Re1 $44) 16. Rc1 (16. Qb3 {[%cal Ya1d1] /\Rad1 is
strategically sound, but White must reckon with} Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qxg5 $5 $13 (
17... Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Qxg5 19. Nf4 $1 $36)) 16... h6 {Already the first step in
the wrong direction.} ({A more circumspect move was} 16... Bf6 $5 {(Giri)} 17.
Ne6 (17. Qd2 h6 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 Bg5 20. Qc2 Bxc1 21. Bxc1 $13) (17. h4 $5
h6 18. Nh3 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Re1 f4) 17... Bxe6 18. dxe6 Qc8 19. Nd5 (19. c5
Qxe6 20. cxd6 Nxd6 21. Nb5 Nxb5 (21... Rfd8 $5) 22. Bc4 Qxc4 23. Rxc4 Nxa3 24.
Rc7 b5 $1 $15) 19... Qxe6 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. b5 $44 {[%csl Ga3,Ge2] ^^ gives
White compensation, but remains ~~.}) 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Nc7 $6 {A more
serious mistake.} (18... Rf6 $6 19. Nd5 $5 (19. Qb3 Rxe6 20. c5 d5 21. Nxd5
Nxd5 22. Rcd1 Nef6 23. Bc4 $14) 19... Rxe6 20. Nf4 Rf6 21. Bb2 $36) (18... Qc8
$142 $1 $13 {/\} 19. c5 Qxe6 20. cxd6 Nxd6 21. Nb5 Rfd8 $1 22. Nxd6 (22. Nc7
Qxa2 23. Nxa8 Qxa3 $15) 22... Rxd6 23. Bc4 Nd5 24. b5 Rd7 25. Qb3 Rad8 26. Rfd1
Kh7 {and White should already bail out with} 27. Bxd5 (27. Rd2 $2 e3 $17) 27...
Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Qxd5 (28... Rxd5 $2 29. Rc7 e3 30. Re7 $18) 29. Qxd5 Rxd5 30. Rc7
Kg8 31. Rc8+ (31. Rxb7 $2 Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Bd4 $17) 31... Kf7 32. Rc7+ $11) 19. b5
Be5 $2 {[%mdl 64] Now the tactics will work in White's favour.} (19... Nxe6
$142 20. Bxd6 $5 $14 {leads to an advantage, but the game is far from over.} (
20. Qxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxd6 Bxc3 (21... Rfe8 22. c5 $14) 22. Rxc3 Nd4 23. Bd1 Kf7
$11 {/+/=}) {/\} 20... Bd4 21. c5 Bxc5 $2 22. Nxe4 $16) 20. Qb3 Kg7 ({Giri
admitted he overlooked} 20... Nxe6 21. c5 d5 22. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 23. Rfd1 $16 {/\}
Nd4 $2 24. Rxd4 $1 Bxd4 25. Rd1 $18) (20... Kh7 {was more resilient, but still
unsatisfactory:} 21. Rfd1 Nxe6 22. c5 Nd4 23. Rxd4 Bxd4 24. cxd6 Nc8 25. Nd5 (
25. Qd5 $143 $6 Bg7) 25... Nxd6 26. Rc7+ Bg7 27. Bb2 Ne8 28. Rxb7 $16 {/+-})
21. Rfd1 Nxe6 {Black is already under heavy pressure and it's difficult to
suggest improvements.} (21... Rf6 22. Bxd6 $5 Bxd6 23. c5 Rxe6 24. Qb2 $1 Kh7
25. Bc4 $18) 22. c5 Nd4 {The following sacrifice will be both natural and very
strong, but} (22... Qd7 23. cxd6 Nc8 24. Nd5 Nxd6 25. Bb2 $18 {is no better.})
23. Rxd4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Bxd4 24. cxd6 $18 Ng8 (24... Nc8 25. Qd5 $18 (25. Nd5
Nxd6 26. Nc7 $18)) 25. Nd5 Kh8 26. Rc7 Be5 27. Bb2 $6 {A strange oversight,
but even after dropping his o^ White's -> will be too powerful.} (27. Re7 $18)
(27. Rxb7 $5 $18) 27... Qxd6 28. Rxb7 {[%csl Gb7] The R on the weak 7-th rank
decides the game.} g5 (28... Bxb2 29. Qxb2+ Nf6 30. Nf4 Rg8 31. Rf7 Raf8 32.
Rxa7 $18) 29. b6 $5 (29. Ba3 $16 {is too mundane.}) (29. Bh5 $18 {was equally
strong.}) 29... a5 {[%csl Gb6]} (29... axb6 $2 30. Rxb6 $18 {[%csl Re5]}) 30.
Bh5 {[%cal Rh5g6] /\Bg6} Rab8 31. Ra7 Bxb2 (31... a4 32. Bg6 $1 Ne7 33. Qb4
Qxd5 34. Bxe5+ Qxe5 35. Rxe7 Rxb6 36. Rh7+ Kg8 37. Qxb6 Qf6 38. Rb7 $18 {
drops a piece, but now the -> breaks through.}) 32. Qxb2+ Nf6 33. Bf7 Kg7 34.
Rd7 Qc6 35. Be6+ (35. Be6+ Kg6 36. Ne7+) 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O O-O 8. Na4
cxd4 9. exd4 Re8 10. a3 Bf8 11. Re1 d6 12. Nc3 Nbd7 13. b4 Rc8 14. Bb2 Qc7 15.
d5 e5 16. Nd2 g6 17. Bf1 Qd8 18. Qa4 a6 19. Nce4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Rc7 21. f4 b5
22. cxb5 Bxd5 23. bxa6 Qb8 24. Kh1 exf4 25. b5 h6 26. Rad1 Ba8 27. Qd4 Re5 28.
Nxd6 Rcc5 29. Rxe5 Rxe5 30. Nc4 Bc5 31. Qxd7 Re8 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4096]} 1. Nf3 ({Earlier this year (Wijk, Dortmund) Kramnik used to
allow the Grьnfeld proper and played simply} 1. d4 {, this time he has
something else on his mind.}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ {This
Anti-Grьnfeld system has been around for a while already - I wrote a 2-part
survey about it in CBMagazine 123 and 125. However, as the present game shows,
there are still quite a few unexplored options in this line.} Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4
6. Qxc4 a6 {This reaction has meanwhile confirmed its main line status and
become the almost exclusive choice of top players. It was the topic of part 2
of the survey in CBM 125.} (6... c5 7. g3 Nc6 8. Bg2 Qb6 9. O-O Qb4 10. Qxb4
cxb4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. b3 e5 13. Bb2 Be7 14. d4 e4 15. Ne5 Be6 16. d5 Bxd5 17.
Bh3 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rfc1 O-O 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Nxa7 c5 23.
Nc6 Nd5 24. a4 bxa3 25. Rxa3 $14 {/+/- ק,Kramnik,V (2799)-Eljanov,P (2692)/
Wijk aan Zee/2008/}) ({For} 6... Bg7 {see Part 1 of the aforementioned article
in CBM 123, here I will limit myself to one more recent top-level example:} 7.
e4 O-O 8. e5 Ng4 9. d4 Na6 10. h3 Nh6 11. Be2 c6 12. O-O Be6 13. Qa4 Nc7 14.
Rd1 f6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4+ Nf7 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Qe8 20.
exf6 Bxf6 21. Be3 b6 22. Rad1 Rc8 23. Qb3 $36 {1/2 Leko,P (2751)-Kamsky,G 
(2720)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 130 (121)}) (6... Nc6 {was also dealt with in CBM 123,
here White has successfully tried a novel approach} 7. d4 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bf4
$5 ({The article concentrated on} 9. e5 Be6 10. exf6 $13) 9... Rc8 (9... Nh5
10. Be3 (10. Bg5 h6 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Rd1 $6 (12. d5 $142) 12... Bxf3 13. gxf3 e5
14. dxe5 Qh4 15. Bg2 Nf4 (15... Nxe5 16. Qxc7 Nf4 $36) 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Nd5
Qg5 18. Kf1 Qxe5 19. Rd2 Rad8 20. f4 Qh5 21. h4 $13 {Ovsejevitsch,S (2600)
-Peschlow,P (2302)/Triesen/2010/}) 10... Bg4 11. d5 Na5 (11... Ne5 $5) 12. Qb4
b6 13. Be2 c5 14. Qa4 Qc7 15. h3 Bd7 16. Qd1 Rad8 17. O-O Nf4 18. Ba6 e5 19.
Rc1 Qb8 20. Re1 Nh5 21. Nd2 Nb7 22. Nc4 Nd6 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. Bf1 Nf6 25. a4
Ne8 26. Bb5 Bc8 27. a5 $14 {/+/-,Rychagov,A (2575)-Vokarev,S (2488)/Saratov/})
10. Rd1 Bg4 11. Be2 Nd7 12. e5 Na5 13. Qa4 c5 14. dxc5 Nc6 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3
Qe8 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Qxa7 Ra6 19. Qxb7 Nxc5 20. Qf3 Na4 21. O-O Nxc3 22. Qxc3
Qa4 23. b4 $16 {Zakhartsov,V (2562)-Le Roux,J (2497)/Cappelle la Grande/2010/})
7. d4 b5 8. Qd3 ({First played by V.Popov, this is still a rare move, with the
main line until now being} 8. Qb3 c5 $5 (8... Bg7 {usually only transposes
after} 9. e4 c5 10. dxc5) 9. dxc5 Bg7 10. e4 {Now Black has two plausible
continuations:} O-O (10... Bc6 11. e5 (11. a4 bxa4 12. Qc4 O-O 13. Be2 Nbd7 14.
O-O Qc7 15. Re1 Rfc8 16. Bg5 Bb5 $5 17. Qa2 e6 18. Rac1 Rab8 19. Nxb5 axb5 20.
c6 Ne5 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. b3 axb3 23. Qxb3 Qb6 $17 {Jankovic,A (2560)
-Grandelius,N (2500)/Khanty Mansiysk olm/2010/}) (11. Be2 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4
13. O-O Bd5 14. Qe3 Nc6 15. Rd1 O-O 16. Rb1 Ra7 17. b3 Rd7 18. Bb2 Bxb2 19.
Rxb2 Bxf3 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Bxf3 Nd4 $11 {1/2,Maksimenko,A (2536)-Areshchenko,
A (2664)/EUcup Kallithea /2008/}) 11... Nfd7 12. e6 (12. Be3 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5
14. f4 Bg7 15. Rd1 Qa5 16. Kf2 e6 17. a3 O-O 18. Be2 Qc7 19. Rd6 Nd7 20. Rhd1
Nf6 21. Qc2 Rfd8 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bf3 Bxf3 25. Kxf3 Qa8+ 26.
Kg3 Nd7 27. Na2 Nb8 28. Kf2 Nc6 $11 {Grischuk,A (2715)-Svidler,P (2732)/RUS-ch
Moscow/2007/}) 12... Nxc5 13. exf7+ Kf8 14. Qb4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Bd4 16. Ne4 Nc6
17. Qd2 (17. Bh6+ Kxf7 18. Qd2 Nxe4 19. fxe4 Bf6 20. O-O-O Nd4 (20... Qxd2+ 21.
Bxd2 Rhd8 $11) 21. Kb1 Qc8 22. Bd3 (22. Bg2 $5) 22... Rd8 23. Qe3 Qe6 24. Rd2 {
Sadorra,J (2470)-Kazhgaleyev,M (2641)/Manila/2008/} Nc6 $5 $11 {/=/+}) 17...
Nxe4 18. fxe4 Bf6 19. Bg2 Ne5 20. O-O Qxd2 21. Bxd2 {Lalith,B (2477)
-Purushothaman,T (2267)/New Delhi/2009/} Rc8 $11) 11. Be2 (11. Bf4 Bc6 12. Nd2
Nbd7 13. Qa3 Qc8 14. f3 Qb7 15. b4 Nxc5 $1 $36 {Hole,O (2387)-Kulaots,K (2592)/
Oslo/2011/}) {The most recent development is} 11... Be6 (11... Bc6 12. e5 Nfd7
13. Be3 $14) (11... Nc6 12. O-O Be6 13. Qc2 Qc7 14. h3 Nb4 15. Qb1 Qxc5 16. Be3
(16. a3 Nc6 17. Be3 Qd6 18. Rd1 Qb8 19. Nd5 Qb7 20. Nb6 Rad8 21. Qc2 Nd7 22.
Nxd7 Rxd7 23. Rxd7 Bxd7 24. Rd1 Rc8 $11 {Romanov,S (2541)-Aleksandrov,V (2490)/
corr/2007/}) 16... Qc7 17. a4 Bc4 18. axb5 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 axb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21.
Nc3 Qc4 22. Rd1 Nc6 23. Rc1 Qb3 {Schlosser,P (2560)-Jansa,V (2470)/Pardubice/
2009/} 24. e5 $36) 12. Qc2 Nbd7 $5 13. Be3 Rc8 14. c6 (14. Ng5 Nxc5 15. Bxc5
Rxc5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qb3 Re5 18. O-O Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. Bf3 Rc4 21. Be2
Rc6 22. a4 $6 Qd5 $1 23. Qxd5 exd5 24. axb5 axb5 $17 {Lalith,B (2480)-Gupta,A 
(2570)/Bhubaneswar/2009/}) (14. Rd1 b4 15. Na4 Qa5 16. O-O {Vorobiov,E (2592)
-Schut,L (2286)/Paleochora/2010/} Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Qxa4 18. Ng5 Nxc5 $132) 14...
Rxc6 15. Nd4 Rd6 16. Nxe6 (16. Rd1 Ng4 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 18. f3 Ne5 19. Bf2 Nc4 20.
Nc6 Bxc3+ 21. bxc3 Qc7 22. Nb4 Be6 $15 {Nakamura,H (2701)-Kamsky,G (2720)/
USA-ch Saint Louis/2009/}) 16... Rxe6 17. O-O $5 (17. f3 Qa5 (17... Rc6 $5 18.
O-O Nb6 19. Qb3 Nfd7 20. a4 Nc5 21. Bxc5 Rxc5 22. axb5 {Kadziolka,B (2289)
-Rajlich,I (2448)/Bogatynia/2009/} Bxc3 23. bxc3 axb5 24. Bxb5 Qc7 $11) 18. O-O
Rc8 19. Rfd1 (19. Qb1 Nb6 20. a3 Nbd5 $1 21. Bd2 {Steingrimsson,H (2547)-Gupta,
A (2569)/Reykjavik/2009/} Qb6+ $15) 19... Nb6 20. Qb3 Nfd7 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22.
exd5 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Bxb2 24. Rab1 Ba3 25. Kf1 Nb6 $44 {Braun,A (2567)-Bobras,P 
(2565)/Bundesliga/2008/}) 17... Qc8 18. Rac1 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxc2 20. Rxc2 Rxe4
21. Rd1 Nf6 22. Bf3 Re6 23. g3 h5 24. h3 Ne4 25. Kg2 $44 {Tomashevsky,E (2688)
-Petrosian,T (2602)/Novi Sad/2009/}) 8... Bg7 ({The as yet untested} 8... c5 9.
dxc5 Bg7 10. e4 Nc6 $5 $132 {also deserves attention.} (10... Qc7 11. Be3 b4
$13) (10... b4 $6 11. Nd5 $16)) 9. g3 (9. Bf4 O-O 10. Rc1 c5 11. dxc5 b4 12.
Nd1 Nc6 13. Nd4 Qa5 14. Nb3 Qa4 15. e4 Be6 16. Qc2 Rfd8 17. Bg3 Ng4 18. Qb1 Bh6
19. Rc2 Na5 20. f4 Nxb3 21. axb3 Bxb3 22. Rc1 Qd7 {0-1,Popov,V (2573)-Svidler,
P (2723)/Krasnoyarsk/2003/ was a horrible rout - see the notes to this game in
CBM 98 for more details.}) (9. e4 b4 (9... c5 10. dxc5 (10. e5 Ng4 11. Qe4 cxd4
12. Nxd4 Bxe5 13. Be2 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Nf6 15. O-O $44) 10... Qc7 11. Be3 $5 b4
12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bxb2 14. Bd4 $44) 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Nf4 Bc6 (11... Bb5 $5
12. Qc2 Qd7) 12. e5 Nd5 13. h4 Qd7 (13... Nxf4 14. Bxf4 h5 $5) 14. h5 Nxf4 15.
Bxf4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nc6 17. Be3 Rfd8 18. Rd1 e6 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Be2 Ne7 21.
Bg5 Nf5 22. f4 Nxd4 23. Kf1 $16 {Ni Hua (2692)-Li,C (2617)/JinZhou/2009/}) 9...
b4 (9... Bc6 $5 10. Bg2 b4 $132 {is an interesting, but still untried
alternative.}) 10. Ne4 {Other N retreats are too passive.} Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Bc6
12. Qf4 O-O 13. Bg2 Qd6 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({A logical novelty, which gives
the game a more sedate character, than} 13... Bxd4 14. O-O e5 15. Nxe5 (15. Qd2
$5 $44) 15... Bxe5 16. Qxe5 Re8 17. Qc5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rxe2 19. Bh6 Nd7 20. Qxb4
Ne5 21. Rad1 Qf6 22. Qb7 Re8 23. Rde1 {Popov,V (2580)-Petrosian,T (2477)/
Moscow/2004/} Rc2 $5 24. Bf4 g5 $132) 14. O-O Nd7 15. Qh4 (15. Be3 e5 $11 (
15... Bb5 $5)) 15... e5 16. d5 $5 {An attempt to complicate matters.} (16. Bg5
Rfe8 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Rfd1 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Qe6 $11) ({\/ There was tnteresting,
but unclear} 16. Ng5 h6 17. Ne4 Bxe4 (17... Qxd4 $2 18. Bxh6 Bxh6 19. Rad1 $1
$16) 18. Bxe4 Rad8 (18... Rae8 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Bg2 $13) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Bg2
Rfe8 21. Bxh6 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qd2 $132) 16... Qxd5 (16... Bxd5 $143 17. Rd1 {
[%cal Re2e4,Rf3g5] /\Ng5, e4} e4 18. Ng5 Nf6 19. Bf4 (19. Bxe4 h6 20. Bxd5 Nxd5
21. Ne4 Qe5 22. Bxh6 Qxb2 23. Rab1 Qxa2 24. Rxb4 Rae8 25. Rxd5 Qxd5 26. Nf6+
Bxf6 27. Qxf6 Qe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 $11) 19... Qc6 20. Rac1 $14) (
16... Bb5 $5 17. Bd2 a5 18. Rfc1 Rfe8 $13) 17. Be3 Qb5 18. Rac1 Bd5 19. Rxc7
Rac8 20. Ng5 h6 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Ne4 g5 {[%csl Rg5,Rh4,Rh6] Black plays
against the offside Q, but on the other hand weakens his own >> and the
position remains balanced.} (22... Qxe2 23. Nd6 Bf6 (23... Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Rc2
25. Qd8+ Nf8 26. Qe8 Qxe3 27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Ne8 Ne6 29. Qxe6 e4 30. Kg1 Qf3 31.
Nxg7 Kxg7 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qxb4 $14) 24. Qxb4 (24. Qxh6 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Rc2 $15)
24... Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Be7 26. Qb7 Rc2 27. Qxd7 Bxd6 $11 {/\} 28. Qxd6 Qxe3) (
22... Qc6 $5 23. Rc1 Qxc1+ $8 (23... Qa8 $6 24. Rd1 g5 25. Qg4 Rf8 26. Nxg5 Nf6
(26... Bxg2 $2 27. Ne6 $3 fxe6 28. Rxd7 Rf7 29. Qxe6 $18) 27. Bxd5 Nxg4 28.
Bxa8 Rxa8 29. Ne4 $16) 24. Bxc1 Rxc1+ $44 25. Bf1 g5 26. Qg4 Be6 27. Qh5 (27.
Qf3 Rc2 $11 {/=/+}) 27... Bd5 (27... a5 $5 $44) 28. Qg4 $11) 23. Qh3 (23. Qg4
Be6 (23... Qc6 24. h4 $5 f5 25. Qxf5 Rf8 26. Qh3 (26. Qg4 Be6 27. Qh5 Bf7 $11
28. Nc5 $2 Qb5 $17) 26... Bxe4 27. Bxe4 Qxe4 28. hxg5 $5 $44) 24. Qh5 {
transposes to the game.}) 23... Be6 (23... Qc6 $5 24. Rc1 Qxc1+ 25. Bxc1 Rxc1+
26. Bf1 Be6 27. Qh5 Bd5 $11 {leads to the same position as 22...Qc6!?}) 24. Qh5
Rc4 (24... Rc2 25. h4 gxh4 26. Bf3 $5 (26. Bxh6 Bxh6 27. Qxh6 Qxe2 28. Qg5+ Kf8
$11 {and White hardly has anything more than a perpetual}) 26... hxg3 27. Bxh6
$36) 25. Rd1 (25. Nd6 $6 Nf6 26. Nxb5 (26. Qf3 e4) 26... Nxh5 $15) (25. h4 $5
Rxe4 26. Bxe4 Nf6 27. Qf3 g4 28. Qg2 Qxe2 29. b3 $1 $13 {/+/=}) 25... b3 $5 26.
a3 (26. axb3 Qxb3 27. Rd3 Qa4 $132 (27... Qxb2 28. h4 $44)) 26... Rd4 $2 {
[%mdl 8256] Black is getting too ambitious and miscalculates the tactics.} (
26... Qa4 $11) 27. Bxd4 exd4 28. h4 $1 Ne5 (28... d3 29. Rxd3 Bxb2 30. Qxh6 Bg7
31. Qxg5 Qxg5 32. hxg5 b2 33. Nd2 $18) (28... gxh4 29. Qxb5 axb5 30. gxh4 d3
31. Rd2 $16) 29. hxg5 Bg4 30. Qh4 Qxe2 31. Rxd4 Nf3+ 32. Bxf3 Bxf3 (32... Qe1+
33. Kh2 Bxf3 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. g6+ Kxg6 (35... fxg6 36. Ng5#) 36. Rd6+ Kh7 37.
Ng5+ Kg8 38. Rd8+ Bf8 39. Nxf3 Qxf2+ 40. Kh3 Qxf3 41. Qg4+ $18) 33. Rd8+ Kh7
34. Nd2 $18 {White has calmly parried the direct threats and should be heading
for victory. But there are more tactics to follow...} Bc6 35. gxh6 $6 {
Disrupts the mating net around Black's K.} (35. Nf1 $142 $1 Qf3 (35... Qxb2 36.
Qc4 $1 $18) 36. Ne3 Qe2 37. Qf4 Qe1+ 38. Nf1 Qe4 39. Qxe4+ Bxe4 40. Nd2 Bc2 41.
gxh6 Bxb2 42. Nxb3 $18 {/\} Bxb3 43. Rb8) 35... Bxb2 36. Qg5 $2 (36. Qh3 $1
Qd1+ 37. Qf1 Qxf1+ 38. Kxf1 $16 {was the best way to retain winning chances.})
36... Qd1+ 37. Nf1 Qf3 38. Qg8+ Kxh6 39. Rd6+ Bf6 {White must either force a
perpetual, or return the exchange - in any case Black is back in business.} (
39... Kh5 $2 40. Qh7+ Kg5 41. Qh4+ Kf5 42. Ne3+ Ke5 43. Qe7#) 40. Qh8+ Kg5 41.
Qg8+ Kh6 42. Rxc6 (42. Qf8+ Kg5 43. Qg8+ $11) 42... Qxc6 43. Ne3 {[%mdl 4096]
With Black's exposed K Kramnik doesn't risk anything by playing on, as he
always has a perpetual in hand. In the resulting _|_ he shows precise
calculation and superlative technique.} Qf3 (43... Qe6 44. Ng4+ Kh5 $11) 44.
Ng4+ Kh5 45. Nh2 $1 {Doing his best to harass the Kh5 and create problems.} (
45. Ne3 Kh6 $8 (45... b2 46. Qh7+ Kg5 47. g4 $1 Be5 48. Qh5+ Kf6 49. g5+ Ke7
50. Qxf3 b1=Q+ 51. Kg2 $14 {/+/-}) 46. Ng4+ $11) 45... Qd1+ $8 (45... Qb7 $2
46. Qh7+ Kg5 47. f4#) 46. Kg2 Qd5+ 47. Kh3 $5 (47. f3 Bc3 (47... b2 48. Qh7+
Kg5 49. Ng4 Bd4 50. Qh6+ Kf5 51. Ne3+ $1 Bxe3 52. g4+ Ke5 53. Qxe3+ Kd6 (53...
Kf6 54. Qb6+) 54. Qb6+ $14 {is similar to the game - White has a Q_|_ with an
extra P.}) (47... Bd4 48. Qh7+ Kg5 49. Ng4 a5 50. a4 $22 $14 {/\} b2 51. Qh6+
Kf5 52. Ne3+ {is similar to 47...b2.}) 48. Qh7+ Kg5 49. Ng4 {[%cal Rg4f2] /\Nf2
} Bd4 50. a4 a5 51. Qd3 f5 $1 52. Ne3 Qd7 53. Qxb3 Qe8 54. f4+ Kg6 55. Kf2 Qe4
$132) 47... Qe6+ 48. Ng4 Bg5 (48... Be5 49. Qh7+ Kg5 50. f3 Qg6 51. Qh4+ Kf5
52. Nxe5 Kxe5 53. Qf4+ Kd5 54. Qd2+ $14 {wins the Pb3 with winning chances.})
49. f3 Qf5 (49... Bh6 50. Qh8 a5 51. a4 $22 $40 Kg5 $5 (51... Qa6 52. Nf6+ Kg5
(52... Kg6 $2 53. Qh7+ $1 $18) 53. f4+ Kf5 54. Qh7+ $1 Ke6 55. Qxh6 Qf1+ 56.
Kg4 Qd1+ 57. Kg5 Qd3 $1 (57... b2 $2 58. Ng4+ Kd7 59. Ne5+ Kc7 60. Qc6+ $18)
58. g4 b2 59. f5+ Ke7 60. Nd5+ $1 Qxd5 61. Qf6+ $14 {/+/-}) 52. f4+ (52. Qg8+
Kh5 53. f4 $4 b2 $19) 52... Kf5 $1 (52... Kh5 $2 53. f5 Qa6 (53... Qc6 54. Qe5
Bg5 55. Qg7 {[%cal Rg4f6] /\Nf6} Qh1+ 56. Nh2 $18) 54. Nh2 Kg5 55. Nf3+ Kxf5
56. Qh7+ $18 Qg6 57. Nh4+) 53. Nxh6+ Ke4+ 54. f5 Qa6 55. Qe8+ Kd3 56. Ng4 b2
57. Qe1 Kc2 58. Ne3+ Kb3 $14 {<=>}) 50. Qh8+ Kg6 51. Qg8+ Kh5 52. Qg7 Be3 (
52... Qe6 53. Qh7+ Bh6 54. Qh8 {leads to the game position.}) 53. Qc3 Qe6 54.
Qg7 Bh6 55. Qh8 f5 $6 (55... a5 56. a4 {transposes to the 49...Bh6 line.}) 56.
Nxh6 Qxh6 57. Qg8 {[%cal Rg3g4,Rg8b3] /\g4, Qb3 The double attack wins a pawn.
Although in the Q _|_ Black could have probably defended more tenaciously, his
task is difficult: both his K and P are vulnerable.} Qd6 58. Qxb3 $14 {[%csl
Rf5,Rh5]} Kg6 59. Qg8+ Kf6 60. Qh8+ ({White could have played} 60. f4 {
immediately.}) 60... Kg6 61. Qg8+ Kf6 62. f4 Qd3 (62... Qxa3 $5 63. Qg5+ Ke6
64. Qg6+ Ke7 65. Qxf5 a5 $14 {[%csl Ga5] <=>o^a5}) 63. Qf8+ (63. Kh4 $5 Qxa3
64. Qg5+ Ke6 65. Qg6+ Ke7 66. Qxf5 a5 {is a better version of the above
position, as White has} 67. g4) 63... Kg6 64. Kh4 Qd5 65. Qe8+ Kf6 66. Qh8+ Kg6
67. Qh5+ Kg7 $2 {The final and decisive mistake.} (67... Kf6 $142 $1 68. Qh6+
Kf7 69. a4 $5 (69. Qxa6 $6 Qf3 70. Qc4+ Kf6 71. Qd4+ Kg6 72. Qb6+ Kg7 $11) (69.
Kg5 $6 Qd8+ 70. Kxf5 Qd5+ 71. Kg4 Qd1+ $11) 69... a5 $14) 68. g4 $1 Qh1+ 69.
Kg5 $18 {White wins another P and the rest is a matter of technique.} Qc6 70.
gxf5 {[%cal Rh5g6]} (70. Kxf5 $4 Qd5#) 70... Qg2+ 71. Qg4 Qb2 72. Qf3 Qf6+ 73.
Kg4 Qb6 74. Qc3+ Kf7 75. Qe1 {[%cal Re1e6] /\Qe6 Although doubled, the extra
Ps play an important role.} Qd4 76. Qe6+ Kf8 77. Qc8+ Kf7 78. Qe6+ Kf8 79. f6
Qg1+ 80. Kf5 Qc5+ 81. Qe5 Qc2+ 82. Kg5 Qg2+ 83. Kh6 Qh2+ 84. Kg6 Qc2+ 85. Qf5
Qc3 86. Qd5 Qc2+ (86... Qg3+ 87. Qg5 Qd3+ 88. f5 $18) 87. f5 {Black has no
more checks and quickly gets mated.} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Nxd4 {In his first game of the
tournament Nigel decides to play safe, 5.Ba4 or 5.Bc4 are more principled
moves.} exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6 (7... cxd2+ {is not recomended by theory}
8. Bxd2 Qxf6 9. O-O Be7 10. Bc3 Qg5 11. Re1 $36) 8. dxc3 Bc5 9. Qe2+ (9. O-O
O-O 10. Bxd7 {otherwise Black will just be all right} (10. Qh5 d6 11. Bd3 h6
12. Bd2 Bd7) 10... Bxd7 11. Qxd7 Rad8 (11... Rae8) 12. Qb5 (12. Qxc7 {is not a
good idea} Qxf2+ $1 13. Rxf2 Rd1#) 12... b6 13. Qc4 Qf5 {and White started to
fight for equality in Morozevich-Kramnik, Monaco blindfold, 2002}) 9... Qe6 10.
O-O (10. Bc4 Qxe2+ 11. Kxe2 c6 {just equal.}) 10... O-O (10... Qxe2 {is enough
to equalise as well} 11. Bxe2 d5 12. Bf4 c6) 11. Qf3 d6 12. Bg5 (12. Bf4 $11
Qg4) 12... Qf5 13. Be7 {White is trying to force a draw, but missing a hidden
resource.} (13. Qxf5 $142 {after this move the draw is unavoidable} Bxf5 14.
Bd3 Bg6 15. Rfe1 Rfe8 {and there is little to play for in this position.})
13... Qxf3 14. gxf3 a6 {This is a very unpleasant surprise for White. Suddenly
he has to start calculating variations and most of them favour the opponent!
Nigel was obviously not ready for such a turn of events and started to make
mistakes.} (14... Bh3 {is just a draw here} 15. Bxf8 Bxf1 16. Bxd6 Bxb5 (16...
Bxd6 17. Rxf1 Rd8) 17. Bxc5 Bc6 $11) 15. Ba4 (15. Bxf8 {is risky} axb5 16. Be7
f6 $1 {the point} 17. Rfe1 (17. Bd8 Bb6 18. Rfe1 Bd7 19. Be7 Kf7) 17... Bd7 {
the bishop on e7 doesn't have a bright future.}) (15. b4 $15 {doesn't equalise
fully} axb5 16. bxc5 Re8 (16... Bh3 17. Bxf8 Bxf1) 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. Bxd6 Bd7 {
and Black is still pressing.}) (15. Bd3 $15 {would have been the best choice
probably, although after} Re8 16. Rfe1 Be6 17. Bg5 g6 18. Be3 Kg7 {Black will
suck the life out of his opponent for a long time.}) 15... b5 16. b4 {
Strangely enough this seems to be the decisive mistake already.} (16. Bxf8 {
is similar to 15.Bxf8} bxa4 17. Be7 f6 $1 18. b4 axb3 19. axb3 Bb7) (16. Bb3 {
was obligatory already, and White is still in the game, although his position
is very unpleasant} Re8 17. Rfe1 Bd7) 16... Re8 17. Rfe1 ({After} 17. bxc5 Rxe7
18. cxd6 Re6 $1 {wins} 19. Bb3 Rg6+ 20. Kh1 Bb7) 17... Bb6 18. Bb3 Bb7 19. Kg2
d5 {Now the bishop on b3 is out of play for the rest of this game, and Black
simply starts exchanging pieces, since all endings are won for him now.} (19...
a5 {is strong according to the engines, but the text move is the one any human
would play without thinking.}) 20. Re5 (20. a4 c6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Bxa8
23. Ra1 Bb7 {does not change matters.}) 20... c6 21. Rae1 Bc7 22. R5e2 Bc8 {
There is no reason to be worried about possible tricks by White.} 23. a4 (23.
Bd8 {amusing, but it does not help much} Bh3+ 24. Kxh3 Rxe2 (24... Rexd8 {
winning as well but I wanted to play the main line}) 25. Rxe2 Rxd8 {winning,
for instance} 26. Re7 Rc8 27. Kg2 (27. Rd7 Kf8 {followed by ...Ke8}) 27... Kf8
28. Re1 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Kxe8 {and despite material equilibrium (temporarily) and
opposite coloured bishops White can resign already.}) 23... Bd7 {/\f6} 24. Bh4
Rxe2 25. Rxe2 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8 {In practical terms Black is playing a two
bishops versus one ending. I am particulary strong in such endgames :)} 27. Bg3
Bd8 {Thank you, not now, maybe later :)} 28. Be5 f6 29. Bb8 Bg6 30. axb5 axb5
31. Kf1 Kf7 32. Ke2 Ke6 {Black just has to open up the position on the
kingside and penetrate with his king. Not a difficult task since all White can
do is just wait.} 33. Ke3 Bb6+ 34. Ke2 Bh5 35. Ba2 g5 36. Bb3 f5 37. Ba2 f4 38.
Bb3 Kf5 39. Bd6 (39. h3 {stops g4 but weakens the h-pawn, which I am going to
take slowly but surely} Bf7 40. Kf1 Kg6 41. Kg2 Kh5 42. Be5 Bd8 43. Kh2 Be6 44.
Bd6 Kh4) 39... g4 {Time to act.} 40. Kf1 (40. fxg4+ Kxg4 {was my plan} 41. f3+
Kh3 $1 42. Bxf4 Kg2 {winning.}) 40... g3 {The simplest.} (40... gxf3 41. Bf8
Kg4 42. Bg7 Kh3 43. Kg1) 41. fxg3 fxg3 42. Bxg3 Bxf3 43. Ba2 Be3 {Short could
not bear looking at his position anymore and resigned here. The game would
probably end like this otherwise:} (43... Be3 44. Bf2 Bxf2 45. Kxf2 Kf4 46. Bb3
Be4 47. Ke2 Kg4 48. Kf2 Kh3 49. Kg1 h6 50. Ba2 Bxc2 51. Kh1 h5 52. Kg1 h4 53.
Kh1 Kg4 54. Kg2 Kf4 55. Kf2 Ke4 56. Ke2 h3 57. Kd2 Kf3 58. Kxc2 Kg2 59. Kd3
Kxh2 60. Kd4 Kg1 61. Kc5 h2 62. Kxc6 h1=Q) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8.
O-O dxc4 9. Na3 e5 10. Nxc4 e4 11. Nfe5 Nb6 12. Ne3 a5 13. Rac1 c6 14. b3 Re8
15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Rc5 a4 17. b4 a3 18. Ra5 Qd6 19. Rc1 Nbd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Nc4 Qe7 22. e3 h5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Nb6 Rd8 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Rc5 h4 27. Bf1 g6
28. b5 cxb5 29. Rxb5 Qc7 30. Qa5 b6 31. Qxa3 Rd6 32. Qb3 Nf6 33. Rb4 Kg7 34.
Rc4 Rc6 35. Rxc6 Qxc6 36. gxh4 Ng4 37. h3 Nh6 38. Qb5 Qf6 39. Qe5 Nf5 40. Bg2
Nd6 41. a4 Qxe5 42. dxe5 Nc4 43. Bxe4 Nxe5 44. Kg2 Kh6 45. Kg3 f6 46. Bc2 Nc4
47. Bd3 Nd6 48. Kg4 Nf7 49. Be2 Nd6 50. Kf4 Nb7 51. h5 gxh5 52. Kf5 Nc5 53.
Kxf6 Ne4+ 54. Kf5 Nxf2 55. h4 1-0

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. a3
b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. Rd1 Rd8 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 (13. Bxd5 {had been
played before. Kramnik considered it but felt he couldn't make it work.}) 13...
Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Be7 15. e4 O-O 16. g3 Na5 17. Bf4 Qc8 ({Perhaps} 17... Qb6 {
, defending the knight and the b-pawn, is a little safer.}) 18. a4 $1 {[diag]
Vlad was quite happy with his game here, once he had found this move, which
undermines Black's queenside. Commentator Daniel King thought the queenside
configuration had something in common with some positions in the Ruy Lopez
where a similar strategy is appropriate.} b4 ({After} 18... Nc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4
20. Qxc4 {, Vlad thought Black had some play but not enough for the pawn.}) 19.
Rac1 ({Now Vlad didn't like Black's position.} 19. Ne5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Nb3 21.
Rad1 Nd4 22. Qc4 Qe6 23. Be3 {was one of the lines Vlad looked out but it is
not so clear.}) 19... Bc6 $2 ({This might have been a mistake, Vlad thought.
He tried to make 19...Qb7 work but wasn't convinced. The computer suggestion} 
19... Rfe8 {doesn't look bad.}) 20. Bg5 $1 {Clever. White deflects the
dark-squared bishop, thus removing a defender from the c5 pawn.} Bxg5 21. Rxc5
$1 {A cunning intermezzo move, exploiting the looseness of all Black's
residual minor pieces. "Now it's basically over," said Vlad.} Bf6 ({Hikaru
tried to make} 21... Bb5 $5 {work, but} 22. Qc2 {is a good move and the
threats to the black minor pieces remain.}) 22. Rxa5 {By now Hikaru had lost
faith in the position too. White is already one pawn up and on the brink of
winning another. Black has no viable counterplay even though the a5 rook is
slightly offside.} Bxd5 23. Raxd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Qc1+ 25. Kg2 Bxb2 (25... Qxb2
26. Qxa6 Bc3 27. a5 {is similar to the game.}) 26. Qxa6 Qc2 27. Rd2 Qb3 ({
Against} 27... b3 {, White has} 28. Qe2 Rc8 {and now} 29. Ne1 {resolves the
position on c2.}) 28. a5 Bc3 29. Rd5 Qc2 30. Qb7 $1 b3 (30... Qxe4 {allows
White to win the pawn race with} 31. a6 {and there is no way of exploiting
Black's pin on the long diagonal.}) 31. a6 b2 32. Rb5 Qa4 33. a7 h6 34. e5 ({
An uneasy stand-off has been reached. Not} 34. Qb8 $2 {when Black can reply}
Qxe4 {and White's advantage has dissipated.}) 34... Kh7 (34... Qa1 35. Qe7 b1=Q
36. Rxb1 Qxb1 37. Qxf8+ Kxf8 38. a8=Q+ {should win.}) 35. Rb3 Qa2 36. h4 {
Commentator Lawrence Trent was justly proud of predicting this squeezing plan.}
Kg8 37. h5 {Vlad called this 'making a box' for the black king. More of a
coffin, actually.} Qa5 38. Qb8 Qa2 39. Rxc3 $1 b1=Q 40. Rc8 $1 {[diag]} (40.
Rc8 Rxc8 (40... Qf1+ $1 {is clever but after} 41. Kxf1 Qa6+ 42. Kg2 Rxc8 43.
Nd4 {seems to win anyway.}) 41. Qxc8+ Kh7 42. a8=Q {and White's pair of queens
proves more potent than Black's.}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 $5 dxc6 {This
structure is traditionally seen in the variations with the bishop on e7, after,
for instance, 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6. The extra move ...a6
does not have any relevance, but what about the dark-squared bishop? In the
long run, its place is surely not on c5, because it blocks the c-pawn, which
is supposed to increase Black's contol over d4 with ...c5. However, in the
short term, the bishop may be useful, by inhibiting d3-d4 until the knight
gets to e6. After that, the bishop may retreat to finally allow ...c5.} 6. b3
$5 {A rare continuation, which had been tried by McShane before. Usually, the
bishop goes to d2.} (6. Nbd2 Nd7 (6... Bg4 {may be playable, but in the
folowing game Black somehow did not get his knight even close to e6:} 7. h3
Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nd7 9. Nc4 Qe7 10. Bd2 Nb6 11. Ne3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 c5 13. O-O Nd7
14. f4 $14 {Zvjaginsev,V (2666)-Stojanovic,D (2466)/Rogaska Slatina 2011/CBM
145 (1-0, 42)}) 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc4 Re8 9. Be3 Bxe3 (9... Bf8 $5 {[%cal Gf7f6,
Gd7c5,Gc5e6]}) 10. fxe3 a5 11. a4 b6 12. Qe1 Ba6 13. Ncd2 Re6 14. Nh4 g6 15.
Qg3 Qf8 16. Rf2 $14 {Zvjaginsev,V (2664)-Petrosian,T (2613)/Plovdiv 2010/CBM
139 (1/2, 58)}) (6. Be3 {Erenburg,S (2582)-Almasi,Z (2640)/Germany 2005/CBM
110/[Erenburg] (1/2, 37)}) (6. Bg5 {Hossain,E (2514)-Eljanov,P (2681)/
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122/[Grivas] (1-0, 61)}) (6. O-O {looks flexible, but
offers Black an important tempo:} Qe7 $1 {Black defends e5, preparing ...Bg4,
when h2-h3 will be met with ...Bh5 already.} (6... Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nd7
9. Nd2 Qe7 10. Nc4 f6 11. Bd2 b6 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Bd6 14. Ne3 $14 {Sutovsky,E
(2665)-Fressinet,L (2718)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (1/2, 48)}) 7. Nbd2 Bg4
8. Nc4 (8. Re1 Nd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nf1 O-O 11. g4 Bg6 12. Ng3 f6 13. h4 Qe6 14.
h5 Qxg4 $5 15. d4 Bxh5 16. dxc5 Nxc5 $44 {Petrosian,T (2602)-Feller,S (2570)/
Novi Sad 2009/CBM 133 (1/2, 62)}) 8... Nd7 9. Be3 (9. h3 Bh5 10. Be3 f6 11. Qe2
Nf8 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. b4 Qe7 14. Qe3 Ne6 15. Rab1 O-O 16. Kh2 b5 17. Na5 Bxf3
18. Qxf3 c5 $132 {Ghinda,M (2450)-Ninov,K (2465)/Stara Zagora 1990/CBM 017 (1/
2, 42)}) 9... Bd6 10. h3 Bh5 11. a4 f6 12. c3 b6 13. Re1 O-O 14. Bc1 Rfd8 15.
Ne3 Qf7 16. Nf5 Bf8 $13 {[%cal Gd7c5,Gc5e6] Van der Wiel,J (2560)-Salov,V 
(2630)/Rotterdam 1989/CBM 013 (0-1, 59)}) 6... Bg4 $5 $146 (6... Qe7 {is less
effective than in the line above:} 7. Bb2 Nd7 {Leaving the bishop passive on
c8.} (7... Bg4 8. h3 $14) 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Ne2 Ba3 10. Bxa3 Qxa3 11. O-O Qe7 12.
Ng3 Nc5 (12... f6 13. Nf5 $36) 13. b4 Na6 14. c3 c5 15. a3 $14 {McShane,L 
(2645)-Parker,J (2531)/Hinkley Island 2011/ 860 (1-0, 60)}) (6... Nd7 7. Bb2 f6
8. Nbd2 Nf8 9. Nh4 Qd7 10. Qh5+ Qf7 11. Qxf7+ Kxf7 12. O-O Ne6 $13 {Khazankin,
M (2091)-Nechaev,A (2407)/Alushta 2011/CBM 142 Extra (0-1, 59)}) 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8.
Bb2 f6 9. Nf1 Nf8 10. h3 Bxf3 {By exchanging the f3-knight, Kramnik reduces
White's possibilities of activating the b2-bishop with either f4 or d4.} (10...
Bh5 11. Ng3 Bf7 12. d4 $5 exd4 13. Bxd4) 11. Qxf3 Ne6 12. Ne3 Qd7 13. h4 a5 14.
a4 {After the insertion of the last two moves, White's castling long is not
too probable, so that Black can castle short.} O-O 15. h5 {[%cal Ge3f5]} (15.
Nf5 {would not achieve much:} g6 16. Nh6+ Kg7 17. h5 Ng5 (17... Kxh6 $2 18.
hxg6+) 18. Qg4 (18. Qe2 Kxh6 $1 19. hxg6+ Kg7 {[%csl Gh7]}) 18... Qxg4 19. Nxg4
Ne6 $5 $11 {[%cal Gc5d4,Gf6f5] After the exchange of queens, Black's position
is quite safe.}) 15... Bxe3 $1 {Eliminating the dangerous knight just in time.}
16. Qxe3 (16. fxe3 {would leave White with problems attacking the g5-square in
favourable terms.} h6 17. O-O c5 18. Qg4 Rad8 19. Bc3 b6 20. Be1 Ng5 21. Rf5
Nf7 22. Qg6 Nd6 23. Rf3 Qf7 24. Qg4 Qd7 $11) 16... c5 ({I would consider
placing all the pawns on dark squares.} 16... h6 17. g3 c5 18. f4 Nd4 19. Rh2
Rfe8 $5 {/\...f5, /\...c6, ...b5}) 17. Qh3 Qc6 {I am not sure what the idea is
behind this move. Maybe he considered playing ...c4, at a moment when e4 and
a4 would not be over-defended? But the e6-knight is still hanging, so ...Rae8
would be necessary first.} (17... Qe8 $5) (17... Rad8 $5) 18. O-O Nf4 19. Qh2
Qe8 {Quite provocative. Instead of blocking the h-pawn, Kramnik actually
forces it to advance. In principle, this increases the force of the b2-bishop,
but maybe he wanted to provoke his opponent into becoming over-optimistic?!}
20. h6 g5 21. g3 Ne6 22. f4 $5 {The exchange sacrifice implied by this move is
correct, but does not offer an advantage.} ({Maybe he should have prepared the
attack with} 22. Qh3 $5 {[%cal Gg1h2,Gh3f5,Gf2f4]}) 22... gxf4 23. gxf4 Nxf4
24. Rxf4 exf4 25. Kf2 Rf7 26. Qh5 (26. Qxf4 Qe6 27. Rg1+ Kf8 28. Ke2 $44 {
[%cal Ge2d2]}) 26... Qe6 27. Qxc5 Kh8 28. Qc4 $5 (28. Rg1 Rg8 (28... b6 29. Qg5
$14 {/\Rg4}) 29. Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Qxa5 $44) 28... Re8 {Kramnik wants to maintain
the possibility of attacking the c2-pawn with ...Rc6.} (28... Qxc4 29. bxc4 {
keeps the c-file well defended.}) 29. Rh1 Qd7 30. Qb5 Re6 (30... Qxb5 31. axb5
{[%csl Gc6]}) 31. Qxd7 Rxd7 32. Rg1 Rc6 {Finally reaching the desired
regrouping, but Black is not better yet.} 33. Kf3 Rd8 34. Rg5 Rf8 35. Rg2 $6 {
Too passive.} (35. Rd5 $5 Rxc2 (35... Kg8 36. Ba3 Re8 37. Rd7 Rxc2 38. Rg7+ Kh8
39. Be7 Rc6 40. Rf7 Kg8 {White can repeat moves already, or keep playing with}
41. Kxf4 $5 $44) 36. Bxf6+ Kg8 37. Be7 Re8 38. Rg5+ Kf7 39. Rg7+ Ke6 40. Bg5
Rc3 41. Rxh7 Rxd3+ 42. Kxf4 Rxb3 43. Rxc7 $13) 35... Rg8 $1 36. Rh2 Rg1 $36 37.
d4 Rf1+ 38. Kg4 f3 39. d5 Rd6 40. c4 Kg8 41. c5 f5+ 42. Kxf5 Rg6 43. Bd4 Rd1
44. Be3 Rg2 45. Rh3 f2 46. Bxf2 Rxf2+ 47. Ke6 {Black's material advantage is
decisive, but there are technical difficulties along the way. The white king
is very active and the connected pawns could become dangerous.} Rf7 48. d6 c6
$1 (48... cxd6 49. cxd6 {[%cal Gh3c3,Gc3c8] /\Rc2}) 49. Ke5 Kf8 50. Rh2 Rg1 51.
b4 axb4 52. Rb2 Rg5+ 53. Ke6 Rg6+ 54. Ke5 Rxh6 55. a5 Rh5+ 56. Ke6 Rh6+ 57. Ke5
Rh5+ 58. Ke6 Ke8 59. a6 Rh6+ 60. Ke5 bxa6 61. Rxb4 Ra7 62. Rb8+ Kf7 63. Rc8
Re6+ 64. Kf5 a5 65. Rh8 Rf6+ 66. Ke5 Kg7 67. Rc8 a4 68. Rxc6 a3 69. d7 a2 0-1

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2820"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {A novelty on move one already! Eine Neuerung bereits im 1. Zug!} e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bc5 (5... Bb4 {is more common, but I had
something in mind there... ist gelдufiger, aber dort hatte ich etwas im Sinn...
}) 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Qd2 (7. Nxc6 {is the most principled continuation, but lautet
die prinzipiellste Fortsetzung, allerdings ist} bxc6 8. e5 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Nd5 10.
Nxd5 cxd5 11. Qxd5 Qh4+ 12. Kd1 Rb8 {is very unclear. sehr unklar.}) 7... O-O
8. O-O-O Re8 (8... Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bh4 $14) 9. f3 d5 {
Otherwise White is just better, pushing his pawns on the kingside. Ansonsten
steht WeiЯ einfach besser, er stцЯt seine Bauern am Kцnigsflьgel vor.} 10. exd5
(10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 $11) 10... Nxd5 (10... Nb4 11. Bg5) 11. Bg5 $1 Nxc3
$5 {Played rather quickly, I was not sure if it was Levon's preparation or
improvisation. Recht schnell gespielt; ich war nicht sicher, ob es Levons
Vorbereitung oder Improvisation war.} (11... f6 {is safer, and after ist
sicherer, und nach} 12. Bc4 Nxd4 13. Nxd5 Be6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nxb6 axb6 16.
Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Bxe6+ Rxe6 18. Rxd4 Rxa2 19. Kb1 Ra5 20. Rd7 {White is still
pressing. ist WeiЯ nach wie vor am Drьcker.}) 12. Bxd8 Nxd1 13. Bxc7 $1 {
The most principled continuation. Die prinzipiellste Fortsetzung.} (13. Bh4 {
is safer, but I doubt White can win after ist sicherer, ich bezweifle aber,
dass WeiЯ gewinnen kann nach} Nxd4 14. Qxd1 Nf5 15. Bg5 h6 {and Black seems to
have enough play. und Schwarz scheint genьgend Spiel zu haben.}) 13... Bxc7 14.
Nxc6 Ne3 {Only move, now the position gets very tricky. Einziger Zug, nun wird
die Stellung ziemlich trickreich.} 15. Bb5 $1 (15. Nb4 {is definitely not
advisable: ist definitiv nicht ratsam:} Bf4 16. Nd3 Bh6 17. f4 Bf5 {with a
very strong initiative, e.g. mit einer bдrenstarken Initiative, z.B.} 18. Kb1
Rac8) 15... bxc6 (15... Bf5 {is going into a slightly worse endgame by force:
leitet forciert in ein leicht schlechteres Endspiel ьber:} 16. Nd4 Bf4 17. Bxe8
Nxg2 18. Qxf4 Nxf4 19. Bxf7+ Kxf7 20. Nxf5 Rd8 21. b3) (15... a6 16. Ba4 {
doesn't change much. дndert nicht viel.}) 16. Bxc6 Nc4 (16... Bf4 {This move
bothered me and it took me quite some time to calculate it out. Dieser Zug
beunruhigte mich, und ich brauchte einige Zeit, um ihn auszurechnen.} 17. Kb1
$1 (17. Re1 Bb7 $1) 17... Bf5 18. Bxa8 Rxa8 (18... Nxc2 19. Qxf4 $18) (18...
Bxc2+ 19. Ka1) 19. Re1 $1 {and everything seems to work in White's favour here:
, und hier scheint alles zu Gunsten von WeiЯ zu funktionieren:} Bxc2+ (19...
Nxc2 20. Qxf4 Na3+ 21. Kc1 Rc8+ 22. Kd1) 20. Ka1 Re8 21. g3 (21. Rxe3 {also
wins. gewinnt ebenfalls.}) 21... Bg6 22. Re2 $18 Rc8 23. Rxe3) 17. Qd4 (17. Qb4
$142 $1 {Computer rules :) Computer an die Macht :)} Be6 18. Bxe8 Rxe8 19. Re1
$1 $16 Ba5 $140 20. Rxe6 $1) 17... Be6 18. Bxa8 Bb6 $1 (18... Rxa8 19. Re1 $16)
19. Qd3 (19. Qe4 {leads to a draw after fьhrt zum Remis nach} Be3+ 20. Kd1
Nxb2+ 21. Ke1 Bd7 22. Qb7 Bb6+ 23. Kd2 Be3+ 24. Ke2 $11) 19... Rxa8 (19... Rd8
20. Qxd8+ {- at least - - auf jeden Fall -} (20. Qe2 Rxa8 21. Rd1 Ne3 22. Rd6)
20... Bxd8 21. g3 {White must have an advantage here I guess - Hier muss WeiЯ
Vorteil haben, meine ich -} Bb6 22. b3 Ne3 23. c3) 20. Re1 ({Here Levon
admitted after the game that he thought White should play b3 in order not to
get a worse position, and the endgame is rather drawish after Hier gab Levon
nach der Partie zu, dass er dachte, dass WeiЯ b3 spielen sollte, um keine
schlechtere Stellung zu bekommen, und das Endspiel ist ziemlich remislich nach
} 20. b3 Rd8 21. bxc4 Rxd3 22. cxd3 Kf8 23. Kc2 Bd4 {I actually thought that
White should be better after the move I played and didn't consider seriously
this option at all. Tatsдchlich dachte ich, dass WeiЯ nach dem Zug, den ich
spielte, besser stehen sollte, und zog diese Mцglichkeit nicht ernsthaft in
Betracht.}) 20... Rd8 21. Qe4 {A very strange and unbalanced position, which
we each assessed in our favour during the game. I still think after it that I
was right! Eine sehr merkwьrdige und unausgewogene Stellung, die wir beide
wдhrend der Partie als gьnstig fьr uns erachteten. Im Nachhinein meine ich
trotzdem, dass ich richtig lag!} g5 $6 {Taking control on the f4-square, where
I want to put my queen, but the price is too high, the black king becomes
vulnerable now. Nimmt das f4-Feld unter Kontrolle, wo ich meine Dame
hinstellen will, aber der Preis ist zu hoch; der schwarze Kцnig wird jetzt
anfдllig.} (21... g6 {was probably a better choice: war wahrscheinlich eine
bessere Wahl:} 22. c3 (22. Qf4 Rd4 23. Re4 Rd7 24. a4) 22... Nd6 23. Qc6 {
I would definately prefer White here still. Trotzdem wьrde ich hier definitiv
WeiЯ bevorzugen.}) (21... Rd4 22. Qc6 Rd8 23. Rxe6 $1 $16 fxe6 24. Qxe6+ Kf8
25. a4 Ne3 26. Kb1 {and it is difficult to coordinate Black's pieces in this
position. , und in dieser Stellung ist es schwer, die Figuren von Schwarz zu
koordinieren.} Nxg2 27. a5 Be3 28. c4) 22. c3 Bc5 {Levon was slowly but surely
running into serious time trouble. Levon kam, langsam aber sicher in ernste
Zeitnot.} 23. Re2 {A very human move, just trying to prevent his opponent's
counterplay, although maybe it was even stronger to start bothering his king
without this prophylaxis. Ein sehr menschlicher Zug, der einfach versucht, das
gegnerische Gegenspiel zu unterbinden, obwohl es vielleicht stдrker war zu
beginnen, seinen Kцnig ohne diese Prophylaxe zu behelligen.} (23. h4 $16) 23...
h6 24. g3 {Preparing f4 and h4 and asking Black what is his plan :) Bereitet
f4 und h4 vor und fragt Schwarz, was sein Plan ist :)} a5 {This seems logical
because there is not much else Black can do to improve his position.  Dies
wirkt logisch, weil es sonst nicht viel gibt, was Schwarz tun kann, um seine
Stellung zu verbessern.} 25. f4 a4 26. f5 $1 {White is objectively much better
here and it is very difficult to defend this position in time trouble. Black
has too many pieces to take care of :) Hier steht WeiЯ objektiv klar besser,
und es ist sehr schwer, diese Stellung in Zeitnot zu verteidigen. Schwarz hat
zu viele Figuren, um die er sich kьmmern muss :)} Bd5 $8 27. Qd3 Bb6 $8 28. b3
$1 axb3 29. axb3 Na5 $8 30. Re8+ {I think this is the right choice, at least
from a practical point of view. Ich denke, dies ist die richtige Wahl,
zumindest in praktischer Hinsicht.} (30. b4 $5 Nc4 31. f6 Be6 32. Qf3) (30. Qb5
{was recommended by commentators (obviously because it was recommended by
computers first :)), but in fact it might not be enough for a win since after
wurde von Kommentatoren empfohlen (offensichtlich, weil es zuvor von Computern
empfohlen wurde :)), tatsдchlich aber kцnnte es nicht zum Sieg reichen, denn
nach} Nxb3+ 31. Kc2 Nd4+ $1 32. cxd4 Bxd4 {it might be a fortress after all.
kцnnte es doch noch eine Festung sein.}) 30... Rxe8 31. Qxd5 {Again it is very
difficult to coordinate his pieces for Black, especially in time trouble.
Erneut ist es sehr schwer fьr Schwarz, seine Figuren zu koordinieren, vor
allem in Zeitnot.} Rd8 (31... Rc8 32. Kb2 Rd8 33. Qb5 $18) 32. Qb5 Rd6 $1 (
32... Be3+ 33. Kb2 Rd2+ 34. Ka3 $18) 33. Kc2 $1 {/\b4} (33. b4 Be3+ 34. Kb1 Nc6
{holding. hдlt.}) 33... Kg7 {A mistake, but Levon was already down to seconds.
Ein Fehler, aber Levon hatte bereits nur noch Sekunden.} (33... Bd8 {This is
the only chance for Black to stay in the game: Dies ist die einzige Chance fьr
Schwarz, in der Partie zu bleiben:} 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. Qe5+ Rf6 36. b4 Nc6 37.
Qe4 Bc7 38. b5 Ne5 39. c4 $16) 34. b4 Nb7 35. c4 {Now it's all over, Black
can't coordinate his pieces anymore. Nun ist alles vorbei, Schwarz kann seine
Figuren nicht mehr koordinieren.} Rf6 36. g4 {No need to hurry. Eile mit Weile.
} Nd8 37. c5 Bc7 38. Qd7 {White starts to collect material already. WeiЯ
beginnt bereits, Material einzusammeln.} Nc6 39. b5 $1 Na7 40. Qxc7 Nxb5 41.
Qe5 (41. Qd7 {was even more precise, since after war sogar noch genauer, da es
nach} Rc6 {there is den Zug} 42. f6+ $1 {, but the text is good enough and
simpler. gibt, aber der Text ist gut genug und einfacher.}) 41... Na7 42. Kd3 {
Cooling down after the time trouble Levon quickly realised that he was a very
long way from building a fortress and resigned here. Als er sich nach der
Zeitnot abkьhlte, begriff Levon schnell, dass er sehr weit davon entfernt war,
eine Festung zu errichten, und gab hier auf.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Missing moves added. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KayQ6bJpmTo} 1. Nf3 g6 2.
e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4 e6 5. O-O Ne7 6. Re1 Nd7 7. c3 b6 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. Nf1 Nf6
10. Ng3 h6 11. Bb5+ Nd7 12. Be3 a6 13. Bd3 Nf6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Qd2 d5 16. Ne5
Qd8 17. f3 Nd7 18. Ng4 h5 19. Nf2 c5 20. Rad1 cxd4 21. cxd4 dxe4 22. fxe4 O-O
23. e5 Nf5 24. Bg5 Qe8 25. Nxf5 exf5 26. Bc4 Kh7 27. Bb3 Qb8 28. Nd3 a5 29. Nf4
a4 30. Bc2 Be4 31. Rxe4 fxe4 32. Bxe4 Ra5 33. Be7 Re8 34. Bd6 Qd8 35. Nxh5 Qh4
36. Nxg7 Kxg7 37. Bc6 Rd8 38. Qc3 Nf8 39. d5 Kg8 40. Rf1 Ra7 41. Qe3 Rxd6 42.
exd6 Qd8 43. Qe5 Nh7 44. d7 Nf8 45. Qe8 Rxd7 46. Bxd7 Qxd7 47. Qxd7 Nxd7 48.
Rf4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 e6 4. a3 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3 O-O
9. h3 e5 10. d5 Nd4 11. Bd3 Nh5 12. Bxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 c5 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. c5
dxc5 16. Rc1 Qe7 17. O-O Rb8 18. Qc2 Rd8 19. Rfd1 g5 20. Qxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxc5
Rxb2 22. e5 Nf4 23. Nxf4 gxf4 24. Bc4 Bb7 25. Ra5 Bf8 26. e6 fxe6 27. Rxd4 Rxd4
28. Nxd4 Bd6 29. Nxe6 Rb1+ 30. Kh2 f3+ 31. g3 Kh8 32. Rh5 Kh7 33. Bd3+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. g3 {This line of the King's Indian was very topical in the
late 90s. Kramnik was at the forefront of the theoretical discussions on the
white side, and was responsible for the popularity of 10.Re1. It is
interesting to see him revert to the 'old' line once more, as he did against
Giri last year.} f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Bg2 (13. Ba3 {was how his game
against Giri continued, Bg2 is an improvement.}) (13. b5 cxd5 14. cxd5 Nxe4 15.
Ncxe4 fxe4 16. Bxe4 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 d5 19. Ba3 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.
Bxe7 {leads to an endgame that is analogous to one in the Re1 line, but I
think few people would play g3 instead of Re1.}) 13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6
Nxe4 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. b5 $1 {These positions are always tricky. Black seems
in many occasions not only to win a pawn (the weakened one on e6), but also to
create a powerful and threatening pawn center. In reality, this pawn center in
many cases is doomed to fall under the pressure of White's powerful bishops,
and when the pawn is recovered the structural advantage is beyond doubt. The
point of b5 is to open the a1-f8 diagonal for the bishop, hitting the knight
on e7 which protects the pawn center.} Rf6 (17... d5 18. Ba3 Re8 19. cxd5 cxd5
20. Qb3 Qb6 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Qxe6 (24... e3
25. fxe3 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1 $16) 25. Qxe6+ (25. Qc5 $1 {seems even stronger.}) 25...
Rxe6 26. Bxe4 Rb6 27. a4 a6 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. a5 {is not a super easy endgame
for Black to hold. Not only that, if White avoids the queen exchange the
position really becomes unpleasant.}) 18. Bxe4 Rxe6 19. Qa4 d5 20. Rd1 {
Black is pinned all over the place. He would like to simply give back the pawn
to achieve equality, but this is not so simple.} Kh7 (20... Qc8 21. cxd5 cxd5
22. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 Kh7 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Be3 $16 {is simply unpleasant.
The bishop on g7 is bad unless Black plays e4, and when he does that he will
have a terrible weakness there. His king is also exposed as a major piece
going into the 7th rank will pose many problems.}) (20... d4 21. Rb1 Qc8 22.
bxc6 bxc6 23. Ba3 {is not to anyone's liking, as the white squared bishop
dominates the board. Black does have his extra pawn but it's of no use.}) 21.
cxd5 cxd5 22. Qb3 {Pins and more pins.} Rb6 23. a4 $1 (23. Bxd5 Rd6 24. Bf3
Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 e4 26. Rb1 Nd5 $132 {would've made Grischuk a happy man. Even
though White might still be better here, Black has obtained an important
amount of activity, while White's piece look clumsy. This is not what Kramnik
wants.}) 23... a6 (23... d4 24. a5 {loses b7}) (23... Qd7 24. Ba3 d4 (24... Qe6
25. Bxe7 dxe4 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 27. Rd7 {is a Kramnik dream. Actually since Rc1-c7
is a threat that is not easy to stop, Black may simply be lost.}) 25. a5 $1 {
is a nice trick} Rf6 (25... Rxb5 {fails to} 26. Qf7 Re8 27. Bxg6+) 26. a6 {
is obviously winning as White will be materially and positionally better.}) 24.
Ba3 axb5 {This move is already losing (!) but the alternatives hardly seem
attractive.} (24... Qe8 25. Bc5 (25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 axb5 27. axb5 Qe6 $14 {
is not that bad since Black will at least swap a pair of rooks. White is still
slightly better.}) (25. Qe3 d4 26. Qd3 {is worth considering.}) 25... axb5 26.
Bxb6 bxa4 27. Qc3 dxe4 28. Qc7 {and it is hard to believe Black's pawns won't
fall one by one. However he did manage to simplify everything into 'just' the
kingside - which might give him hopes to draw.}) 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Rxd5 {
The pawn center is destroyed, and although Black has retained his extra pawn,
there is no doubt who stands better. The powerful bishop on e4 controls many
diagonals, pressuring the g6-pawn and the b7-pawn. The king on h7 does not
feel secure. Black's rooks are inactive and clumsy. It is difficult to play
this position, very difficult.} b4 (26... Ra5 27. h4 Qf6 28. h5 bxa4 29. hxg6+
Kh8 30. Qc2 Rxd5 31. Bxd5 {is awful.}) 27. a5 Qf7 (27... Rf6 28. Rb5 Ra7 29.
Rb1 {and White will mop up the pawns on the b-file, while the dark-squared
bishop can do nothing but watch.} Bf8 30. Qe3 $1 $18) 28. h4 {Black is already
helpess against the threat to play h5. White's advantage is decisive. This is
the danger of playing these lines for Black. Grischuk didn't play any move
that was particularly 'bad'. No blunders, no major strategical mistakes. And
yet White won effortlessly.} h5 (28... Kh8 29. Rd8+ $18) (28... Kg8 29. h5 gxh5
30. Rad1 {and Black can't defend against Rd8+ and axb6.}) 29. Qd1 {A simple
shot, but very powerful. The queen defends the rook on a1, prepares to support
the other one on d7, and targets h5. Black's position is beyond hopeless and
Grischuk resigned. A complete demolition from the greatest expert on the White
side of this variation. When one thinks of 'model games' to follow in the
King's Indian for White, this one I'm sure will come up often.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 e6 {World Championship matches
greatly influence fashion a Tomashevsky opts for Anand's Semi-Slav fortress,
which occurred 4 times in Moscow.} ({The usual Chebanenko Slav continuation is
} 5... b5 6. b3 ({Gelfand usually plays the ambitious} 6. c5 {Gelfand,B (2741)
-Wang Yue (2752) Bazna Kings 4th 2010 (1) 1-0 , an excellent model game is})
6... Bg4 7. h3 (7. Qc2 $5 e6 8. Ne5 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Nxd3 dxc4 11. bxc4 bxc4
12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. O-O Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd5 15. Rd1 Qa5 16. Ne4 c3 17. Rb1 Rd8 18.
Rd4 Qc7 19. Qa4 a5 20. g3 Bb4 21. Nd6+ Kf8 22. e4 Nb6 23. Qc2 Nd7 24. Nc4 h6
25. a3 Bc5 26. Rd3 $36 {Kramnik,V (2800)-Ivanchuk,V (2775)/Moscow Tal mem/2011/
}) 7... Bxf3 8. gxf3 (8. Qxf3 e5 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Ni Hua (2665)/London/2009/
See this game and an article about the whole line in CBM 141.}) 8... Nbd7 9.
Bg2 e6 10. Bd2 Be7 11. f4 O-O 12. O-O bxc4 13. bxc4 Nb6 14. c5 Nc4 15. Be1 Kh8
16. Ne2 Rg8 $1 17. Ng3 g5 $132 {Morozevich,A (2769)-McShane,L (2706)/Moscow
Tal mem/2012/}) 6. Bd3 {Kramnik opts for a move, which allows Black to
transpose into a rather innocuous line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted. However,
even Gelfand didn't get much after more ambitious moves:} (6. c5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 b6
8. cxb6 Nxb6 9. Bd2 c5 (9... Bd6 10. Bd3 h6 11. e4 Nfd7 12. O-O O-O 13. e5 Be7
14. Qc1 c5 15. Bxh6 cxd4 16. Qf4 f5 17. Qg3 Rf7 18. Nxd4 Bh4 {Smirnov,P (2610)
-Demianjuk,A (2300)/Voronezh/2012/} 19. Nc6 $16) 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. exd4 Bd6 12.
Bg5 O-O 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. O-O Qb8 $6 (15... Bf4 $1 16. Rcd1 Nbd7 $132)
16. Bg3 Rc8 17. Qe2 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Qd6 19. Rc2 Nbd7 20. Rfc1 Rab8 (20... Rc7
$142 $1) 21. Na4 Ne4 $6 (21... Rxc2 $14) 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Qc2 $36 {[%cal
Gc1c8] Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V (2791)/WCh Moscow/2012/}) (6. Qc2 c5 7. cxd5
exd5 8. Be2 Be6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rd1 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Bc5 13. Rd1 Qe7
14. Bf3 O-O $1 $146 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5 Rac8 18. Bd2 Bxe3 19.
Bc3 Bb6 20. Qf5 Qe6 21. Qf3 f6 22. h4 Qc6 23. h5 Rfd8 $11 {Gelfand,B (2727)
-Anand,V (2791)/WCh Moscow/2012/}) (6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bd6
10. Qc2 (10. Rc1 e5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15.
dxe5 Nxe4 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Be3 Bf5 18. Qxd6 Nxd6 19. Nd4 Rfe8 20. Nxf5 Nxf5
21. Bc5 h5 22. Rfd1 Rac8 $11 {Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V (2791)/WCh Moscow/2012/}
) 10... e5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e4 exd4 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nf6 15. h3 Bd7 16.
Rad1 Re8 17. Nxd4 Rc8 18. Qb1 h6 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 Rc5 21. Rfe1 Rxd5 22.
Bc3 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bc5 24. Qc2 Bd4 $11 {Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V (2791)/WCh
Moscow/2012/}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O (8. a4 Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. dxc5 (10.
Qe2 cxd4 11. Rd1 e5 12. exd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qe5 Qd6 15. Qxd6 Bxd6 16.
Rxd4 Be5 $11 ({or} 16... Bc5 $11 {is a well-known line, which is not dangerous
for Black.})) 10... Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. Bd2 Bd7 (12... b6 13. Bd3 Nb4 14.
Be2 O-O 15. a5 b5 16. Rdc1 Be7 17. Ne5 Rd8 18. Bf3 Rb8 19. Ne4 Nfd5 20. Nc5 Bf6
21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Bxb4 Bxe5 23. e4 Rd8 24. Rd1 Re8 25. Nd3 Bf6 26. Bd6 Ra8 27.
e5 Bd8 28. Nc5 $36 {Kramnik,V (2759)-Topalov,V (2796)/Nice rpd/2009/}) 13. a5 (
13. Bd3 O-O 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. Nc5 Be8 17. Be2 Rd5 18. Nb3 Rad8 19.
Be1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rxd1 21. Bxd1 Nb4 22. Na5 Nd3 23. Bc3 Ne4 $15 {Anand,V (2817)
-Kramnik,V (2785)/Monte Carlo rpd/2011/}) 13... Bb4 14. Na4 Ke7 15. Nb6 (15.
Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. Nb6 Rab8 17. Ne5 Rhd8 18. Rdc1 Be8 19. Be2 Nfd5 20. Nxd5+ Rxd5
21. Rc4 Nc6 $11 {/=/+,Eljanov,P (2716)-Ivanchuk,V (2703)/Jermuk/2009/}) 15...
Bxd2 16. Nxd2 Rab8 17. Ne4 Rhd8 18. Nc5 Nb4 19. Rdc1 Bc6 20. Ra3 Nfd5 21. Rb3
$11 {1/2,Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2614)-Morozevich,A (2715)/Pamplona/2010/}) 8...
b5 9. Be2 ({More usual is} 9. Bb3 {, but the line} Bb7 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. Rd1 Qb8
{has a drawish reputation. A recent example:} 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bxd5 Bxd5 15. Rxd5 Be7 16. e4 Qb7 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bf4 O-O 19. Rad1 Nb6 20. R5d2
Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. e5 Qc6 24. Kf1 $11 {1/2,Postny,E (2618)
-Nielsen,P (2681)/WCup Khanty-Mansiysk/2011/}) 9... Bb7 10. dxc5 Qxd1 ({
Black can also keep his king in the centre, a valid alternative is} 10... Bxc5
11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {Analogously to the game, a more ambitious attempt is} 12. Nd2
$5 ({Too soft is} 12. b3 Ke7 13. Bb2 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Rhc8 15. a4 (15. Nd4 Rc7 16.
Rac1 Rac8 17. f3 e5 18. Nf5+ Kf8 19. Kf2 Bb4 20. Nb1 Rc2 21. Bc3 R2xc3 22. Nxc3
Rxc3 23. Rxc3 Bxc3 24. Nd6 Nc5 $15 {Kurajica,B (2590)-Yakovich,Y (2520)/Moscow/
1992/}) 15... b4 16. Nb1 a5 17. Nbd2 Ne8 18. Bb5 f6 19. Nc4 Nd6 20. Nxd6 Bxd6
21. Rxd6 Kxd6 22. Rd1+ Bd5 23. e4 Rc2 24. exd5 Rxb2 25. dxe6+ Kxe6 26. Bxd7+
Ke7 27. Bb5 Rxb3 28. h4 Rc3 $132 {1/2,Muse,M (2470)-Ribli,Z (2610)/Bundesliga/
1992/}) 12... Nbd7 13. Nb3 Bb4 14. Bd2 Nc5 (14... Ke7 15. a3 (15. a4 bxa4 16.
Rxa4 a5 $11) 15... Bd6 (15... Nc5 $2 16. Ne4 $1 $16) 16. Na5 Rab8 17. Nxb7 $14)
15. Nd4 Nd5 (15... Ncd7 $5 16. a3 Bd6 17. Nb3 Rb8 $11 {[%cal Yd8e7,Yh8c8]}) 16.
Nxd5 Bxd2 17. Nb6 Rb8 18. Rfd1 Ne4 (18... Kc7 19. Nc4 $36) 19. Nb3 Kc7 20. Nc4
$1 Bc3 (20... bxc4 $142 21. Nxd2 $14) 21. bxc3 Nxc3 22. Ne5 Nxe2+ 23. Kf1 Nc3
24. Rd7+ Kb6 25. Rxf7 Bc6 {Bischoff,K (2564)-Lazarev,V (2526)/Bundesliga/2004/}
26. Nd4 Be8 27. Rxg7 $16) 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. Nd2 (12. Nd4 Nbd7 (12... O-O {
transposes to the game.}) (12... Nc6 13. Nb3 Be7 14. e4 {[%cal Yf2f3,Yc1e3,
Ya1c1]}) 13. Nb3 Bb6 $6 (13... Bb4 $142 $5 14. Bd2 (14. a4 bxa4 15. Nxa4 Ke7
$11) 14... O-O {once again transposes to the game.}) 14. a4 $1 $36 b4 15. a5
bxc3 (15... Ba7 16. Na2 Bd5 17. Nd4 Bc5 18. Bd2 {[%csl Ra6,Rb4]} e5 19. Nf3 b3
20. Nb4 Bb7 21. Rac1 Bd6 22. Be1 Ne4 23. Ng5 Nxg5 24. Rxd6 Ke7 25. Rcd1 $18 {
Schwarz,M (2402)-Diermair,A (2391)/AUT-chT/2007/}) 16. axb6 cxb2 17. Bxb2 Nxb6
18. Na5 Bc8 (18... Be4 19. f3 Bg6 20. Ba3 Nfd5 21. Nb7 f6 22. Rac1 Na4 23. Rxd5
exd5 24. Rc7 $18 {->,Bischoff,K (2541)-Stohl,I (2534)/AUT-chT/2001/}) 19. Bf3
Nbd5 20. Ba3 Bd7 21. Nc4 Ba4 22. Rd4 Bb5 23. Nd6+ Kd7 24. e4 $18 {Sakaev,K 
(2619)-Stevic,H (2592)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) ({The knight transfer to b3 is the
only way to fight for an edge, too bland is} 12. a3 Nbd7 13. b4 Be7 14. Bb2 O-O
15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Nb1 (16. Kf1 Rfd8 17. h3 Kf8 18. Nb1 Nd5 19. Nbd2 N7b6 20.
Rxc8 (20. Nb3 Na4 21. Bd4 Ndc3 22. Bxc3 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Nxc3 24. Be2 Nxe2 25.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. Kxe2 f6 $17 {[%csl Gc8,Ge7] Pomar Salamanca,A (2510)-Spassky,B 
(2690)/Gothenburg/1971/}) 20... Rxc8 21. Rc1 $11) 16... Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Rc8 18.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 19. Nbd2 Bb7 20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Ke1 Ke8 22. h3 h6 23. Kd1 Kd8 {1/2,
Flohr,S-Gruenfeld,E/Folkestone olm/1933/ Ammusing total symmetry!}) 12... O-O
$5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (12... Nbd7 13. Nb3 {-12.Nd4}) (12... Be7 13. Nb3 Nc6 14. e4
$11 {/+/=}) 13. Nb3 Bb4 14. Bd2 Nbd7 (14... Nc6 15. a4 $1 bxa4 16. Nxa4 $36 {
[%cal Ra4c5]}) 15. a3 (15. a4 $5 bxa4 16. Nxa4 a5 $132 {[%cal Yb7d5,Yf6e4]})
15... Nc5 $1 (15... Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Bd5 17. Na5 $14) (15... Be7 16. Na5 $14) 16.
Nc1 (16. Nd4 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Rfc8 $11 {[%cal Rc5a4] and White won't be able to
retain his bishop-pair.}) 16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Rfc8 18. Bd4 Bd5 19. f3 Bc4 {
Halving the bishop-pair more or less equalizes.} (19... Bb3 20. Rd2 Nfd7 21.
Kf2 f6 22. e4 Bc4 $5 23. Bd1 $5 e5 24. Be3 a5 25. b3 Bf7 26. Be2 $11 {/+/=
gives White some chances to fight for an advantage.}) 20. Kf2 (20. Bxc4 bxc4
21. Rd2 Nfd7 22. Rc2 Na4 23. Ne2 e5 24. Bc3 f6 $132 {[%cal Yd7c5,Yc5d3]}) 20...
Bxe2 21. Kxe2 Nd5 22. Rd2 f6 23. Bxc5 $5 ({Black's knights are actively placed
and even after chasing them away White can't achive any substantial progress:} 
23. e4 Nb6 24. b3 Nbd7 $11 {[%cal Yg8f7,Yf7e7,Ye6e5]}) 23... Rxc5 24. Nd3 {
[%mdl 4096] By swapping his bishop voluntarily Kramnik tries to build up on a
few tiny endgame pluses - better king, slight vulnerability of Black's
queenside. Rook and knight endgames were also a favourite of the grest
technician Ulf Andersson. However, here circumspect defence should have held
the balance.} Rc7 (24... Rc4 $5 $11) 25. a4 bxa4 26. Rxa4 Kf7 (26... a5 $142 $1
27. e4 Nb6 $11) 27. Ra5 Raa7 $2 (27... Rc6 28. Nc5 (28. e4 Ne7 29. Nc5 Rb6 $11)
28... Rb8 (28... Nb4 $5 29. Rd7+ Kg8 30. Rb7 Rac8 $11) 29. Nxa6 (29. Nxe6 Kxe6
30. Raxd5 Rxb2 $11) 29... Rb3 30. Nc5 Rxe3+ 31. Kf2 Re5 $132) 28. Nc5 Nb4 (
28... Rc6 $5 29. Nxe6 {[%cal Re6d8]} Kxe6 30. Raxd5 $14) 29. Rd6 Rc8 (29... e5
30. Rb6 $1 Nd5 31. Rbxa6 Rxa6 32. Nxa6 $16) 30. f4 {Frees f3 for the king -
White has already a tangible pull.} (30. Nxe6 $6 Rc2+) 30... Rac7 (30... Re7
31. Rb6 $36) 31. Nxe6 (31. Nxa6 $6 Ra7 $11 {[%cal Yc8c2]}) 31... Rc2+ 32. Kf3
Rxb2 33. Nd4 (33. f5 $142 $1 $36 {[%cal Rd6d7]}) 33... Rc7 34. Rb6 Nd3 ({
Black jettisons a pawn, as it's difficult to untangle without losses after} 
34... Ra7 35. g4 $36) 35. Rxb2 Nxb2 36. Rxa6 $16 {Kramnik,V (2799)-Eljanov,P 
(2692) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 (4) 1-0 /+/= White has good winning chances, he
can gradually improve his position without allowing a premature knight swap. A
good example of a similar endgame from Kramnik's practice is} Nc4 37. g4 Nd2+
38. Ke2 Ne4 39. h4 Rb7 $2 (39... g6 $142) 40. g5 Kg6 $6 (40... Re7 $16) 41. Kf3
Re7 (41... Nc5 42. h5+ $1 (42. Rc6 Nd7 43. e4 $16) 42... Kxh5 43. Ra5 Nb3 44.
Nxb3 Rxb3 45. gxf6+ $18) (41... Nd2+ 42. Kg4 h5+ 43. Kh3 $1 {[%csl Rg7][%cal
Rf4f5,Rd4e6]} Nc4 44. f5+ Kf7 45. Ne6 Ke8 46. g6 Nxe3 47. Nxg7+ Rxg7 48. Re6+
Kd8 (48... Re7 $2 49. g7) (48... Kf8 49. Rxf6+ Kg8 50. Re6 $18) 49. Rxe3 $18 {
[%cal Re3e6]}) 42. h5+ $6 {White complicates his task.} (42. Re6 {wins
practically by force:} Rxe6 $8 43. f5+ Kh5 $8 (43... Kf7 44. fxe6+ $18) 44.
fxe6 (44. Nxe6 $2 Nd6 45. Nxg7+ Kxh4 46. gxf6 Kg5 47. Ne8 Nf7 48. e4 h5 $132)
44... Nd6 45. gxf6 gxf6 46. Kf4 Kg6 (46... Kxh4 47. Nf5+ $18) (46... Ne8 47.
Kf5 Kxh4 48. e7 Nc7 49. Ne6 Ne8 50. Nf4 $18) 47. Nf5 $1 Ne8 (47... Nxf5 48. h5+
$18) 48. Ne7+ Kg7 49. Kg4 Kf8 (49... Nc7 50. Nf5+ Kg8 51. e7 $19) 50. Nf5 Nc7
51. e7+ Kf7 52. Kh5 Ne8 53. Kh6 Kg8 54. e4 Kh8 55. Nd4 Kg8 56. Nc6 Nd6 57. Nd8
Ne8 58. Kh5 Kg7 (58... Nd6 59. Kg4 f5+ 60. Kf4 $1 fxe4 61. Ke5 Ne8 62. Kxe4 Kg7
63. Kf5 $18) 59. Kg4 Nd6 60. Kf4 Kg6 61. h5+ Kg7 (61... Kxh5 62. Nf7 Ne8 63.
Kf5 $18 {[%cal Rf5d7]}) 62. e5 fxe5+ 63. Kxe5 Ne8 64. Ke6 Kh6 65. Nf7+ Kxh5 66.
Nd6 Ng7+ 67. Kf7 Kh6 68. Ne4 $22 $18) ({Another more convincing way was} 42.
f5+ Kf7 (42... Kh5 43. Ne6 Nd2+ 44. Kf4 Kxh4 45. gxf6 gxf6 46. Ra2 Rd7 47. Nd4
$18) 43. Ne6 Nd2+ (43... Nc3 44. Nxg7 $18) 44. Kf4 fxg5+ 45. Nxg5+ Ke8 46. Ra8+
Kd7 47. Ra7+ Ke8 48. Rxe7+ Kxe7 49. Nxh7 $18) 42... Kxh5 43. Nf5 Nd2+ 44. Ke2
Rd7 45. gxf6 gxf6 46. Rxf6 (46. Nd6 Kg4 $1 (46... Nb1 47. Ne4 $18) 47. Kxd2 Kf3
48. f5 h5 49. e4 h4 50. e5 fxe5 51. f6 h3 52. f7 Rxf7 53. Nxf7 h2 54. Nxe5+ Kg2
55. Rg6+ Kf1 $11) 46... Kg4 47. Nh6+ (47. Nd6 Nb3 48. Rh6 $16) 47... Kg3 48.
Rf8 Ne4 49. Rg8+ Kh3 50. Ng4 Kh4 51. Ne5 Ra7 52. Nf3+ $6 (52. Kf3 $1 Nd2+ 53.
Kg2 {[%cal Re5f3]} Ne4 $8 54. Rg4+ Kh5 55. Kf3 Nd2+ 56. Ke2 Ne4 (56... Ra2 57.
Rg5+ Kh4 58. Nf3+ $18) 57. Rg1 Ra2+ 58. Kd3 Nf2+ 59. Kd4 Ra4+ 60. Nc4 $5 $16 {
[%cal Yd4d5,Yc4d6,Ye3e5]}) 52... Kh5 53. Kd3 $6 (53. Ne5 $5 Ra2+ 54. Kd3 Nf2+
55. Kc4 $14 {/+/-}) (53. Rg1 Ra2+ 54. Kd3 Nf2+ 55. Kd4 Ra4+ 56. Kd5 Nh3 57. Rh1
Ra5+ 58. Kd6 Ra6+ 59. Ke7 Ra7+ 60. Kf6 Ra6+ 61. Kf5 Ra5+ 62. Ne5 Kh4 $14) 53...
Nf2+ $132 54. Kd4 Ra4+ 55. Kd5 Ra5+ 56. Ke6 Ng4 $1 57. e4 Ra6+ 58. Ke7 $8 Ra7+
(58... Nf6 $2 59. Rg5+ Kh6 60. Nh4 $18) 59. Kd6 Ra6+ (59... Nf6 $1 60. Rg5+ Kh6
61. Ke5 Nxe4 62. Kxe4 Ra4+ {/\} 63. Kf5 Rxf4+ $1 $11) 60. Kc7 h6 $8 61. e5 Nf6
$1 62. Rd8 (62. exf6 Rc6+ (62... Rxf6 $11) 63. Kd7 Rd6+ 64. Ke7 Re6+ 65. Kf7
Rxf6+ $11) (62. Rf8 Nh7 63. Rh8 Nf6 $1 $132) 62... Kg4 63. Nd4 Ra7+ 64. Kd6 (
64. Kb8 Rd7 65. Kc8 Kxf4 66. exf6 Rf7 $11) 64... Ne4+ 65. Kd5 Nc3+ 66. Kc4 Kxf4
(66... Rc7+ $2 67. Kd3 {/\} Kxf4 $2 68. Ne6+ $18) 67. e6 (67. Kxc3 Rc7+ 68. Kd3
Kxe5 $11) 67... Rc7+ 68. Kd3 Ke5 $2 (68... Na4 69. Rf8+ Ke5 70. e7 (70. Rf7
Rxf7 (70... Nc5+ 71. Ke3 Nxe6 72. Rf5+ Kd6 73. Nb5+ Ke7 $11) 71. exf7 Nc5+ 72.
Ke3 Nd7 $11) 70... Nc5+ 71. Ke3 Rxe7 72. Nc6+ Kd6+ 73. Nxe7 Kxe7 $11) 69. Rd7
$1 $18 Nd5 (69... Rc8 70. e7 Re8 71. Kxc3 Kf6 72. Nc6 $18) 70. e7 Rc3+ (70...
Rc8 71. Nc6+ $18) 71. Kd2 Rc8 72. Nc6+ Ke6 73. Rxd5 Rxc6 (73... Kxd5 74. Nd8
$18) 74. e8=Q+ Kxd5 75. Kd3 {Black's king is too far from the h-pawn to create
a fortress.} Re6 76. Qb5+ Kd6 77. Kd4 Ke7 78. Qf5 Rf6 79. Qh7+ Kf8 80. Ke5 Ra6
81. Qb7 (81. Qd3 $142) 81... Rg6 82. Qh7 $1 (82. Kf5 $6 Rg5+ 83. Kf6 Kg8 84.
Qb3+ $18 {is also a win according to TB, but it unnecessarily prolongs the
game.}) 82... Ra6 (82... Rc6 83. Qe4 Rc7 84. Kf6 Rf7+ 85. Kg6 $18) 83. Qd3 (83.
Qd3 Ra7 84. Kf6 $18 {[%cal Rf6h6]} (84. Qd4 Rf7 85. Qh4 Kg7 86. Ke6 Rf8 87.
Qg4+ Kh7 88. Ke7 Rg8 89. Qc4 Kg7 90. Qe6 Kh7 91. Kf7 Rg5 92. Kf8 $18)) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gustafsson, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. O-O
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. f3 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 (13. Qb3 {
is played more often}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] Black anticipates Qd1-b3 as
that is White's most logical way of development.} (13... dxe4 14. fxe4 Bxd4 (
14... Rxe4 $2 15. Ne6 $1 Qd7 16. Nxg7 Kxg7 17. Qb3 $40) 15. Bxd4 Nc6 16. Bf6
Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Be6 18. b3 $14 {1/2 Dimitrijeski,B (2222)-Jovanic,O (2476)/
Rijeka 2011/EXT 2012 (44)}) (13... a6 14. Qb3 dxe4 15. fxe4 Rf8 16. Rxf7 Rxf7
17. Rf1 Bf6 18. e5 Kg7 {0-1 Handke,F (2413)-Atalik,S (2575)/Cappelle la Grande
2000/CBM 074 ext (28)} 19. exf6+ Rxf6 20. Qc3 $1 $18) (13... Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. Rxc6 Bb7 16. Rc1 $1 (16. Rc2 dxe4 17. f4 (17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. f4 Bd4 19.
Bxd4 (19. Kf2 Bxe3+ 20. Kxe3 Rd3+ $1) 19... Rxd4 20. Rc7 Bd5 21. Rd7 e3 22. Re1
Rd2 $15 {1/2 Shankland,S (2539)-Vorobiov,E (2574)/Dresden 2011/CBM 143 Extra 
(29)}) 17... Qe7 18. f5 Rac8 19. Bc4 Rxc4 20. Rxc4 Ba6 $11 {0-1 Guo Qi (2351)
-Ju Wenjun (2557)/Xinghua CHN 2012/The Week in Chess 909 (63)}) 16... dxe4 17.
Qxd8 Raxd8 18. f4 Bd4 19. Kf2 Bxe3+ 20. Kxe3 Kf8 21. Rc7 Re7 22. Rfc1 Bd5 23.
b3 h5 24. f5 gxf5 25. Bxh5 $14 {1/2 Gustafsson,J (2647)-Maze,S (2559)/
Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM 142 (47)}) 14. Qb3 {Other moves are harmless but maybe
it was time to moderate ambitions, e.g.} (14. Bd3 Nc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rxc6
dxe4 17. Bxe4 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb7 19. Rc4 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Bxb2 $11) 14... a4 15.
Qxd5 (15. Qa3 $142 $1 dxe4 16. Rcd1 $44 {needs further checking}) 15... Qxd5
16. exd5 a3 $1 17. b3 (17. bxa3 Bd7 18. Nc2 Rxe3 19. Nxe3 Bd4) 17... Nc6 $1 {
[%cal Re8e3]} 18. Nc2 Rxe3 $1 {[%mdl 512] An excellent exchange sacrifice.
Black's a3-pawn becomes a decisive factor.} 19. Nxe3 Nb4 20. Rc4 (20. Rc7 $142
$1 Bd4 (20... Nxa2 21. d6 $1 $132) 21. Re7 Bf5 $1 {more convincing than} (21...
Nxa2 22. Re8+ Kg7 23. d6 Nc3 24. Kf2 $1 Nd5 25. d7) (21... Nxd5 22. Re8+ Kg7
23. Kh1 $1 Nxe3 24. Rc1) 22. Rd1 $1 Bc5 23. d6 Nxa2 {In this sharp position
Black keeps better prospects after all.}) 20... Nxa2 21. Ra4 $2 {A bad move
but White faces difficult defence in any case, e.g. after} (21. Nc2 Nc3 22. Bd3
a2 {[%csl Ga2]}) 21... Rxa4 22. bxa4 Bd4 23. Kf2 $2 (23. Bc4 $142 Bxe3+ 24. Kh1
Nb4 25. Ra1 {, although after} Bc5 26. Rxa3 Nxd5 27. Rd3 Ne7 {Black's material
advantage should be enough to win.}) 23... Nb4 24. Rc1 (24. Rd1 Ba7 25. Bc4 Nc2
26. Rd3 Bf5 27. Rc3 Nxe3 28. Rxe3 Bb1 29. d6 Kf8 30. d7 Bxe3+ 31. Kxe3 Ke7 $19)
24... a2 $1 25. Rxc8+ Kg7 26. Rc1 Nxd5 27. Rd1 Nxe3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bartel, Mateusz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 f5 {An ambitious setup. If White does not react in
the centre at an early stage, Black will get attacking chances on the kingside.
} 4. Bg2 ({The slightly sophisticated} 4. Nf3 {, planning d2-d4 followed by
the knight move to h4 is supposed to offer White better chances for taking
over the initiative.} Nf6 5. d4 e4 6. Nh4 {Gulko,B (2590)-Browne,W (2535) USA
1994 CBM 044 [Ftacnik] (1-0, 34)}) 4... Nf6 5. e3 {/\Nge2, d4} (5. d3 {is
considered ineffective after} Bb4 {Hickl,J (2602)-Prusikin,M (2504) Germany
2002 CBM 093 [Ribli] (1/2, 42)}) 5... d5 {The principled continuation. Black
takes advantage of the temporary weakness of the d3-square in order to gain
space in the centre.} 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. cxd5 Nb4 8. d3 Nxd5 9. Nf3 {
Traditionally, this position was considered as entirely viable for Black, but
after annotating this game I would state that White retains chances for slight
but enduring pressure, something typical of the English Opening.} Bb4+ {
Aiming at rapid development, but helping White to complete his, too.} (9... Bd6
10. O-O Nf6 11. Qb3 (11. e4 fxe4 12. dxe4 O-O 13. b4 {Kavalerov,A (2325)-Najer,
E (2495)/St Petersburg 1994/CBM 041/[Ribli] (1/2, 43)}) 11... Qe7 12. Nd2 (12.
e4 fxe4 13. dxe4 c6 14. Nh4 Be6 15. Qc2 O-O 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Bc5 18. Bg5
Bd4 19. Rae1 Qf7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. b4 Rac8 22. Rc1 c5 $132 {Thinius,M (2363)
-Erdos,V (2631)/Deizisau 2012/CBM 147 Extra (1/2, 24)}) 12... Rb8 13. Nc4 a6
14. Bd2 Be6 15. Qa4+ b5 16. Nxd6+ Qxd6 {Berkes,F (2606)-Medvegy,Z (2512)
Hungary 2008 (1/2, 20)} 17. Qc2 O-O 18. Rfc1 $14) 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qd6
12. O-O O-O {White is slightly ahead in development and it is his turn to move.
These circumstances make Black's space advantage a bit shaky.} 13. e4 $5 $146 {
A thematic way of fighting for the initiative, although the moves previously
tried look viable, too.} (13. Rac1 Be6 14. Ng5 c6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Rfe1 Rad8
17. Qa5 a6 18. e4 Ne7 19. exf5 Qxf5 20. Qc5 Nd5 21. Re4 Qg5 22. Rce1 $14 {
Lobron,E (2590)-Sokolov,I (2665)/Nussloch 1996/CBM 053 (1/2, 49)}) (13. Qa5 b6
14. Qb5 c5 15. Qc4 Be6 16. Ng5 Rad8 17. b4 $5 cxb4 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. a3 bxa3
20. Rxa3 Rf7 21. Rfa1 a5 22. Rb3 Rf6 23. Rb5 Nb4 24. Rxe5 Qxc4 25. dxc4 $13 {
Komljenovic,D (2425)-Psakhis,L (2565)/Benasque 1998/EXT 2002 (1/2, 45)}) (13.
Rfe1 Be6 {Mareco,S (2187)-Garcia,G (2453)/Buenos Aires 2005/CBM 107 ext (1/2,
21)} 14. e4 $5 $14) 13... Ne7 (13... fxe4 14. dxe4 Ne7 15. Qc3 (15. Qxd6 cxd6
16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Rfd1 Bg4 18. Rd3 Rac8 19. Rcc3 Rfd8 $11) 15... Nc6 16. Rad1
Qf6 17. Rd5 Re8 18. Rc5 $14) 14. d4 $5 {Once again the most straightforward
continuation.} (14. Qc3 $5 {also deserves attention:} Nc6 15. exf5 Bxf5 16.
Rfe1 Rae8 (16... Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Bxd3 18. Ng5 $36) 17. Re3 {[%cal Ga1e1] /\Rae1})
14... fxe4 {It is not easy to find the best way of releasing the tension.} (
14... Nc6 $5 15. dxe5 Qxd2 16. Nxd2 f4 $5 (16... Nxe5 17. f4 Nd3 18. e5 $14)
17. Rfc1 $1 {[%cal Gg2f1] For Black, it is not that easy to consolidate on the
dark squares with ...Nxe5 as he would like to.}) 15. Nxe5 (15. dxe5 Qxd2 16.
Nxd2 Ng6 $11) 15... Bf5 $6 {This practically loses a pawn, with only chances
to survive.} (15... Nf5 $5 16. Rad1 c5 17. Bxe4 Nxd4 18. f4 Bh3 19. Rfe1 Rad8 {
White's position looks a bit more active, but his king is insecure. For
instance:} 20. Qa5 Ne2+ 21. Kf2 $8 Nd4 $8 22. Qxa7 Kh8 $44 {/\...Qxe5, /\...g5}
) 16. Qc3 Rad8 17. Rac1 Nd5 (17... Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Rxd4 19. Rxc7 $16) 18. Qb3 Qb6
19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Rfe1 c6 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 $16 {White has won the weak
pawn, but the presence of the Isolani makes the technical process rather
difficult.} Nf6 23. Rf4 Rfe8 24. Kf1 Nd5 25. Rf3 Nb4 26. Rc4 Na6 ({The knight
would embark a dangerous adventure after} 26... Nxa2 27. Ra4 (27. Ra3 b5) 27...
Ra8 (27... Nc1 28. Rc3) 28. Rfa3 Rxa4 29. Rxa4 Nc1 30. f4 b5 31. Ra3 $16) 27.
Re3 b5 28. Rc1 Nb4 29. a3 Nd5 30. Re2 Nb6 31. b3 Rf8 32. Nd3 $1 {After having
restricted the enemy knight, White chooses the best plan: to exchange his weak
pawn for the b7-pawn.} Rxd4 33. Nc5 Rb8 34. Re7 Nd5 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. Nxb7 $18
{To the extra pawn, White has added the better structure and the possibility
of creating an outside passed pawn.} Ne7 37. Ke2 Rd7 38. Nc5 Ra7 39. Ra1 Nd5
40. Kd3 Nb6 41. Kd4 Kf7 42. f4 Ra8 43. Nb7 Nd7 44. a4 bxa4 45. bxa4 Kf6 46. a5
Kf5 47. h3 h5 48. Nd6+ Ke6 49. Ne4 Kf5 50. a6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 {No big theory today... Keine groЯe
Theorie heute...} Nc6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 (6... exd5 {is more common: ist
gelдufiger:} 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bg4 11. Bb2 Bd6 12. h3
Bh5 13. Be2 a6 14. Nh4 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 $14 {Kramnik-Polgar, Baku rapid 2010}) 7.
Bc4 (7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4 {is a tabiya. ist eine Tabiya.}) 7... cxd4 8. exd4 Be7
9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 {Here Georg was already on his own obviously, but managed
to find over the board a very interesting way of playing. Hier war Georg
offensichtlich bereits auf sich allein gestellt, schaffte es aber, am Brett
eine sehr interessante Spielweise zu finden.} Bf6 {Threatening ...Nb6, winning
a pawn. Droht ...Nb6, was einen Bauern gewinnt.} 11. Bb3 (11. Ne4 {is the main
theoretical continuation, but in general I believe White should try to put
pressure on Black's knight on d5 if he wants to fight for advantage in this
structure. ist die theoretische Hauptfortsetzung, aber generell glaube ich,
WeiЯ sollte versuchen, den schwarzen Springer auf d5 unter Druck zu setzen,
wenn er in dieser Struktur um Vorteil kдmpfen will.} b6 12. a3 Bb7 13. Qd3 Rc8
14. Bd2 Nce7 {with a very complicated position, but Black is perfectly fine in
my opinion. mit einer sehr komplizierten Stellung, aber Schwarz steht meines
Erachtens absolut ordentlich.}) 11... Nde7 {A new and very unusual way of
playing this type of position, but possibly the best, at least computer
programs give it their approval. Eine neue und sehr ungewцhnliche Weise,
diesen Stellungstyp zu behandeln, aber womцglich die beste, zumindest geben
ihr Computerprogramme ihre Zustimmung.} (11... Nce7 12. Ne5 $5) (11... b6 12.
Nxd5 exd5 13. Ne5 $14) 12. Bf4 $5 {I was not sure that this continuation is
entirely correct, but it seemed to me to be the only way to complicate matters
and to play for a win. White has some play for the pawn, but objectively Black
is fine, of course. Ich war nicht sicher, ob diese Fortsetzung vollauf korrekt
ist, aber sie schien mir der einzige Weg zu sein, die Dinge zu komplizieren
und auf Gewinn zu spielen. WeiЯ hat einiges Spiel fьr den Bauern, aber
objektiv steht Schwarz natьrlich ordentlich.} (12. Be3 {was "correct", but
leading to simplifications and very likely to a draw. war "korrekt", fьhrte
aber zu Vereinfachung und sehr wahrscheinlich zum Remis.} Nf5 13. d5 {There is
no decent way to protect this pawn. Es gibt keine ordentliche Mцglichkeit,
diesen Bauern zu decken.} Nxe3 14. Rxe3 exd5 $11) (12. Re4 {is too artificial
and just can't be right - ist zu kьnstlich und kann einfach nicht richtig sein
-} b6 $11) 12... Bxd4 {The simplest. Am einfachsten.} (12... Nxd4 {the
computer likes even more. gefдllt dem Computer sogar noch besser.} 13. Ne4 (13.
Nxd4 Bxd4 {and Black is not worse, at a minimum, although the position is
still very complicated. und Schwarz steht zumindest nicht schlechter, obwohl
die Stellung noch immer sehr kompliziert ist.} 14. Qf3 (14. Nb5 Bb6) (14. Bg5
f6) 14... Ng6 15. Bg3 Qf6) 13... Nxb3 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Qxb3 {is very unclear.
ist sehr unklar.}) 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bc4 {At least White has two bishops now.
Wenigstens hat WeiЯ jetzt die zwei Lдufer.} Nec6 {By far not the only move,
but the most "human". Bei weitem nicht der einzige Zug, aber der
"menschlichste".} 15. Rc1 {A good move, keeping the tension. Ein guter Zug,
die Spannung wird aufrechterhalten.} (15. Qh5 {was tempting, but I didn't like
it because of war verlockend, missfiel mir aber wegen} Qa5 $1 {and White has
to change queens. und WeiЯ muss die Damen tauschen.} 16. Qxa5 Nxa5 17. Bd3 Nac6
$11) 15... Qf6 16. Bc7 $1 (16. Bd6 Rd8 17. Ne4 Qg6) 16... e5 {My opponent,
being seriously behind on the clock, is trying to clarify the position. A very
logical and natural decision, but things are not so easy for Black here
suddenly. Mein Gegner, auf der Uhr ernstlich im Hintertreffen, versucht, die
Position zu klдren. Eine sehr logische und natьrliche Entscheidung, aber hier
ist die Sache fьr Schwarz plцtzlich nicht so einfach.} ({Probably it was
better to play Besser war wahrscheinlich} 16... Qe7 17. Bg3 Rd8 18. Qh5 Nf5 19.
Bf4 Bd7 {with an unclear complicated position, where Black is rather solid,
but White has his play for the pawn also. mit einer unklaren komplizierten
Stellung, wo Schwarz recht fest steht, aber auch WeiЯ sein Spiel fьr den
Bauern hat.}) 17. Nd5 Qg5 18. f4 $1 {Now it gets tactical, and you need to
calculate variations precisely. Nun wird es taktisch, und man muss Varianten
genau berechnen.} exf4 19. Bxf4 Qh4 (19... Qg4 20. Be3 {- a choice of the
computer - - eine Computerwahl -} (20. Bd6 $5) 20... Qxd1 21. Rexd1 Ne6 22. Bb5
{and White has more than enough play for the pawn. und WeiЯ hat mehr als genug
Spiel fьr den Bauern.}) (19... Qg6 {is not an option: ist keine Option:} 20.
Qxd4 $1 Nxd4 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Nxg6+ hxg6 23. Bd6 $16 Rd8 24. Be7) 20. Bg3 (20.
Re4 $5 {I was trying to make this work during the game but it is not clear:
Wдhrend der Partie versuchte ich, dies zum Funktionieren zu bringen, aber es
ist nicht klar:} Bg4 (20... Ne6 $13 21. g3 Qd8 22. Be3) 21. Qd2 (21. Bd6 $13)
21... Nf3+ $1 22. gxf3 Bxf3 {with a total mess, for instance mit totalem
Durcheinander, zum Beispiel} 23. Bd3 Qg4+ 24. Kf2 Qg2+ 25. Ke3 Qh3 $13) 20...
Qd8 $2 {The only mistake of my opponent in this game, but in such a sharp
position you pay the full price for it. Der einzige Fehler meines Gegners in
dieser Partie, aber in einer solchen scharfen Stellung zahlt man den vollen
Preis dafьr.} (20... Qg5 {was obligatory, with a very sharp play which seems
to end in a more or less equal position: war Pflicht, mit sehr scharfem Spiel,
welches in eine mehr oder weniger ausgeglichene Stellung zu mьnden scheint:}
21. Re4 $1 (21. Bf4 {White has a draw if he wants, of course. WeiЯ hat ein
natьrlich ein Remis, wenn er will.} Qh4) 21... Nf5 $1 (21... Bf5 22. Rxd4 Nxd4
23. Bf4 $1) 22. Rg4 $1 Qh6 $8 (22... Qd8 23. Bc7) 23. Bf4 Qe6 $8 24. Nc7 (24.
Qf1 $5 $13) 24... Qe4 $1 25. Nxa8 Ne3 26. Qf3 $1 Qxf3 27. gxf3 Nxc4 $1 28. Rg2
N4e5 29. Bxe5 Nxe5 {Not an easy line to calculate, I must admit. Ein nicht
leicht zu berechnendes Abspiel, muss ich zugeben.}) 21. Nc7 Rb8 22. Nb5 Ra8 23.
Bd6 $1 {That is what Georg has missed in his calculations. Now Black is in
trouble all of a sudden. Dies ist, was Georg in seinen Berechnungen ьbersehen
hatte. Urplцtzlich ist Schwarz in Schwierigkeiten.} Re8 {Not seeing a nice
combination which is winning by force. Anyway, there was nothing really
satisfactory for Black already. Ьbersieht eine schцne Kombination, die
forciert gewinnt. Allerdings gab es sowieso bereits nichts wirklich
Befriedigendes fьr Schwarz mehr.} (23... Nxb5 $142 {was more stubborn, but
White wins an exchange in all variations and later the game normally also: war
hartnдckiger, aber WeiЯ gewinnt in allen Varianten eine Qualitдt und spдter
normalerweise auch die Partie:} 24. Bxf8 Qb6+ 25. Kh1 Kxf8 26. Bxb5 Be6 (26...
Qxb5 $2 27. Qd6+) 27. Bxc6) 24. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 25. Qh5+ g6 26. Qxh7+ Kf6 27.
Nxd4 $1 {The best and the simplest. Das Besten und Einfachste.} Nxd4 (27...
Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxd6 29. Rf1+ (29. Qh8+ {also wins - gewinnt auch -} Kf7 30.
Nxc6) 29... Ke5 (29... Bf5 30. Nxf5 Qc5+ 31. Ne3+) 30. Nf3+ Kd5 31. Rd1+ Kc5
32. Rxd6) 28. Qh4+ Kf7 29. Rc7+ (29. Qxd4 {is also winning, of course, but the
text is more precise. gewinnt ebenfalls, natьrlich, aber der Text ist genauer.}
) 29... Bd7 (29... Qxc7 30. Qh7+ Kf6 31. Rf1+ Bf5 32. Bxc7) 30. Qh7+ Kf6 31.
Rf1+ Ke6 {A generous gesture from my opponent :) Eine groЯzьgige Geste von
meinem Gegner :)} (31... Nf5 32. Rxd7 Qb6+ 33. Kh1) 32. Qxg6+ Kd5 33. Rc5# 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.03"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 7. Bd3 g6 {
This is a new plan. Dies ist ein neuer Plan.} (7... Bg4 {is much more common:
ist viel gelдufiger:} 8. Nge2 e6) 8. h3 {This prevents ...Bg4 and ...Nh5 ideas.
Dies verhindert ...Bg4- und ...Nh5-Ideen.} (8. Nf3 Nh5 (8... Bg4) 9. Bg5 h6 10.
Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 (11. Nd2 Nf4 12. exf4 gxh4) 11... Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7) 8... Bf5 {
That is the idea of the previous move, otherwise White is better. Dies ist die
Idee des vorigen Zuges, ansonsten steht WeiЯ besser.} (8... Bg7 9. Nf3 {
with a pleasant advantage. mit angenehmem Vorteil.}) 9. Nf3 (9. Bxf5 gxf5 {
Here Black can get some counterplay on the g-file. Hier kann Schwarz einiges
Gegenspiel in der g-Linie erlangen.} 10. Nf3 e6 11. Rc1 Rg8) 9... Bxd3 10. Qxd3
Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfc1 {White has a small plus due to his more active pieces.
WeiЯ hat ein kleines Plus aufgrund seiner aktiveren Figuren.} e6 13. Na4 Ne4
14. Nc5 {In time before Black gets counterplay on the kingside. Rechtzeitig,
bevor Schwarz Gegenspiel am Kцnigsflьgel bekommt.} (14. a3 g5 15. Bh2 f5 $132
16. Nc5 Qe7) 14... Nxc5 15. Rxc5 Qd7 (15... f6 {was an interesting defensive
idea, followed by ...Rf7 and ...Bf8. war eine interessante Verteidigungsidee,
gefolgt von ...Rf7 und ...Bf8.}) 16. Rac1 Rfc8 17. a3 Bf8 18. R5c2 f6 (18...
Bd6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Qb3 $1 Qd7 21. Qb6 $14) 19. Nd2 Bd6 $2 {A serious
mistake. Ein ernster Fehler.} (19... Na7 $1 {is a very precise defensive move
which seems to equalise: ist ein sehr prдziser Verteidigungszug, welcher
auszugleichen scheint:} 20. Rc7 Qd8 {and all tactics work for Black here: und
die Taktik funktioniert hier fьr Schwarz:} 21. Nb3 Rxc7 22. Rxc7 $2 (22. Bxc7
Qd7 {is just equal. ist einfach ausgeglichen.}) 22... e5 $1 23. Rxb7 exf4 24.
Qxa6 Qc8 $1) 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Nb3 {Now Black is under serious pressure
already. Nun steht Schwarz bereits unter ernstem Druck.} Rc7 $2 (21... b6 {
was needed, although still after the accurate war erforderlich, obwohl nach
dem genauen} 22. Nd2 $1 Qd7 23. Qb3 b5 24. Qc3 Ne7 25. Qa5 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Qd8
27. Qb4 {White has a serious positional advantage. WeiЯ trotzdem ernsten
positionellen Vorteil hat.}) 22. Na5 $1 {Strangely enough there is no adequate
defence anymore for Black after the following combination. Seltsamerweise gibt
es nach der folgenden Kombination bereits keine ausreichende Verteidigung mehr
fьr Schwarz.} (22. Nc5 {keeps a pleasant advantage, of course, but the text is
even stronger. behauptet einen angenehmen Vorteil, versteht sich, aber der
Text ist sogar noch stдrker.}) 22... Rac8 23. Nxb7 $1 Rxb7 24. Qxa6 Rbc7 {
Only move. Einziger Zug.} 25. b4 Qd7 {Only move again. Wieder einziger Zug.}
26. Qb6 $1 {The point of the combination. Der Clou der Kombination.} (26. b5 {
After this natural move Black still can hold: Nach diesem natьrlichen Zug kann
sich Schwarz doch noch halten:} Ne7 $1 (26... Nd8 27. Qxc8 $1 Rxc8 28. Rxc8 {
winning und gewinnt.}) 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rxc7 Qxc7 29. Qxe6+ Kf8 30. Qxf6+ Ke8
31. a4 Qa5 {and it is not certain that White will manage to convert his
advantage. und es ist nicht sicher, dass WeiЯ es schaffen wird, seinen Vorteil
zu verwerten.}) 26... Qe8 {Desperation, but other moves do not work either.
Verzweiflung, aber andere Zьge funktionieren ebenfalls nicht.} (26... Rb7 27.
Rxc6 $1 Rxb6 28. Rxc8+ Kf7 29. R8c7 $18) (26... Kf7 27. b5 Rb7 28. Qxc6 $1 $18)
(26... Rb8 27. Qxb8+ Nxb8 28. Rxc7 Qb5 29. R1c5 Qb6 30. Re7 (30. b5 $18) 30...
Kf8 31. Rcc7 $18) 27. b5 $1 {The simplest, falling into the trap :) Am
einfachsten, man tappt in die Falle :)} Nxd4 {The point of ...Qe8. Die Pointe
von ...Qe8.} 28. Rxc7 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nxc1 {It seems that Black managed to trick
his opponent, but the 31st move of White clarifies matters. Es scheint, als
hдtte Schwarz es geschafft, seinen Gegner reinzulegen, aber der 31. Zug von
WeiЯ macht die Sache klar.} 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Qc6 Qd8 (31... Qb8 32. b6 Nd3 33.
Qc7 $18) (31... Qxc6 32. bxc6 {queening. mit Umwandlung.}) 32. b6 Kf7 (32...
Nd3 33. Qc7 Nxf2+ 34. Kg1 Qf8 35. b7 $18) 33. Qc7+ (33. b7 $18) 33... Ke8 34.
Qa7 d4 35. b7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.09"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3
Ne4 9. e3 Nc6 (9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nc6 12. Bd3 Qe7 13. Be4 Bb7
14. Bxc6 dxc6 15. a4 cxd4 16. cxd4 c5 17. a5 $14 {1/2 Bocharov,D (2574)
-Alekseev,E (2625)/Biel 2005/CBM 107 ext (70)}) (9... cxd4 $5 10. exd4 (10.
Nxd4 Na6 11. Ndb5 Qf6 $132) 10... Nc6 11. Qc2 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Ba6
14. Rh5 Qf6 15. Bd3 Rc8 16. Nd2 d5 {1/2 Malaniuk,V (2523)-Khairullin,I (2606)/
Brescia 2009/EXT 2010}) (9... Bb7 10. Bd3 Bxc3+ (10... Nxg3 11. hxg3 g4 12. Ne5
d6 13. Nxg4 Bxg2 14. Rh2 Bf3 15. Be2 Bxg4 16. Bxg4 Nc6 17. Bf3 Qd7 18. O-O-O
$16 {1/2 Van Wely,L (2681)-Polgar,J (2707)/Wijk aan Zee 2008/CBM 122 (37)}) 11.
bxc3 Nxg3 (11... h5 12. Be5 Rg8 13. d5 f5 14. h4 d6 15. Bh2 gxh4 16. Bxe4 fxe4
17. Nd2 $14 {1-0 Halkias,S (2579)-Ilandzis,S (2196)/Kallithea 2008/CBM 125
Extra (33)}) 12. hxg3 (12. fxg3 $6 g4 13. Nh4 Qg5 14. Kf2 Nc6 15. Rhe1 O-O-O
16. Kg1 Kb8 17. a4 Rc8 18. Qa2 Na5 $15 {0-1 Vigh,B (2378)-Farago,I (2486)/
Hungary 2001/EXT 2009 (47)}) 12... d6 13. d5 Nd7 14. a4 g4 15. Nd2 Qg5 16. e4
Rb8 17. a5 bxa5 18. Qa4 Qe5 19. Qxa5 exd5 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. O-O Be6 $11 {
1/2 Ronczkowski,M (2284)-Bellmann,H (2299)/corr 2001/Telechess 86/[Bellmann] 
(32)}) 10. Bd3 (10. Qc2 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Qf6 13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Be2
Bb7 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. Ne4 Qe5 17. Rd1 Nb4 18. cxb4 Bxe4 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. f4 {
1/2 Schenk,A (2455)-Bar,R (2412)/Athens 2001/EXT 2002}) (10. d5 Na5 11. Qc2
Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Ba6 14. dxe6 dxe6 15. Qe4 {1-0 Estremera Panos,S 
(2364)-Tebar Moreno,J (2182)/Barcelona 2000/CBM 077 ext (63)} Ke7 $11) 10...
Bxc3+ $146 (10... Na5 11. Qc2 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Ba6 14. O-O d6 15.
Nd2 O-O 16. g4 Bb7 17. Rf2 cxd4 18. exd4 Qe7 19. Nf1 Rac8 20. Ng3 Nxc4 21. Qe2
b5 22. Raf1 $40 {1-0 Nemet,I (2422)-Farago,I (2467)/Basel 2000/CBM 074 ext (32)
}) 11. bxc3 Nxg3 12. fxg3 $6 (12. hxg3 $11) 12... Qe7 $6 (12... g4 13. Nd2 Qg5
{with an excellent position for Black.}) 13. O-O Bb7 14. Rae1 O-O-O 15. Be4 f6
$6 (15... d6 $6 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. d5) (15... Na5 $1 $11 {E.Gleizerov}) 16. Bxc6
$1 {As you see from the games quoted above, this exchange is very typical in
this system.} dxc6 {[%csl Rb7]} (16... Bxc6 17. d5 Bb7 (17... exd5 18. cxd5 {
That's why 14.Rae1 - the e3-pawn is protected!}) 18. a4 $40) 17. a4 cxd4 18.
exd4 c5 19. a5 (19. d5 Rd6 20. Nd2 f5 $1 21. Qc2 $1 (21. Rxf5 Qd7 22. Rfe5 exd5
{E.Gleizerov}) 21... Qg7 22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Qxf5 Rhe8 24. dxe6 Qxc3 $13) 19...
Qd6 20. axb6 axb6 21. Rf2 Rhe8 22. Rd2 e5 $2 {[%mdl 16384]} (22... h5 $1 $132)
23. d5 {Totally killing the b7-bishop.} e4 24. Rde2 f5 25. g4 $1 fxg4 26. Nd2
e3 27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. Rxe3 Kc7 $2 (28... h5 {still required good technique from
White, which probably started with} 29. Qb1 $1 {[%cal Re3e6]} (29. Re6 $143 Qf4
) 29... Qf6 30. Ne4 Qg6 31. Qf1 {[%cal Ye4f6]}) 29. Re6 Qxe6 30. dxe6 Rxd2 {
Black's hopes are vain: White's e6-pawn easily decides the game due to his
next move.} 31. Qb1 $1 Rxg2+ 32. Kf1 Rxh2 33. Qh7+ Kb8 34. e7 Bc6 35. Qg8+ Kb7
36. Qf7 Rh1+ 37. Ke2 Rh2+ 38. Ke1 Rh1+ 39. Kd2 Rh2+ 40. Kc1 Ka6 41. e8=Q Bxe8
42. Qxe8 1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d6 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Be6 7. Nd5 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nec3 Nb4 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. d3 d5 12. a3 dxc4 13. axb4 cxb4 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bg2 Rfd8 17. d4 a5 18. Qe2 e4 19. f3 Bd5 20. fxe4 fxe4 21. Rf5
Qd7 22. Re5 Re8 23. Bh3 Qc6 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Bd2 Qe7 26. Qh5 Qd8 27. Rf1 g6
28. Qe5 Ra6 29. Bd7 Bf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 31. Bb5 Rf6 32. Bxc4+ Kg7 33. Qxe4 Qc7
34. Qd5 Rf8 35. e4 b5 36. Qxb5 Qd6 37. Qb7+ Kh8 38. Qa7 g5 39. Bxg5 Qc6 40. Qe7
1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "174"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qe2 d6 7. g3 Be7 8.
Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. c4 Nd7 11. Be3 Bf6 12. Qc2 Ne5 13. Nd2 Ng4 14. Rae1 Rb8
15. b3 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 c5 17. h3 a5 18. Kh2 a4 19. f4 Bd4 20. Re2 g6 21. Nf3 axb3
22. axb3 Bg7 23. Rd1 Rb6 24. e5 Bb7 25. Rdd2 Qa8 26. exd6 Rxe2 27. Rxe2 Rxd6
28. Ne5 Bxg2 29. Rxg2 Bxe5 30. fxe5 Re6 31. Re2 Qf3 32. Qd2 Qxb3 33. Qd8+ Kg7
34. Qxc7 Qf3 35. Rg2 Qe3 36. Qa7 h5 37. h4 Rxe5 38. Qa1 Kh7 39. Qb2 Rf5 40. Re2
Qf3 41. Qc2 Qf1 42. Qd2 Rf6 43. Qc2 Rf3 44. Qb2 Rf5 45. Qc2 Rf6 46. Rd2 Kg7 47.
Qc3 Kh7 48. Qc2 Qa1 49. Rf2 Kg7 50. Rxf6 Qxf6 51. Qe2 Qd4 52. Kg2 Kf8 53. Kh2
Qg4 54. Qd3 Ke7 55. Qe3+ Kd6 56. Qd3+ Qd4 57. Qe2 Qe5 58. Qd3+ Ke6 59. Kg2 g5
60. hxg5 Qxg5 61. Qe4+ Qe5 62. Qc6+ Ke7 63. Qb7+ Kf8 64. Qa8+ Kg7 65. Qf3 Kg6
66. Qd3+ Qf5 67. Qd6+ f6 68. Qe7 Qc2+ 69. Kh3 Qxc4 70. Qe8+ Qf7 71. Qe4+ Kg7
72. Qf5 c4 73. Kg2 Qb7+ 74. Kh2 Qb2+ 75. Kh3 Qe5 76. Qc8 c3 77. Qc4 Qe1 78.
Qc7+ Kg6 79. Qc6 Qf1+ 80. Kh4 Qe2 81. Kh3 c2 82. g4 Qe3+ 83. Kh4 Qg5+ 84. Kg3
Qxg4+ 85. Kf2 Qf4+ 86. Kg2 c1=Q 87. Qe8+ Kg5 0-1

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "McShane, Luke J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. g3 dxc4 6. a4 e6 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nbd7 10. Nc2 Qc7 (10... Bc5 {was played against me by Karjakin in
a blitz tournament in Moscow 2009, but after wurde von Karjakin gegen mich in
einem Blitzturnier in Moskau 2009 gespielt, aber nach} 11. Ne3 Ne5 12. Qxd8+
Kxd8 13. a5 Rb8 14. Na4 Bb4 15. f4 Neg4 16. Nxc4 Bd7 17. h3 Bb5 18. b3 Nh6 19.
g4 {I quickly achieved a winning position. erreichte ich schnell eine
Gewinnstellung.}) 11. Bf4 $146 {An interesting, although far from clear,
continuation, which I analysed a long time ago. I could not remember clearly
the lines, but decided to try it anyway. Eine interessante, wenngleich
keineswegs klare Fortsetzung, die ich vor langer Zeit analysiert hatte. Ich
konnte mich nicht klar an die Varianten erinnern, beschloss aber, es trotzdem
zu versuchen.} (11. Qd4 {was played by me more than fifteen years ago(!) in my
game against Boris Gelfand, Linares 1997. wurde von mir vor mehr als fьnfzehn
Jahren (!) gespielt, in meiner Partie gegen Boris Gelfand, Linares 1997.} Bc5
$1 12. Qh4 Be7 $1 13. Na3 Ne5 {and Boris managed to equalise. und Boris gelang
es auszugleichen.}) 11... e5 (11... Qc5 $143 12. Rc1 Be7 13. Ne3) 12. Bd2 {
The point, now White wants to play Ne3 and Nd5 and Black has to react; the
game becomes very sharp. Die Pointe, jetzt will WeiЯ Ne3 und Nd5 spielen, und
Schwarz muss reagieren; das Spiel wird sehr scharf.} (12. Bg5 $143 h6) 12...
Nc5 (12... Bc5 $143 13. Ne3 Bxe3 (13... O-O 14. Rc1 Rb8 15. Ncd5) 14. Bxe3 O-O
15. a5 {und WeiЯ hat offensichtlich Vorteil.}) 13. Bg5 Be6 (13... Nb3 {was a
serious alternative and possibly more precise: war eine ernste Alternative und
eventuell genauer:} 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. a5 {The most interesting
move here in my opinion. Meines Erachtens der interessanteste Zug hier.} (16.
Rb1 Be6 17. Nce3 Rc8) (16. Ra2 Be6 17. a5 Bc5) 16... Nxa1 17. Qxa1 {White
definitely has play for the exchange, but the position is very unclear. WeiЯ
hat definitiv Spiel fьr die Qualitдt, aber die Stellung ist sehr unklar.} Bc5
18. Rd1 $13) 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nce3 (16. a5 {is safer, but looks
rather equal after ist sicherer, sieht aber ziemlich ausgeglichen aus nach} Nb3
17. Ra4 Nxa5 18. Nce3 Bh6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Rxc4 O-O 21. Rc3 Rc8 $11) 16... Nb3
17. a5 $1 {A risky, but logical sac. Now Luke spent almost an hour on his next
move and still did not choose the best one. I have to say that the position is
very complicated and difficult to play. Ein riskantes, aber logisches Opfer.
Nun verbrauchte Luke fast eine Stunde fьr seinen nдchsten Zug und wдhlte
dennoch nicht den besten. Dazu muss ich sagen, dass die Stellung sehr
kompliziert und schwer zu spielen ist.} Rc8 (17... Nxa1 18. Qa4+ $1 {that is
the point Das ist die Pointe.} Bd7 19. Qxa1 Bc5 20. Nxc4 {and White's
initiative is very powerful here, for example und die Initiative von WeiЯ ist
hier sehr kraftvoll, zum Beispiel} Be6 21. Rd1 Rb8 22. Qc1 Bd4 23. Ncb6 $36) (
17... Bh6 {doesn't help either: hilft ebenfalls nicht:} 18. Nxc4 Nxa1 19. Ncb6
$16 Rb8 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21. Rxa1 Kg7 22. Rd1 Qe8 23. Qh4 Bg5 24. Qh5 {and I
wouldn't like to be Black here obviously. , und ich wдre hier bestimmt nicht
gerne Schwarz.}) (17... Bc5 $142 $1 18. Ra4 {I would definitely prefer White
here, but Black can resist: Ich wьrde hier definitiv WeiЯ vorziehen, aber
Schwarz kann sich wehren:} Nxa5 $1 (18... Rc8 19. Nxc4 Nd4 20. Nc3 Ba7 21. b3)
19. Nxc4 (19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Rxa5 Rd8 21. Qc2) (19. Qc1 $5) 19... Nc6 {and
although there is a lot of play for White, things are not totaly clear. The
following line is best, according to the computers, and at the end White has a
serious initiative in a messy position. , und obwohl es eine Menge Spiel fьr
WeiЯ gibt, ist die Sache nicht absolut klar. Die folgende Variante ist, laut
den Computern, am besten, und am Ende hat WeiЯ eine ernste Initiative in einer
chaotischen Stellung.} (19... Nxc4 20. Rxc4 Rc8 21. Qc2 Bxd5 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23.
Qxc5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 {looks unpleasant sieht unangenehm aus.}) 20. e3 Rc8 21. Qh5
Bxd5 22. Rd1 Bd4 23. exd4 Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Nxd4 25. Bd5 Rc7 26. Rcxd4 $1 exd4 27.
Rxd4 Qd7 28. Kg2 h6 29. Qf3) 18. Ra4 Nd4 (18... Nxa5 {is much less efficient
already ist bereits weit weniger wirksam:} 19. Nxf6+ (19. Rxa5 $5 Qxa5 20.
Nxf6+ Ke7 21. Ned5+ Kd8) 19... Qxf6 20. Rxa5 e4 21. Qc2 {White is better here
clearly WeiЯ steht hier klar besser.} Bg7 22. Rb1 c3 23. bxc3) (18... Bc5 19.
Nxc4 $16) 19. Nb6 Rc7 20. Rxc4 {This strong move was admittedly underestimated
by my opponent. Diesen starken Zug wurde von meinem Gegner zugegebenerweise
unterschдtzt.} (20. Nexc4 Bg4 $13) 20... Bxc4 (20... Bc5 21. Nbd5 Rc8 22. Qd3)
21. Nexc4 $16 Nb5 {Probably not the best, although there is no good advice one
can give. Wahrscheinlich nicht am besten, wenngleich guter Rat teuer ist.} (
21... Bc5 22. e3 Bxb6 23. Nxb6 $16) (21... Be7 22. e3 Ne6 23. Qa4+ Kf8 24. Nd5
$16) 22. Qb1 {Computers prefer Qa4, but I like to put my queen on f5. Die
Computer bevorzugen Qa4, aber ich stelle meine Dame gerne nach f5.} Qd4 23. Rd1
Qc5 24. e3 (24. Ne3 {Again, computers prefer this direct approach, but e3
looks very human, just stopping Black's only active idea ...Nd4 and White
slowly starts to improve his position: Erneut bevorzugen die Computer diese
direkte Herangehensweise, aber e3 sieht sehr menschlich aus, es wird einfach
die einzige aktive schwarze Idee ...Nd4 verhindert, und WeiЯ geht langsam
daran, seine Stellung zu verbessern:} Nd4 25. Ned5 Nxe2+ 26. Kf1 $18) 24... Be7
{Black has no moves practically, so from now on White just have to choose
which of many attractive possibilities to play. Schwarz hat praktisch keine
Zьge, daher muss sich WeiЯ von jetzt an lediglich aussuchen, welche von vielen
attraktiven Mцglichkeiten er spielen will.} 25. Qf5 Kf8 26. Bd5 Kg7 27. Qg4+
Kh6 28. e4 {Playing for direct mate, although Bxf7 was good as well. Spielt
auf direktes Matt, wobei Bxf7 ebenfalls gut war.} Nd4 29. Ne3 {I was already
looking for mate, not paying too much attention to the other side of the board,
but in fact our silicon friend (enemy?) discovers a very nice geometrical
motif instead: Ich suchte bereits nach dem Matt und zollte daher der anderen
Brettseite nicht viel Aufmerksamkeit, unser Silikon-Freund (Feind?) jedoch
entdeckt stattdessen ein sehr schцnes geometrisches Motiv:} (29. b4 $1 Qxb4 30.
Rxd4 exd4 31. Qf4+ Kg7 32. Qxc7 {winning. mit Gewinn.}) 29... f5 {Here I took
time to calculate variations and actually saw the whole line which happened in
the game, including Qg4, which clarifies matters completely. I must admit, my
opponent has only moves all the time, so it was not very difficult. Hier lieЯ
ich mir Zeit, die Varianten zu berechnen, und sah tatsдchlich das ganze
Abspiel, zu dem es in der Partie kam, einschlieЯlich Qg4, was die Sache
endgьltig klдrt. Ich muss zugeben, mein Gegner hat die ganze Zeit einzige Zьge,
sehr schwer war es daher nicht.} 30. Qh3+ Kg7 31. Rxd4 $1 exd4 32. Nxf5+ Kf8
33. Qh6+ Ke8 34. Bxf7+ Kd8 (34... Kxf7 35. Qg7+ $18) 35. Qg7 Rf8 36. Nxd4 (36.
Nd5 {is good enough as well. ist ebenfalls gut genug.}) 36... Rc6 (36... Rxf7
37. Qxf7 Qxd4 38. Qg8+ Bf8 39. Qxf8#) 37. Nxc6+ bxc6 (37... Qxc6 38. Qxh7 Bf6
39. Nd5 $18) 38. Qg4 $1 Kc7 {Otherwise White mates on d7 or c8.  Ansonsten
setzt WeiЯ auf d7 oder c8 matt.} 39. Qd7+ Kb8 40. Qd2 {Pure stupidity. Seeing
that Luke had 15 seconds left for his last move, I decided instead of the
planned Kg2 to play something unexpected, hoping to win on time. Reine
Dummheit. Sehend, dass Luke 15 Sekunden fьr seinen letzten Zug hatte,
beschloss ich, statt des geplanten Kg2 etwas Unerwartetes zu spielen - in der
Hoffnung, auf Zeit zu gewinnen.} Kc7 (40... Bg5 $1 {was an incredible tricky
move, which would not save the game, but at least prolong it. Well, I am not
sure anyone would find it with just seconds on his clock. war ein unglaublich
trickreicher Zug, der die Partie zwar nicht retten, aber zumindest verlдngern
wьrde. Nun, ich bin nicht sicher, dass ihn mit nur Sekunden auf seiner Uhr
jeder finden wьrde.} 41. Nd7+ Kc8 $1 42. Qd1 {The simplest Am einfachsten.} Rd8
43. Qg4 $1 Qe7 (43... Rxd7 44. Be6) 44. Nf6+ Kb7 45. Qxg5 Qxf7 46. e5 {easily
winning. mit leichtem Gewinn.}) 41. Qd7+ Kb8 42. Kg2 {No more cheap tricks :)
Keine billigen Tricks mehr :)} Bd6 {It is completely lost anyway, White has a
material advantage and an attack in addition. Es ist sowieso komplett verloren,
WeiЯ hat Materialvorteil und obendrein noch Angriff.} (42... Rd8 43. Qxd8+ Bxd8
44. Nd7+ Ka7 45. Nxc5 $18) (42... Rxf7 43. Qc8+ Ka7 44. Qc7#) 43. b4 Qd4 44.
Qxc6 {The rest is simple and easy. White has a number of wins on every next
move. Usually I am quite strong when I am five pawns up :) Der Rest ist
einfach. WeiЯ hat bei jedem der nдchsten Zьge eine Reihe von
Gewinnmцglichkeiten. Gewцhnlich bin ich recht stark, wenn ich fьnf Bauern mehr
habe :)} Ka7 45. Kh3 Qd1 46. Nc8+ Rxc8 47. Qxc8 Qf1+ 48. Kg4 h5+ 49. Kxh5 {
I was slightly worried about blundering some stalemate, but there is nothing
he can do about his bishop fortunately :) Ich war leicht besorgt, noch
irgendein Patt zu ьbersehen, aber zum Glьck kann er ja mit seinem Lдufer
nichts machen :)} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb2 e6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 b6
9. Nc3 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. d4 Ne4 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 bxc5 14. Qe2 Re8 15.
Rfd1 Bf8 16. Qb5 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Rxd5 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 cxd4 21.
Bxd4 Ra5 22. e4 Bc5 23. Bc3 Ra3 24. Bb2 Ra7 25. a4 Rc7 26. Ra2 h6 27. Kg2 Kh7
28. f4 f6 29. Kf3 Rd7 30. a5 bxa5 31. Rxa5 Rc8 32. Rb5 Rd6 33. Rb7 Rb6 34. Rf7
Rf8 35. Rc7 Bd6 36. Rd7 Ra6 37. Bd4 Bb8 38. Bc5 Re8 39. Kg4 Ra2 40. h4 Rc8 41.
b4 Ra3 42. h5 Rc3 43. Bd4 R3c7 44. Rxc7 Bxc7 45. Kf5 Bd6 46. b5 Rc1 47. b6 Bb8
48. Ke6 Rh1 49. Bc5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 Be6 9. d3 O-O 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Bd6 13. Rac1 Kh8 14. Rfe1 a6
15. Ng5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qe7 17. Qh4 h6 18. Nf3 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Ne7 20. Bc5 Rac8 21.
b4 b6 22. Be3 f5 23. Bd2 Kh7 24. f4 exf4 25. gxf4 Nd5 26. Kf3 Be7 27. Ng2 g5
28. Rc6 g4+ 29. Kg3 Nf6 30. Bc3 Nh5+ 31. Kf2 Bd6 32. e3 Rce8 33. Bd4 Re6 34.
Rec1 Rf7 35. Nh4 Re8 36. R1c2 Rg8 37. Be5 Bxe5 38. fxe5 f4 39. Rxc7 g3+ 40.
hxg3 fxe3+ 41. Kxe3 Rxg3+ 42. Ke4 Rg4+ 43. Kd5 Nf4+ 44. Kd6 Rxc7 45. Rxc7+ Kg8
46. Nf5 Rg6+ 47. Kd7 Kh8 48. Rc8+ Kh7 49. Rf8 Nxd3 50. e6 Ne5+ 51. Kd6 Nc4+ 52.
Kd5 Nxa3 53. Rf7+ 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
d3 O-O 9. a3 Be6 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Bd6 13. Rac1 a6 14. Nd2 Bxg2
15. Kxg2 Qd7 16. Ne4 Kh8 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Rxc5 f5 19. f3 Rae8 20. Qc4 Re6 21.
Rc1 h6 22. Qb3 Qc8 23. Qd5 Rd6 24. Qc4 Qe8 25. b4 f4 26. Bf2 Rd7 27. Qe4 Qf7
28. b5 axb5 29. Rxb5 Nd4 30. Rxe5 Nb3 31. Rc2 b6 32. Qc4 Qxc4 33. Rxc4 fxg3 34.
hxg3 Na5 35. Rc3 Nb7 36. Re6 Nd6 37. g4 Ra8 38. Re5 Nf7 39. Rf5 Kg8 40. d4 Ra4
41. e4 Nd8 42. d5 Nf7 43. Bg3 Ra7 44. Bf4 Nd8 45. Kg3 Nf7 46. e5 Rxd5 47. e6
Rxf5 48. gxf5 Nd6 49. Bxd6 cxd6 50. Rc8+ Kh7 51. Rd8 b5 52. f6 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. d4 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
h3 Re8 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Re1 Nf8 11. Bg5 Be6 12. Qd2 Ng6 13. d5 Bd7 14. Bf1 h6
15. Be3 c5 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Bd4 Be6 18. Bd3 Nf8 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 d5 21.
Bd3 c5 22. Be5 Qb6 23. c3 a5 24. b3 Red8 25. Rab1 Nd7 26. Bf4 Bf8 27. Ne5 Nf6
28. Qe2 Rac8 29. Qf3 Qa7 30. Bxh6 c4 31. Bf1 cxb3 32. axb3 d4 33. c4 Qa8 34.
Qxa8 Rxa8 35. Bg5 Bb4 36. Red1 Rac8 37. Nf3 Bc3 38. Bd3 Rc5 39. Bd2 Rb8 40.
Bxc3 dxc3 41. Rdc1 a4 42. Rxc3 Nd5 43. Rcc1 Nf4 44. Bf1 axb3 45. Rxb3 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5 Rd8 {
This position used to be very popular some 10 years ago, after my match with
Kasparov in 2000. Die Stellung war vor etwa 10 Jahr populдr, nach meinem Match
mit Kasparov im Jahr 2000.} 14. Kc2 {A new idea, which I had been studying
already more than 10 years ago, but for some reason decided to play it only
much later. There were a lot of games played with 14.Ke1, but it seems that,
according to modern theory, Black finally managed to find a way to equalise.
Eine neue Idee, die ich bereits vor mehr als 10 Jahren studiert hatte, aber
aus irgendeinem Grund beschloss, sie erst viel spдter zu spielen. Es gab eine
Menge Partien mit 14.Ke1, es scheint aber, laut moderner Theorie, dass es
Schwarz endlich gelungen ist, einen Weg zum Ausgleich zu finden.} (14. Ke1 {
Here are my games played with this move, all of the them played just after the
above mentioned match in the first half of 2001. Hier sind meine Partien mit
diesem Zug, sie alle wurden direkt nach dem erwдhnten Match in der ersten
Hдlfte des Jahres 2001 gespielt.} Na5 (14... Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. f4 Bd6 17.
Kf2 e5 18. Bc5 Bxc5+ 19. Rxc5 exf4 20. Kf3 Bd7 21. Bd3 Rac8 22. Rhc1 g5 23. Rc7
Rxc7 24. Rxc7 Ba4 25. Kg4 h6 26. Rxb7 Rd7 27. Rb4 Bd1+ 28. Kf5 Kg7 29. h4 f6
30. hxg5 hxg5 31. e5 fxe5 32. Kxe5 f3 33. gxf3 Bxf3 34. d6 Rd8 35. Bf5 Bc6 36.
d7 Rf8 37. Rd4 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2743)/Budapest 2001/CBM 081/
[Krasenkow]}) 15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 18. Rxc8+ (18. Be3 exd5 19.
exd5 b6 20. Ba6 Rd8 21. Rhd1 Bc8 22. Bxc8 Raxc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nd4 Bf8 25.
Nb5 a6 26. d6 Rc2+ 27. Kd3 Rxa2 28. d7 Nb7 29. Nc3 Rb2 30. Nd5 Rb5 31. Kc2 Bc5
32. Bh6 f6 33. Nc7 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2772)-Van Wely,L (2700)/Wijk aan Zee 2001/
CBM 081/[Krasenkow]}) 18... Rxc8 19. Rc1 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 exd5 21. exd5 b5 22. Bf4
Nc4 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Be5 Bf8 25. Nd2 Bb5 26. Ne4 f5 27. Nc3 Bd7 28. Ke3 Bc5+
29. Bd4 Bb4 30. Be5 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2797)-Kasparov,G (2827)/Astana 2001/
CBM 084/[Krasenkow]}) 14... Ne5 {After a period of deep thought Peter chooses
a safe, but slightly passive option. Nach einigem tiefen Nachdenken wдhlt
Peter eine sichere, aber leicht passive Option.} (14... Na5 {is much more
principled, but I guess my opponent wanted to avoid sharp lines, knowing that
I had studied them with the computer engines. Here is the only game played
with 14.Kc2 before (no doubt, there will be quite a few after), but White's
play was rather weak there. I believe I would have done better. ist viel
prinzipieller, aber ich schдtze, mein Gegner wollte scharfe Abspiele vermeiden
in dem Wissen, dass ich sie mit den Computerengines analysiert hatte. Hier ist
die einzige zuvor mit 14.Kc2 gespielte Partie (zweifellos wird es danach eine
ganze Reihe geben), allerdings war das Spiel von WeiЯ dort recht schwach. Ich
glaube, ich hдtte es besser gemacht.} 15. Nd2 Bd7 16. Kb1 e6 17. Nc4 b6 18. Bg5
f6 19. Bf4 exd5 20. Nxa5 bxa5 21. exd5 Bf5+ 22. Kb2 Be4 23. Rc5 f5+ 24. Kb3
Rdc8 25. Bc7 Bd4 26. Rc1 Bxd5+ 27. Bc4 Rab8+ 28. Bxb8 Rxb8+ 29. Ka3 Bc5+ 30.
Ka4 Rb4+ 31. Kxa5 Rxc4 32. Kb5 Rxc1 33. Rxc1 Bxf2 34. Rc2 Be3 35. a4 f4 36. a5
Be4 37. Rb2 Kg7 38. Kc4 Kf6 39. a6 h5 {0-1 Heinig,W (2365)-Gauglitz,G (2235)/
Fuerstenwalde 1981/MCD}) 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bc4 {White has a small but lasting
advantage now, but Black's position is very solid, with good drawing chances.
Actually the position is quite similar to my game with Leko, shown above. WeiЯ
hat jetzt einen kleinen, aber dauerhaften Vorteil, allerdings ist die Stellung
von Schwarz sehr solide, mit guten Remischancen. Eigentlich ist die Stellung
ganz дhnlich meiner Partie mit Leko, oben gezeigt.} Bd7 17. f4 Bd6 18. Kb3 {
Now e4-e5 is already on the agenda. Nun steht bereits e4-e5 auf der
Tagesordnung.} (18. e5 $6 {would have been great to push, but it doesn't work
tactically: wдre ein toller VorstoЯ gewesen, aber es funktioniert taktisch
nicht:} Ba3 19. Rcd1 Bg4 20. Rd2 Bb4 21. Rf2 b5) 18... f6 19. a4 {
Prophylactics against potential counterplay connected with ...b5, ...a5.
Prophylaxe gegen potentielles Gegenspiel in Verbindung mit ...b5, ...a5.} Rdc8
20. h4 {Starting active play on the kingside, but, strangely enough, also
prophylactic. I thought that Black might next play ...Kf7 and then ...e5 at
some point. Beginnt aktives Spiel am Kцnigsflьgel, aber, seltsamerweise,
ebenfalls prophylaktisch. Ich dachte, Schwarz kцnnte eventuell als nдchstes ...
Kf7 spielen und dann ...e5 an irgendeiner Stelle.} (20. g3 {was another
logical option here. war hier eine weitere logische Mцglichkeit.}) 20... Rab8 {
Seeking for active counterplay. Strebt aktives Gegenspiel an.} (20... Kf7 21.
h5 $1 {- the point, now White threatens to enter on the h-file and there is no
time for a e7-e5 break. - die Pointe, jetzt droht WeiЯ, auf der h-Linie
einzudringen, und es ist keine Zeit fьr einen e7-e5-Hebel.}) (20... h5 {
this is a radical solution, with its pluses and minuses, hard to say, what
counts more. On one hand, there are no breaks for the moment on the kingside,
but on the other, the g6-pawn might become vulnerable. For instance, endings
with light-squared bishops will, if it gets there, most probably be won for
White. dies ist eine Radikallцsung, mit ihren Plus- und Minuspunkten; schwer
zu sagen, was mehr zдhlt. Eienrseits gibt es im Moment keine Hebel am
Kцnigsflьgel, aber andererseits kцnnte auch der g6-Bauer anfдllig werden. Zum
Beispiel werden Endspiele mit weiЯfeldrigen Lдufern, wenn es dazu kommt,
hцchstwahrscheinlich fьr WeiЯ gewonnen sein.} 21. g3) 21. Bb5 Bxb5 22. axb5 a6
23. b6 $1 {White must keep this pawn in order to keep winning chances. This
b-pawn is threatening to become a queen in quite a few lines in the future.
Houdini equally likes 23.Ka4, but I am glad to use this rare occasion to point
out that he is wrong this time. WeiЯ muss diesen Bauern behalten, um
Gewinnchancen zu wahren. Dieser b-Bauer droht in einer ganzen Reihe von
zukьnftigen Abspielen zur Dame zu gehen. Houdini gefдllt 23.Ka4 ebenso, aber
ich freue mich, diese seltene Gelegenheit zu nutzen, um darauf hinzuweisen,
dass er diesmal irrt.} (23. Ka4 axb5+ 24. Kxb5 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Ra8 26. Bc5 Bxc5
27. Rxc5 Ra2 28. g3 Kf7 29. Kb6 Re2 {is an easy draw. ist ein leichtes Remis.})
23... Kf7 24. h5 (24. g4 {would have been my first choice here if not wдre
meine erste Wahl gewesen, gдbe es da nicht} Rxc1 25. Rxc1 e6 $1 26. dxe6+ Kxe6
27. f5+ Kf7 {and although this position looks visually attractive, I could not
find any way through, and Houdini agrees. und obwohl diese Stellung optisch
attraktiv aussieht, konnte ich keinen Weg finden durchzubrechen, und Houdini
stimmt zu.}) 24... Rxc1 (24... gxh5 {was a possible option but most probably
Peter was worried about war eine mцgliche Option, aber hцchstwahrscheinlich
sorgte sich Peter wegen} 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rxh5 {followed by e5. nebst e5.})
25. hxg6+ {An important intermediate move. An important intermediate move.}
Kxg6 (25... hxg6 26. Bxc1 {We both thought this position was very dangerous
for Black, but the computer holds it somehow: Wir beide hielten diese Stellung
fьr sehr gefдhrlich fьr Schwarz, aber der Computer hдlt sie irgendwie:} Bc5 27.
Ba3 Bxa3 28. Kxa3 Rd8 29. Rh7+ Ke8 {looks really bad, but strangely enough
might hold due to the ...f5-idea, for example sieht richtig schlecht aus,
kцnnte aber seltsamerweise halten wegen der ...f5-Idee, zum Beispiel} 30. Kb4
f5 31. Rh8+ Kd7 32. Rxd8+ Kxd8 33. e5 Kd7) 26. Bxc1 Rg8 (26... h5 {is the
first line of Houdini, but I am not sure about this move, for example ist das
erste Abspiel von Houdini, aber ich bin bei diesem Zug nicht sicher, zum
Beispiel} 27. f5+ Kf7 28. Ba3 Rd8 29. Rxh5 Bxa3 30. Kxa3 Rd6 31. Rh6 $1 Rxb6
32. e5 Rb1 33. d6 {winning. und gewinnt.}) 27. g4 h6 28. Rh5 {White has
achieved a lot obviously, but with the help of the computer Black seems to be
still able to defend. Things are much more difficult when you are sitting at
the board, fortunately. WeiЯ hat offenkundig eine Menge erreicht, aber mit
Hilfe des Computers scheint sich Schwarz noch immer verteidigen zu kцnnen. Zum
Glьck ist die Sache viel schwieriger, wenn man am Brett sitzt.} Kf7 {A serious,
although not obvious at all, mistake. Houdini still gives just a small plus
for White here, but in fact White seems to be winning with precise play from
now on, and I managed to demonstrate it this time. Ein ernster, wenngleich
keineswegs offensichtlicher Fehler. Houdini gibt hier immer noch nur ein
kleines Plus fьr WeiЯ, tatsдchlich aber scheint WeiЯ bei genauem Spiel von
hier an zu gewinnen, und diesmal gelang es mir, es zu zeigen.} (28... Bc5 $1
29. e5 (29. Ba3 Bxa3 30. Kxa3 Rc8 31. Kb4 Rc1 {in time to create counterplay
rechtzeitg, um Gegenspiel zu schaffen.}) 29... fxe5 30. fxe5 Rh8 {again looks
ugly and passive, but probably holds. wirkt erneut hдsslich und passiv, hдlt
aber wahrscheinlich.} 31. Bd2 (31. Kc4 Bxb6 32. Bf4 Bd8) 31... Bxb6 32. d6 Bd8
33. Kc4 exd6 34. exd6 Rg8 35. Kd5 Kf7) 29. e5 Bc5 (29... fxe5 30. fxe5 Bc5 31.
e6+ Ke8 32. Rxh6) 30. e6+ Kf8 (30... Kg7 31. f5) 31. Rh4 {A good move although
the computer suggests another strong option as well: Ein guter Zug, obwohl der
Computer auch noch eine weitere starke Mцglichkeit vorschlдgt:} (31. Rh3 Bxb6
32. Rc3) 31... Kg7 (31... Bxb6 32. Ba3 Bd8 {is not much better - ist nicht
viel besser -} 33. f5) 32. f5 Rd8 {A desperate attempt to create some activity.
Ein verzweifelter Versuch, etwas Aktivitдt zu entfalten.} (32... Rh8 {Since B
takes b6 is not a threat due to Ba3, White has all the time in the world to
improve his position. At some point I am going to play Ba3 and win the rook
endgame later. Da B schlдgt b6 keine Drohung ist wegen Ba3, hat WeiЯ alle Zeit
der Welt, seine Stellung zu verbessern. An irgendeiner Stelle werde ich Ba3
spielen und spдter das Turmendspiel gewinnen.}) 33. Bxh6+ Kg8 34. Kc4 Bxb6 (
34... Bf2 35. Rh3) 35. g5 $1 Bf2 36. Rg4 $1 Kh7 37. gxf6 exf6 (37... Kxh6 38.
f7 Kh7 39. d6 {looks like the famous Labourdonnais game, only with the extra
rook. дhnelt der berьhmten Labourdonnais-Partie, nur mit dem Extraturm.}) 38.
e7 {The most direct, although anything else wins. Am direktesten, obwohl auch
alles andere gewinnt.} Rc8+ 39. Kb3 Bc5 (39... Kxh6 40. d6 Bb6 41. d7) 40. Rc4
{A nice clean positional game, in my opinion, I am rather proud of it. Eine
schцne saubere Positionspartie, meiner Ansicht nach; ich bin ziemlich stolz
darauf.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. h3 (10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8 12. b3 (12. e6 f6 13.
Nf7 Bxf7 14. exf7 Bd6) 12... b6 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Nge4 Kb7 15. Rd3 Rd8 16. Rad1
Rxd3 17. Rxd3 h5 $11 {1-0 Hovhannisyan,R (2615)-Pashikian,A (2607)/Yerevan
2013/CB03_2013 (61)}) 10... h6 $1 {Schwarz spielt prophylaktisch, um dem
Gegner nicht zu erlauben, eine Initiative am Kцnigsflьgel zu entfalten.} (10...
Kc8 11. g4 $1 Ne7 12. Ng5 Be8 13. f4 $14 {Das ist eine Traumstellung fьr WeiЯ!}
) 11. Rd1 {Das sieht am logischsten aus.} (11. b3 c5 12. Rd1 Kc8 13. Nd5 a5 14.
a4 Ne7 15. c4 Bf5 16. Ra2 b6 17. Nh4 Bh7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Solodovnichenko,Y (2559)
-Naiditsch,A (2706)/Deizisau 2013/CB13_2013 (102)}) (11. Bf4 {Der Lдufer hat
hier nichts zu suchen.} Kc8 12. Rad1 b6 13. Rd3 Be6 14. Rfd1 Kb7 15. b3 g5 16.
Bc1 c5 17. Nd5 Ne7 18. Nxe7 Bxe7 $15 {1-0 Anand,V (2786)-Topalov,V (2757)/
Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext (46)}) 11... Kc8 {Nun kann WeiЯ nicht so aktiv am
Kцnigsflьgel werden, weil seinem Springer das Feld g5 genommen ist.} 12. a4 $6
{Normalerweise ist es nicht im Sinne von WeiЯ, alle Bauern auf weiЯe Felder zu
stellen. Es ist eher Schwarz, der solch eine Bauernstruktur anstreben muss.} (
12. b3 b6 13. Bb2 Ne7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rad1 Be6 $11 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2736)
-Jakovenko,D (2736)/Moscow 2009/CBM 134 (44)}) 12... a5 {Der Zug a4 hat fьr
WeiЯ nur Nachteile - das Feld b4 wurde geschwдcht, die Bauern kцnnen unter
Umstдnden schwach werden.} 13. b3 b6 {[%cal Rc8b7]} 14. Bb2 Ne7 $1 {Der
Springer hat normalerweise wenig zu tun auf f5. Die Idee von Schwarz ist es,
den Springer nach g6 zu bringen, sofort oder nach ...g5. Der weiЯfeldrige
Lдufer geht nach e6, der Bauer nach c5 und nimmt dem weiЯen Springer das Feld
d4. Die schwarze Festung ist sehr solide.} 15. Rd2 c5 16. Ne2 (16. Rad1 Be6 $1
(16... Bc6 $2 17. e6 $1 fxe6 18. Ne5 Kb7 19. Nf7 Rg8 20. Nd8+ $16 {1-0
Grigoriants,S (2570)-Shen,Y (2447)/Moscow 2012/CBM 147 (26)}) 17. Rd8+ Kb7 18.
Rxa8 Kxa8 19. Rd8+ Kb7 $11 {Schwarz wird einfach ...Nc6 spielen und der weiЯe
Turm muss die 8. Reihe wieder verlassen.}) 16... Ng6 {Hier kann Schwarz weder .
..Be6 noch ...g5 spielen, so bleibt ihm nichts anderes ьbrig als das Feld f4
sofort unter Kontrolle zu nehmen.} (16... g5 $4 17. e6 $18) (16... Be6 17. Nf4
$14 {Wenn WeiЯ einen Springer gegen den weiЯfeldrigen Lдufer tauschen kann,
hat Schwarz wenig Chancen auf Konter zu spielen. Seine Stellung bleibt jedoch
sehr schwer zu brechen.}) 17. Rad1 Be6 {WeiЯ muss mit ...c4 rechnen.} 18. c4 (
18. Rd8+ Kb7 19. Rxa8 Kxa8 20. Rd8+ Kb7 21. c4 Be7 22. Rxh8 Nxh8 23. Nf4 Bf5
$15 {Es ist nur Schwarz, der hier auf Sieg spielen kann. Man kann auch
deutlich sehen, warum die Bauernstruktur am Damenflьgel gьnstig fьr Schwarz
ist.}) 18... Be7 19. Nc3 Kb7 {Das ist eine typische Stellung fьr diese
Variante. Schwarz hat alles geschafft, was er wollte. WeiЯ kann kaum auf
Gewinn spielen.} 20. Nd5 ({Der Versuch den Kцnig zu zentralisieren scheitert:} 
20. Kf1 Rad8 21. Ke2 $2 Nf4+ 22. Kf1 Rxd2 23. Rxd2 Bf5 $15) 20... Rad8 21. Nxe7
{Das fьhrt zu einer gefдhrlichen Stellung fьr WeiЯ. Der Springer d5 ist
wesentlich stдrker als der Lдufer e7.} (21. Kh2 Bg5 $1 22. Nxg5 hxg5 23. Kg3
Rhe8 $11) 21... Rxd2 22. Nxd2 (22. Rxd2 Nxe7 23. Kh2 (23. g4 $2 h5 $1 24. Ng5
hxg4 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. hxg4 Rh3 $1 {und Schwarz sollte gewinnen:} 27. Rd7 Nc6
28. Rxg7 Rxb3 29. Bc1 Rb1 $19) 23... g5 24. Kg3 Nf5+ 25. Kh2 Ne7 $11) 22...
Nxe7 23. Nf1 Kc8 $1 {Schwarz will in das Endspiel mit ungleichfarbigen
Lдufern! Dann wird sein Lдufer ьber f5-c2 alle weiЯen Bauern vernichten.} 24.
f3 g5 (24... Rd8 $5 25. Rxd8+ Kxd8 26. g4 Ng6 27. Kh2 (27. Kf2 Nf4 28. h4 $4
Nd3+ 29. Ke3 Nxb2 $19) 27... Nf4 28. Kg3 g5 $15 {Schwarz steht besser, weil
die Bauern b3 und e5 (nachdem der schwarze Kцnig nдher ran kommt) schwach sind.
}) 25. Ng3 ({Der Springer konnte auch gut nach e3 gehen, um das Feld ...c2 zu
kontrollieren!} 25. Ne3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Kxd8 27. Kf2 Nc6 (27... Bf5 28. Ke2 $11)
28. Ng4 (28. Nc2 Bf5 29. Ne3 Bb1 $17) 28... Bxg4 29. hxg4 Nd4 30. Bxd4 cxd4 31.
Ke2 c5 32. g3 Ke7 33. Kd3 Ke6 34. Ke4 Kd7 35. Kd3 Ke7 36. f4 gxf4 37. gxf4 f6
38. exf6+ Kxf6 39. Ke4 Kg6 40. Kf3 h5 41. gxh5+ Kxh5 42. f5 Kg5 43. Ke4 Kf6 44.
Kf4 $11) 25... Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Kxd8 27. Kf2 Bf5 $5 {Schwarz ist bereit, seinen
Lдufer zu geben. Das Problem ist, dass das Spiel nun fast forciert verlдuft.} (
27... Ng6 $15) 28. Nxf5 $8 (28. Ke3 Bc2 $19 {Hier sieht man, warum das Feld c2
so wichtig ist.}) 28... Nxf5 29. g4 Nd4 30. Bxd4 $4 {Verliert sofort. Grischuk
hat wohl das Bauernendspiel falsch eingeschдtzt.} ({WeiЯ konnte hier sogar die
Initiative ьbernehmen, aber dafьr musste er den einzigen Zug finden, nдmlich} 
30. Ke3 $1 {siehe die Analyse in der Endspielkolumne von Karsten Mьller.})
30... cxd4 31. Ke2 Kd7 32. Kd3 c5 33. Ke4 (33. Ke2 Ke6 $19) 33... Ke6 34. f4
gxf4 35. Kxf4 d3 $1 36. Ke3 Kxe5 37. Kxd3 Kf4 $19 {... und der weiЯe Kцnig
schafft es nicht zum Kцnigsflьgel.} 38. Ke2 Kg3 39. Ke3 Kxh3 40. Kf4 Kh4 41.
Kf5 Kg3 $1 (41... f6 42. Kf4 Kh3 43. Kf3 Kh2 44. Kf2 $11) 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 ({Kramnik more often than not prefers the Classical
King's Indian with} 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 {However, the
fianchetto shouldn't have been too surprising for Radjabov, as he used it
already in round 3 against Grischuk (and subsequently against Gelfand).}) 3...
c5 {Radjabov naturally follows his own repertoire. Grischuk and Gelfand both
went for the Grьnfeld with} (3... d5) ({and} 3... c6 {respectively.}) 4. Nf3
Bg7 (4... cxd4 $143 {is premature:} 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Nc3 $142 $1 (6. b3 {is not
forceful enough:} Bg7 (6... b6 $1 7. Bg2 Bb7 $11) 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O
Qd7 $6 (9... Nc6 10. Bb2 Qb6 11. Bxd5 Nxd4 12. e3 Be6 $1 13. Bxe6 Nxe6 14. Bxg7
Nxg7 15. Nc3 O-O {/\} 16. Qd7 Rfc8 17. Nd5 Qd8 $1 $11 {Kasparov}) 10. Bb2 O-O
11. Qc1 Rd8 12. Rd1 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Qxc6 bxc6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Karpov,A 
(2710)-Kasparov,G (2735)/Brussels/1987/} 16. Nc3 $14 {Kasparov}) 6... Bg7 (6...
Qxc4 7. e4 (7. Bg5 $6 Bg7 8. Rc1 O-O 9. Bg2 Nc6 10. Ncb5 Qxa2 11. Ra1 Qxb2 12.
Rb1 Qa2 13. Ra1 Qb2 14. Rb1 Qa2 15. Ra1 {1/2, Kilgus,G (2354)-Stohl,I (2545)/
Vienna/2008/}) 7... Qc5 8. Ndb5 Na6 9. Be3 Qc6 10. Rc1 $32 {+/-}) 7. Ndb5 $1 (
7. Bf4 d6 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Ncb5 Qc8 10. Bxd6 $2 {Ornstein,A (2430)-Akesson,R 
(2445)/Norrkoeping/1988/} Ne4 $1 11. Bxb8 Bxd4 12. O-O-O Bg7 13. Bh3 O-O 14.
Bxd7 Qxb8 $17) 7... Qc6 (7... Qxc4 8. e4 Qc6 9. Bg2 $1 (9. Bf4 Na6 (9... O-O $1
10. Nc7 g5 11. Be5 Nxe4 $13) 10. Bg2 d6 11. Bf3 Qb6 12. Be3 Qa5 13. a3 O-O 14.
b4 Qd8 15. Rc1 h5 16. h3 Nd7 17. Bg2 {Claesen,P (2230)-Langner,L (2345)/
Antwerp/1992/} Nb6 18. O-O Nc7 19. Nxc7 Qxc7 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nc7 Rb8 22. a4 Bd7
23. a5 Na4 24. Bxa7 Rc8 $132) 9... a6 10. O-O axb5 11. e5 $40 {Kasparov}) 8. e4
a6 (8... Nxe4 $2 9. Nd5 $18) 9. Nd4 Qc7 10. Bg2 d6 11. b3 Nc6 12. O-O O-O 13.
Bb2 $14 {()}) 5. Bg2 cxd4 ({Just as in the previous note, White should
sacrifice a pawn for development even after} 5... Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Qd3 cxd4
8. Nxd4 Nc5 9. Qd1 Nc6 10. e3 Ne6 11. O-O $1 (11. Nxe6 $6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 dxe6
13. O-O O-O 14. Qb3 Qc7 15. c5 e5 16. c4 Bf5 17. Bd2 Rad8 18. Rfd1 Bg4 19. f3
Be6 20. Bf1 e4 $1 $17 {Ponomariov,R (2726)-Volokitin,A (2704)/UKR-ch Kiev/2012/
}) 11... Qc5 (11... O-O $142) 12. Ndb5 a6 13. Na4 Qxc4 14. Nbc3 Rb8 15. Nb6 Qc5
16. Ncd5 O-O 17. b4 Qd6 18. Nc4 Qxd5 19. Bxd5 Bxa1 20. Nb6 $16 {Supatashvili,K
(2479)-Bagaturov,G (2501)/Tbilisi/2000/}) 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Nc3 ({Black easily
holds the balance after} 7. Nc2 Nc6 8. Nc3 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. b3 Qd7 11. Nd5 Bh3
12. Bxh3 Qxh3 13. Nf4 Qd7 14. Bb2 Rfd8 15. Rc1 e6 16. Qe1 Ne7 17. Ne3 b5 18.
Qa5 a6 19. Rfd1 Nc6 20. Qe1 Qb7 21. Nd3 Rac8 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Nc2 Ne7 24. Ncb4
Ne4 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. f3 Nf6 27. Qf2 e5 28. e4 d5 $11 {Aronian,L (2802)-Giri,A
(2720)/Wijk aan Zee/2013/}) ({It's difficult to advantageously break the
symmetry after} 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 {, Radjabov's own games provide ample
proof that Black should gradually equalise:} 9. Nb5 (9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nc6
11. Nxc6 (11. Be3 Bd7 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Qb3 b6 14. Rfd1 Na5 15. Qb4 Rae8 16. Bg5
Bf6 17. Bh6 Bg7 18. Bg5 Bf6 19. Bh6 {1/2, Khalifman,A (2616)-Vescovi,G (2660)/
Moscow/2010/}) 11... bxc6 12. Ba3 (12. Bxc6 Bh3 $11) (12. Bg5 Ba6 13. Bf3 Bxc3
14. Rc1 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Bb4 16. Rxc6 Bb7 17. Rc7 Bxf3 18. exf3 Bd6 19. Rd7 f6
20. Be3 {1/2, Kirov,N (2420)-Witkowski,S (2330)/Lodz/1979/} a5 $11) 12... Bg4
13. Bxc6 Rc8 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bxe7 Bxe2 16. Bxd8 Bxf1 17. Kxf1 Rxd8 18. Re1
Bxc3 19. Re8+ Rxe8 20. Bxe8 Bd4 $11 {Svidler,P (2747)-Radjabov,T (2792)/ECC
Eilat/2012/}) 9... Be6 (9... a6 10. N5c3 Nxc3 11. Nxc3 Nc6 12. Be3 Be6 13. Qc1
$6 (13. Qa4 $142 $1 Qc7 14. Rac1 $11 {/+/=}) 13... Rc8 14. Rd1 Qa5 15. Bf3 Rfd8
16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Bh6 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Nd4 $15 {Dautov,R (2609)-Radjabov,T (2667)
/Mulhouse/2005/}) 10. N1c3 (10. Nd4 Bc8 $11) (10. e4 $6 Nb4 11. N1c3 Qa5 12.
Bf4 Bc4 13. a3 {Gazik,R (2155)-Szymanowska,K (2100)/Sopot/} Nd3 $36) 10... Nxc3
11. Nxc3 Nc6 12. Qa4 Qb6 13. Qa3 Rfd8 14. Be3 Qa5 15. Qxa5 Nxa5 16. Rac1 Rac8
17. Bxa7 Rd2 18. b4 Bxc3 19. bxa5 Bxa5 20. Bxb7 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd7 22. Rb1 Bxa2
23. Rb2 Bc3 24. Rxa2 {1/2, Morozevich,A (2771)-Radjabov,T (2761)/Wijk aan Zee/
2009/}) 7... Qc7 {Radjabov plays his pet move.} (7... Nc6 8. O-O {- A39 is the
main alternative, which leads to a theoretical position of a different type.})
8. b3 {Other moves promise White nothing:} (8. Nd5 Nxd5 (8... Qxc4 9. Nxe7+ Kh8
10. Nxc8 Rxc8 11. O-O Nc6 12. e3 (12. Nc2 Re8 13. Ne3 Qe6 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5
Qxe2 16. Bxf7 Re7 17. Qxe2 Rxe2 18. Rb1 Rf8 19. Bc4 Rexf2 20. Rxf2 Bd4 21. Bf4
g5 22. Kg2 Bxf2 23. Bxg5 Bd4 24. Rd1 Bxb2 25. Rxd7 Ne5 {1/2, Wojtaszek,R (2569)
-Fressinet,L (2638)/Warsaw/2005/}) (12. Nxc6 dxc6 13. b3 Qc3 14. Bd2 Qe5 15.
Rc1 Rd8 16. Rc2 Ne4 17. Qc1 Nxd2 18. Rxd2 Rxd2 19. Qxd2 Qd4 $11 {Khurtsidze,N 
(2418)-Lomineishvili,M (2396)/Tbilisi/2005/}) 12... Nxd4 13. exd4 d5 14. Be3
Rc6 15. Bf3 Rac8 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. axb3 a6 18. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 20.
Bxc1 Ne4 21. Be3 f5 $11 {Sargissian,G (2602)-Radjabov,T (2667)/Moscow/2005/})
9. cxd5 Qa5+ (9... Qb6 10. e3 d6 11. O-O Na6 12. a4 Bd7 13. a5 Qc7 14. Bd2 Rac8
15. b4 Qb8 16. b5 Nc7 17. Qe2 e6 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Rac1 d5 21.
Bb4 Rfd8 22. Qd3 d4 23. e4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8 $132 {Wang Hao (2737)-Radjabov,T 
(2793)/Beijing blindfold rpd/2012/}) 10. Bd2 Qb6 11. Bc3 d6 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Nb3
Bxc3+ 14. Rxc3 a5 15. Qd4 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Kd2 Bd7 18. Rhc1 a4 19. b4 axb3
20. axb3 Ra2+ 21. R1c2 Ra1 22. b4 Na6 23. Rb2 Ra4 24. Nc2 Rc8 $11 {Karpov,A 
(2619)-Gashimov,V (2758)/Moscow blitz/2009/}) (8. Qa4 d6 9. Ncb5 Qd8 10. O-O a6
11. Nc3 Bd7 12. Qd1 Nc6 13. b3 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bc6 15. Bb2 Ne4 16. Qe3 Nxc3 17.
Bxc3 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc7 20. Qd3 Rfc8 $11 {Drozdovskij,Y (2558)
-Radjabov,T (2747)/Odessa rpd/2007/}) (8. Ndb5 $5 Qxc4 9. b3 Qc5 10. Be3 Qb4
11. a3 Qa5 12. b4 Qd8 13. Nxa7 Ng4 14. Bd4 Bxd4 (14... Nc6 $5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16.
Nxc8 Rxc8 $132) 15. Qxd4 Nc6 16. Qxg4 Rxa7 17. Qf4 (17. O-O d5 $11) 17... e5
18. Qc4 b5 $5 19. Qb3 $2 (19. Nxb5 Ba6 20. Bxc6 Rc7 21. Qd5 Rxc6 22. O-O $14)
19... Bb7 20. Qb2 Qa8 21. O-O Nd4 $36 {Tregubov,P (2607)-Kurnosov,I (2549)/
Kazan/2005/}) (8. Qd3 Nc6 9. O-O d6 10. b3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Be6 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13.
Rac1 a6 14. Na4 Ne8 15. Qd2 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Bd7 17. c5 Bxa4 18. bxa4 dxc5 19.
Qxb7 Ra7 20. Qb3 Nd6 21. Rfd1 Qa5 22. Rd5 Rac7 23. Qc2 Nf5 24. Qd1 Kg7 25. Bh3
e6 26. Bxf5 exd5 27. Bxc8 Rxc8 28. Qxd5 Qxa4 $11 {Bocharov,D (2647)-Shomoev,A 
(2567)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) 8... d5 $1 {The point of Black's setup, otherwise
White would just finish his development and enjoy a space advantage, while
Black's queen is not ideally placed either.} 9. Ndb5 {White should refrain
from accepting the sacrifice, the pawn is poisoned:} (9. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 10. Bxd5
e6 {[%csl Rd4,Rd5]} 11. Nb5 (11. Bg2 Rd8 $19) 11... Qe5 $19) (9. Bxd5 $6 Bh3
10. Bb2 (10. Ndb5 Qc8 11. e3 Rd8 12. Bd2 Nc6 13. Qe2 Nb4 14. Rc1 e6 15. Na4
Nxa2 16. Rc2 exd5 17. Rxa2 dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qf5 19. Nac3 Rac8 20. Qe2 Ne4 {
0-1, Ledger,A (2424)-Dragomirescu,R (2358)/Plovdiv/2012/}) 10... Rd8 11. Qc1 e6
12. Bf3 a6 13. Nc2 Nc6 14. Qf4 Ne5 $40 {[%csl Re1]} 15. Rc1 h6 16. Na4 Nfd7 17.
Ne3 g5 18. Qe4 Nxf3+ 19. exf3 Nc5 20. Nxc5 Qa5+ {0-1, Hansen,C (2595)-Gelfand,
B (2665)/Cap d'Agde rpd/1996/}) ({Very similar to the game is} 9. O-O dxc4 10.
Ncb5 Qd8 (10... Qb6 11. bxc4 a6 12. Nc3 Nbd7 13. Ba3 Qa5 14. Qb3 Re8 15. Rfd1
Rb8 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. cxd5 Nc5 18. Qb4 Qxb4 19. Bxb4 Na4 20. Rac1 Be5 21. e4 Bd6
22. a3 Bd7 23. f4 Rbc8 24. e5 Bxb4 25. axb4 Nb2 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 $132 {Leko,P 
(2751)-Carlsen,M (2776)/Nice rpd/2009/}) 11. bxc4 a6 12. Nc3 Ng4 $1 (12... e5
$6 {[%csl Rg7]} 13. Nb3 Nc6 14. Be3 Nd7 15. Nd5 Re8 16. Rb1 Nf8 $2 17. Nc5 b5
18. Ne4 Nd4 19. Bg5 Qa5 20. Ndf6+ {1-0, Izoria,Z (2489)-Kocovski,I (2324)/
EU-ch Ohrid/2001/}) 13. e3 Nc6 14. Rb1 (14. Nce2 Nge5 (14... Qc7 $1 $11 {
[%cal Yf8d8]}) 15. Qc2 Qc7 16. c5 Bg4 17. Rb1 Rad8 18. h3 Bxe2 $6 (18... Bd7
$142 $132) 19. Qxe2 Nxd4 20. exd4 Nc6 21. Bf4 Qc8 22. d5 Nd4 23. Qe4 Qxc5 24.
Rxb7 e6 25. d6 Nf5 26. d7 e5 {Grischuk,A (2711)-Radjabov,T (2735)/Odessa rpd/
2008/} 27. Bg5 $5 Nd6 28. Qa4 Nxb7 29. Bxb7 $16 {[%csl Gd7]}) 14... Nxe3 15.
Bxe3 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd4 18. Nd5 Kg7 19. Nxe7 (19. Rfe1 b5 20.
Nxe7 Ra7 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Nc6 {1/2, Borovikov,V (2601)-Polzin,R (2494)/
Paleochora/2010/}) 19... Be6 20. Nd5 Rac8 21. Ne3 b5 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Rb2 Rfd8
24. Rd1 {1/2, Aronian,L (2739)-Radjabov,T (2735)/Morelia/Linares/2008/}) 9...
Qa5 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. bxc4 Qd8 {It's best to retreat with the exposed queen
immediately:} (11... Nc6 $143 12. O-O Ng4 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Rc1 a6 15. Nbc3 e6
16. Ne3 Nge5 17. c5 Qe7 18. Ne4 Rd8 19. Nd6 Rb8 20. Bc3 $16 {Dautov,R (2623)
-Cvitan,O (2532)/Mallorca olm/2004/ For more details see the notes to this
game by Dautov in CBM 104.}) 12. O-O a6 (12... Nc6 13. Rb1 (13. Nd5 a6 14. Nbc3
Nd7 15. Rc1 e6 16. Nf4 Nc5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bd7 19. Nd3 Qc7 20. Re1 Rab8
21. c5 Rfd8 22. Bc3 Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Nd4 24. e3 Nb5 25. Rb3 e5 26. a4 Na7 27. Qa1
f6 28. Reb1 Bc6 $11 {Tesic,D (2348)-Baklan,V (2610)/Trieste/2012/}) (13. Rc1
Be6 14. Na4 Qc8 15. Bf4 Bh3 16. Qb3 Qf5 17. Qf3 Rad8 18. Bxh3 Qxh3 19. Rfd1 Ng4
20. Qg2 Qh5 $132 {Prohaszka,P (2547)-Polzin,R (2460)/AUT-chT/2012/}) 13... Be6
(13... Bf5 $5 14. e4 Bg4 $13) 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Nc7
Qxa2 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 (18... Rd8 19. Rxb7 Rxd2 20. Qb3 $14) 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Qc1
Qxe2 21. Rxb7 Ne5 22. Qc7 Rf8 23. Rbb1 {Rustemov,A (2544)-Jochens,A (2298)/
Bundesliga/2013/} h5 24. Qxa7 h4 $44) 13. Na3 Bf5 14. Nc2 (14. Rc1 Nc6 15. c5
Qd7 16. Bf4 Qe6 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18. axb3 Rad8 19. Nc4 Be6 20. Ne5 Nd5 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 $11 {Rustemov,A (2495)-Dydyshko,V (2575)/
Minsk/1996/}) 14... Nc6 15. Ne3 Qd7 $6 $146 {Obviously insufficiently prepared
for White's opening choice, Radjabov was spending oceans of time remembering
his preparation and here came up with a rather dubious novelty.} ({It's not
clear what Kramnik had on his mind after} 15... Qd4 $142 $1 16. Rc1 (16. Nxf5
gxf5 17. Rc1 Rad8 {just transposes to Gelfand-Sokolov below.}) 16... Be4 $5 (
16... Rad8 {An interesting, albeit untested possibility is} 17. Qb3 $5 (17.
Nxf5 gxf5 18. Nd5 Ne4 19. Be3 Qxd1 (19... Qb2 $5 $13) 20. Rfxd1 e6 21. Bxe4
fxe4 22. Nb6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rb1 Bd4 25. Bxd4 Rxd4 26. Rb2 Kg7 27. c5
Rb4 28. Rd2 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 Rc1 30. Nd7 f5 31. Rb2 Na5 $11 {Gelfand,B (2700)
-Sokolov,I (2665)/Wijk aan Zee/1996/}) 17... Be4 (17... Qxd2 18. Bxc6 {[%csl
Rb7][%cal Rf1d1]} Ng4 19. Nxf5 (19. Rfd1 $6 Bxc3 20. Rxd2 Bxd2) 19... bxc6 $5
20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. Nxc6 Rd6 $44 {/\} 22. Ne7 Re6 23. Ned5 Qh6 24. h4 g5) 18.
Qxb7 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Ne5 20. Rfd1 Nxc4 21. Nxc4 Qxc4 22. Qxe7 Rfe8 $44) 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Be1 Nc5 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Nc2 Bf6 22. Ba5 Rab8 23. Rb1
Rb7 (23... Ne4 $5 {[%cal Ye4c3,Ye4d6]}) 24. Rxb7 Nxb7 25. Bb6 c5 26. Ne3 Bd4 $2
(26... Rc8 $1 27. Nd5 Kg7 $11) 27. Nd5 e6 28. e3 Be5 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Rd1 Bd6
31. Nc6 Rc8 32. Nd8 Nxd8 33. Rxd6 Rc6 34. Rxc6 Nxc6 35. Bxc5 $14 {Aronian,L 
(2675)-Nataf,I (2565)/Mallorca olm/2004/}) (15... Be6 16. Rb1 Rb8 (16... Rc8
17. Na4 $5) 17. Ncd5 $14) 16. Nxf5 Qxf5 {Keeps his pawn-structure intact, but
the Pb7 will be more vulnerable.} (16... gxf5 17. Rb1 Rad8 $14 {also deserved
attention and was roughly equivalent.}) 17. Rb1 $14 {[%csl Gd2,Gg2][%cal Gh1a8]
[%mdl 2048] White can be satisfied with the outcome of the opening. His pieces
are well coordinated and the bishop-pair gives him a pleasant and almost
riskless pull, especially powerful is the unopposed Catalan Bg2.} Rad8 (17...
Rab8 18. Nd5 Rfd8 19. Rb6 $5 $14) 18. Qc1 (18. Rxb7 Na5 19. Rb4 Qe6 {regains
the pawn:} {However, even here White has a pull after} 20. Qc2 $5 (20. Nd5 Nxc4
21. Rxc4 Nxd5 $11) (20. Bd5 Qh3 {[%cal Rf6g4]} 21. Bf3 Ng4 22. Bxg4 Qxg4 23.
Nd5 Nxc4 24. Nxe7+ Kh8 25. Nc6 Rd5 26. Na5 (26. Qc1 Qxe2) 26... Rxa5 27. Rxc4
Qxc4 28. Bxa5 Qxa2 $11) 20... Nxc4 21. Bf4 $14) 18... Qe6 {Here the queen will
be vulnerable (even later on move 21).} (18... Rd7 $5 19. Nd5 Rfd8 $132 {
deserves attention.}) 19. Re1 (19. Nd5 Nd4 $11 {leads nowhere, Kramnik's move
prepares the knight sortie.}) (19. Rxb7 $5 Na5 20. Rb4 Nxc4 21. Bf4 $14) 19...
Qxc4 (19... Ne5 20. c5 Nc4 21. Bg5 $14) 20. Rxb7 Ne5 $6 (20... Na5 $142 $1 21.
Rb1 (21. Rxe7 Qc5 22. Re3 Rxd2 23. Qxd2 Nc4 $11) 21... Qe6 (21... Rc8 22. Qa3
$14) (21... Ng4 {[%cal Rd8d2]} 22. Ne4 Qxa2 23. Bb4 (23. h3 Nxf2 24. Bxa5 Nxh3+
25. Bxh3 Qxa5 $13) 23... Rc8 24. Qg5 {[%csl Ra5,Rg4]} Nc6 25. Qxg4 Nxb4 26.
Rxb4 f5 27. Qg5 fxe4 28. Bxe4 $14) 22. Bf4 Rc8 23. Qa3 Nc4 24. Qb3 Nh5 $132)
21. Bf4 (21. Rxe7 $1 {was possible here, contrary to the above line after} Qc5
{White has} 22. Rb7 $16) 21... Qe6 22. h3 ({More energetic was} 22. Qa3 $5 Rfe8
(22... Rd7 23. Rxd7 Nexd7 24. Rc1 $36) 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. axb3 $36) 22... Nc4 (
22... Rd7 23. Rxd7 Nexd7 24. Qa3 $36) 23. e4 $5 {[%cal Yc3d5]} ({A plausible
alternative was} 23. Rd1 $14) 23... Ne5 {[%cal Re5d3]} (23... Rd7 24. e5 (24.
Rxd7 Nxd7 25. Nd5 $14) 24... Nh5 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Nd5 Nxf4 27. Qxf4 $36) 24.
Bxe5 $1 {A simple solution, even with the opposite-coloured bishops White
retains his pressure.} ({Playable, but more complex was} 24. Qa3 Rfe8 (24...
Nd3 25. Rxe7 Qc8 (25... Qxe7 26. Qxe7 Nxe1 27. e5 (27. Qb7 $36) (27. Bh1 $5)
27... Nxg2 28. Kxg2 Nh5 29. Qc5 $14) 26. Rc7 Qe6 27. Rb1 Nxf4 28. gxf4 Rd3 $14
{/<=>}) 25. Reb1 {[%cal Yc3d5]} Nc4 26. Qa4 Nd6 27. Rc7 Nh5 28. Qxa6 Nxf4 29.
gxf4 $14) 24... Qxe5 25. Nd5 Rfe8 (25... Kh8 26. Nxe7 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Nd5
$16) (25... Nxd5 $5 26. exd5 Qd6 (26... Rc8 27. Qd1 {doesn't change the issue
- Black will lose a pawn.}) 27. Rexe7 Bd4 $14 {/+/- was possibly better. Black
is a pawn down, but he got rid off the dangerous knight and the central passed
pawn is blockaded. Further exchanges of major pieces would enhance Radjabov's
drawing chances.}) 26. Nb4 Rd7 (26... Rc8 27. Nc6 Qe6 28. e5 Nd7 29. f4 $16 {
[%csl Gc6,Rg7] ()}) 27. Nc6 Qe6 28. Rb6 $6 (28. Rb3 $142 $1 Rc7 29. Rc3 {
[%csl Gc6]} Bh6 (29... Qxa2 $2 30. e5 Nd5 (30... Nd7 31. Nxe7+ $18) 31. Ra3 $18
{[%csl Rd5]}) 30. f4 $5 (30. Qxh6 Rxc6 31. Rxc6 Qxc6 32. e5 Nd5 (32... Qc3 33.
Qe3 Qxe3 34. Rxe3 Nh5 $8 35. Ra3 $16) 33. e6 $1 fxe6 34. h4 $44 {->}) 30...
Rec8 31. e5 Nh5 32. Kh2 $36) (28. Rb4 $5 $14) 28... Qxa2 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
Towards the end of the Candidates Radjabov was totally out of form, here he
commits a decisive tactical error.} ({Bitter is that it comes exactly at the
moment, when he could have solved his problems with} 28... Rc7 $1 29. Rxa6 (29.
e5 Nd5 30. Bxd5 (30. Rxa6 Nb4 $17 {[%cal Rb4a6,Rb4c6,Rb4d3]}) 30... Qxd5 $15 {
[%csl Rc6,Re5]} {/\} 31. Rxa6 $2 Qb5) 29... Nd7 {[%cal Rd7e5,Rd7b8]} 30. e5
Nxe5 (30... Rec8 $2 31. Bd5 Qxh3 32. e6 $18) (30... Nb8 31. Rb6 Kh8 $5 (31...
Bxe5 32. Rb5 Nxc6 33. Rexe5 Qd6 34. Rbc5 Nd4 $132) 32. Re2 Rec8 33. Rc2 Nxc6
34. Rbxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxc6 Rxc6 36. Qxc6 Qxc6 37. Bxc6 Bxe5 $11) 31. Qd1 (31. f4
$2 Qc8 $19) 31... Rec8 (31... Qc8 32. Qa4 $11) 32. Ra5 Rxc6 33. Bxc6 Qxc6 34.
Raxe5 $11) 29. e5 {[%csl Rf6]} Nd5 (29... Nh5 30. g4 $18) 30. Rb2 Qa4 (30...
Qa3 31. Rb8 $18) 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Rb4 Qa2 33. Nxe7+ $1 $18 Kh8 ({Black loses
an exchange, as he quickly gets mated after} 33... Rxe7 34. Qc8+ Bf8 35. Rb8
Re8 36. Qxe8 Qa3 37. e6 $18) 34. Nxd5 Qxd5 35. Qc4 Qxc4 36. Rxc4 Bxe5 (36...
Kg8 37. f4 $18) 37. Kf1 {[%cal Rf2f4]} ({Black has seen enough and doesn't
want to suffer anymore:} 37. Kf1 Re6 $8 38. Rce4 Bc3 39. Rxe6 fxe6 40. Rxe6 $18
{is a simple technical win.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 ({The main line is} 
6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {White has a
space advantage, but Black's position is out of weaknesses and his majority on
the queenside might tell in a certain endgame.}) 6... Nc6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. a3 O-O
9. Qc2 {Levon is trying to gain something by a slightly tricky order of moves.
Objectively, the main move 9.0-0 is more promising.} ({The position after} 9.
O-O cxd4 10. exd4 {may arise also from the Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann.})
9... cxd4 10. exd4 f5 $1 $146 {The idea itself is not new, but in this
particular position it hasn't appeared beforehand. Black is going to put the
bishop on f6, pressing the Pd4. In a later interview Kramnik said that he
figured out this plan over the board. Well done! The previously played 10...h6
is also perfectly playable.} (10... h6 11. O-O Bf6 12. Rd1 (12. Be3 Nce7 13.
Ne4 b6 14. Rad1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qb6 13. Bc4 Rd8 14. Ne2 Bd7 15. Qe4 Nce7 16. Bd3
Ba4 (16... Ng6 $142) 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Re1 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Qxb5 20. Ng3 Ng6 21. Ne5
Nde7 22. Bxh6 $1 $40 {1-0 (41) Smyslov,V (2600)-Ribli,Z (2615) London 1983})
11. O-O Bf6 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Be3 b5 $1 {Developing the queenside and, at the
same time, covering the c4-square.} (13... Nxd4 $2 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Bc4 Qc5
16. Rad1 {The black bishop has nowhere to go as it is tied to protecting the
queen.} b5 $8 17. Rxd4 bxc4 18. Rxc4 {and White is clearly better as the
knight is going to occupy the commanding e5-outpost.}) 14. Qe2 (14. Qc5 Qxc5
15. dxc5 a6 16. a4 b4 $11) 14... Bb7 15. Rac1 $6 {Levon definitely saw the
possibility to force a draw after 15.Bxb5, but decided to play for a win.
Objectively speaking his position is not better, but in the current tournament
situation only a win could keep him in the race for the first place.} (15. Bxb5
{could force a draw by repetition:} f4 16. Bc4 Qe4 17. Bd3 Qd5 $11) 15... a6
16. Rfd1 f4 $5 {Kramnik decided to force matters.} (16... Rac8 17. Rc5 Qd6 {
was very good for Black as well. The idea f5-f4 is a potential threat.} (17...
Nxd4 $6 18. Bxd4 Rxc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. b4 Qc3 22. Qxf5 g6 $11))
17. Rc5 (17. Bxf4 $2 Nxd4 $19) (17. Rxc6 $2 Qxc6 18. Bxf4 Bxd4 $19) 17... Qd6
18. Qc2 $2 {Both players had to calculate a lot.} (18. Bxf4 $1 Qxf4 19. Qxe6+
Kh8 (19... Rf7 $2 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Bg6 Nd8 22. Qh3 $16) 20. Rh5 (20. Rxc6 $2
Bxc6 21. Qxc6 Bxd4 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Bxe4 Rad8 $1 24. Nxd4 (24. Rxd4 $2 Rxd4 25.
Nxd4 Rd8 $19) 24... Rf7 {[%cal Gf7d7] Black gains the piece back and remains
with an extra exchange in the endgame.}) 20... h6 21. Nh4 $1 {This idea is
very difficult to spot in advance.} Ne7 (21... Bxh4 $4 22. Qg6 {is the point.})
(21... Ne5 22. Rxe5 Bxh4 23. Qg6 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 26. Kxg2 {
and it should be a draw thanks to the opposite coloured bishops.}) 22. g3 Qxd4
23. Qxe7 $1 Qxf2+ $1 (23... Bxe7 $2 24. Ng6+ Kg8 25. Nxe7+ Kf7 26. Bg6+ Kxe7
27. Rxd4 $14) 24. Kxf2 Bxe7+ 25. Kg1 Bf6 $1 26. Ng6+ Kg8 27. Nxf8 Bf3 28. Rd2
Bxh5 29. Nd7 {and White survives somehow.}) (18. Bd2 $2 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxc5 20.
Qxe6+ Rf7 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qxf7 Qxd4 23. Qxb7 Rd8 {and the pin along the
d-file will cost White material.}) 18... fxe3 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. fxe3 Ne7 $2 {
Another human move and another mistake.} (20... Rac8 $1 {preparing the
counterstrike ...Nxd4!} 21. Rh5 Nxd4 22. Qd3 (22. Bg8+ $2 Kxg8 23. Qh7+ Kf7 $19
) 22... Bxf3 23. gxf3 Nxf3+ 24. Kg2 Qxd3 25. Bxd3+ Kg8 26. Kxf3 Bxb2+ 27. Ke2
Bxa3 {and Black should win.}) 21. e4 $2 (21. Rh5 {This move is so tempting, I
don't know how Levon managed to resist playing it. This position is already in
White's favour!} Rac8 (21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 Rac8 23. Qg2 $40) 22. Qe2 $1 (22.
Ne5 $6 Bxe5 (22... Rxc2 $6 {falls into the classical tactics, like from the
old books:} 23. Bxc2+ Kg8 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Bg6+ Kg8 26. Bf7+ $1 Rxf7 27. Rh8+
$1 Kxh8 28. Nxf7+ Kg8 29. Nxd6 {This position is still difficult to estimate.
White's rook + two pawns should be superior to Black's pair of bishops.}) 23.
dxe5 Qb6 24. Qd3 Rcd8 25. Qxd8 Qxe3+ (25... Rxd8 $4 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Bf5+ Kg8
28. Bxe6+ Kf8 29. Rh8+ Ng8 30. Rxg8+ Ke7 31. Rxd8 $18) 26. Kh1 Bxg2+ $1 27.
Kxg2 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Qf2+ $11) 22... g6 (22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Bg5 24. Bb1+ Bh6 25.
Qe4 Nf5 26. g4 Rce8 27. Kh1 $1 $16) 23. Bxg6+ Kg7 24. Bb1 Kf7 25. Ne5+ Ke8 26.
Rh7 $40) 21... Rac8 $2 (21... Qf4 {was far more convincing} 22. Rh5 g6 $1 {
is the most precise way to defuse White's attack} (22... Ng8 {[%cal Gg8h6] is
a good defensive move.}) 23. Bxg6+ Kg7 $19) 22. e5 {The next five-six moves
are pretty forced.} Bxe5 23. Nxe5 (23. Rxc8 $2 Rxc8 24. dxe5 Qb6+ 25. Qf2 Qxf2+
26. Kxf2 Kxh7 $19) 23... Rxc5 24. Ng6+ $1 (24. Qxc5 Qxc5 25. dxc5 Kxh7 26. Rd7
Nc6 {and Black keeps the extra piece.}) 24... Nxg6 25. dxc5 {[%tqu "En","A lot
of pieces are hanging. What should be done?","","","b7e4","",5]} Be4 $1 26.
Rxd6 Bxc2 27. Bxg6 Bxg6 28. Rxe6 (28. Rxa6 Bd3 29. h4 e5 $19) 28... Bd3 29. h4
a5 30. c6 Rf1+ $2 {This is according to the rule to put the rook behind the
pawn, but here this was the case for an exception!} (30... Rc8 $1 31. Kf2 Bc4
32. Rd6 Bf7 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Gf7e8] Black wins the annoying pawn and rest is a
matter of technique.}) 31. Kh2 Rc1 32. Re3 $1 Bb1 33. Rc3 {The point. White
saves the important c-pawn.} Rxc3 34. bxc3 {Black's extra piece is not enough
for a win. White has a strong passed pawn and another potential passer on the
kingside.} Kg8 35. c7 Bf5 36. Kg3 Kf7 37. Kf4 Bc8 38. Kg5 Bd7 {Black has to
wait with the bishop until White runs out of useful moves.} 39. h5 Be6 40. g3
a4 (40... Ke7 41. Kg6 Kf8 42. Kg5 $11) 41. g4 Kf8 42. Kf4 Ke7 {Now the king
can go to pick up the pawn, but it's not enough for a win.} 43. g5 Kd7 44. Ke5
Bg8 45. c8=Q+ {Not a mistake, but requires precise calculation.} (45. Kd4 {
was the easiest way:} Kxc7 46. Kc5 Bc4 47. h6 gxh6 48. gxh6 Bd3 49. Kd4 Bh7 50.
c4 {exchanging the b-pawn and then White's king reaches the safe a1 corner.
Just a draw.}) 45... Kxc8 46. Kd6 Kd8 47. Kc6 Ke7 48. Kxb5 Ke6 49. Kxa4 Kf5 50.
g6 $4 {Choosing between 50.g6 and 50.h6 Levon didn't manage to calculate well.}
(50. h6 g6 51. Kb5 Kxg5 52. a4 Kxh6 53. a5 g5 54. a6 g4 (54... Bd5 55. c4 Be4
56. c5 g4 57. c6 g3 58. a7 g2 59. a8=Q g1=Q $11) 55. c4 g3 56. a7 g2 57. a8=Q
g1=Q $11) 50... Kg5 51. Kb5 Kxh5 52. a4 Kxg6 53. a5 Kf6 54. a6 (54. c4 Ke5 55.
c5 g5 56. a6 Bd5 57. Kb6 g4 58. a7 Ba8 $1 59. c6 Kd6 60. c7 Kd7 $19) 54... Bd5
55. c4 Ba8 56. Kb6 Ke5 {Black's pieces are just in time to stop the white
pawns.} 57. Kc7 g5 58. Kb8 Be4 59. Kc7 g4 60. a7 g3 61. c5 Ba8 62. Kb8 Bc6 {
An epic fight. There were many mistakes which are not typical for these two
great players. However, let's not forget that this was already round twelve of
the very tense tournament with a lot at stake. At the press conference after
the battle both grandmasters looked completely exhausted.} 0-1

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d3 Ngf6 6. Qe1 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bd6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. a4 Re8 13. Nh4 Nc5 14. Nf5 Ne6
15. Be3 Nf4 16. f3 Nxg2 17. Kxg2 Bg6 18. Rd1 Nd5 19. Nh4 Nxe3+ 20. Qxe3 Qe7 21.
Qb3 Rab8 22. Rf2 Red8 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Rd2 Bc7 25. Rd3 Qe6 26. Qb4 b6 27. b3
a6 28. Qd2 b5 29. Rd7 bxc4 30. Rxc7 cxb3 31. Rb7 Qc8 32. Rxb3 Rxb3 33. cxb3 f6
34. Qd6 Kf7 35. g4 Ke8 36. Kg3 Qb7 37. b4 Qc8 38. a5 Kf7 39. Ng2 h5 40. Ne3
hxg4 41. hxg4 Qe6 42. Qd3 Qc8 43. Qc4+ Kf8 44. Qc5+ Kg8 45. b5 axb5 46. Qb6 Qf8
47. a6 Qb4 48. a7 Qe1+ 49. Kg2 Qd2+ 50. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.05.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 ({The other possibilities are
} 5. c3) ({and} 5. O-O) 5... d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bxc6 (7. c3 {is the main line.})
7... bxc6 8. h3 $146 {This is a little bit strange idea, because after Bxc6
White's plan usually is c3 and d4 occupying the centre.} (8. Nc4 Be6 $13 (8...
Re8 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. Nxe3 d5 11. Re1 Rb8 12. b3 Qd6 13. Nd2 Be6 $11 {
Iodo-Kovanova, Dagomys 2004})) 8... h6 9. Re1 Re8 10. Nf1 d5 (10... Nh5 {
is another typical reaction.}) 11. exd5 Qxd5 {It is forced, otherwise the e5 P
falls.} 12. Be3 Bf8 13. Bd2 ({In the event of} 13. c4 Qd6 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4
c5 16. Nb5 Qc6 {followed by Bb7 and Black looks nicely placed.}) 13... e4 $1 {
A good move, otherwise Bc3 comes.} 14. dxe4 Nxe4 15. Ng3 Bb7 16. Bf4 Nd6 {
Kramnik avoids the exchange of N, protects the c7 P and prepares for c5.} 17.
b3 c5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 19. c4 Bxf3 {Black gives up the pair of B, because in the
position it is not so important. On the other hand this move destroys a little
bit of White's P structure.} 20. gxf3 a5 21. Rxe8 Nxe8 ({The natural} 21...
Rxe8 {was also possible. Probably Black wants to threaten a4.}) 22. a4 Rb8 23.
Re1 {Just in time... Black cannot take the b3 P because the e8N is hanging.}
Nd6 24. Re3 g5 25. Be5 Kh7 26. Rd3 Kg6 27. Ne4 Ne8 $1 {A very deep move.
Kramnik retreats with his last piece to the background. On the other hand his
plan is f6 and f5 to drive away the opponent pieces from the centre. After
that his N comes back to the centre.} 28. Kg2 f6 29. Bb2 f5 30. Ng3 Bd6 31. Kf1
h5 32. Kg2 h4 33. Nf1 (33. Ne2 Nf6 34. Bc1 Nh5 35. Bd2 Ra8 $11 {with a
completely drawish position.}) 33... Nf6 34. Bxf6 Kxf6 35. Ne3 Ke6 36. Nd5 $2 {
A decisive mistake in time trouble. Adams played a very logical Nmove to the
centre, but he missed Black's next move...} (36. Kf1 Be5 37. Ke2 $11 {and
equal.}) 36... f4 $1 {Black puts his last P on the colour of his B, but
suddenly after c6 there is no comeback with the N.} 37. Kf1 Be5 {An important
move.} ({The immediate} 37... c6 {could have been met by} 38. Nf6 $1) 38. Ke2
c6 39. Nc3 Rxb3 40. Ne4 Rb4 41. Nxc5+ Kf5 42. Rd8 Rxc4 43. Rf8+ Kg6 44. Ne4
Rxa4 {Kramnik has played very precisely, he has won the most important aP and
his P will be a very strong one.} 45. Rg8+ Bg7 46. Rc8 Rc4 47. Kd3 Rc1 48. Kd2
Rc4 49. Kd3 Rc1 50. Kd2 Bb2 51. Ra8 Ra1 52. Ra6 a4 53. Rxc6+ Kh5 54. Nd6 {
Adams tries to create some problems for Kramnik in the time trouble...} Bf6 55.
Nf5 Kg6 56. Nd6 Be5 57. Nc4+ Bf6 {That's why they repeated moves, because the
time controll was at move 60.} 58. Nd6 Ra2+ 59. Kc1 Be5 60. Nc4+ Bf6 61. Nd6
Bh8 62. Ra6 a3 63. Kd1 Bb2 64. Kc2 $6 ({In the event of} 64. Ne4+ {Black still
has to find some exact moves} Kf5 65. Ra5+ (65. Nd6+ Ke5 66. Ne4 Ra1+ 67. Kc2
Rh1 68. Nxg5 Rh2 {is also hopeless for White.}) 65... Be5 66. Nd6+ Kg6 (66...
Ke6 67. Ne4) 67. Ne4 Ra1+ 68. Ke2 a2 69. Ra6+ Kf5 70. Ra4 (70. Ra5 g4 $1 71.
hxg4+ Ke6 72. Ng5+ Kd7 $19) 70... Bc7 71. Nc3 Rc1 72. Nxa2 Rc2+ 73. Ke1 Bb6 {
good chances for a win.}) 64... Bf6+ $1 65. Kd1 Rxf2 {Finally Kramnik gives
his a-P for the f2 and h3 ones.} 66. Rxa3 Rh2 67. Ra6 Rxh3 $1 {Black
sacrifices his B for the f3 P, as 3 P give easy win for Black.} 68. Ne4 Rxf3
69. Rxf6+ Kh5 70. Rf5 Rd3+ 71. Kc2 Rg3 $1 {The last important move, which
Black had to see before 65...Rxf2. The rest is easy.} 72. Rf8 (72. Nxg3+ fxg3
$19) 72... h3 73. Rh8+ Kg4 74. Nf2+ Kf3 75. Nxh3 Kg2 {and the N is trapped.}
0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nd2 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. O-O
c5 9. Qg4 g6 10. Nb5 cxd4 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. Qf4 Bc5 13. Re1 Ba6 14. a3 Bxb5 15.
Bxb5 Qc7 16. b4 Be7 17. Bb2 O-O 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 a6 20. Bd3 f5 21. c3 Nb8
22. h4 Nc6 23. c4 Rad8 24. Bb2 Qb7 25. cxd5 exd5 26. e6 Bf6 27. Bxf6 Rxf6 28.
Rac1 Re8 29. Bxa6 Qb8 30. Qxb8 Nxb8 31. Bb5 Re7 32. Rc8+ Rf8 33. Rec1 Rb7 34.
e7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. e3 e5 4. Bb2 f5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. O-O Nf6 8.
c4 Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 e4 11. Ng5 d5 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Nh3 Nc6 14. Nf4 dxc4
15. d5 Ne5 16. Ne6 Rfc8 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Bxe5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Nxd5 20. Rad1 Rc6
21. Nxg7 Nb6 22. Nf5 Bc5 23. Bd4 Bb4 24. Bxb6 axb6 25. Rd4 Rxa2 26. bxc4 Re6
27. Ng3 e3 28. Rd8+ Kf7 29. fxe3+ Ke7 30. Rb8 Bc5 31. Rxb7+ Kd6 32. Nf5+ Kc6
33. Rxh7 Rc2 34. Rh4 Rg6 35. g3 Kb7 36. Rf2 Rc3 37. Re4 Rc6 38. h4 Bb4 39. Rff4
Rc2 40. h5 Rc7 41. h6 Be1 42. Rh4 Rd7 43. Rd4 Rh7 44. Rdg4 Bc3 45. Rg7+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 b6 2. Nc3 Bb7 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bc5 6. Bg2 d6 7. a3 a5 8. d3 Nge7
9. O-O O-O 10. Nh4 Nd4 11. Be3 Ne6 12. Qg4 g6 13. Bh6 Re8 14. Kh1 Bd4 15. Ne2
Bxb2 16. Ra2 Bd4 17. f4 Nc5 18. f5 Nxd3 19. Qf3 Nf2+ 20. Rxf2 Bxf2 21. Qxf2 Nc6
22. Nf3 gxf5 23. Nc3 fxe4 24. Ng5 f6 25. Ncxe4 fxg5 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Nxe8 Qe7
28. Qf6+ Qxf6 29. Nxf6 a4 30. Rf2 Na5 31. Bxb7 Nxb7 32. Nd5 Nc5 33. Rf7 Ne6 34.
Re7 c6 35. Nxb6 Rb8 36. Rxe6 Kg8 37. Nxa4 Rd8 38. Bxg5 Rd7 39. Re7 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.27"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bd6 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. Be2 a6 13. Nd4 Bd7 14. Bf3 Be6
15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Na4 c5 18. Qe2 c4 19. g3 Qa5 20. Bc3 Qb5 21. Bxf6
gxf6 22. Nc3 Qa5 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. Rfd1 Ba3 25. Rc2 Rfd8 26. Bd5 Bb4 27. Bxe6
fxe6 28. Ne4 f5 29. Nf6+ Kf7 30. Nd7 Kg6 31. Rxc4 Qb5 32. a4 Qxa4 33. Rcd4 Qa5
34. Ne5+ Kf6 35. Qh5 Rxd4 36. exd4 Qc7 37. Qh6+ Ke7 38. Qh4+ Kd6 39. d5 Kxe5
40. Qxb4 Kf6 41. Qh4+ Kg6 42. dxe6 Qc2 43. Qd4 Qe2 44. Qd7 Rc7 45. Qe8+ Kf6 46.
Qf8+ Kg6 47. Qd6 Rc2 48. e7+ Kf7 49. Qd5+ Kg6 50. Qg8+ Kf6 51. Qf8+ Kg5 52.
Qg7+ Kh5 53. Qxh7+ Kg5 54. Qg8+ Kf6 55. Rd6+ Kxe7 56. Qd8+ Kf7 57. Rf6+ 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.28"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. e3 b6 4. d4 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. b3 Bd6 8. Ba3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Rc1 Nbd7 13. Bf5 Nf8 14. Qc2 g6 15.
Bh3 Re7 16. Rfd1 Bc8 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Qd3 Ra8 19. Rc2 Ne6 20. h3 c6 21. Na4
Rb7 22. Rdc1 Nd8 23. Ne5 c5 24. Nf3 c4 25. bxc4 dxc4 26. Qxc4 b5 27. Qc5 Qe6
28. Ng5 Qe8 29. Nb6 Nd7 30. Nxd7 Qxd7 31. Ne4 Qe6 32. Qd5 Qxd5 33. Nf6+ Kg7 34.
Nxd5 Ne6 35. Nc7 Nxc7 36. Rxc7 Raa7 37. Rxb7 Rxb7 38. Kf1 a5 39. Ke2 b4 40. Kd3
Kf6 41. Rc6+ Ke7 42. Kc2 Rb5 43. Rc5 Rxc5+ 44. dxc5 Ke6 45. Kb3 Kd5 46. Ka4
Kxc5 47. Kxa5 Kc4 48. Ka4 g5 49. g4 h6 50. f4 f6 51. f5 Kd5 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.29"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O d6 8. Be3
Nd7 9. Qd2 h6 10. d5 e5 11. b4 f5 12. c5 bxc5 13. bxc5 dxc5 14. Rab1 Rb8 15.
Bb5 O-O 16. d6 cxd6 17. Qxd6 Nb6 18. Bxc5 Bf6 19. Nxe5 Qxd6 20. Bxd6 Kg7 21.
exf5 Rbc8 22. Bxe7 Bxe7 23. Nxg6 Rxc3 24. Nxe7 Kf6 25. Rfe1 Rd8 26. a4 Ra3 27.
Re6+ Kf7 28. Rbe1 Nxa4 29. Rxh6 Be4 30. Bc4+ Kxe7 31. Rxe4+ Kd7 32. Rd4+ Kc7
33. Rh7+ 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 (6. e4 Bb4 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Bd2 {leads to a sharper battle where White doesn't get back the Pc4, but plays
for a long term initiative. Alexander Morozevich recently won a couple of nice
games as White.}) 6... c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. O-O {An almost identical
position may arise also from the Queen's Gambit Accepted, with the only
difference being that Black's pawn is on a6.} Be7 10. Qe2 (10. Bg5 O-O 11. Re1
{is another setup. This position has been analysed and tested in depth,
including in my own games.}) 10... O-O 11. Rd1 Nb4 {The main fight in this
position is around the d5-square.} 12. Bg5 Bd7 $5 {A few years ago this move
used to be considered a serious mistake, but further analysis has proved that
it's playable.} (12... h6 13. Bxf6 $1 (13. Bh4 Bd7 {is an improved version of
the position that arose in our game Kramnik-Wang Hao. Now the central
breakthrough is not recommended:} 14. d5 $6 Nbxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5
17. Rxd5 Bxh4 18. Nxh4 Qc8 {and already White is the one that has to look for
equality.}) 13... Bxf6 14. Ne4 b6 15. Ne5 Bb7 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Nd7 Qg6 18. d5
exd5 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 20. Bd3 $16 {0-1 (45) Edouard,R (2686)-Ernst,S (2556) Wijk
aan Zee 2013}) 13. d5 $1 {It's now or never. If Black gets his bishop on c6,
he will be absolutely fine.} (13. Ne5 Bc6 14. a5 Nfd5 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nxc6
bxc6 $11) 13... exd5 {The play is now forced for a while.} 14. Nxd5 Nbxd5 15.
Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 h6 18. Qd2 hxg5 19. Rxd7 Qf6 20. Rd1 $146 {
Objectively, not an improvement, but it's remarkable that even in such a "dry"
position Kramnik manages to introduce something new. In previous games White
automatically captured the Pb7.} (20. Rxb7 Rfd8 (20... Rab8 21. Rxb8 Rxb8 22.
Rb1 Qe6 23. Qxg5 Qa2 24. Rd1 Qxa4 25. Rd8+ Rxd8 26. Qxd8+ Kh7 27. Qd3+ g6 $14 {
1/2-1/2 (55) Topalov,V (2770)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012}) 21. Qe3 (
21. Qa5 a6 22. h3 Rd6 23. Qb4 Rad8 24. Rb8 Rxb8 25. Qxb8+ Kh7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (29)
Rodshtein,M (2645)-Hansen,S (2566) Porto Carras 2011}) 21... Re8 22. Qb3 Rad8
23. Rf1 a5 24. Rb6 Qd4 25. Rb5 Qd2 26. Rb7 Re6 27. g3 $14 {0-1 (38) Zhou
Jianchao (2636)-Korobov,A (2671) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011}) 20... Rfe8 ({Perhaps
Black could keep the pawn by} 20... b6 21. Rd6 Qf5 22. Rd5 Qe4 $14) 21. Rxb7 {
Now it's very similar to the above-mentioned games.} Rad8 22. Rd7 Rxd7 23. Qxd7
Rb8 24. Qxa7 Rxb2 {White would be happy to swap rooks. A queen endgame with
the passed a-pawn would be winning. However, while the rooks are on the board,
Black's chances for a draw are much higher than White's for a win. Still, I
don't think it was very wise for the Chinese grandmaster to go for such a
position straight from the opening against such an excellent technical player
as Kramnik. In the current game, however, he wasn't even required to
demonstrate his technique...} 25. h3 Ra2 $4 {Yes, even top players may blunder
away pieces. Major pieces.} ({After} 25... Kh7 26. Qc5 ({The rooks ending after
} 26. Qd4 Qxd4 27. Rxd4 Ra2 {will be a draw if Black is accurate enough.})
26... Ra2 27. a5 Qf4 {Black has excellent chances for a draw. His pieces are
active enough and the a-pawn going nowhere.}) 26. Qb8+ (26. Qb8+ Kh7 27. Qb1+
$18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qd1 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qxd4 14. a4 (14.
Be3 Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 c5 {Nielsen,P (2652)-Short,N (2684)/playchess.com INT 2004/
EXT 2005 (1/2, 44)}) 14... c6 15. Qb3 Rd7 16. Bf4 Nd5 17. Bxb8 {A safe way to
retrieve the pawn, but if White needs to spend three tempi with his bishop to
exchange it for an undeveloped knight, then something is surely wrong with the
opening.} Rxb8 18. Rxc6 Nb4 19. Rc1 Bc5 20. Rf1 {This rook has moved a lot
before returning to its location. Little wonder that Black has grabbed the
initiative already.} bxa4 21. Qxa4 Rc7 22. Nc3 Qe5 23. Rfd1 h5 24. Kg2 h4 25.
Ne4 Bf8 26. Rac1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxb2 28. Rc7 Qe5 29. Qd7 Qf5 30. g4 Qf4 31. g5
Nd5 32. Nf6+ Qxf6 33. Qxd5 Qg6 34. Qe5 Rb5 35. Qf4 Rf5 36. Qe4 Qxg5+ 37. Kh3
Rf4 38. Qd3 g6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O e6 (6... Nh6 {is
another possibility, employed few times by Magnus Carlsen and Peter Svidler.
Later on the knight is going to f5 to control the central d4-square.}) 7. b3 {
Obviously, playing such a quiet scheme White can't claim an opening advantage.}
(7. e3 Nge7 8. d4 O-O 9. d5 {is a possible way for White to get some space,
but after} Na5 {Black seems to have a sort of comfortable version of the
King's Indian Defence.}) 7... Nge7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. e3 e5 (9... Nf5 {appeared in
practice as well, with the same idea - fighting aganst the d3-d4 advance.}) 10.
d3 h6 11. a3 $6 $146 {I don't find this move particularly useful in this
position. Instead White can prepare the d3-d4 strike or to adopt a positional
plan by securing control over the d5-square.} ({Check the following classic
game:} 11. Qd2 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. Rad1 Qd7 14. Kh2 d5 $6 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Na4
b6 17. d4 $1 cxd4 (17... e4 18. dxc5 $1 exf3 19. Bxf3 Rad8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21.
Qb2+ f6 22. e4 Ne5 23. Bg2 $16) 18. exd4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21.
Qxd4 Rad8 22. Qh4 Qe7 23. Qxh6 b5 24. Rd4 $1 {[%cal Gd4h4]} Qf6 25. Rh4 Qg7 26.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 27. Nc5 $16 {1-0 (29) Smyslov,V-Sanguineti,R Mar del Plata 1962}) (
11. Nd2 Be6 12. Nd5 {is another plan. Later on White can continue with Rb1,
Bc3, a3 and b4 opening the b-file. The sharp idea f2-f4 is also in the air,
according to circumstances.}) 11... Be6 12. Nd2 (12. Rc1 b6 {and d6-d5 will
follow on the next move.}) 12... d5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 {Now White has a "hedgehog"
setup, which is very flexible. However, objectively Black is already somewhat
ahead thanks to his space superiority.} 14. Rc1 Nde7 $1 {Black has some
advantage in space so it's logical to keep his pieces out of the way of
exchanges.} 15. Nc4 (15. Na4 b6 16. b4 $6 Qxd3 17. bxc5 Rad8 {is in Black's
favour.}) 15... Rb8 16. Qe2 b6 17. f4 {This is the only reasonable way for
White to create counterplay.} exf4 18. gxf4 f5 $15 19. Rfd1 b5 20. Nd2 Qd7 21.
Qf2 a6 (21... Qxd3 $4 22. Nf3 $18 {[%csl Rd3]}) 22. Nde4 $6 {This is sort of a
bluff that worked. It's clear that White is worse and Kramnik understood it
very well. So, he tried to change the unfortunate course of the game at any
cost. The psychological impact is not to be underestimated.} Qa7 $2 {Peter had
played excellently so far, but at the critical moment didn't dare to go for
the most principled continuation. Perhaps he underestimated the move that now
follows.} (22... fxe4 $1 23. Nxe4 Bxb2 24. Qxb2 (24. Nxc5 Bxc1 (24... Qd6 25.
Qxb2 b4 $1 $17) 25. Nxd7 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Bxd7 {Objectively Black is much better,
he has more than enough material for the queen. In a practical game, however,
especially in time trouble this position is not easy to handle.}) 24... Bh3 25.
Nxc5 (25. Nf6+ Rxf6 26. Qxf6 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Qg4+ 28. Kf2 Rf8 29. Qd6 {[%tqu
"En","Black has a winning continuation. Can you spot it?","","","c6d4","",5]}
Nd4 $1 30. exd4 $140 Rxf4+ 31. Ke1 Qg1+ 32. Kd2 Qg2+ $1 33. Kc3 Nd5+ $19) 25...
Qg4 {and after the massive exchange on g2 Black's extra knight will tell in
the endgames.}) 23. Nxc5 $1 {Kramnik didn't miss his chance to get back into
the game.} Qxc5 24. d4 {White is gaining back the piece.} Nxd4 (24... Qd6 $2
25. d5 Bxc3 $2 26. dxc6 $18) (24... Qb6 $2 25. d5 Bxc3 26. Bxc3 Nxd5 27. Bxd5
Bxd5 28. Rxd5 $36 {[%csl Gc3,Rg8]}) 25. exd4 Qd6 26. d5 Bf7 {Black still has a
good position, but now White also has some ideas and anything can happen.} 27.
Na2 $1 Bxb2 28. Qxb2 Rfd8 ({Black shouldn't be too greedy:} 28... Qxf4 $2 29.
d6 {White's passed pawn gets very dangerous.} Nc8 30. Qd4 Qxd4+ 31. Rxd4 $36 {
[%cal Gc1c7,Ga2b4]}) 29. Qd4 Rbc8 (29... Qxa3 30. Nb4 a5 31. Na6 Rbc8 32. Nc7 {
might be playable for Black when you analyse it with an engine at home, but
during a game hardly any human would go for that.}) 30. Rxc8 Rxc8 31. Nb4 Rd8
32. Qa7 Rd7 33. Qxa6 Qxa6 $2 {Peter couldn't stand the pressure. The exchange
of queens is White's dream in this position.} (33... Qc5+ $1 34. Kh1 ({The
engine prefers} 34. Kf1 {I can't figure out the reason to put the king on a
more exposed square.}) 34... Kg7 {was still perfectly playable for Black.
White's king is vulnerable - this is the main reason why Black should keep the
queens on the board.}) 34. Nxa6 Nxd5 (34... Bxd5 35. Nc5 Rd8 36. a4 bxa4 37.
bxa4 $18) 35. Nc5 Rd8 {Probably Leko didn't realise in time that he can't get
out of the pin along the d-file without losing material.} (35... Rc7 36. Rxd5
Bxd5 37. Bxd5+ Kh7 38. b4 Ra7 39. Bc6 Rxa3 40. Bxb5 {and White will win,
slowly, but surely.}) 36. Rd4 Kf8 37. Nd3 $1 {The knight invasion to e5 is
devastating.} Ke8 38. Ne5 Be6 39. Nxg6 Rd7 (39... Ne7 40. Rxd8+ Kxd8 41. Nxe7
Kxe7 42. b4 {White wins this endgame thanks to a classic zugzwang, as follows:}
Kd6 43. Kf2 Bc8 44. Ke3 Be6 45. Kd4 Bd7 46. Bh3 Be6 47. Bf1 Bd7 48. Bd3 h5 49.
h4 $18) 40. Kf2 Rg7 41. Bxd5 Rxg6 42. Bxe6 Rxe6 43. Rd5 Ra6 44. Rxf5 Rxa3 45.
Rxb5 {Two extra pawns promise White an easy win. Leko didn't suffer for too
long.} Kd7 46. Kf3 Kc6 47. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.08.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fridman, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2629"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 {The double
fianchetto gives Black quite a wide choice of plausible set-ups. In the notes
to Kamsky-Shirov, Bazna 2009 in CBM 131 I dealt in more detail with the
ambitious} (6... d4 $5 {(Shirov's choice)} 7. e3 c5 8. exd4 cxd4 9. Re1 Nc6 10.
d3 a5 11. Bb2 Qb6 12. Na3 a4 13. Nb5 a3 14. Bc1 Ne8 15. Rb1 Bd7 16. Qe2 Nc7 17.
Nxc7 Qxc7 18. Bf4 Bd6 19. Ne5 Ra5 20. b4 Nxb4 21. c5 Bxc5 22. Rec1 Qd8 23. Rxc5
Rxc5 24. Rxb4 Bc8 25. h4 f6 26. Nc4 b5 27. Nxa3 e5 28. Bd2 Be6 29. Rxb5 Rxb5
30. Nxb5 Qb6 31. a4 Bb3 32. Bb4 Rb8 33. Bd6 Rc8 34. Qb2 Bc2 35. Bh3 Rc6 36.
Qa2+ Kh8 37. Qf7 Qd8 38. Bf8 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2754)-Hammer,J (2633)/Cap d'Agde
2010/EXT 2011}) ({Another option is} 6... b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Nc3 Ne4
$5 ({The more common} 9... c5 10. Qe2 Rc8 {is also good enough for equality} (
10... dxc4 11. bxc4 Ne4 $5 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. d3 Bc6 14. a4 Bf6 15. a5 Bxb2 16.
Qxb2 Qc7 17. axb6 axb6 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Ra1 h6 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Ne1 Bxg2 22.
Nxg2 Ne5 23. Ne1 Nd7 {Movsesian,S (2693)-Shimanov,A (2639)/EU-ch Legnica/2013/}
)) 10. cxd5 (10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Nc5 12. d4 Ne4 13. Bb2 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15.
Rfd1 Bf6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Ne1 Rc8 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Rac1 Ne4 20. Qxc8 Qxc8 21.
Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Kf1 {1/2,Ftacnik,L (2547)-Sanikidze,T (2580)/
Bundesliga/2012/}) 10... Nxc3 (10... exd5 11. Ne2 $5 c5 12. d3 Bf6 13. Qc2 Bxb2
14. Qxb2 Qf6 15. Qxf6 Nexf6 16. Rfd1 Rfe8 17. Nc3 Nf8 18. d4 Ne6 19. dxc5 bxc5
20. Rac1 Rad8 21. Ne5 Ba8 22. Na4 g6 23. f4 Rc8 24. Bf3 $14 {Malakhov,V (2705)
-Azarov,S (2667)/EU-ch Plovdiv/2012/}) 11. dxc3 Bxd5 12. c4 Bb7 13. Qc2 Qc8 14.
Rad1 Rd8 15. h4 h6 16. Rd2 c5 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Bxe5
Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qc6+ 22. f3 Be7 23. h5 a6 24. Rd3 Rd8 $11 {Malakhov,V (2605)
-Razuvaev,Y (2555)/Porto San Giorgio/2000/}) 7. Bb2 Nc6 (7... b6 8. e3 (8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. Qb1 Nd7 12. Bc3 Re8 13. Rd1 Rc8 14. Qb2 Bf8
15. d4 Qc7 16. Rac1 Qb7 $11 {Krasenkow,M (2661)-Beliavsky,A (2640)/Lvov/2000/})
8... Bb7 9. Nc3 Nbd7 {leads to a position, mentioned already in the previous
note.}) 8. e3 b6 ({Although lately Black hasn't been doing too well with} 8...
d4 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 Ne8 {, this still remains a viable fighting
alternative to achieve an imbalanced position:} 11. Na3 f6 12. Nc2 e5 13. d3 a5
(13... Nc7 14. a3 Rb8 15. Nd2 Bf5 16. Ne4 Qd7 17. Rc1 a6 $6 (17... b5 $5) 18.
b4 Bg4 19. f3 Bh5 20. Qd2 f5 21. Nf2 Kh8 22. f4 exf4 23. Qxf4 Bf6 24. a4 g5 25.
Qd2 $14 {Charbonneau,P (2505)-Hungaski,R (2471)/USA tt ICC/2013/}) 14. a3 Nc7
15. Nd2 (15. Qd2 Rb8 $5 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 16. b4 b5 $13) 15... Ne6 (15... Bf5 $142
16. Ne4 Qd7 $132 (16... Ne6 $5)) 16. Qe2 Kh8 17. Rab1 Bd6 18. Ne4 Bc7 19. b4 f5
20. Nd2 e4 21. Red1 exd3 22. Qxd3 Ne5 23. Qb3 a4 24. Qa2 f4 25. Ne4 f3 26. Bf1
Qe8 27. Nxd4 Nxd4 28. Bxd4 Bf5 29. Nc3 Qh5 30. h4 Bxb1 31. Qxb1 $44 {Nikolic,P
(2636)-Bindrich,F (2548)/Bundesliga/2011/}) 9. Nc3 dxc4 {Black doesn't have to
resolve the central tension yet.} ({In my opinion the best continuation is} 
9... Ba6 $5 10. d3 Rc8 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Ne1 (12. Rac1 Rfd8 13. Rfd1 Qb8 14. Nb5
Bb7 15. d4 a6 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nc3 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4
Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ {1/2,Stohl,I (2518)-Tibensky,R (2396)
/SVK-chT/2012/}) 12... Rfd8 (12... Qd7 13. Nc2 Nb4 14. e4 d4 15. Nd1 Nxc2 16.
Qxc2 Ne8 17. f4 f5 18. Nf2 Bb7 19. Qe2 Nd6 20. Bc1 Rce8 21. Bd2 Nf7 22. Rab1 a5
23. a3 Bd6 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 e5 26. bxc5 bxc5 27. Qh5 g6 28. Qh3 $14 {
Eljanov,P (2702)-Roiz,M (2617)/EU-ch Legnica/2013/}) 13. f4 (13. Nc2 $5) 13...
Qd7 14. Nf3 d4 15. Ne4 dxe3 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bb7 19. Bxh7+
Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Qxf7+ Kh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 {1/2,Kulaots,K (2581)-Ladva,O 
(2310)/Viljandi/2013/}) (9... Bb7 {is a natural and very often played
alternative, but here White retains a pull with} 10. cxd5 $1 exd5 (10... Nxd5
11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. d4 $14) 11. d4 $14 Ne4 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 bxc5 14. Qe2
Re8 15. Rfd1 Bf8 16. Qb5 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Rxd5 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bxd5
cxd4 21. Bxd4 Ra5 22. e4 Bc5 23. Bc3 Ra3 24. Bb2 Ra7 25. a4 $16 {Kramnik,V 
(2795)-Jones,G (2644)/London/2012/ Kramnik was in control and went on to win
an impressive game; no wonder Fridman didn't want to repeat this line.}) 10.
bxc4 Qd3 {A rare and very aggressive sortie, attempting to disrupt White's
set-up. However, although it prevents central activity (connected with d4), on
the other hand it enables Kramnik faster expansion on the kingside. Overall
the text-move has both drawbacks and pluses nad it's not so easy to
unequivocally state, which prevail here.} ({The natural continuation} 10... Bb7
{is usually played without much thought:} 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Nb5 Qd7 13. Rfd1 a6
14. Nc3 Qc7 (14... Rfd8 15. Rab1 Rab8 16. Ba1 Ba8 17. d3 Na5 18. Ne5 Qc7 19.
Bxa8 Rxa8 20. f4 Nc6 21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. Qg2 Qxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Ng4 24. Kf3 Nxh2+ 25.
Kg2 Ng4 26. Kf3 {1/2,Akopian,V (2691)-Georgiev,K (2636)/Khanty-Mansiysk blitz/
2013/}) 15. d3 (15. Rab1 Rab8 16. Ba1 Rfd8 17. Ne1 Na7 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Rb3 b5
20. cxb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Nxb5 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Rdb1 Qe4 24. Rxb5 Qxb1 25. Rxb1
Rxb1 26. Kg2 Rb2 27. Nf3 {Movsesian,S (2693)-Mamedov,N (2602)/EU-ch Legnica/
2013/} Rxa2 $11) 15... Rfd8 16. Rab1 Rab8 17. Ba1 Ba8 $5 (17... Na7 18. d4 $5 (
18. a4 Bc6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nc6 21. f4 Ne8 22. Qf3 Bf6 23. Ne4 Bxa1 24.
Rxa1 Nb4 25. Nc3 Rd7 26. Rd2 Rbd8 $11 {Spassky,B (2605)-Portisch,L (2600)/
Tilburg/1983/}) 18... cxd4 ({Safer is} 18... b5 $142 $5 $132) 19. exd4 b5 20.
d5 $1 exd5 (20... Qxc4 21. Qxc4 bxc4 22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Ng5 $14)
21. cxd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Rxd5 23. Re1 Bf8 24. Be5 $36 {Kortschnoj,V (2635)
-Georgiev,K (2545)/Lugano op/1986/}) (17... Na5 18. Nd2 (18. Ng5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
b5 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Nce4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 f5 $15 {Kuzmicz,K (2434)-Dziuba,M 
(2593)/Wroclaw/2011/}) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc6+ 20. Kg1 b5 21. cxb5 axb5 $132 {
Genov,P (2468)-Shalamberidze,A (2386)/Malatya/2013/}) 18. h3 Na7 19. d4 Ne4 $5
20. Rbc1 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 cxd4 22. exd4 Bf6 $11 {Efimenko,Z (2689)-Landa,K (2641)/
Bundesliga/2013/}) 11. Ne1 (11. Ne5 $2 Nxe5 12. Bxa8 Nxc4 $36) (11. Ng5 Bb7 12.
Nce4 Qd8 $1 {forces exchanges and gives Black a comfortable position.}) (11.
Qb3 {[%cal Rc3d5]} Qd8 $5 (11... Na5 12. Ne5 Nxb3 (12... Qf5 13. Nc6 Nxc6 14.
Bxc6 Rb8 15. Nb5 $5 a6 16. Na7 $14) 13. Nxd3 Nxa1 14. Bxa8 Nc2 15. Rc1 Rd8 16.
Rxc2 Rxd3 17. Nb5 a6 18. Na7 Bd7 19. Nc6 $14) 12. d3 (12. d4 Na5 {[%csl Rc4]})
12... Bb7 $11 {and although Black has lost a tempo, White's Q is also
misplaced.}) 11... Qd7 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. f4 Rfd8 $146 (13... Na5 14. d3 Bxg2 15.
Qxg2 Rfd8 16. g4 Ne8 17. Rd1 Nd6 18. Nf3 Qb7 19. e4 b5 (19... a6 $5 20. e5 Ne8
21. f5 b5 22. Ne4 bxc4 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Nfg5 $14 {[%cal Rg5e6,Rg2f2]}) 20. e5
Ndxc4 21. dxc4 Nxc4 22. Bc1 $16 {Kosten,A (2516)-Hernando Rodrigo,J (2381)/
Castelldefels/2004/}) 14. Rd1 Nb4 15. d3 ({This move is possible aimed against
the simplifying} 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. g4 Ne4 $5 $132 {/\} 17. Qg2 Nd6) 15... Bxg2
16. Nxg2 $5 {Kramnik finds an original way to activate an otherwise passive
piece.} (16. Qxg2 a6 {[%cal Yb6b5]} 17. a3 Nc6 18. g4 b5 $5 19. Nf3 $5 $13 (19.
cxb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 $6 Nd5 $36)) 16... a6 17. a3 Nc6 (17... Nxd3 $4 18. Ne1) 18.
g4 {[%mdl 128] ->>> An attacking plan, typical for this type of positions.} Ne8
({More energetic is the direct} 18... b5 $1 19. g5 (19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 Rdb8
$36 21. Nc3 Nxg4 $17) 19... Ne8 20. Ne4 Rab8 $132 (20... Qb7 $5 $13)) 19. f5 $1
({Fridman reckoned mainly with the weaker} 19. g5 $143 Nd6 $11 {[%cal Yb6b5] -
Black limits the Nc3, prepares b5 and is doing OK}) 19... Nd6 (19... e5 20. Nd5
$14) (19... exf5 20. Nd5 Rab8 21. gxf5 $36 {[%cal Yf5f6]} (21. Rxf5 Nd6 22. Rh5
b5 $132)) 20. f6 $5 {[%mdl 512] An enterprising positional sacrifice, which
Houdini & co start appreciating only after a very long time. Kramnik was
obviously in a fighting mood and wanted to spice up the position in comparison
with the more mundane alternatives:} (20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Nf4 Bg5 (21... b5 22.
Ne4 $1 Nxe4 23. dxe4 Qc8 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. Nh5 g6 26. Bf6 $1 $40) (21... Rab8
22. Ne4 $5 $14) 22. Nh5 e5 (22... Qc7 $5) 23. Ng3 $14) (20. Nf4 $5 Bg5 (20...
exf5 21. Ncd5 $16 {[%cal Rd5b6,Rf4h5]}) 21. fxe6 {-20.fxe6}) 20... Bxf6 21.
Rxf6 gxf6 22. Nf4 $44 Ne5 (22... f5 23. Nh5 Kf8 (23... Qc8 24. Rf1 $5 $44) 24.
Nf6 Qb7 25. gxf5 Nxf5 26. Rf1 $44 Ke7 $6 27. Ncd5+ exd5 28. cxd5 Nh4 29. Qh5
$40) 23. Nh5 Qe7 24. Rf1 Nd7 $8 (24... Ne8 $6 25. Ne4 $36) (24... f5 $2 25.
gxf5 Kh8 (25... Qg5+ 26. Kh1 {[%cal Rf1g1]} exf5 27. Nd5 $18) (25... Nxf5 26.
Ne4 $18) 26. fxe6 Qxe6 27. Nd5 $16) 25. Qg2 (25. Qf2 b5 26. Qf4 Qf8 $5 {
and Black survives a direct assault:} (26... bxc4 $2 27. Nd5 exd5 28. Bxf6 Nxf6
29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. Qg7+ Ke8 31. Nxf6+ $18) (26... e5 27. Qg3 $5 $44 {[%cal Rc3d5]
} (27. Qh6 Qf8 28. Nxf6+ Nxf6 29. Qxf6 Qg7 30. Nd5 Qxf6 31. Nxf6+ Kf8 $11)) 27.
Ne4 (27. Nd5 exd5 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Qxf6+ Kg8 $11) 27... Nxe4 28.
Qxe4 e5 29. Nxf6+ (29. Rxf6 bxc4 30. Qf5 cxd3 31. Qg5+ Kh8 32. Rd6 (32. Bxe5
Nxe5 33. Qxe5 Kg8 $11 (33... Re8 34. Qc3 Kg8 35. Rd6 Rxe3 $5 36. Nf6+ Kh8 $11))
32... f6 33. Rxf6 Qe7 (33... Nxf6 $2 34. Bxe5 $18) (33... Qg8 34. Rf8 $1 Qxf8
35. Bxe5+ {- 33..Qe7}) 34. Rf8+ Qxf8 35. Bxe5+ Nxe5 36. Qxe5+ Kg8 37. Qg5+ Kf7
38. Qf6+ $11 Ke8 $4 39. Qe6+ Qe7 40. Nf6+ Kf8 41. Qg8#) 29... Nxf6 30. Rxf6 Re8
$13) 25... h6 ({After} 25... b5 $5 26. g5 $5 (26. Ne2 Ne8 27. Neg3 Qd6 $1 $15)
(26. Ne4 Nxe4 27. Qxe4 e5 $15) 26... fxg5 (26... f5 27. Nf6+ $44) 27. Nd5 exd5
28. Nf6+ Nxf6 29. Qxg5+ Kf8 30. Bxf6 Qc7 31. cxd5 {White has a guaranteed draw,
but probably not more than that after} Ke8 (31... Qb6 32. Be7+ Ke8 33. Qe5 Kd7
34. Rf6 Kc7 35. Bxd6+ Rxd6 36. Qe7+ Rd7 37. Qxd7+ Kxd7 38. Rxb6 c4 $11) 32.
Qg8+ Kd7 33. Qg4+ $11) 26. h4 (26. Ne2 $6 f5 $1 27. gxf5+ Qg5 $17) (26. Ne4 $5
Nxe4 27. Qxe4 e5 28. Ng3 $44 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Rg3f5]}) 26... Kf8 $6 {Fridman
starts cracking at the moment when he should have lashed out with} (26... b5
$142 $1 {, e.g.} 27. Ne2 (27. g5 fxg5 {and White has nothing concrete}) 27...
Ne8 28. Neg3 bxc4 29. Ne4 e5 (29... Rab8 $5 30. Bxf6 (30. Bc3 e5) 30... Nexf6
31. Nexf6+ Nxf6 32. Nxf6+ Kf8 33. g5 Qb7 34. Qg4 cxd3 35. gxh6 Ke7 36. h7 Rh8
37. Qg5 Kd6 38. Qf4+ Kc6 39. Qe4+ Kd6 40. Qxd3+ (40. Qf4+ $11) 40... Ke7 41.
Qc3 Qc7 42. Rf4 $44 {/=}) 30. g5 fxg5 31. hxg5 Qe6 (31... Kh8 32. g6 $1 fxg6
33. Nf4 $40) 32. Nhf6+ $5 (32. Nhg3 {[%cal Rg3f5]} Qg4 $5 33. Qf2 f5 $1 34.
gxf6 Nexf6 35. Bxe5 Rf8 36. Nxf6+ Nxf6 37. Bxf6 Rae8 $1 {[%cal Re8e6]} (37...
Rxf6 38. Qxf6 Qxg3+ $11) 38. Qg2 Rxe3 $17) 32... Ndxf6 33. gxf6+ Kf8 34. Nxc5
Qc8 35. Ne4 $44) 27. Qg3 Ke8 28. Qf4 Qf8 $2 {The decisive mistake.} (28... b5
$2 29. Nd5 exd5 30. Bxf6 $18) (28... Rdc8 29. Qxh6 Qf8 30. Nxf6+ (30. Qf4 $5
$36 {/\} f5 $6 31. gxf5 Nxf5 32. Ne4 $40) 30... Nxf6 31. Qxf6 b5 32. Qf4 $5 $44
{[%cal Yc3e2,Gb2e5] gives White good compensation and probably even an
advantage, but the outcome of the game is still undecided.}) 29. Nd5 $1 {
[%csl Rf6]} exd5 30. Bxf6 $18 {[%cal Rh5g7]} Ne5 (30... Nb8 31. Bg7 $1 Qe7 32.
Nf6+ $18) 31. Qxe5+ Kd7 32. Bg7 {Black's queen is trapped and the game is over.
} Re8 33. Nf6+ Kc7 34. Qa1 (34. Nxd5+ Kc6 35. Qb2 $18) (34. Qa1 Qxg7 35. Nxd5+
$18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.08.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. Bc4 {Rather
harmless.} (13. Bb5 {and}) (13. h4 {are more common here}) 13... Nc6 14. d5
exd5 15. Bxd5 h6 $146 (15... Be6 {is usually played as this move should be
made anyway:} 16. O-O (16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Ke2 Rac8 18. Rhd1 Bb2 19. Rb1 Nd4+ 20.
Kf1 Nxf3 21. Rxb2 Nxh2+ (21... Nxd2+ $5 22. Rbxd2 g5 $11) 22. Ke1 Ng4 23. f3
Ne5 24. Rxb7 Rf7 $11 {1/2 (34) Bazant,P-Ftacnik,L (2550) Czechoslovakia 1992})
16... Bxd5 (16... Rac8 17. Be3 h6 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 19. h3 Kf8 20. a3 b6 21. Bxe6
Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 fxe6 {0-1 (23) Bazant,P (2355)-Baumgartner,U (2380) ICCF 1996}
23. Rd7 $14) 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Rfe1 Bd6 20. g3 Rfd8 21. Bg5 Rd7
22. Kg2 {1/2 (22) Bazant,P (2355)-Grasso,G (2445) ICCF 1996}) 16. O-O Re8 17.
Rb1 Re7 18. Rfc1 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Kf1 Rd8 $11 {White has no advantage in
this ending but the position is still playable and to Kramnik's taste.} 21. Be3
Rd3 22. Ne1 Rd8 23. h4 Rf7 24. Nf3 Rd3 25. Bc5 Rfd7 26. Ke2 Rc3 27. Rxc3 Bxc3 {
[%mdl 4096]} 28. g4 Bf6 $6 (28... Kf7 $142 29. Be3 Bg7 30. g5 $140 h5) 29. Be3
Kg7 (29... Bg7 $1) 30. g5 {[%mdl 32]} hxg5 31. hxg5 {The opening of the h-file
is the first real achievement for White.} Be7 (31... Bc3 $142 {keeping control
of the long diagonal} 32. Rb3 $140 Ba1 {M.Golubev}) 32. Bd2 Bd8 (32... Kf7 $142
33. Bc3 Bf8 {[%cal Yf8g7]}) 33. Bc3+ Kg8 34. Bf6 (34. Rh1 {is harmless due to}
Rh7 {e.g.} 35. Rd1 Bb6) 34... Bb6 (34... Bxf6 35. gxf6 {[%csl Gf6] - such a
bishop exchange is obviously favourable to White.}) 35. Nh2 $5 Rh7 (35... e5
36. Ng4 Rd4 37. Kf3 (37. f3 Ra4) 37... Rd3+ 38. Kg2 Rd2 39. a4 {- Black's
problems remain.}) 36. Ng4 {White's pressure gradually increases.} Kf8 (36...
Nd4+ $2 37. Bxd4 Bxd4 38. Rd1) (36... Rh4 37. Kf3 {[%cal Yf3g3,Yb1d1]}) 37. Kf3
Ke8 38. Kg2 Rh4 39. Kg3 Rh7 40. f4 (40. Ba1 Bd8 41. Nf6+ Bxf6 42. gxf6 {
was possible but White was not sure that he could break up Black's position
after} Nd8 {and preferred to keep some tension.}) 40... Rd7 41. Rh1 (41. Ne5
Nxe5 42. Bxe5 Rd3+ 43. Kg4 Bf2 44. f5 exf5+ 45. exf5 Rd5 {(M.Golubev)} 46. Bf6
Rxf5 47. Rxb7 Ra5 {- Black should not lose.}) 41... Rd3+ 42. Kg2 Rd2+ (42...
Bc7 $5 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Rh7+ Kc8) 43. Kf3 Rd3+ 44. Kg2 Rd2+ 45. Kf3 Rd3+ 46.
Ke2 Rg3 47. Rh4 Kd7 (47... Ra3 {looks risky due to} 48. Rh6 {A line like} Rxa2+
49. Kf1 Ra3 50. Rxg6 Rf3+ 51. Kg2 Rxf4 52. Kg3 Rxe4 53. Rg8+ Kd7 54. g6 Nd4 55.
Ne5+ Kc7 56. g7 Nf5+ 57. Kf3 Re3+ 58. Kf4 Rg3 59. Bd8+ Kd6 60. Bxb6 Rxg7 61.
Rd8+ Ke7 62. Ba5 {can hardly be calculated over the board :-), and even then
it is not yet a draw.}) 48. Bg7 (48. Rh7+ $5 Ke8 (48... Kc8 49. Ne5 Re3+ (49...
Nxe5 50. Bxe5 Re3+ 51. Kd2 Rxe4 52. Rh6) 50. Kd2 Rxe4 51. Nxg6 $16 {[%csl Gg5]}
) 49. Ne5 Nxe5 50. Bxe5 Re3+ 51. Kd2 Rxe4 52. Rxb7 $14 {_|_}) 48... Nd4+ (48...
Bc7 $5) (48... Kd6 $5) 49. Kf1 $1 Kc6 {After Black's king launches queenside
counterplay, the endgame turns into a total mess.} (49... Nf3 50. Ne5+ Nxe5 51.
Bxe5 Re3 52. Rh7+ Kd8 $1 53. Rg7 Rxe4 54. Kg2 $1 (54. Rxg6 $143 Bd4) 54... Bd4
55. Bxd4 Rxd4 56. Kf3 {- this rook ending is dangerous for Black.}) 50. Ne5+
Kb5 51. Rh2 $1 (51. Nxg6 $143 Nf3 52. Rh7 Nd2+ 53. Ke2 Nxe4) 51... Re3 52. Rb2+
Ka4 53. Bf8 (53. Nxg6 $5 Rxe4 54. Bxd4 Bxd4 (54... Rxd4 55. Kg2) 55. Rxb7 Ka3 (
55... a5 56. Rb3) 56. Rb5 $1 {(stopping Black's pawn)} Kxa2 57. Kg2 {, but here
} e5 $1 {apparently saves the game.}) 53... Ba5 $6 (53... Rxe4 $1 54. Rb4+ Ka5
55. Nxg6 Ka6 {[%cal Yb6a5]}) 54. Nxg6 Rxe4 55. Bd6 $6 (55. Rxb7 $142 $16 {
Somehow both players neglect this pawn!}) 55... Nf5 56. Be5 Ne3+ 57. Ke2 Nf5+
58. Kf2 Bb6+ 59. Rxb6 {[%mdl 512] Unable to neutralise Black's annoying pieces,
White sacrifices an exchange.} axb6 60. Nf8 Ka3 $6 {Not a good plan. The king
is needed on the kingside:} (60... Kb5 61. Nxe6 (61. g6 Ra4) 61... Ra4 62. Kf3
Kc6 {, and Black is not worse.}) 61. Nxe6 Kxa2 (61... Rc4 $5) 62. g6 Rc4 63.
Nd4 $1 Nh6 (63... Nxd4 $2 64. g7 Rc2+ 65. Kf1 Rc1+ 66. Kg2 Rc2+ 67. Kh3 Rc8 68.
Bxd4 $18) 64. g7 (64. Kf3 $5 {[%cal Ye5g7,Yf4f5]}) 64... Rc5 (64... Rc8 $5) 65.
Ne6 (65. Nf5 $5 Ng8 66. Nd6 b5 67. Ne4 Rc8 68. Nc3+ Kb3 69. Nxb5 {with some
winning chances for White, according to GM M.Golubev.}) 65... Rc8 66. Nf8 b5
67. f5 Rc2+ (67... b4 $5 68. f6 b3 {is quite possible as after} 69. f7 Nxf7 70.
g8=Q Nxe5 {Black is not worse}) 68. Kf3 Rc1 (68... b4 $5) 69. f6 Rf1+ 70. Ke4
Ng8 (70... b4 $2 71. Bf4 Ng8 72. f7 $18) 71. Kd5 b4 72. Nh7 b3 73. Ke6 Nxf6 $1
(73... b2 $4 74. Bxb2 Kxb2 75. f7 Rxf7 76. Kxf7 Nh6+ 77. Kf8 b5 78. Ng5 b4 79.
Nf7 $18) 74. Bxf6 Rg1 75. Bg5 Rxg5 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A terrible blunder.} (75...
b2 76. g8=Q b1=Q 77. Qa8+ Kb3 78. Qxb7+ Kc2 {was not as dangerous for Black as
it might seem, e.g.} 79. Qe4+ Kb3 80. Qd5+ Kc2 81. Qc4+ Kd1 $11) 76. Nxg5 {
Only now Black noticed} (76. Nxg5 b2 77. Ne4 $1 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bwalya, Gillan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2315"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 d6 7. d4 d5 8. Nbd2
c6 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. Nd3 Ne4 11. f3 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Nf6 13. c4 Qe8 14. a4 Bd7 15.
a5 Rd8 16. Rfe1 Qh5 17. Ne5 a6 18. Ba3 Bxa3 19. Rxa3 Bc8 20. b4 dxc4 21. Nxc4
Qe8 22. Rd3 Qe7 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 Bd7 25. d5 Rde8 26. d6 Qd8 27. Ne5 Qc8 28.
Bh3 Kh8 29. Qe3 Rd8 30. Red1 Qb8 31. Rf1 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Bwalya, Gillan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2315"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O Re8 12. Rc1 Na6 13. Qc2 g6 14. Rfd1 c4
15. Bf1 Nc7 16. Re1 b5 17. g3 a5 18. Bg2 b4 19. Ne2 Nb5 20. Nd2 Qb6 21. a4 Nc7
22. h4 Rad8 23. h5 Ne6 24. Nf3 Bc8 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Qd2 Bg7 27. Red1 Qd6 28.
Ra1 Nc7 29. Nh2 Na8 30. Nf4 Nb6 31. b3 Bf5 32. Qb2 Rc8 33. Rdc1 g5 34. Nh5 Qg6
35. Nxg7 Kxg7 36. bxc4 dxc4 37. d5+ c3 38. Qb3 Be4 39. Bxe4 Qxe4 40. d6 Rh8 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.16"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Ne2 Be7 7. Nbc3 Nd4 8. O-O
O-O 9. f4 a6 10. a4 b6 11. Nd5 Rb8 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Ng3 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bh4 15.
Qh5 Bf6 16. c4 g6 17. Qd1 Bg7 18. Ra2 Qe7 19. Bc3 Be6 20. Raf2 b5 21. axb5 axb5
22. Kh1 h5 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. Nf5 gxf5 25. exf5 bxc4 26. f6 Qd6 27. fxg7 Kxg7
28. bxc4 Bxd5 29. Qxh5 f5 30. cxd5 Qg6 31. Qh4 Rbe8 32. Rf3 Re3 33. Rxe3 dxe3
34. Qe7+ Rf7 35. Qxe3 f4 36. Qe5+ Qf6 37. Qxf6+ Rxf6 38. g3 f3 39. Kg1 Rf5 40.
d6 Kf6 41. Kf2 Ke5 42. Re1+ Kxd6 43. Re3 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Be3
Rd8 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. f3 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Rd3 19. Kf2 Rad8 20. Bg5
R8d7 21. h4 h5 22. Kg3 Kh7 23. Rc2 c5 24. Rxc5 Bxe4 25. Rc8 Bb7 26. Rf8 f5 27.
exf6 e5 28. Re8 e4 29. Rb1 exf3 30. Rxb7 fxg2+ 31. Kxg2 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.19"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 Nf6 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Be3 Bf8 12. Nd2 Be6 13. Nde4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 f5
15. Nc3 Qd7 16. Kh2 Rad8 17. a3 b6 18. Qd2 Ne7 19. Re2 Bf7 20. Qe1 Bh5 21. f3
Nc6 22. g4 Bf7 23. gxf5 Qxf5 24. Ne4 Nd4 25. Rd2 c5 26. Qf2 Kh8 27. Rg1 Bd5 28.
Qg3 Ne6 29. h4 Nf4 30. Bf1 c4 31. dxc4 Bxe4 32. fxe4 Rxd2+ 33. Bxd2 Qxe4 34.
Bd3 Nxd3 35. cxd3 Qc6 36. Bc3 Kg8 37. Qg4 Qf6 38. Kh3 Bc5 39. Rg3 Rf8 40. Rg2
Rd8 41. Qe4 Qf1 42. Kh2 Rxd3 43. Qg4 Qf6 44. Re2 Bd4 45. Bd2 Rf3 46. Rg2 e4 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.20"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15.
Qe2 Rfa8 16. b5 cxb5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Qxe7 Rc8 19. Rab1 bxc5 20. Rxb5 Re6 21.
Qg5 h6 22. Qxd5 Rd6 23. Qa2 Qc6 24. Qe2 cxd4 25. Rfb1 a4 26. Ne1 Nc5 27. Nd3
Nxd3 28. Qxd3 Qc3 29. Rd1 Re6 30. Re5 Rxe5 31. fxe5 Qb3 32. Qxd4 Qxa3 33. Kg2
Qb3 34. Qd7 Ra8 35. Rd3 Qe6 36. Qb7 Qc8 37. Qf3 Ra5 38. Ra3 Qe8 39. Qe4 g6 40.
f4 h5 41. h4 Kg7 42. Qb4 Qc6+ 43. Kf2 Rb5 44. Qd4 Qc2+ 45. Kf3 Rb2 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.23"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rd1 Nd5 {A move that has been tried more and
more recently. The more common move is 11...Nb4.} 12. Bd2 Ncb4 13. a5 {A
novelty that shouldn't change the character of the position, but one that
certainly puts some pressure on Black's queenside. Normally in these positions
Black is very solid but he lacks space and an active plan. It's White's task
however on how to proceed from here.} Bd7 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Ne5 Be8 16. Qf3 f6
{Not something that Black wants to do, after all f6 is a considerable
weakening of the e6-square, but Black could simply not live with White's
knight on e5 for too much longer.} 17. Nd3 Bf7 18. Qg4 Kh8 19. Nc5 $1 {White
exploits the weakness on e6 to transform his advantages. He will now be able
to enjoy the superior pawn structure and the pair of bishops.} Bxc5 20. dxc5
Qc7 21. a6 $1 {Powerful play, this forces a weakness in Black's camp and makes
the c-pawn a passed pawn.} bxa6 $6 (21... b6 {seemed like the lesser of two
evils} 22. cxb6 Qxb6 23. b4 $5 {but possibly Korobov didn't want to live with
the permanently weak a7-pawn.}) 22. b4 Rfd8 23. Rxa6 h5 24. Qf3 Rab8 25. Be1 $1
Nxb4 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Rxa7 {White's passed pawn is very powerful. It will be
difficult for Black to stop it.} Kg8 28. c6 Nd5 29. Rb7 $2 {A bad move that
gives Black just enough time to mount strong pressure on c6.} (29. Rd7 Qe8 30.
Bd3 $1 {Controlling b1 seemed like a good human way of continuing.}) (29. Qa3
$1 Rb1 30. Kf1 {is the computer continuation, who thinks White is simply
winning. However allowing ...Rb1 is hardly human.}) 29... Rc8 30. Bb5 Qd6 31.
Qe4 Qc5 {Suddenly White's c-pawn is not only not going anywhere, it is also in
danger of simply falling.} 32. h3 g6 $2 (32... Ne7 $1 {Black had to take this
time and eliminate the c-pawn while hte could. There is no longer any way of
defending c6 but with a few seconds left on his clock Korobov must have
believed that Kramnik had some sort of tactical refutation to this obvious
move.}) 33. Bd2 {And now Black's position will be almost impossible to hold.}
Rxc6 $6 {This desperation attempt simply does not work. Black's king is too
weak to set up any kind of fortress.} 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Qb1 g5 36. h4 $1 {
Opening diagonals and routes to the Black king is what is going to give White
the full point.} gxh4 (36... Nf4 37. Bxf4 gxf4 38. Qb3 {is probably more
troublesome for White, but at the end Black's king is too weak and White
should win without problems.}) 37. Bh6 Nc7 38. Ra7 $6 (38. Qb4 $1 {was
immediately finishing the game, but Korobov was not the only one in time
trouble by this point.}) 38... Nb5 39. Qb4 {Back on track, but now Black's
knight saves him from immediate resignation.} Nd6 40. Qb8+ Ne8 41. Re7 e5 42.
Kh2 h3 43. gxh3 Kh7 44. Be3 Kg8 45. Qb1 Qd6 46. Qg1+ Kf8 47. Ra7 {The last few
moves have not been the most exact from White, but they are sufficient to give
him a winning advantage.} Nc7 48. Qc1 Ne6 49. Qc8+ Kg7 50. Qe8 Nc7 51. Qb8 {
Finally Black is forced to lose more material and he therefore resigns.
Kramnik let his opponent off the hook slightly, but when his opponent didn't
capitalize on this mistake he was given no second chance.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.28"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 {White has
tried a series of moves in this position. Qg4 has become the most popular way
of putting pressure on Black, though Nf5 and Bc4 still score relatively well.
MVL's move here has only been seen before once.} 7. Bd3 Nf6 (7... Nge7 $6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Re1 Ne5 10. Bc2 {Kovalenko-Kharlov 2012.}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Nxc6 bxc6
10. e5 Nd5 11. Bd2 d6 {Black's position is already rather pleasant as he has
activated his pieces favorable and he will have good activity to compensate
for his only very slightly worse pawn structure.} 12. c4 Ne7 13. Qc2 Ng6 14.
exd6 cxd6 (14... Qxd6 $5 {trying to utilize the bad positioning of White's
bishops was also interesting. The way Kramnik plays is more logical though.})
15. Nc3 Qh4 16. Rae1 Ne5 17. Re4 $6 {A strange decision to put this rook in
the middle of the board.} (17. Ne4 {the e4-square was better for the knight}
Nxd3 18. Qxd3 d5 $5 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Ng5 $1 {and chances should be around
equal.}) 17... Qh5 18. Be2 $6 {White is chasing Black's queen to a very
threatening square.} Qg6 19. Qd1 Bh3 $1 {Very precise! White's bishop is a
target on f3 where it is being lured to.} 20. Bf3 Bf5 21. Rh4 $2 {The decisive
mistake.} (21. Rf4 {defending the f3-bishop} Bc2 22. Qc1 Bd3 23. Rd1 $1 {
White's position is obviously worse but he is holding on.}) 21... Bc2 {Now
Black will at least win an exchange.} 22. Qxc2 (22. Qe2 Bd3 23. Qd1 Bxf1 24.
Kxf1 Rae8 {is also completely lights out.}) 22... Nxf3+ {Squashing any vague
hopes of counterplay.} (22... Qxc2 23. Be4 Qxd2 24. Bxh7+ Kh8 25. Bf5+ Qh6 {
was also completely winning. A sad game for MVL who has played excellent chess.
Fatigue and pressure in this tournament is unlike any other, so it is
understandable people make mistakes like this, regardless of their strength.})
0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.30"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
dxc4 ({More accurate is Genauer ist} 8... Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qe2 c5) 9. Bxc4
Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qe2 a6 (11... Ne4 {is the most common move by far, but
White has a comfortable plus here after ist der mit Abstand hдufigste Zug,
aber hier hat WeiЯ ein bequemes Plus nach} 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 ({or oder} 12... Bxh4
13. Nc3) 13. Bg3) (11... Nd5 {is an interesting option, at least if Black is
choosing this plan, it is probably better to play it right away without ...a6.
ist eine interessante Mцglichkeit; wenn Schwarz schon diesen Plan wдhlt, ist
es vermutlich besser, ihn sofort zu spielen ohne ...a6.} 12. Nxd5 (12. Bg3 N7f6
) 12... exd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Ba6 {might be the move which bothered my
opponent, but it doesn't seem to give anything special after kцnnte der Zug
sein, der meinen Gegner stцrte, er scheint aber nichts Besonderes zu ergeben
nach} Bxa6 15. Qxa6 c5) 12. Rfd1 {Trying to be clever and avoiding a4 for the
moment, but I'm not sure now it is so clever after all. Versucht, clever zu
sein und a4 fьr den Moment zu vermeiden, aber jetzt bin ich nicht mehr so
sicher, ob es tatsдchlich so clever ist.} (12. a4 {The most logical reply. Die
logischste Erwiderung.} Ne4 {Probably the best option. Wahrscheinlich die
beste Option.} (12... Nd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a5 {This is an
important resource, it gives White a pleasant positional plus Dies ist eine
wichtige Ressource, sie verschafft WeiЯ ein angenehmes positionelles Plus.})
13. Nxe4 Bxh4 14. Nc3 Be7 15. Rfd1 c6 {Here a6 a4 is in Black's favour, but
despite he is very solid here, I think White has some plus. Hier ist a6 a4
zugunsten von Schwarz, aber obwohl er hier sehr solide steht, denke ich, dass
WeiЯ ein gewisses Plus hat.}) 12... Nd5 (12... b5 {was a decent option as well.
war ebenfalls eine ordentliche Mцglichkeit.} 13. Bd3 Qe8 {After this strange
looking move it is not easy to prove an advantage. Nach diesem seltsam
aussehenden Zug ist es nicht so leicht, einen Vorteil nachzuweisen.} (13... Rc8
14. a4 b4 15. Nb1 a5 16. Nbd2 c5 17. Bb5 $16) 14. a4 b4 15. Nb1 c5 16. Nbd2
cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5) 13. Bg3 (13. Bxd5 {is not bad either, but I wanted a more
dynamic play against my ultra solid opponent. ist ebenfalls nicht ьbel, aber
gegen meinen ultrasoliden Gegner wollte ich ein dynamischeres Spiel.} exd5 14.
Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a3 $14) (13. Nxd5 {is not very impressive here although the
first choice of Houdini - ist hier nicht sonderlich beeindruckend, obwohl die
erste Wahl von Houdini -} exd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Bd3 (15. Bb3 Nf6 16. Rac1 c5)
15... c5 {equal. mit Ausgleich.}) 13... Nxc3 (13... N7f6 14. Bd3 Nxc3 15. bxc3)
14. bxc3 Bd6 (14... Nf6 15. Bd3 Ne4 16. Qc2 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Qd5 18. a4 $14) 15.
e4 {The right idea with a slightly wrong move order. Die richtige Idee, mit
einer leicht falschen Zugfolge.} (15. a4 $142 Bxg3 (15... Qe7 16. e4) 16. hxg3
c5 (16... Nf6 17. Bd3 Qe7 18. e4) 17. e4 {This is the position I intended to
get. White has a pleasant positional plus due to the potentially weak b6-pawn.
Dies ist die Stellung, die ich angestrebt hatte. WeiЯ hat ein angenehmes
positionelles Plus aufgrund des potentiell schwachen b6-Bauern.}) 15... Bxg3
16. hxg3 b5 $1 (16... Qe7 17. a4) 17. Bd3 Nb6 {Stopping a4 and equalizing.
Stoppt a4 und gleicht aus.} (17... c5 18. a4 $14) 18. Qe3 $1 {The most
ambitious, other moves were safer, but dully equal. Am ehrgeizigsten; andere
Zьge waren sicher, aber цde ausgeglichen.} (18. Bc2 Qe7 19. a4 Nxa4 20. Bxa4
bxa4 21. Rxa4 c5 $11) (18. Rac1 Qe7 19. c4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 c5 21. dxc5 Nd7) 18...
Na4 {A very time consuming maneouvre, but still ok according to the machine.
Ein sehr zeitraubendes Manцver, aber laut Maschine noch okay.} (18... Qe7 {
I expected this move, with a complicated equal position. Probably White should
try his luck on the kingside in this position: Diesen Zug hatte ich erwartete,
mit einer komplizierten ausgeglichenen Stellung. WeiЯ sollte hier vermutlich
sein Glьck am Kцnigsflьgel versuchen:} 19. Ne5 (19. g4)) 19. Bc2 Nb2 20. Rdb1
$1 (20. Re1 Nc4 21. Qe2 c5 $13) 20... Nc4 21. Qc1 c5 (21... f5 $5 22. exf5 (22.
Nd2 Nxd2 23. Qxd2 Bxe4 $11) 22... exf5 23. a4 f4 $13) 22. a4 {It looks nice
visually for White and I thought I must be slightly better, but Houdini always
finds equalizing resourses for Black and claims that it is balanced. Optisch
sieht es gut fьr mich aus, und ich dachte auch, dass ich leicht besser stehen
muss, aber Houdini findet immer Ausgleichsressourcen fьr Schwarz und behauptet,
dass es ausgeglichen ist.} cxd4 23. cxd4 Rc8 (23... Qd7 24. Bd3 Rfc8 25. Qe1
Nd6 26. g4 $14) 24. axb5 axb5 25. Qe1 {A very important move, due to it White
can consolidate, avoiding an immediate draw. Ein ganz wichtiger Zug, dank
dessen WeiЯ sich konsolidieren und sofortiges Remis vermeiden kann.} (25. Rxb5
Nd6 26. Rc5 Bxe4 $11) 25... Bc6 26. Rb4 $1 {White should try to avoid
exchanging one pair of rooks if he wants to have winning chances. Wenn er
Gewinnchancen haben will, sollte WeiЯ versuchen, den Abtausch eines Turmpaars
zu vermeiden.} (26. Bd3 Ra8 27. Rc1 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qb6 29. Rc1 Ra8 {is rather
drawish obviously. ist offensichtlich ziemlich remisig.}) 26... Ra8 27. Rd1 Ra3
$1 {Excellent defending from my young opponent. Black is regrouping 
(activating) his pieces. ...Qa8 is following. Ausgezeichnete Verteidigung von
meinem jungen Gegner. Schwarz schreitet zur Umgruppierung (Aktivierung) seiner
Figuren. ...Qa8 soll folgen.} 28. d5 $1 {Good timing for this typical
breakthrough. For a second before ...Qa8 Black's pieces are slightly
miscoordinated. Gutes Timing fьr diesen typischen Durchbruch. Eine Sekunde
lang vor ...Qa8 sind die schwarzen Figuren leicht fehlkoordiniert.} (28. Bb3
Qa8 {is just equal. ist einfach ausgeglichen.}) 28... exd5 29. exd5 Re8 (29...
Bd7 {looks scary humanly, and we both thought it's not a good move, but
Houdini with its characteristic resoursefulness more or less holds even here:
sieht menschlich beдngstigend aus, und wir beide dachten, dass es kein guter
Zug sei, aber Houdini mit seiner characteristischen Findigkeit hдlt sich sogar
hier einigermaЯen:} 30. Qe4 f5 (30... g6 31. Qf4 Kg7 32. Bd3) 31. Qd4 (31. Qf4
Rc3 32. Nd4 Qf6) 31... Qa5 32. Rdb1 Qa7) 30. dxc6 $1 {The key idea, otherwise
28.d5 would not work, and clearly underestimated by Dmitry. Die Schlьsselidee,
ansonsten wьrde 28.d5 nicht funktionieren, und eindeutig unterschдtzt von
Dmitry.} (30. Qf1 {is not an option: ist keine Option:} Bd7 31. Bd3 Nd6 $15)
30... Rxe1+ 31. Nxe1 $1 {Again an important nuance, using tactical motifs to
keep the tension and try to play for a win still. Wieder eine wichtige Nuance;
taktische Motive werden genutzt, um die Spannung aufrechtzuerhalten und noch
weiter Gewinnversuche zu machen.} (31. Rxe1 {leads to a draw by force: fьhrt
forciert zum Remis:} g6 32. Rxb5 Rc3 33. Rc5 Qd6 34. Re8+ Kg7 35. c7 Qxc5 36.
c8=Q Qxc8 37. Rxc8 Rxc2) 31... Qc7 (31... Qb6 32. Rxb5 $1 {- the point. - die
Pointe.}) 32. Rxb5 (32. Rd7 Qc8) 32... g6 33. Rc5 Ne5 {This looks human and
natural, I would have played this most probably as well, but in fact the first
step into the wrong direction. Dies wirkt menschlich und natьrlich, ich hдtte
dies wahrscheinlich auch gespielt, tatsдchlich aber der erste Schritt in die
falsche Richtung.} (33... Nd6 $142 {Strangely enough this retreat is better,
although White still presses without any risk after Seltsamerweise ist dieser
Rьckzug besser, obwohl WeiЯ weiter ohne Risiko drьckt nach} 34. Rc1 Ra2 35. Bd3
{The computer assessment of this position as completely equal should not
mislead you here. Although it must be a draw objectively, it is clear that
White is playing without any risk and in a practical game there are some
winning chances. Die Computereinschдtzung dieser Stellung als vцllig
ausgeglichen sollte einen hier nicht in die Irre fьhren. Obwohl es objektiv
remis sein muss, ist klar, dass WeiЯ ohne jedes Risiko spielt, und in einer
praktischen Partien gibt es einige Gewinnchancen.}) 34. Be4 Ng4 {Seemingly
active, but actually the knight will have to retreat from this position.
Scheinbar aktiv, tatsдchlich aber wird sich der Springer aus dieser Position
zurьckziehen mьssen.} (34... Ra4 {would be my choice although after wдre meine
Wahl, obwohl ich nach} 35. Bd5 {I do not see a constructive plan for Black,
while White is going to change the knight and start to penetrate on the
seventh rank with a rook, which is highly unpleasant. keinen konstruktiven
Plan fьr Schwarz sehe, wдhrend WeiЯ den Springer tauschen wird und beginnen
kann, auf der siebten Reihe mit einem Turm einzudringen, was hцchst unangenehm
ist.}) 35. Nd3 $1 Kg7 36. Bf3 Nf6 (36... h5 $143 37. Bxg4 hxg4 38. Rc4 Ra8 39.
Nf4) 37. Nb4 (37. Nf4 {is quite similar to 37.Nb4, but I wanted to control ...
Ra2 just in case. ist ganz дhnlich wie 37.Nb4, aber ich wollte ...Ra2
kontrollieren, sicherheitshalber.}) 37... h5 38. Rdc1 Ra7 39. Nd5 Nxd5 40. Bxd5
Qd8 {Probably the decisive mistake, it's bad luck for Dmitry that he had to
make such an important decision on the 40th move with just a couple of minutes
on the clock. The point is that this is a unique chance for Black to regroup
his heavy pieces and to free the queen, putting his rook on c7 instead. But it
just doesn't work by tempi. Wahrscheinlich der entscheidende Fehler; es ist
Pech fьr Dmitry, dass er seine so wichtige Entscheidung im 40. Zug fдllen
musste, mit nur ein paar Minuten auf der Uhr. Der Punkt ist, dass dies eine
einzigartige Chance fьr Schwarz darstellt, seine Schwerfiguren umzugruppieren
und die Dame zu befreien, um stattdessen seinen Turm nach c7 tzu stellen. Aber
es funktioniert tempomдЯig einfach nicht.} (40... f5 $142 41. Bf3 {Now there
is no possible regrouping for Black anymore, but the computer claims that it
is not easy for White to make progress, always finding some tactical ways to
defend. Probably chances for White to win or Black to defend are fifty fifty
in this position. Nun gibt es keine mцgliche Umgruppierung mehr fьr Schwarz,
aber der Computer behauptet, dass es nicht leicht fьr WeiЯ ist, Fortschritte
zu erzielen, wobei er immer irgendwelche taktischen Verteidigungswege findet.
Die Gewinnchancen fьr WeiЯ bzw. Rettungschancen fьr Schwarz stehen in dieser
Stellung wahrscheinlich fifty-fifty.} Kh6 $1 42. Rb5 (42. R5c4) 42... Qg7 $1
43. Kh2 (43. Rb7 Ra1 $1) 43... Rc7 44. Rd1 Qe7 45. Rb7 h4 $1 46. gxh4 Qxh4+ 47.
Kg1 Rc8) 41. c7 $1 (41. Rb5 {is quite annoying also, but I saw that the
forthcoming two rooks versus queen ending should be a win. ist ebenfalls recht
lдstig, aber ich sah, dass das bevorstehende Endspiel zwei Tьrme gegen Dame
ein Gewinn sein sollte.} Rc7 42. Rb7) 41... Rxc7 42. Rxc7 Qxd5 43. Re1 $1 {
The key move, otherwise Black would be able to hold. Now he has to weaken his
king and the pawn chain as well in order to avoid a lost pawn endgame. Der
Schlьsselzug, ansonsten wьrde Schwarz sich halten kцnnen. Nun muss er seinen
Kцnig und auch die Bauernkette schwдchen, um ein verlorenes Bauernendspiel zu
vermeiden.} Kh6 (43... Kf8 44. Ree7 Qf5 45. Rxf7+ Qxf7 46. Rxf7+ Kxf7 47. Kh2 {
The simplest way to win this endgame. Der einfachste Weg, dieses Endspiel zu
gewinnen.} Kf6 48. Kh3 g5 49. g4 h4 50. f4 $18) 44. Ree7 f6 (44... f5 45. f4
Qg8 {The only defence here already, but obviously not enough to hold this
position: Bereits die einzige Verteidigung hier, aber offensichtlich nicht
ausreichend, um diese Stellung zu halten.} 46. Rf7 Qh8 47. Kh2 Qg8 48. Rcd7 Qh8
49. Rd6 $18) 45. Red7 $1 {It took me some time to realize that I should kick
the queen away from the best square before starting my attack. Now Andreikin
had spent almost all his remaining time trying to find a defence, but probably
there is no anymore. Ich benцtigte etwas Zeit, um zu begreifen, dass ich die
Dame erst vom besten Feld vertreiben sollte, bevor ich meinen Angriff einleite.
Nun hatte Andreikin fast seine ganze verbleibende Zeit mit dem Versuch
verbraucht, eine Verteidigung zu finden, aber wahrscheinlich gibt es keine
mehr.} (45. f4 g5) 45... Qa5 {The best move, strangely enough. Der beste Zug,
seltsamerweise.} (45... Qe4 46. Rh7+ Kg5 47. Rc5+ f5 48. Kh2 Qe1 (48... Kf6 49.
f4) 49. Rc6 Qxf2 50. Rg7 f4 51. Rgxg6+ Kf5 52. Rcf6+ Ke5 53. Rxf4 Qd2 54. Rg5+
Ke6 55. Rxh5) (45... Qb5 {Here I would like to show you the following long but
pretty forced win. I liked very much those computer rook maneouvres, slowly
but surely destroying my opponent's defences: Hier mцchte ich Ihnen gerne den
folgenden langen, aber hьbschen forcierten Gewinn zeigen. Besonders gefielen
mir dabei diese Computer-Turmmanцver, welche die Verteidigung meines Gegners
langsam, aber sicher zerschlagen:} 46. f4 Qb1+ (46... g5 47. Rh7+ Kg6 48. Rcg7+
Kf5 49. fxg5 $18) 47. Kh2 g5 48. Rf7 Kg6 49. Rg7+ Kh6 50. fxg5+ fxg5 51. Rgd7
Qg6 52. Rd8 Qe6 53. Rdc8 Qe4 54. Rc6+ Kg7 55. R8c7+ Kg8 56. Rd6 Qe8 57. Rdd7 h4
58. Rg7+ Kf8 59. Rcf7+ Qxf7 60. Rxf7+ Kxf7 61. gxh4 gxh4 62. Kh3 {winning. und
gewinnt.}) 46. f4 g5 47. Kh2 (47. Rh7+ Kg6 48. Rcg7+ Kf5 49. Rxh5 (49. fxg5
fxg5 {- that's why the queen went to a5 - - genau deshalb ging die Dame nach
a5 -} 50. Rxh5 $140 Qa1+ 51. Kh2 Qxg7) 49... Qe1+ 50. Kh2 Qe8 51. Rgh7 Kg4 {
and White has still to work hard to win this. und WeiЯ muss noch hart arbeiten,
um diese zu gewinnen.}) 47... Kg6 $8 (47... gxf4 {is not possible here already
exactly because of the queen on a5! ist nicht mцglich hier, ausgerechnet wegen
der Dame auf a5!} 48. Rh7+ Kg6 49. Rcg7+ Kf5 50. Rxh5+ Ke6 51. Rxa5) 48. fxg5 {
We both thought that White is easily winning already, but in fact Black could
still put up some resistance after 48...fxg5. Wir dachten beide, dass WeiЯ
bereits leicht gewinnt, tatsдchlich aber konnte Schwarz nach 48...fxg5 noch
einigen Widerstand leisten.} Kxg5 (48... fxg5 $1 49. Rd6+ (49. Rg7+ Kf6 50.
Rcf7+ Ke6) (49. Rc6+ Kf5 50. Rf7+ Ke5 51. Rg7 Kd4 52. Rcg6 h4 53. Rxg5 hxg3+
54. Kh3 Qe1 55. Rf5) 49... Kf5 50. Rf7+ Ke5 51. Rh6 h4 52. gxh4 Qd2 {and,
strangely enough, White probably will have to play a two rooks and pawn versus
queen endgame. It is surely winning, but there are still practical chances to
go wrong there. und seltsamerweise wird WeiЯ vermutlich ein Endspiel zwei
Tьrme und Bauer gegen Dame spielen mьssen. Es ist bestimmt gewonnen, aber
praktische Chancen, dort fehlzugreifen, gibt es noch.}) 49. Rh7 f5 50. Rcg7+
Kf6 51. Ra7 $1 {Collecting the h-pawn after all. Sammelt doch noch den
h-Bauern ein.} Qb4 (51... Qe5 $142 {would prolong the game slightly: wьrde die
Partie etwas verlдngern:} 52. Rxh5 Kg6 53. Rh4 {and sooner or later White will
get the f-pawn. und frьher oder spдter bekommt WeiЯ den f-Bauern.}) 52. Ra6+
Ke5 53. Rxh5 {Now the last pawn falls quickly as well. Nun fдllt der letzte
Bauer ebenfalls schnell.} Qb1 54. Ra5+ Kf6 55. Raxf5+ Kg6 {Obviously the pawn
endgame with the double pawns is an easy win, therefore White's task is easy
here, using this fact he slowly but surely puts his opponent king "on the
ropes". Das Bauernendspiel mit dem Doppelbauern ist offensichtlich einfach
gewonnen, daher ist die Aufgabe von WeiЯ hier leicht; unter Ausnutzung dieser
Tatsache drдngt er den gegnerischen Kцnig langsam, aber sicher "in die Seile".}
56. Rfg5+ Kf6 57. Rb5 Qc2 58. Rh6+ Kg7 59. Rbb6 Qc5 60. Rbg6+ Kf8 61. Rh7 Qf5
62. Rgg7 Qe6 63. Re7 {Resigns. I think it is a very high quality game,
including, despite the negative result, my opponent. And a very important one
from the sportive point of view. Aufgegeben. In meinen Augen ist dies eine
sehr hochqualitative Partie, inbegriffen, trotz des negativen Ergebnisses,
meinen Gegner. Und eine ganz wichtige aus sportlicher Sicht.} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shomoev, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2579"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 {Eine einigermaЯen
zurьckhaltende Erцffungsbehandlung. Natьrlich fьhrt das einfache 5.d4 mit
Zugumstellung in damenindische Gewдsser, denn frьher oder spдter muss WeiЯ
auch noch c4 ziehen, wonach ein Dameninder auf dem Brett steht. Aber Kramnik
hat andere Plдne. d3 stellt die Drohung e4 auf, wobei nicht klar ist, wie
stark diese Drohung eigentlich ist - auf jeden Fall unterbindet sie Shomoev
sofort.} d5 6. Nbd2 g6 $5 {Natьrlicher war es, den Lдufer nach e7 zu spielen,
aber mit dem Doppelfianchetto hofft Shomoev fьr den Preis einiger Tempi aktive
Figuren zu bekommen.} 7. c4 (7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 c5 9. e3 {endete nur wenig
spдter in der auch in diesem Jahr gespielten Partie Jakovenko-Riazantsev mit
Remis.}) 7... Bg7 8. b4 $5 {Und das Spiel ist erцffnet! WeiЯ expandiert
aggressiv am Damenflьgel, aber цffnet dabei die Diagonale des gefдhrlichen
Lдufers auf g7. Was Schwarz auch hдtte ignorieren kцnnen.} Ne4 (8... O-O 9. Bb2
Nbd7 10. b5 $5 {ist vielleicht ein bisschen angenehmer fьr WeiЯ, der auЯerdem
einfach mit 10.Tc1 seine Entwicklung fortsetzen kцnnte.}) 9. cxd5 $5 exd5 (9...
Bxa1 10. Nxe4 {und die Drohung Lg5 ist bereits zu stark: WeiЯ steht auf Gewinn.
}) 10. Nb3 $5 {WeiЯ opfert eine ganze Qualitдt, aber erhдlt dafьr
Entwicklungsvorsprung und gefдhrliches Spiel auf den schwarzen Feldern.} Bxa1 {
Den Springer von e4 zurьckzuziehen ist definitiv keine Option.} 11. Nxa1 Nd6
12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 a5 $1 {Geht sofort zum Gegenangriff ьber und verschafft
Schwarz gewisse Bewegungsfreiheit.} 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. Qc2 c5 16. Nb3 Ra7 17.
Nxc5 $5 {Ich weiЯ nicht genau, wie gut dieser Zug eigentlich ist, aber WeiЯ
erhцht den Druck! Schwarz hat einen ganzen Turm fьr nur zwei Bauern, aber
seine Stellung ist schwer zu spielen.} bxc5 18. Qxc5 Ra6 {Erzwungen, nach
allen anderen Zьgen steht WeiЯ bereits besser.} (18... Nc8 19. Bxb8 $16) 19.
Rb1 Nd7 (19... Ba8 {hдtte das weiЯe Vorgehen wirklich auf die Probe gestellt.}
20. Nd4 Nd7 21. Qb4 Qe7 {und Schwarz beginnt sich zu konsolidieren.}) 20. Qe3+
Kf7 $2 {SchlieЯlich unterlдuft Schwarz ein schwerer Fehler.} ({Nach} 20... Qe7
21. Bxd6 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Ba8 23. Bb4 Rxa2 24. Bh3 {hat Schwarz immer noch
Materialvorteil, aber ganz sicher nicht genug, um Vorteil reklamieren zu
kцnnen; wenn ьberhaupt, dann hat WeiЯ die besseren Chancen in dieser Stellung.}
) 21. Bxd6 Ba8 (21... Rxd6 22. Rxb7 {und die Initiative wird allmдhlich immer
grцЯer.}) 22. Qf4 Re8 23. Nd4 {Jetzt, wo das materielle Gleichgewicht
wiederhergestellt ist, steht WeiЯ offenkundig besser, aber die Partie ist noch
nicht vorbei.} Rxa2 $2 (23... Kg8 $1 {war der entscheidende Verteidigungszug,
der Shomoev am Leben gehalten hдtte.}) 24. Bh3 $1 {Jetzt bricht die schwarze
Stellung zusammen.} Raxe2 (24... f5 25. Rc1 {would have lastest a few more
hдtte ein paar Zьge lдnger gedauert, aber mit dem weiЯen Turm auf der siebten
Reihe kann sich Schwarz wahrscheinlich nicht lange halten.}) 25. Nxe2 Rxe2 26.
Qh6 (26. Qh6 Nf8 27. Bg4 $1 Re8 28. Bxf8 $18) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Goganov, Aleksey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Through an unusual move-order the game transposed into a fianchetto Dragon
Sicilian, which is not considered to be the most dangerous variation for Black,
but it is more positional than usual. Goganov lashed out with a quick e6-d5
which had never been tried before, and probalby for good reason. Despite
Black's slight compensation, he was after all just down a pawn. Kramnik
consolidated his pawn and proceeded to outplay Goganov in a technical endgame.
} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8.
Nde2 e6 (8... d6 {is the normal move.}) 9. O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 exd5
12. Qxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxd5 Nb4 14. Bb3 Bh3 15. Re1 Bf5 16. c3 Nd3 17. Rd1 Rfe8 18.
Nf4 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Bh6 20. Rd4 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Be4
24. f3 Bc6 25. Kf2 Kf8 26. Bc2 f5 27. h4 Ke7 28. Bb3 Kf6 29. Bg8 Kg7 30. Bc4
Kf6 31. a3 b6 32. Ba6 Bf8 33. b4 h6 34. Ne2 g5 35. Bc8 Bd5 36. f4 gxh4 37. gxh4
Be4 38. Ng3 Bc2 39. Ba6 Bd6 40. Ke3 Ba4 41. Bc8 Bc2 42. Bd7 Kg6 43. Ne2 Bb1 44.
Nd4 a5 45. Be8+ Kf6 46. h5 axb4 47. axb4 Be4 48. Bc6 Bb1 49. Ba4 Ba2 50. Bb3
Bb1 51. Bc2 Bxc2 52. Nxc2 Ke6 53. Nd4+ Kf6 54. Nb5 Bb8 55. c4 Ke6 56. Nd4+ Kf6
57. c5 bxc5 58. bxc5 Ba7 59. c6 Bb6 60. Kf3 Ba5 61. Nb5 Ke6 62. Ke3 Bb6+ 63.
Kd3 Ke7 64. Nd4 Kf6 65. Kc4 Bc7 66. Ne2 Ke6 67. Kc5 Ke7 68. Kb5 Kd8 69. Nd4 Bd6
70. Kb6 Kc8 71. Ne6 Kb8 72. Kb5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Bg5 Qd6 8.
Qd2 a5 9. h3 Re8 10. Nh4 a4 11. a3 b5 12. O-O Nh5 13. Ne2 Bb6 14. g4 h6 15. Be3
Nf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. Bxf4 Qf6 18. Nf5 Qxb2 19. Kh2 h5 20. Rab1 Qxa3 21. Rg1
Bxf5 22. gxf5 Bd4 23. Bh6 Qd6+ 24. Kh1 Kf8 25. Bf4 Qc5 26. Be3 a3 27. Bxd4 Qxd4
28. c3 Qf6 29. f3 Red8 30. d4 c5 31. d5 c6 32. Qe3 cxd5 33. Qxc5+ Kg8 34. Qe3
a2 35. Ra1 dxe4 36. fxe4 Ra3 37. Rg3 h4 38. Rf3 b4 39. Qc5 Rxc3 40. Rxc3 Qxc3
0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qe5+ 6. Qe2 Qxe2+ 7. Ngxe2 Bf5
8. O-O-O O-O-O 9. g3 e5 10. f4 exf4 11. Nxf4 Nf6 12. Bc4 Nd4 13. d3 Bd6 14.
Rdf1 Bd7 15. Nce2 Bxf4+ 16. Nxf4 Bc6 17. Rhg1 Rd7 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. b4 b5 20.
Bb3 Ng4 21. Nh5 Nxh2 22. Rf2 Ng4 23. Rf4 f5 24. Be6 g6 25. Ng7 Ne5 26. Re1 Nf3
27. Re2 Rhd8 28. Bxd7+ Rxd7 29. Ne6 Rd6 30. Nf8 h5 31. Re6 Rxe6 32. Nxe6 Bd7
33. Nf8 Ng1 34. Kd1 Be8 35. Rxd4 Nf3 36. Rd6 g5 37. Ne6 Bd7 38. Nc5 Be8 39. Re6
Kd8 40. Nb7+ Kd7 41. Re3 g4 42. Nc5+ Kd8 43. Ne6+ Kd7 44. Nf4 Bf7 45. d4 h4 46.
Rxf3 gxf3 47. gxh4 Bxa2 48. Ke1 Ke7 49. d5 Kd6 50. h5 Ke5 51. h6 Kxf4 52. Kf2
1-0

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.02"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ipatov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Turkey"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "TUR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 {White could have tried to seize the
centre after Bxf6:} (4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. e4 d6 (5... d5) (5... c5) 6. Nc3 Nd7 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Qe7 (8... Qd8 9. g4 g6 10. h4 Bg7 11. e5 d5 (11... b5 $5 12.
Bg2 Bb7) 12. Ne2 c5 13. c3 b5 14. Nf4 $6 (14. Kb1 Rb8 15. Rc1 $13) 14... Qb6
15. dxc5 Qxc5 (15... Nxc5 $1 16. Qe3 b4) 16. Qd4 Rb8 17. Nd3 Qc7 18. Kb1 a5 19.
Be2 Ba6 20. Rc1 O-O 21. Rhe1 Rfc8 $15 {Bellon Lopez,J (2422)-Laznicka,V (2704)
Caleta 2012 0-1 (56)}) 9. Bd3 g6 10. Rhe1 Bg7 11. h4 O-O 12. e5 c5 (12... d5 $5
13. Ne2 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Ned4 b5 $132) 13. Ne4 cxd4 14. Nxd6 (14. exd6 $5
Qd8 15. g4) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxd6 16. f4 b5 17. h5 $6 g5 18. Qe2 f5 $6 (
18... gxf4 $1 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qxa8 Bxe5 $17) 19. fxg5 Bxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxe5 21.
Rxe5 hxg5 22. g4 $13 {Chernyshov,K (2531)-Volokitin,A (2679) Sochi 2005 1-0 
(41)}) 4... d6 5. e3 g5 {Black insists on trading White's dark-squared bishop.}
6. Bg3 Nh5 7. Bd3 (7. c4 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nd2 Nxg3 $8 10. hxg3 Nd7 11. Be2 c5
12. Nb3 Qe7 13. Qd2 cxd4 (13... b6 $5 14. O-O Bb7 $11) 14. Nxd4 Nb6 15. Rd1 Bd7
16. O-O Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Be8 18. e4 Rac8 $11 {Bu Xiangzhi (2673) -Bocharov,D 
(2594) Moscow 2010 1-0 (48)}) 7... Bg7 {Certainly Kramnik doesn't want to take
the bishop immediately.} 8. Nbd2 Qe7 9. c3 (9. Qe2 Nd7 10. c3 a6 11. O-O-O b5
12. Nb3 O-O 13. Nbd2 $2 {This is actually a waste of time} Nxg3 14. hxg3 c5 15.
dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bc2 Rb8 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Rh5 b4 19. c4 f5 20. g4 fxg4 21. Qxg4 e5
22. Nf5 Rxf5 23. Bxf5 Nd3+ 24. Kc2 Nxf2 25. Qf3 Bxf5+ 26. Qxf5 Rf8 {0-1
Stefanova,A (2480)-Georgiev,K (2675) Recklinghausen 1998}) 9... Nd7 10. Qc2 a6
{The main line and it seems to be the best setup. Black also can play ...Nb6, .
..Bd7 and possibly 0-0-0.} (10... Nb6 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. e4 Rc8 $5 {A risky move
} (12... O-O-O {Black has at least an equal position.}) 13. d5 e5 14. Nf1 f5
15. exf5 Nxd5 16. f6 $6 (16. Ne3 $1 Ndf4 17. Be4 c6 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 (18... exf4
$2 19. Nc4 $18) 19. g3 Nh5 20. Nc4 $1 d5 21. f6 Nxf6 22. Bg6+ Kf8 23. Ncxe5 $16
) 16... Nhxf6 17. Bg6+ Kf8 18. Qb3 Qe6 19. Qxb7 a5 20. N1d2 Nb6 21. Rhe1 (21.
Kb1 a4 22. Rhe1 a3 23. b3 Nfd5) 21... Qxa2 22. Nb1 $2 (22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Nxe5
$13) 22... Nfd5 $17 {Mueller,K (2490)-Wahls,M (2540) Dudweiler 1996 0-1 (78)})
11. O-O-O b5 12. Nb3 Rb8 {In the position hich has arisen it is quite hard for
White to find a plan.} 13. Kb1 {In the game examined, Alexander opted for Nb3,
Nfd2 with the possible continuation f4 or f3 and e4. It didn't work well.
Perhaps he could have tried to come up with an 'ugly' plan connected with h4.
In any case I think that Black is OK.} (13. Na5 Rb6 14. Kb1 c5 {leads to a
similar position.}) 13... O-O 14. Nfd2 (14. h4 $6 {A premature move} g4 15.
Nfd2 Nxg3 16. fxg3 Nf6 17. e4 Nh5 18. Nf1 c5 $17) 14... f5 15. f3 ({Maybe now
it was time to play} 15. h4 $5 Nxg3 16. fxg3 c5 17. Na5 Rb6 18. g4 fxg4 (18...
c4 $5 19. Be2 (19. Bxc4 $2 bxc4 20. Ndxc4 Bb7 $1 21. Nxb7 (21. Nxb6 $4 Be4)
21... Rxb7 $17) 19... d5 20. hxg5 Qxg5 21. gxf5 exf5 $13) 19. hxg5 Qxg5 20. Ne4
Qe7 21. Ng3 $44) 15... Nxg3 16. hxg3 c5 17. Na5 Rb6 18. f4 $6 {Now Black is
certainly better} (18. e4 $5 {The only move, which allows him to keep the
tension on the board. Black has several good options.} fxe4 (18... c4 $5 19.
Bxc4 {A forced decision} (19. Be2 $6 Nf6 20. Rde1 Qc7 $17) 19... bxc4 20. Ndxc4
fxe4 (20... Rb5 $2 21. Nc6 Qf6 22. Nxd6 $16) 21. fxe4 Qd8 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23. Nc4
Qc7 $13 {The position remains unclear but here I would prefer to have the
black pieces.}) 19. fxe4 (19. Bxe4 $6 d5 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rde1 c4 $40 {It
seems that White will be mated soon}) 19... Nf6 (19... e5 $5 20. d5 Nf6 (20...
c4 $5 21. Bxc4 (21. Be2 Nf6 22. Rdf1 Bd7 $15) 21... bxc4 22. Ndxc4 Rb5 23. a4
Rxa5 24. Nxa5 Nf6 25. Nc6 Qc7 26. Rhe1 Bb7 27. Qd3 $13) 21. Nc6 Qc7 22. c4 Bb7
23. Na5 Bc8 24. Nc6 $11) 20. e5 dxe5 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Rd6
24. Qe2 $44 {White has some compensation for the sacrificed pawn}) 18... d5 19.
b4 $5 {Alexander decided to sacrifice a pawn. Otherwise his opponent would
have got an easy game.} (19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Be2 Bd7 21. Nab3 Na4 {with ...b4
following.}) 19... c4 $1 (19... cxb4 $6 20. cxb4 Qxb4+ 21. Ndb3 g4 22. Rc1 Qd6
23. Qc7 $44) 20. Be2 Nf6 {White does not have any plan. He is just waiting.}
21. Rdf1 Bd7 $17 {Black has several plans to win the game.  1) He can double
rooks on the g-file and open files on the king side after gxf. The
disadvantage of this plan is the position of the black king on the kingside.
White could get some counterplay.  2) White's knight on a5 has no squares to
escape to, so Black could try to prepare ...Bf6, Bd8, Ba5 or Bf8, Bd6 (Be7),
Bc7(Bd8), Ba5. 3) Breakthrough in the centre after ...e5.} 22. Qd1 g4 23. Kb2
Rf7 24. Qc1 Bf8 25. Kc2 Rh7 26. Rh2 Be8 27. Rfh1 Nd7 28. Qb2 h5 29. Kc1 (29.
Re1 Bg6 30. Reh1 {preventing ...h4} e5 31. fxe5 Nxe5 32. dxe5 Qxe5 $19) 29...
e5 $1 30. dxe5 Nxe5 31. fxe5 Qxe5 {Black is a piece down, but his position
seems to be winning. White can afford to give up the e3-pawn, so he is forced
to play Nf1. As you can see, after Nf1 all White's pieces are in a ridiculous
situation.} 32. Nf1 Bg7 33. a3 ({The most stubborn continuation was} 33. Kd2
Bf6 34. Bd1 Bg6 (34... Bg5 35. Kc1) 35. Bc2 Bg5 36. Kc1 Re6 37. Kb1 Bf6 $19 {
White will lose the pawns placed on c3 and e3. His position is lost.}) 33...
Qxc3+ 34. Qxc3 Bxc3 35. Bd1 Re6 36. Bc2 Bg6 $19 {The game is over.} 37. Nd2 (
37. e4 fxe4 38. Ne3 Rd6 39. Rd1 d4 $19) 37... Rxe3 38. Rd1 Bf6 39. Rhh1 (39.
Nc6 Rc7 {and the white knight should go back to a5.}) 39... d4 40. Rde1 Rhe7
41. Rxe3 Rxe3 0-1

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.03"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 {This line revived by Morozevich
has been tried by Giri many times with White and Black, but with very
miserable results!} 12. Nxe5 ({Vladimir has tried another principled line here
} 12. Ne3 gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14. Qc2 Nc5 $146 (14... Ng4 $6) (14... fxg3 15.
hxg3 Kb8 16. O-O-O Bb4 17. Na2 Bc5 18. e3 a5 19. Kb1 Bb6 20. Nc3 Nc5 21. Nd4 h6
22. Rh5 Na6 23. Na2 Nc5 24. Nc3 Na6 25. Na2 Nc5 26. Nc3 {1/2 Giri,A (2686)
-Aronian,L (2805)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/}) (14... Kb8 15. O-O fxg3 16. hxg3 h5 17.
e3 Nc5 18. b4 Ncd3 19. b5 cxb5 20. axb5 Bc5 21. Qa4 h4 {Giri,A (2717)-Holzke,F
(2508)/Plovdiv 2012 with very sharp play.}) 15. O-O Ne6 16. Rad1 Bc5 17. Ne4
Bb4 18. Qc1 fxg3 19. hxg3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {Kramnik,V (2797)-Morozevich,A
(2749)/Astana 2001}) ({Even a very primitive solution is possible:} 12. Bxe5
Nxe5 13. Qd4 f6 14. Ne3 Bg6 15. a5 a6 16. O-O Rd8 17. Qa4 Bc5 18. Ne4 Be7 19.
f4 gxf4 20. gxf4 Nd7 21. Qc4 Qb8 22. Kh1 Kf8 23. Rad1 Qa7 24. Rd4 {Ernst,S 
(2587)-Giri,A (2585)/Leeuwarden 2009 with the initiative.}) 12... gxf4 13. Nxd7
O-O-O 14. Qd4 Qxd7 15. Qxf4 Bd6 16. Qc1 Kb8 ({A possible option was} 16... a5
17. O-O Be5 $2 (17... Kb8) 18. Nb5 $1 Qe7 19. Na7+ Kb8 20. Nxc6+ bxc6 21. Qxc6
Ka7 22. Qb5 Bc8 23. Qxa5+ Ba6 24. Rac1 $18 {Kramnik,V (2809)-Morozevich,A 
(2742)/Monaco (rapid) 2002}) 17. O-O h5 ({This is better than the slow} 17...
Qe7 18. a5 a6 19. Ra4 Bc7 20. Ne4 (20. Rh4 Rhg8 21. Kh1 Rg4 22. Rxg4 Bxg4 23.
Qh6 Qb4 24. Qxh7 Qxb2 25. Qg7 Bxe2 {Kempinski,R (2532)-Morozevich,A (2707)/
Bled 2002. Black takes the initiative.}) 20... Rd5 21. Rc4 Rxa5 22. Nc5 Bc8 (
22... Rb5 23. b4 Rd8 24. Bf3 Be6 25. Re4 Bd6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qh6 e5 28. Rd1
Rxb4 29. Rxb4 Bxb4 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. Qxh7 a5 {Kandyba,L (2361)-Prizant,J 
(2470)/Tula 2004 with a very sharp endgame.}) 23. Qc2 Rb5 24. e3 {1/2 Kramnik,
V (2807)-Anand,V (2755)/Russia - ROW (rapid) 2002}) 18. h4 {Kramnik believes
that White can stop Black's initiative.} Rhg8 19. a5 a6 20. Ra4 Bc7 21. Ne4 $1
{Absolutely correct - returning the pawn. Kramnik explained that Black has
more serious weaknesses on the king's flank.} Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Bxa5 23. Qc5 Bc7 (
23... Qd5 {was wrong:} 24. Qxd5 Rxd5 25. Re7 Rd2 26. Bf3 Rxb2 27. Rxf7 {
and after winning the h5-pawn, the white pawn mass will be tremendously strong.
}) 24. e3 ({Materialism was bad:} 24. Qxh5 f5 25. Re3 f4) 24... f5 25. Rd4 Qe6
26. Rfd1 Rxd4 27. Qxd4 ({Another capture was much weaker:} 27. Rxd4 Bxg3 28.
fxg3 Qxe3+ 29. Kf1 Qxg3 30. Qd6+ Qxd6 31. Rxd6 Rg4) 27... Be5 ({Kramnik
believed that the best chances for equal play were promised by} 27... Qb3 28.
Rd3 Qc2 {, but Giri intended to sacrifice on g3. And to Kramnik's surprise he
did it extremely soon!}) 28. Qb4 ({Maybe slightly better would be the other
queen retreat} 28. Qc5 Bxb2 29. Rb1 Be5 30. Bxc6) 28... Bxg3 $5 29. fxg3 Qxe3+
30. Kf1 Qxg3 31. Rd2 ({White can not give up his main weapon in the endgame -
the h4-pawn.} 31. Qd6+ Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Rg4) 31... Qg4 ({A serious option was} 
31... Rg4 32. Qf8+ Ka7 33. Qc5+ Kb8 34. Re2 Qd3 {and it is not clear how White
can improve his position.}) 32. Qd4 f4 33. Bxc6 $5 {Kramnik decides on a
forced play.} (33. Qf2 {was possible:} Rf8 34. Rd3 Qf5 35. Qd4 $14) 33... f3 $2
(33... bxc6 $2 {was also wrong:} 34. Qb6+ Ka8 35. Qxc6+ Kb8 36. Qb6+ Ka8 37.
Qxa6+ Kb8 38. Qb5+ Ka8 39. Qd5+ $3 Kb8 40. Rg2 $3 $18 {transposing into a
winning pawn ending.}) ({Kramnik said that during the game he could not
evaluate the strongest move} 33... Rc8 {which led to a draw.}) 34. Bd7 $1 Qg3
35. Qd6+ {Transferring into an easily winning endgame as White keeps his
h4-pawn.} Qxd6 36. Rxd6 Kc7 ({Or} 36... Rd8 37. Rd5) 37. Rd5 Rg2 38. b3 Rh2 39.
Rd4 $1 b5 40. Be8 Kb6 41. Bxh5 1-0

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. d4 d6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. O-O Bg7 7. exd6 exd6 8.
Bg5 Nf6 9. c4 h6 10. Be3 d5 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Ne5 O-O 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. b3 dxc4
15. bxc4 Ne8 16. Rc1 Nd6 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Re8 19. Nxc7 Qxc7 20. Bf4 Red8
21. c5 Ne8 22. Bxc7 Rxd1 23. Rfxd1 Nxc7 24. Bc4 Bf5 25. Bb3 a5 26. Rc4 Bf8 27.
c6 Be7 28. g4 Be6 29. Re4 Rc8 30. Rd7 Kf8 31. Bxe6 Nxe6 32. Rc4 Bc5 33. Kf1 g5
34. Ra4 Rxc6 35. Rxa5 Rb6 36. Rd2 Nf4 37. Rd1 Bd4 38. Rf5 Bf6 39. a4 Kg7 40. h4
Rb2 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Kg1 Ra2 43. a5 Ne6 44. Rd6 Ra4 45. f3 Bd4+ 46. Kf1 Nf4
47. Rxg5+ Kf8 48. Ke1 Be3 49. Re5 Ra1+ 50. Rd1 Ra2 51. Rd8+ Kg7 52. Kd1 Ra3 53.
Kc2 Ne6 54. Rd7 Kg6 55. Kb2 1-0

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rowson, Jonathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2569"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. d3 c6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Qe1 e5 8. e4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nc4 Qc7 12. Nh4 Rfe8 13. a4 b6 14. Bd2 a6 15.
Kh1 Bf8 16. b3 b5 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. Nef5 bxa4 19. bxa4 Rab8 20. Ba5 Qc8 21. g4
Bg6 22. Bc3 Nfd7 23. Qd2 Nb6 24. f4 Ncxa4 25. Bxe5 Nc4 26. Qd4 Nxe5 27. Qxa4
Nd7 28. e5 Rb6 29. Rad1 Nc5 30. Qc4 Bxf5 31. Nxf5 Qe6 32. Qd4 Reb8 33. Nd6 Bxd6
34. exd6 Nd7 35. Rfe1 Qf6 36. Qe3 Qd8 37. g5 g6 38. Qe7 Nf8 39. c4 Ne6 40. Rxe6
fxe6 41. Qxe6+ Kf8 42. Qe5 Kg8 43. Bxc6 Rxc6 44. Qd5+ Kf8 45. Qxc6 Qc8 46.
Qxc8+ Rxc8 47. c5 1-0

[Event "London Classic KO 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.14"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2013.12.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4
Bd6 $5 (8... Ba7 {is a far more common retreat, and it has been seen at the
top level many times. Anand himself played it against Aronian in 2011.}) 9. Bb2
O-O 10. Qc2 (10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Be6 {is more common but Black seems to be
fine in this variation. Anand's move tries to lock in the light-squared bishop
for at least a little longer.}) 10... Qe7 11. Rd1 Rd8 12. Be2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b5
14. Bd3 Bb7 {Something has obviously gone wrong for White. If he castles he is
basically simply a tempo down in a symmetrical position, not to mention that
he would rather have put the f-rook on the d-file rather than his queenside
rook. These little details would give Black an edge.} 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4
Rac8 $1 {A strong move.} 17. Qb1 $2 {Anand plays the human move, but he runs
into quick trouble.} (17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Qb1 Nxb4 $1 (18... f5 $2 19. Bxf5 exf5
20. Qxf5 {is not playable for Black. White has sufficient material and a
strong king-side initiative.}) (18... a5 $6 19. h4 $1 $13) 19. axb4 Bxb4+ 20.
Ke2 f5 21. Bxf5 exf5 22. Qxf5 Rf8 {is a crazy position that is nearly
impossible to evaluate. A sample crazy variation:} 23. Qh3+ Kg8 24. Rd7 Rc2+ (
24... Bd5 {is not a move anyone is going to find.}) 25. Kd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8+
27. Kxc2 Be4+ 28. Kb3 Qd5+ 29. Kxb4 $11 {and there is apparently nothing more
than a perpetual.}) 17... f5 18. Bd3 a5 19. bxa5 Nxa5 20. O-O Nc4 {White is
passive. His kingside and his queenside are both under fire and he has no
clear plan.} 21. Be2 Be4 22. Qa1 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 b4 $1 $19 (23... Rc2 24. Qxb5 {
doesn't quite work.}) 24. axb4 Rc2 {A decisive fork, and the point of 23...b4.
Now the game is over.} 25. Qb3 Rxe2 26. Nd4 Bd5 27. Qd3 Qh4 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 {Out of the main moves at White's disposal, the text
is the sharpest try.} (3. Nf3 {and}) (3. e3 {can lead to the same lines,
depending on Black's reaction.}) 3... Nf6 ({After the main alternative} 3... e5
4. Nf3 {Black nowadays has started to prefer} Bb4+ ({The former main line was} 
4... exd4 5. Bxc4 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 $5 ({The notes to Grischuk-Kasidzhanov in CBM
130 concentrated on} 6. Bd2 {, but the knight move is currently causing Black
more problems.}) 6... Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. e5 Nd5 9. Nb3 Nb6 10. Bg5 ({Even} 10.
Bb5 {is not so innocuous:} Qd5 11. Bxc6+ $5 (11. Nfxd4 O-O (11... Bd7 12. Nxc6
Qxb5 13. Nbd4 Qc5 14. a3 Bxc6 (14... bxc6 15. axb4 Qxe5 $13) 15. axb4 Qd5 16.
Nxc6 (16. Qg4 $5) 16... Qxc6 17. Be3 Nd5 18. b5 Nxe3 (18... Qxb5 $142 $1 19.
Qg4 Nxe3 20. Qxg7 O-O-O $13) 19. bxc6 Nxd1 20. Rfxd1 bxc6 21. Ra6 Ke7 22. Rxc6
Rhc8 23. f4 Rab8 $132 {Sanikidze,T (2559)-Donchenko,A (2413)/Deizisau/2013/})
12. Nxc6 Qxb5 13. Nxb4 Qxb4 14. Be3 Re8 15. Rc1 c6 16. f4 Nd5 17. Bc5 Qa4 $11
18. Nd2 $2 Qxd1 19. Rcxd1 b6 20. Bf2 Nxf4 21. Ne4 Ba6 22. Rfe1 Nd3 $19 {
Vachier Lagrave,M (2710)-Dominguez Perez,L (2712)/Beijing blitz/2011/}) 11...
Qxc6 12. Bd2 (12. Bg5 h6 $5 (12... Bg4 13. Qxd4 Bxf3 14. Qxb4 Nd5 15. Qd2 Bxg2
16. Rfc1 Qe6 17. Kxg2 Qg4+ 18. Kf1 Qh3+ 19. Ke1 c6 20. Qd4 Qxh2 21. Kd2 $16 {
Aronian,L (2783)-Stevic,H (2607)/EU-Cup Plovdiv/2010/}) 13. Bh4 g5 14. e6 Bxe6
15. Qxd4 Rg8 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. Bg3 {Lekic,D (2397)-Krivokapic,M (2413)/Tivat/
2011/} Qxd4 18. Nbxd4 c6 19. a3 Be7 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rfe1 $11) 12... Be7 $5 (
12... Bxd2 13. Qxd2 O-O 14. Rac1 Qd7 15. Nfxd4 Qe7 16. f4 Rd8 {Edouard,R (2636)
-Magem Badals,J (2589)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/} 17. Nc5 $16 {Edouard}) 13.
Rc1 Qg6 14. Rxc7 Nd5 15. Rc4 d3 16. Ne1 Be6 17. Rd4 O-O 18. Nxd3 b6 $14 {
/~~, Radjabov,T (2610)-Rublevsky,S (2658)/Moscow rpd/2002/}) 10... Be7 11. Bxe7
Qxe7 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxc6 (13. Re1 $5 O-O (13... O-O-O 14. Rc1 d3 15. Qd2 g6
16. Nc5 Be8 17. Bxd3 Kb8 18. b4 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Qc3 Rd8 21. Be4 Nd5 22.
Qb3 $40 {Anand,V (2788)-Dominguez Perez,L (2719)/Moscow blitz/2009/}) 14. Rc1
Rad8 15. Nc5 a6 16. Nxd7 (16. Bd3 $5 Bc8 17. Be4 $44) 16... Rxd7 (16... Qxd7
17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qd3 Qd5 19. Ng5 g6 20. e6 $1 $14) 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Rxc6 Nd5
19. Rxa6 c5 20. e6 Rb7 21. Qd2 $14 {Nielsen,P (2687)-Guliyev,N (2554)/
Bundesliga/2012/}) 13... Bxc6 14. Nfxd4 (14. Nbxd4 Bd7 15. Qc2 O-O-O 16. Rac1
c6 17. Rfe1 Kb8 18. Qe4 h6 19. e6 fxe6 20. Ne5 Be8 21. Nef3 Bd7 22. Qe5+ Ka8
23. Nf5 Qf7 24. Nd6 Qf8 25. Nd2 Be8 26. N2e4 $44 {[%cal Rd6b7] Maletin,P (2584)
-Rublevsky,S (2678)/Olginka rpd/2011/}) 14... Bd5 15. Qg4 O-O 16. f4 g6 17. Nf5
Qd7 18. Ne3 Qxg4 19. Nxg4 Bxb3 20. Nf6+ Kg7 21. axb3 Rfd8 22. Rfd1 a6 23. Kf2
h5 24. Kf3 $14 {Eljanov,P (2717)-Stevic,H (2624)/EU-chT Novi Sad/2009/}) 5. Nc3
(5. Nbd2 c3 $5 6. bxc3 Bxc3 7. Rb1 exd4 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. O-O Qf6 10. h3 (10. e5
Qg6 11. Nh4 Qg4 12. Nhf3 Qg6 13. Nh4 Qg4 14. Nhf3 {1/2, Tikkanen,H (2586)
-Stevic,H (2612)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/}) 10... Qg6 11. Nh4 Qg5 12. Nhf3 Qg6
13. e5 Bxd2 14. Bxd2 Nge7 15. Qe2 Bxh3 16. Ng5 Be6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Rxb7 O-O
19. Rc1 d3 20. Bxd3 (20. Qe3 $5 $14) 20... Nd4 21. Qe3 Qg4 22. Rcxc7 Nf3+ 23.
Kf1 Nh2+ {1/2, Berczes,D (2555)-Stevic,H (2612)/Zadar/2011/}) 5... exd4 6. Nxd4
Ne7 (6... Nd7 7. Bxc4 Ngf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 Ne5 10. Be2 c6 11. a3 Be7 12. h3
Qc7 13. Be3 Rd8 14. Qe1 Ng6 15. f4 Bc5 16. Rd1 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nxf4 18. Bxf6
Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Rxd1 20. Qxd1 gxf6 21. Nf4 {Gupta,A (2630)-Edouard,R (2670)/
Dubai/2014/} Qd7 22. Qf3 $5 $36) 7. Bxc4 Nbc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Ndb5 (9. a3 Bxc3+
10. bxc3 Na5 11. Be2 b6 (11... Ng6 12. O-O Qe7 13. Qa4 b6 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5
Ne5 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. h3 Rd6 18. Rd4 Nac6 19. Rxd6 cxd6 20. Rd1 Rc8 21. Qe4 h6
22. Ba6 $36 {[%csl Ga6,Ge3] Gelfand,B (2720)-Rublevsky,S (2699)/ESP-chT/2008/})
12. O-O c5 $5 (12... Bb7 13. Qc2 Qe8 14. Rad1 Rd8 15. Bf4 Ng6 16. Bxc7 Bxe4 17.
Qb2 Rxd4 18. cxd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc6+ 20. d5 Qxc7 21. d6 $16 {Kamsky,G (2695)
-Short,N (2665)/Linares/1994/}) 13. Nb5 Be6 14. Qxd8 Raxd8 15. Nxa7 Bc4 16.
Rfe1 Bxe2 17. Rxe2 Nc8 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 19. Rd1 Nc4 20. Bc1 Rfd8 21. Ree1 Kf8 $44
{Navara,D (2702)-Nisipeanu,L (2659)/FRA-chT Mulhouse/2011/}) (9. O-O Nxd4 10.
Bxd4 Nc6 11. Be3 (11. a3 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nxd4 13. axb4 Be6 14. Bxe6 Nxe6 15. b5
f5 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Rfd1 a5 18. bxa6 Rxa6 19. Rxa6 bxa6 20. f3 Kf7 21. Kf2 Rc5
$11 {Svidler,P (2769)-Ponomariov,R (2742)/Thessaloniki/2013/}) 11... Bxc3 (
11... Ne5 $5 12. Be2 c6 13. Qc2 (13. a3 $5) 13... Ng4 14. Bxg4 Bxg4 15. f4 Bxc3
16. Qxc3 Be2 17. Bd4 Bxf1 18. Bxg7 Qd3 $1 19. Bxf8 Qxc3 20. bxc3 Bxg2 {1/2,
Bosiocic,M (2593)-Jankovic,A (2584)/Sibenik/2011/}) 12. bxc3 Qe7 (12... Qxd1
13. Rfxd1 Na5 14. Be2 Be6 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Rab1 b6 17. Ba6 Rcd8 18. Bxc7 Rxd1+
19. Rxd1 Bxa2 20. Rd4 Be6 21. Bd6 Re8 22. f4 f6 23. Kf2 Nb3 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Ke3
Nc5 $132 {Ashwin,J (2427)-Zifroni,D (2490)/ISR-chT/2011/}) 13. f3 Na5 14. Bd3
b6 15. Qc2 Be6 16. e5 h6 17. Rfe1 Rad8 18. f4 Bc4 19. Be4 Bd5 $11 {Bologan,V 
(2700)-Rublevsky,S (2645)/Saint Vincent/2005/}) 9... Ba5 10. Qh5 (10. Qe2 a6
11. Rd1 Qe8 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxc4 15. Qxc4 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Be6
17. Qc5 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 bxc6 19. a3 Rfb8 20. Rb1 Bc4 21. Rfd1 $11 {[%csl Gc4,Ge3]
1/2, Jankovic,A (2584)-Rublevsky,S (2681)/Rogaska Slatina/2011/}) 10... Be6 11.
Bxe6 fxe6 12. Rd1 Qe8 13. Qxe8 Rfxe8 14. Ke2 a6 15. Nd4 Nxd4+ 16. Rxd4 Bxc3 17.
bxc3 Rad8 18. Rhd1 Nc6 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rxd8+ Nxd8 21. Bf4 c5 22. Kd3 b5 23.
Be3 Nb7 $11 {Onischuk,A (2699)-Rublevsky,S (2704)/Poikovsky/2010/}) 4. e5 Nd5
5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 {Lately the attention has shifted to the text move;
moreover Kramnik has a novel idea in mind.} (6. Bb3 {was the more usual
retreat, White exerts more control over the centre, especially the d5-square.}
Nc6 7. Ne2 (7. Be3 Bf5 8. Ne2 e6 9. Nbc3 {usually only transposes after} Qd7) (
7. Nf3 Bg4 $1 8. Ng5 Bxd1 9. Bxf7+ Kd7 10. Be6+ $11) 7... Bf5 8. Nbc3 e6 9. O-O
Qd7 10. Be3 (10. a3 Be7 11. Be3 Rd8 $5 12. Qc1 (12. Ba2 $5 O-O 13. h3 Kh8 14.
f4 Na5 15. Qc1 {Goldin,A (2585)-Frog,I (2295)/Elista/1995/} f6 $5 $132 {Chekhov
}) 12... Bd3 13. Rd1 Na5 14. Ba2 Bc4 15. Bxc4 Nbxc4 16. Rb1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc4
18. Qg3 O-O 19. Nf4 Kh8 20. Nh5 Rg8 21. Qf4 Nb6 22. Rd3 Rdf8 23. Rh3 Nd5 24.
Qe4 g6 25. Nf4 c6 $14 {Beliavsky,A (2628)-Romanov,E (2640)/EU-ch Legnica/2013/
Black's setup is passive, but quite solid.}) 10... O-O-O (10... Rd8 11. a3 Be7
{can lead to Beliavsky-Romanov}) 11. a3 h5 (11... Kb8 12. Qc1 (12. Rc1 Qe8 $1 {
[%cal Rc6e5]} 13. Ba4 Nxa4 14. Qxa4 Bd3 15. d5 (15. Rfd1 Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Qd7 17.
d5 exd5 18. Nc3 Qe6 19. b4 d4 20. Nb5 Bc5 $1 21. Bg5 Bb6 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Qc2
a6 $19 {Volodin,A (2509)-Kekki,P (2353)/Finland/2013/}) 15... exd5 16. Rfd1
Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Be7 18. Rxc6 Qxc6 19. Qxa7+ Kc8 20. Nd4 Qa6 21. Qxa6 bxa6 22. Nc6
Rd7 23. b4 Kb7 24. Rc1 d4 25. Bxd4 f6 26. f4 fxe5 27. fxe5 Bg5 $15 {Bologan,V 
(2732)-Nakamura,H (2778)/Biel/2012/}) 12... f6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Rd1 Bd6 15.
Ng3 Bxg3 16. hxg3 Ne7 17. Bh6 Rhg8 18. a4 Nbd5 19. a5 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Be4 21. Re1
Bd5 22. Rb1 Nf5 23. c4 Bc6 24. d5 exd5 25. cxd5 Bxd5 26. Rd1 Ne7 27. Be3 $40 {
Riazantsev,A (2688)-Bluvshtein,M (2611)/Khanty-Mansiysk WCup/2011/}) 12. Rc1
Kb8 13. Na4 Be7 14. Nxb6 (14. Nc5 Qe8 15. Qe1 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 Bd3 $15) 14... axb6
15. Ba4 h4 16. f3 f6 17. Bb5 Qc8 18. Qb3 Na7 19. Bc4 {Grischuk,A (2748)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2695)/Nalchik/2009/ For more details about the game see the
notes in CBM 130.} Nc6 $11) 6... Nc6 7. Be3 Nb4 8. Be4 f5 {Karjakin opts for
the main move.} ({Maybe after this game Black will take a closer look at the
rare} 8... N4d5 9. Nc3 Nxe3 (9... c6 10. Nf3 h6 $6 11. O-O Be6 12. Nd2 $1 Qd7
13. a4 a5 14. Nb3 Bg4 15. Bf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 e6 17. Ne4 Bb4 18. Nbc5 $16 {
[%cal Re4d6] Potkin,V (2671)-Bischoff,K (2547)/Bundesliga/2011/ Black should
seek active counterplay, otherwise White's space advantage can give him
serious pressure.}) 10. fxe3 g6 11. Qf3 (11. Nge2 Bh6 12. Nf4 Bxf4 13. exf4 c6
14. d5 cxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Qb6 17. O-O-O O-O 18. Qd4 Qa5 19. Kb1 Be6
20. a3 Rac8 21. Rc1 Rfd8 $36 {Sasikiran,K (2711)-Volokitin,A (2671)/Wijk aan
Zee/2009/}) 11... Bh6 (11... c6 12. Nge2 Bh6 13. h4 f5 14. Bd3 Be6 15. h5 Nd5
16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Nf4 Nxf4 18. Qxf4 Bxf4 19. Rxh8+ Kf7 20. Rxd8 Bg3+ 21. Ke2
Rxd8 22. Rh1 Kg7 23. Bc2 c5 24. Kf3 cxd4 25. exd4 f4 $11 {Greenfeld,A (2541)
-Avrukh,B (2668)/EU Cup Ohrid/2009/}) 12. Nge2 O-O 13. Nf4 (13. O-O-O Nc4 14.
Nf4 c5 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 cxd4 17. Qf2 Qc7 18. Rxd4 Qxe5 19. Bc2 Qc5 20. Qh4
{Pragua,C (2505)-Titov,E (2185)/corr/1994/} Qxd4 (20... Bg5 21. Qg3 Bh6 $11)
21. Qxh6 Rd8 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Rd1 Qb6 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6+
Kf8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Qh5+ Kd7 29. Qd1+ $11) 13... c5 14. Rd1 Nc4 $2 (14... cxd4
$142 15. exd4 f6 $5 $13) 15. Qe2 Bg4 16. Bf3 $1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 b5 18. dxc5 Qb8
19. Nfd5 Nxe5 20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. f4 $16 {Wojtaszek,R (2630)-Bartel,M (2601)/
Lublin/2009/}) 9. a3 $1 {[%mdl 8] While this is formally not a novelty (the
game from the following note was played last year), it's recommended by the
engines and the credit for working out the details belongs to Kramnik.} (9.
exf6 exf6 10. Nc3 f5 11. Bb1 (11. Bf3 N4d5 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Nge2 Qd7 14. O-O
O-O-O 15. Re1 Rg8 16. Bg5 Re8 17. Nf4 Nxf4 18. Bxf4 g5 19. Be5 Bg7 20. Rc1 Bxe5
21. dxe5 Qxd1 22. Bxd1 a6 23. g3 Re7 24. b3 Rd7 25. f3 Nd5 26. Na4 b6 27. Be2
Kb7 28. Bc4 c5 29. Kf2 Rgd8 30. Re2 Nc7 $17 {Karpov,A (2725)-Short,N (2685)/
Linares Candidates/1992/ This game made the whole line popular for Black.})
11... N4d5 (11... Bd6 12. Nf3 Be6 13. O-O Qd7 14. Re1 O-O ({A safe choice, but
even} 14... O-O-O $5 {is playable:} 15. Bg5 Rde8 16. a3 N4d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18.
Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qe6 20. a4 h6 21. Bc1 Kb8 22. Ra3 Rhf8 $13 {1/2, Potkin,V 
(2642)-Ivanchuk,V (2764)/Havana/2012/}) 15. Bd2 Kh8 16. Nb5 Nc6 17. Bd3 Bd5 18.
Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bc3 Qg6 20. Nh4 Qg5 21. Nf3 Qg6 {1/2, Dreev,A (2694)-Ivanchuk,V 
(2764)/FRA-chT Belfort/2012/}) 12. Nf3 Nxe3 (12... Bd6 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bd2 O-O
15. O-O Nxc3 16. bxc3 Be6 17. Re1 Bd5 18. Bd3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Ne5 Bf7 21.
Nxf7 Rxf7 22. Qb3 $14 {Shirov,A (2715)-Ponomariov,R (2727)/Linares/2002/}) 13.
fxe3 Bd6 14. O-O O-O 15. e4 c6 (15... Be6 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 18. Qb3+
Kh8 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Rfe1 c6 21. Rad1 Qc7 22. Qe6 Raf8 23. Ng3 R5f7 24. Ne5 Rf6
25. Qxe7 Qxe7 26. Ng6+ hxg6 27. Rxe7 R6f7 $11 {Ferre Perez,A (2100)-Schwenk,H 
(2176)/email/2010/}) 16. Qb3+ (16. a4 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Kh8 18. a5 (18. Qc2 Bg4 19.
Rae1 $2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Qh4 21. g3 Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 Rae8 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 $17 {
Jakovenko,D (2713)-Rublevsky,S (2695)/Khanty-Mansiysk blitz/2013/}) 18... Nd5
19. Bxd5 cxd5 20. Ne5 Be6 21. Qh5 Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Qxa5 23. Ne4 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 Bg8
25. Nd6 Qb6 26. Rf6 Qxb2 27. h4 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qc7 29. Nf7+ Qxf7 30. Rxf7 Bxf7
31. Qc7 Kg8 32. Qxb7 Re8 33. Qxa7 h5 $11 {Tomashevsky,E (2720)-Romanov,E (2611)
/EU Cup Eilat/2012/}) (16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 18. Qb3+ Kh8 19. Rae1 Qd7
20. Ne4 Raf8 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 $11 22. Re6 $2 Qd7 $2 (22... Qxd4+ $17) 23. Rfe1 Nd5
24. R6e5 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qg4 26. Kh1 Nf4 27. Qc2 h5 28. Ng1 Ne6 29. Nf3 Nf4 30.
Ng1 Re8 $11 31. Qe4 $4 Rxe5 {Ding,L (2702)-Karjakin,S (2775)/Beijing blitz/
2012/}) 16... Kh8 17. e5 Be7 18. a4 Nd5 19. Ba2 (19. Nxd5 Be6 $1 $11) 19... Rb8
{[%cal Yc8e6]} 20. a5 Ne3 21. Rf2 f4 22. Ne2 Ng4 (22... c5 $5 $13) 23. Rff1 Ne3
24. Rf2 {1/2, Mamedyarov,S (2764)-Ponomariov,R (2741)/Tashkent/2012/}) (9. Bf3
$143 f4 $1 (9... N4d5 $6 10. Nh3 (10. Bg5 $5) 10... Be6 11. O-O Qd7 12. a4 a5
13. Nd2 Bf7 14. Nb3 e6 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Nf4 Nxe3 17. fxe3 c6 18. Rc1 Bxc5 19.
Rxc5 $36 {Leon Varela,L (2170)-Campos Gambuti,L (2446)/Vecindario/2010/}) {/\}
10. Bxf4 Bf5 $36) 9... fxe4 {Karjakin had probably also analysed 9.a3 and
after some thought chooses the principled reaction.} (9... N4d5 10. Bd3 (10.
Bf3 $5 {/\} Nxe3 11. fxe3 g6 12. Ne2 c6 13. Qb3 Nd5 14. h4 Bh6 15. Bxd5 Qxd5
16. Qxd5 cxd5 17. Nbc3 Be6 18. Kf2 $14 {is a line given by Landa. In the
resulting position the bishops can't show their full strength and White has a
long-term edge.}) 10... Nxe3 11. fxe3 e6 12. Nf3 (12. Nc3 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qh6 14.
e4 $5 $13) 12... g5 13. Nc3 g4 14. Nd2 c5 15. Nc4 cxd4 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Bb5+
Kf7 18. exd4 Bh6 19. Qd3 a6 20. Bc4 Qxb2 21. O-O Kg7 22. Ra2 Qb6 23. Kh1 Rd8
24. d5 Qe3 25. Qxe3 Bxe3 26. dxe6 Bd4 27. e7 Re8 28. Nd5 Be6 29. Rd2 Bxe5 30.
Re2 {1/2-1/2 Janczarski,M (2335)-Bartel,M (2273)/Warsaw 2013/EXT 2014}) 10.
axb4 e6 ({Subsequently Black has tried} 10... Bf5 {, but this doesn't seem
ideal:} 11. Nc3 (11. Ne2 e6 12. b5 $14) 11... e6 12. b5 Nc4 13. Qb3 (13. Qh5+
$5 Bg6 14. Qe2 $14) 13... Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qg5 15. Nge2 Qxe3 16. b6 Be7 17. Rf1
O-O (17... Bg4 {[%cal Rg4e2]} 18. Qc4 cxb6 19. Rf4 Bxe2 20. Nxe2 Rf8 21. Qa4+
Kd8 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. d5 a5 24. d6 Rc8 25. Qd4 $44) 18. Rxf5 Rxf5 19. Qxe6+
Rf7 20. bxc7 Bg5 21. c8=Q+ Rxc8 22. Qxc8+ Rf8 23. Qc4+ Kh8 24. Nb1 $8 a6 25. d5
Qf2+ 26. Kd1 Qxg2 {Jakubowski,K (2532)-Azarov,S (2616)/CZE-chT/2014/} 27. Kc2
b5 28. Qc5 Qxe2+ 29. Kb3 $13) 11. Nc3 Bxb4 ({Houdini is critical here; its
main move is} 11... Nd5 $142 $5 {After the continuation} 12. b5 (12. Nxd5 Qxd5
(12... exd5 $5 $11) 13. Ne2 Bxb4+ 14. Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 O-O 16. O-O b6 $5 17.
Nc3 Qd7 18. Nxe4 Bb7 $132) ({Another idea, which deserves attention, is} 12.
Nh3 $5 Bxb4 13. O-O $44) 12... Bb4 13. Nge2 ({We don't know, what Kramnik had
in mind, but even here White has alternatives. An interesting try is} 13. Bd2
$5 Bd7 14. Qh5+ g6 15. Qh6 (15. Qg4 O-O 16. Nh3 Qe8 $132) 15... Bf8 $5 16. Qh3
Nb4 17. Kf1 Nc2 $13) 13... Bd7 14. O-O Bxc3 15. Nxc3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxb5 17. Qg4
Qd7 18. Rfb1 O-O 19. Qxe4 (19. c4 Bxc4 20. Rxb7 a5 $15) 19... b6 $11 {Black
has nothing to fear.}) 12. Qh5+ $1 {An important intermediate check, which
weakens the dark squares.} g6 13. Qg4 ({A plausible option is} 13. Qh6 $5 Bf8 (
13... Nd5 14. Nge2 $14) 14. Qf4 Nd5 15. Qxe4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. Qg4 {
[%csl Re6,Re8] Once White finishes his development with Ne2 (f3) and 0-0, he
should be somewhat better in this complex position. Black's king will be
exposed no matter where it hides, also the e6-pawn is vulnerable.}) 13... Bxc3+
$6 {Black would like to enhance his control of the central light squares, but
this swap gives up the main defender of the vulnerable dark squares.} (13...
Nc4 14. Nge2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 O-O 16. Nf4 Rf5 17. O-O Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qe7 ({Perhaps
Black can afford} 18... a5 $5) 19. Qd1 a5 (19... b6 20. Qc2 Bb7 $6 21. Qa2 {
[%csl Re6]} Bc8 22. Nd5 $16) 20. Qc2 $14 {[%csl Ga5,Re4] /<=> wins the pawn
back with something of an edge, but the passed pawn gives Black counterplay.})
(13... Nd5 14. Nge2 {leads to the same position, but Black must reckon also
with} (14. Bg5 $5)) 14. bxc3 Qd5 15. Ne2 Bd7 16. O-O $36 {After a series of
natural moves Black has barely held on to his extra pawn, but his king is in
danger and White's compensation is obvious.} Qc4 (16... O-O $2 17. Bh6 Bb5 (
17... Rf5 18. Nf4 {[%cal Rf4d5,Rf4g6]} Rxf4 19. Qxf4 $18 {[%cal Rf4f6,Ra1a7]})
18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Rfe1 $16) (16... a5 17. Ng3 Bc6 18. Nxe4 $1 Kd8 $5 (18...
Qxe4 $2 19. Qxe6+ Kd8 (19... Kf8 20. Bh6#) 20. Bg5#) (18... Qc4 19. Nd2 Qd5 20.
Rfc1 Nc4 21. Ne4 $1 $40) 19. f3 Kc8 20. Bf2 $16) 17. Ng3 Bc6 18. Ra5 $5 {
An interesting manoeuvre, which will culminate in the positional exchange
sacrifice a few moves later on.} ({However, the engine remains unimpressed,
recommending} 18. Qh4 {instead. This prevents queenside castling and White
holds the initiative after} Kd7 19. Qh6 Raf8 20. Rxa7 Rf7 21. Qh4 $36) 18...
O-O-O $1 (18... O-O 19. h4 {[%cal Yh4h5] /\h5->}) 19. Rc5 {Kramnik is not
interested in the Pa7.} (19. Rxa7 Na4 20. Bg5 $5 (20. Ra8+ Kd7 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8
22. Qh4 Nxc3 23. Qxh7+ Kc8 24. Qxg6 b5 $132) 20... Rdf8 21. Bf6 $14) 19... Qb3
{Here the queen comes under attack in 6 moves. Admittedly this was not so easy
to foresee, but perhaps} (19... Qa2 $5 {was slightly better.}) 20. c4 ({
Probably an even more incisive move was} 20. Rxc6 $5 bxc6 21. Nxe4 Rde8 22. Nc5
$44 {|^ Here White has more than enough compensation and the defence faces a
difficult task.}) 20... Kb8 (20... Nxc4 21. Qxe6+ Kb8 22. Qxc4 Qxc4 23. Rxc4
Bb5 24. Rcc1 Bxf1 25. Kxf1 $16 {/+- and Black's connected passed pawns are not
advanced enough - White's material superiority should decide the issue.}) (
20... Rhe8 21. Rc1 $5 {[%cal Rd4d5,Yc5c6]} (21. d5 Nxc4 $5 (21... h5 22. Qxg6
exd5 23. Bg5 Qb4 24. Rxc6 bxc6 25. Bxd8 $16) 22. Rxc4 (22. dxc6 $2 Nxe3 23.
cxb7+ Kb8 $19 {[%csl Rc5]}) 22... Bb5 (22... Qxc4 23. dxc6 Qxc6 24. h3 $14) 23.
Rcc1 Bxf1 24. Nxf1 Qxd5 25. Ng3 $14 {/~~}) 21... a6 22. h3 $36) 21. Qxe6 {
Natural and strong - before taking on c6 White liquidates the central pawn.} (
21. Rxc6 {is less convincing:} bxc6 22. Nxe4 Qxc4 23. Rc1 h5 $5 24. Qd1 $44 {
/+/=}) 21... Rde8 (21... Rhe8 22. Qf7 Rf8 23. Qg7 $1 Nxc4 24. Bg5 Rde8 (24...
Rc8 25. Rxc6 bxc6 26. Nxe4 $16 {[%cal Ye4c5,Re5e7]}) 25. Rxc6 (25. Nxe4 Bxe4
26. Qxc7+ Ka8 27. Rxc4 Bxg2 28. Rc3 Qd5 29. Ra1 {[%cal Ra1a7]} a6 $8 $14) 25...
bxc6 26. Nxe4 Nxe5 $5 27. dxe5 Rf7 28. Nd2 $1 (28. Qh6 Rxe5 29. f3 a5 $132)
28... Qd5 29. Qh6 Rxe5 30. Qh3 $1 $14) 22. Qh3 $6 (22. Qf7 $142 $1 Ref8 23. Qe7
$1 Re8 (23... Nxc4 $2 24. Qe6 Bb5 25. Rc1 $18) 24. Qg7 {White first chases the
rook to a passive square and is on top after} Reg8 25. Qh6 Nxc4 26. Rxc6 bxc6
27. Nxe4 $16) 22... Nxc4 23. Rxc6 $5 {[%mdl 512] Finally this thematic
sacrifice. The important bishop held Black's setup together.} bxc6 $6 {Black
accepts the challenge, although he was already short of time.} ({The drawback
of White's 22nd move was that now Karjakin could have played the less greedy} 
23... Nxe3 $142 24. Nxe4 Qd5 $1 (24... bxc6 25. Nc5 Qb5 26. Qxe3 $16 {->}) 25.
Rc5 Qxe4 26. Qxe3 (26. fxe3 Rhf8 27. Rfc1 c6 $13) 26... Qxe3 27. fxe3 Rhf8 $132
{Here Black is close to full equality, moreover this choice was better for
practical reasons - simplification eases the defensive task.}) 24. Nxe4 $44 {
Here White not only has full compensation; the position can already be
evaluated as much closer to +/-, than to +/=.} Nb6 ({We have already seen the
line} 24... Nxe3 25. Nc5 $16 {above.}) (24... Qb2 25. Nc5 $16) 25. Nc5 (25. Rc1
{is roughly equivalent:} Qe6 26. Qg3 $16 (26. Qf3 $2 Qf5 $13 {White must
naturally avoid the queen swap})) 25... Qd5 (25... Qb2 $5 {at least keeps
White's rook out of play for the time being, but Black is still in trouble
after} 26. e6 $16 (26. Qf3 $5 Nd5 27. Qg4 $36 {[%cal Rg4d7]})) 26. Rc1 ({
Possibly even more dangerous is} 26. Ra1 $5 $36 {[%cal Ye3g5,Yh3a3] , but
White has already more than one way to improve his position.}) 26... Ka8 (26...
a5 27. Qg4 {[%cal Rg4e2,Re2a6]} Qa2 28. Qd1 {[%cal Yc1a1,Yd1d3]}) 27. Na6 $1
Kb7 28. Nb4 Qf7 (28... Qe4 {was somewhat more resilient:} 29. Nxc6 Qf5 30. Qg3
$36) 29. Qg4 (29. Bh6 $142 $5 {[%cal Rh3a3]} Nd5 30. Qb3 $18) 29... Nd5 30.
Nxc6 Re6 31. Na5+ Ka8 32. Qe4 Rb6 (32... Ra6 33. Bd2 Rb8 34. Rc5 c6 35. g3 Rb2
36. Qe2 $18) 33. g4 (33. Rc5 Rd8 34. Nc6 $18 {wins, but Kramnik is in no hurry.
White first gets some breathing space for his king; the defence will gradually
collapse.}) 33... h5 $6 $138 (33... Rd8 $142 34. Rc5 Rd7 $16) 34. Rc5 Rd8 35.
Nc6 $18 Rxc6 (35... Rd7 36. e6 $18) (35... Rc8 36. Rxd5 Rxc6 37. Rc5 $18) 36.
Rxc6 hxg4 {Black had only a few seconds left, with no increment until move 60
the defence is hopeless.} (36... Kb8 37. e6 Qe8 38. Rc5 c6 39. Bg5 Rc8 40. gxh5
gxh5 41. f4 $18 {[%cal Rf4f6]}) 37. Rf6 $1 Qh7 (37... Qd7 38. e6 Qd6 39. Bf4
Qc6 40. Rxg6 {[%cal Re6e7]} Qb7 41. Bg3 $18) 38. Bg5 (38. e6 $18 {[%cal Rf6f7]}
) 38... Qg8 (38... Qd7 39. e6 Qd6 40. Rf7 Re8 41. Rd7 $18) 39. Rxg6 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8.
e3 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. h4 {
White is preparing activity on the kingside and at the same time protecting
his bishop on g5.} (14. f3) (14. Rae1) 14... b5 {The most popular move in this
critical position seems to be 14...Nb6. Mamedyarov is unhappy that the pawns
of the queenside would lose mobility, on the other hand the bishop c8 could
become more active.} (14... Nb6 15. f3 (15. Nb3 Qa6 16. Nc5 Qa5 17. a4 (17. Nb3
Qa6 18. Nc5 Qa5 19. Nb3 {1/2-1/2ќ Orsag,M-Sosonko,G/Aaland-Stockholm 1997/ (19)
}) (17. e4 $5) 17... Bf5 18. e4 (18. Qd1 Bxc5 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. a5 Nd7 21. Qxd5
Qxd5 22. Nxd5 Bd3 $13) 18... dxe4 (18... Bxe4 $5 19. N3xe4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nd5
$15) 19. Nxb7 Qa6 20. Nc5 Qc8 (20... Bxc5 21. dxc5 e3 22. Qc1 Nd7 23. Bxe3 Qc6
24. Nb5 Bd3 25. Rd1 Re4 $132) 21. Qe2 a5 $6 (21... Bxc5 22. dxc5 Qxc5 23. g4
Bc8 24. Nxe4 Nd7 $13) 22. N5xe4 Nd7 (22... Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Nd5 $44) 23. f3 Qc6
24. Qf2 $14 {1/2 (42) Kempinski,R (2587)-Tischbierek,R (2523) Germany 2002/} (
24. Rac1)) (15. e4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nd5 18. Nf6+ Nxf6 19. Bxf6 Bf5
20. Qd2 Re6 21. Bg5 f6 22. Bh6 Qd5 {1/2-1/2 Cvitan,O-Palac,M/Pula 1993/EXT 99 
(35)}) 15... Bf8 (15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qa4 (16... Na4 17. Rac1 (17. Rfc1 Bd7 18.
e4 Re6 19. Rab1 Nb6 20. Rb4 Rae8 21. e5 Na4 22. Nf1 Rb6 23. a3 $14 {1-0 (33)
Malakhatko,V (2612)-Paehtz,E (2481) Dresden 2008}) 17... Bd7 18. e4 f5 19. Rfe1
Rac8 20. Nf1 dxe4 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. Rxe4 Bf5 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qd2 Qb5 25. Ne3
$16 {Dautov,R-Tischbierek,R/Bad Mergentheim/1991/}) (16... Bd7 17. e4 f5 18.
Rfe1 $6 (18. e5 $16) 18... Qa4 19. Qc1 dxe4 $1 20. fxe4 Qc6 21. e5 Nd5 $10 {
Dautov,R-Winants,L/Belgique/1992/}) 17. Qc1 $6 (17. Qb1 Qa3 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. e4
Rac8 20. Nf1 dxe4 21. fxe4 f5 22. e5 Nd5 23. Qc2 f4 24. Qf2 b5 25. h5 Re6 26.
Qf3 Bc6 27. Nd2 {1-0 Pinter,J-Greenfeld,A/Beersheba/1991/ (51)}) 17... Bf5 $1
18. Re1 Qc6 (18... Qc2 19. e4 $14) 19. Nf1 Na4 20. Ng3 Bd3 21. Nh1 Kg7 22. Nf2
f6 23. Bf4 h6 (23... Bf5 24. e4 (24. g4 Bd3 25. Qd2 Rac8) 24... dxe4 25. g4 e3
26. Rxe3 Bd3 27. Qd2) 24. Qa3 g5 {1-0 (58) Sokolov,I (2665)-Sosonko,G (2515)
Amsterdam 1996/}) (15... f6 16. Bf4 (16. Bh6 $5 Bd7 17. h5 $36) 16... Bd7 17.
a3 $142 (17. Rae1 Bxc3 (17... Ba4 $1 18. Qc1 Bc6 19. e4 Na4 $1 $132 {/\} 20.
Re3 $140 $2 Qb6) 18. bxc3 Na4 19. Nb1 f5 20. h5 $40) (17. e4 $6 Ba4 $1 18. Qc1
Bc6 19. Re1 (19. exd5 Bxc3 20. dxc6 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 bxc6 22. Nxc4 Qh5 $10) (19.
e5 $2 Na4 20. Nxa4 fxe5 $1 21. a3 Bxd2 22. Bxd2 Qxa4 23. dxe5 d4 $36) 19... Na4
$1 20. Nxa4 (20. exd5 $5 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Bxd5 22. Nde4 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Be7 $10)
20... Qxa4 21. e5 Ba5 $1 22. exf6 Bb6 23. Qc3 Ba5 {˝-˝ Dautov,R-Lutz,C/BL
9192/1992/'}) 17... Bxc3 18. bxc3 Ba4 19. Qc1 Bc6 20. Ra2 Re6 21. Re1 $14) (
15... Bd7 16. e4 (16. Rae1 Na4 17. Ndb1 Re6 18. e4 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bf8 20. exd5
Qxd5 21. Rxe6 Qxe6 22. Nd2 f5 23. Qb1 Qd5 24. Re1 Re8 25. Rxe8 Bxe8 26. Qe1 {
Dizdar,G-Kovacevic,Vlad/Makarska/1993/0-1 (56)}) 16... Bc6 17. Rae1 Re6 18. e5
Bd7 19. g4 Rc6 20. Re2 Re8 21. Rg2 Nc8 22. f4 Ra6 23. Nf3 h5 24. f5 hxg4 25. e6
{1-0 Yrjola,J-Siklosi,Z/HUN-ch op Eger/1987 (34)}) 16. e4 Bg7 17. Be3 (17. exd5
Bf5 18. Nde4 Nxd5 19. Qf2 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qa6 21. Rae1 h6 22. Bf4 Rad8 23. Re3
Qc6 24. Rfe1 {1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Winants,L (03)/Tilburg1.29 (30')/1992/ (35)})
17... Be6 18. a4 Bd7 19. h5 Rac8 20. Rfe1 Bc6 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. e5 Na8 23. Nf1
Nc7 24. f4 Bd7 25. Ng3 {1-0 (44) Cheparinov,I (2670)-Mamedyarov,S (2752)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007}) (14... f6 15. Bf4 (15. Bh6 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3 Qa4
18. Qc1 Bd7 19. e4 Re6 20. Re1 Rae8 21. Re3 Bc6 22. Qf1 Qc2 23. Qf2 Na4 24.
Rae1 Nxc3 25. exd5 Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Nxd5 27. Rxe8+ Bxe8 28. Qe1 {1/2 (30)
Tregubov,P (2647)-Iotov,V (2556) Manama 2009}) 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3
Qa4 18. Qb2 Bf5 19. Rfe1 Qc6 20. Qa3 Bd3 21. Qxa7 {1/2 (21) Malakhatko,V (2569)
-Aleksandrov,A (2639) Kolkata 2009}) (14... Bf8 15. e4 h6 16. Be3 dxe4 17. Nxc4
Qh5 18. Nxe4 Qxh4 19. f3 a5 20. Bf2 Qd8 21. d5 Ra6 22. a4 f5 23. Nc3 Nf6 24.
Rfe1 Bb4 25. Rxe8+ Nxe8 26. Rd1 $14 {1-0 (53) Romanov,E (2547)-Aleksandrov,A 
(2582) Dagomys 2008}) 15. a4 {There are hardly any examples played with the
slightly unusual move 14...b5. Kramnik decides to undermine the pawn structure
right away.} (15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3 Na4 18. Rac1 Nb6 19. Ra1 Na4 20.
Rac1 f6 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. e4 $11 {0-1 (62) Lekic,D (2390)-Mikhalevski,V (2608)
Budva 2009}) 15... Bxc3 (15... Bb7 16. axb5 Qb6 17. b3 $16) 16. bxc3 b4 17.
cxb4 Qxb4 18. Nb1 (18. Rfb1 Qd6 19. Qc3 Rb8 20. Rxb8 Qxb8 21. Bf4 Qa8 22. e4
Nf6 23. Be5 Ng4 24. Bg3 Bb7 $11) 18... Qd6 {Mamedyarov is a great player in
positions with tactical content. A pure strategic fight leaves him a bit
restless as he has little chances to demonstrate the small miracles he can
achieve with the pieces.} (18... Bb7 $5 19. Nc3 Bc6 20. e4 Qd6 21. Rfe1 Rac8
$11) 19. Nc3 Qc6 (19... Nf8 20. Bf4 Qc6 21. Qb2 Ne6 22. Bh2 $14) 20. Rfb1 Ba6
21. Qd1 (21. Qe2 f6 22. Bh6 (22. Bf4 Nf8 23. Qf3 Rad8) 22... Rad8 (22... Rab8
23. Qf3 Rxb1+ 24. Rxb1 Bb7 25. Nxd5 Ba8 26. e4 f5 27. Qc3 Rxe4 28. f3 Re6 29.
Ne3 $16) 23. Qf3 Nb6 24. Bf4 $14) 21... f6 22. Bf4 Rad8 23. Qf3 Nf8 24. Bh6 {
The former world champion was quite satisfied with his achievements as his
opponent is reduced to passive play. Objectively speaking it is not so easy
for White to make real progress.} Kf7 (24... Rd7 25. Rb4 Kf7 26. Rd1 $14) 25.
Rb2 Ne6 26. Rab1 (26. Rd1 Ng7 27. g4 Kg8 28. Rdb1 $14) 26... Ng7 27. g4 {
Kramnik was unhappy about this ambitious advance that tries to limit Black's
possibilities. Pawns in front of the white king become exposed. which may
prove to be critical in the event of the opening of the position.} Kg8 28. Qf4
(28. a5 Rf8 29. Qg2 $14) 28... Kf7 (28... Qd7 29. Qf3 Qf7 $11) 29. e4 $6 {
It seems that White is not able to improve his pieces any more so he decides
to start the war. In a complicated tactical fight chances will be shared by
both players especially after the clever 31st black move.} (29. Rb5 $5 Bxb5 30.
axb5 Qb7 $15) (29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Rb8 (30. e4 dxe4 31. d5 Qd6 $15) 30... Qe6 $11
) (29. Qf3 $14) 29... Ne6 30. exd5 (30. Qe3 Nc5 $1 31. exd5 Qd7 32. Qf3 Nd3 33.
Re2 Rxe2 34. Qxe2 Bc8 35. f3 f5 $11) 30... Nxf4 31. dxc6 g5 $5 {[%mdl 64] The
ambitions of Kramnik were marred by the shock as the bishop on h6 will have to
fear for its life.} (31... Rxd4 32. Rb7+ Bxb7 33. cxb7 Rb8 34. Nb5 Ne6 35. Nxd4
Nxd4 36. a5 a6 37. Rb6 c3 $11) 32. hxg5 fxg5 33. c7 {Numerous attractive ideas
had to be judged against each other under the conditions of a ticking clock
and very complicated positions that defy clear evaluation.} (33. Rb7+ $1 Bxb7
34. Rxb7+ Kg6 (34... Ke6 35. Kh2 Rg8 36. c7 Rc8 37. Rxa7 $11) 35. Bg7 Ne2+ 36.
Nxe2 Rxe2 37. Kf1 $5 Re4 38. Be5 $11) (33. Nb5 Re6 (33... c3 34. Nxc3 Kg6 35.
c7 Rxd4 36. Nb5 Rxa4 37. Nxa7 Kxh6 38. Rb8 Re7 39. R8b6+ Ng6 40. Rc1 $11) 34.
c7 Rc8 35. Bxg5 Nh3+ 36. Kg2 Nxg5 37. d5 Rg6 38. d6 Bxb5 39. Rxb5 Rxd6 40. Rxg5
Rxc7 41. Rh5 Kg7 42. Rg5+ $11) 33... Rd6 34. Bxg5 Nh3+ 35. Kg2 Nxg5 36. d5 Bc8
(36... Rf6 37. Rb8 Bc8) 37. Rb8 Rf6 {Kramnik has felt that serious counterplay
with passed pawns should be enough for equality, but even shortly before the
time control the situation remains exceptionally messy. It is much easier to
claim after the game that White had at least two ways to keep full equality
with 38.Nb5 or 38.Rf1. In any case the rook move is rather unfortunate, as the
chances have much improved for Mamedyarov.} 38. Ra8 $2 (38. Re1 $2 Rxe1 39.
Rxc8 Nf3 $1 40. Rf8+ $1 Kxf8 41. c8=Q+ Kg7 42. Qc7+ Kh6 $1 43. Qxa7 (43. Kg3
Rg1+ 44. Kh3 Ng5+ 45. Kh4 Rh1+ 46. Kg3 Rf1 $15) (43. Qc5 Rg1+ 44. Kh3 Ng5+ 45.
Kh2 Rxg4 $17) 43... Rg1+ 44. Kh3 Ng5+ 45. Kh4 Rh1+ 46. Kg3 Rh3+ 47. Kg2 Rxc3
48. f4 Rc2+ 49. Kg3 Ne4+ 50. Kf3 Nd2+ 51. Ke2 Rxf4 52. Kd1 $15) (38. Rf1 $5 Rf8
(38... Nf3 39. Rh1 Ng5 40. Rf1) 39. f4 Ke7 40. Re1+ Kd7 41. fxg5 Rf2+ 42. Kg1
Kxc7 43. Rb5 R2f4 44. Ne4 Rxg4+ 45. Kh2 Rh4+ 46. Kg3 Rg4+ 47. Kh2 $11) (38. Nb5
Bxg4 39. Rxe8 Kxe8 40. Nxa7 Bh3+ 41. Kg3 Rf3+ 42. Kh4 h6 43. Rb8+ Ke7 44. c8=Q
Bxc8 45. Rxc8 Kd6 46. Rxc4 Kxd5 47. Rc8 $11) 38... Rf4 $1 39. f3 $1 (39. Nb5
Rxg4+ 40. Kf1 Ne4 41. f3 Rf4 42. Rxc8 Rxc8 43. Ke2 Ng3+ 44. Kf2 Nf5 45. Re1 Kf8
46. d6 Nxd6 47. Nxd6 Rxc7 $19) 39... Rxf3 {The sensible tradition of judging
the choices made under time pressure with greater leniency has to be applied
also for the last black move. It was not possible to get more than a slight
advantage with 39...Nf3, but the situation would have been unpleasant for the
adversary.} (39... Nxf3 $1 40. Rxc8 $1 (40. Kg3 Rxg4+ 41. Kxf3 Rg6 42. Rxc8
Rf6+ 43. Kg4 Rxc8 44. Rb7 Ke7 $17) 40... Rxc8 41. Nb5 Ke7 (41... Rg8 42. c8=Q (
42. Nd6+ Kf6 43. Rb8 Ne1+ 44. Kh3 Rfxg4 45. Ne8+ Ke5 46. c8=Q Rg3+ $19) 42...
Rxc8 43. Nd6+ Kf6 44. Nxc8 Nd2 $15) 42. d6+ Kd7 43. Nxa7 Rg8 44. c8=Q+ Rxc8 45.
Rb7+ Kd8 46. Nxc8 Kxc8 47. Rc7+ Kd8 48. a5 Ng5 49. a6 c3 50. Rxc3 Ra4 $15) 40.
d6 $2 {In a great tradition of celebrated omissions on the 40th move Kramnik
makes a mistake, that will push him closer to disaster.} (40. Rbb8 $1 Rxc3 (
40... Bxg4 41. Rxe8 Rxc3 42. c8=Q Rc2+ 43. Kg3 Bxc8 44. Rexc8 $18) 41. Rxc8
Rc2+ 42. Kg3 Rc3+ 43. Kg2 (43. Kf4 $2 Nh3+ 44. Kf5 Rf3#) 43... Rc2+ $11) 40...
Bxg4 41. Rxe8 Kxe8 42. Rb8+ Kf7 43. Rd8 (43. Nd1 Bh3+ 44. Kh2 Bd7 45. c8=Q Bxc8
46. Rxc8 Rd3 47. Nf2 Rd4 48. d7 Ne6 $17) 43... Bh3+ 44. Kh2 Rxc3 45. d7 (45.
c8=Q $2 Bxc8 46. Rxc8 Ke6 $19) 45... Rc2+ 46. Kg3 (46. Kh1 Nf3 47. Rf8+ Ke6 48.
Rxf3 Bg2+ 49. Kg1 Kxd7 $19) 46... Rg2+ 47. Kh4 $2 {We have to be strict with
this courageous move. The white king at the edge of the board is risking very
harsh treatment. For better or worse the last chance for Kramnik was to fool
around with the king in the opposite direction.} (47. Kf4 $1 Ne6+ 48. Kf3 Nxc7
49. Rf8+ Kxf8 50. d8=Q+ Ne8 51. Qh4 Rc2 52. Qxh7 $15) 47... Be6 $3 48. Rf8+ (
48. c8=Q $4 Nf3+ 49. Kh5 Rh2#) 48... Kxf8 $4 {Mamedyarov has suddenly lost
control of his nerves and the situation. Two consecutive great mistake will
cost him the whole point. Maybe even the author could not sensibly explain,
why he refrained from the incomparably more logical move 48...Kg6!} (48... Kg6
$1 49. Rg8+ Kh6 50. Rxg5 Rh2+ 51. Kg3 Bxd7 52. Rg8 Rh3+ 53. Kf2 Ra3 $19) 49.
c8=Q+ Kg7 $2 (49... Kf7 50. Kh5 $3 (50. d8=N+ Kf6 51. Nxe6 Nxe6 52. Qxc4 $14)
50... Bg4+ 51. Kh6 $1 Ne6 52. Qe8+ Kf6 53. d8=Q+ Nxd8 54. Qxd8+ Ke5 55. Qb8+
Kd4 56. Qxa7+ $16) 50. Qb7 $1 {Most players have already experienced the
situation, when the smoke of the battle finally clears and they look with
astonishment at the ruins of their own efforts. It would be understandable if
Shakhriyar had secretly shed a tear in the face of a disaster.} Nf3+ (50...
Rh2+ 51. Kg3 Rh3+ 52. Kf4 Rb3 53. Qxb3 cxb3 54. d8=Q $18) 51. Qxf3 Rh2+ 52. Kg5
h6+ (52... Bxd7 53. Qf6+ Kg8 54. Qd8+ Kg7 55. Qxd7+ $18) 53. Kf4 Rh4+ 54. Ke5 {
The level of complexity in this game has definitely influenced the fact that
both great players failed to play consistently well throughout the battle.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 (10. e4 {is the main alternative here.}) 10... c5 {
This continuation leads to a position with a fixed centre (d4 vs d5), which is
rather favourable for White's knights. Practice has seen:} (10... Rd8 11. c5
Bd7 12. b4 Be8 13. f4 Nd7 14. Kh1 Qe7 15. Rf3 $36 {0-1 (38) Abhishek,A (2106)
-Sethuraman,S (2574) Kanpur IND 2014}) (10... Nd7 11. f4 Qe7 12. c5 Nxe5 13.
fxe5 b6 14. b4 Bd7 15. Qg4 Rfb8 16. Rab1 Be8 17. h4 Qd8 18. h5 g5 19. Nd1 a5 {
1/2 (19) Latorre,M (2312)-Mareco,S (2591) Asuncion 2011}) (10... Qe7 11. cxd5
exd5 12. f4 Nd7 13. Qf3 Nxe5 (13... Nf6 14. Rae1 Rd8 15. Kh1 c5 16. a3 c4 17.
Bc2 Qc7 18. g4 $40 {1-0 (27) Polak,T (2543)-Feher,A (2342) Hungary 2012}) 14.
fxe5 Be6 (14... f6 $5 15. Qg3 g5 $13) 15. Ne2 Qg5 16. Qf4 Rae8 17. Rac1 Kh7 18.
h4 $14 {1-0 (93) Polak,T (2525)-Krejci,J (2455) Ostrava 2010}) (10... dxc4 11.
Nxc4 $1 (11. Bxc4 c5 12. f4 (12. Rc1 cxd4 13. exd4 Rd8 14. Re1 $6 Nc6 15. Qa4
Rxd4 16. Nxc6 Bd7 $17 {0-1 (37) Krejci,J (2529)-Hovhannisyan,R (2630) Moscow
2013}) 12... cxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxf6 Bxf6 16. Rac1 {1/2 (36)
Cmilyte,V (2514)-Sebag,M (2501) Beijing CHN 2013} Rd8 $11) 11... Qe7 12. Qb3
Rd8 13. Rad1 b6 14. f4 Bb7 15. Be4 Na6 16. a3 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19.
Nxd5 Qe6 20. f5 gxf5 21. Nf4 Qc6 22. Nh5 $44 {1-0 (31) Fedoseev,V (2525)-Negi,
P (2641) Moscow 2012}) 11. cxd5 cxd4 (11... exd5 12. Nxd5 $5 (12. f4 Nc6 13.
Kh1 Qd8 14. Rc1 cxd4 15. exd4 {1-0 (66) Gunina,V (2490)-Nezad,H (2394) Caleta
2013} Be6 $14) 12... Qd6 13. Nf4 $1 Bxe5 (13... cxd4 14. Nexg6 $1 fxg6 15. Qb3+
Rf7 16. Bxg6 Qf8 17. exd4 $40) 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nxg6 Qf6 17.
Nxf8 Kxf8 18. Qd5 $14) 12. exd4 exd5 13. Re1 $1 $14 {[%csl Ge5]} ({Now after} 
13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Nf4 Nc6 $1 {Black has no problems, e.g.} 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Ne2
Bg4) 13... Be6 14. Bb5 $1 {[%mdl 32] A typical manoeuvre in order to weaken
Black's queenside.} Rd8 15. Rc1 a6 16. Ba4 Rd6 $1 {[%cal Yb8d7]} (16... b5 17.
Bb3 {[%csl Gb3]}) 17. Qb3 (17. Qd2 $142) 17... b6 $6 ({Black renounced} 17...
b5 {in view of} 18. Qa3 {[%cal Ra4b5,Ra3d6] . In fact, he saw the riposte} Qd8
$1 19. Bxb5 axb5 20. Qxa8 Ra6 21. Qb7 Rb6 {, which led to a draw:} 22. Qa8 (22.
Nxf7 $6 Bxf7 23. Qe7 Qxe7 24. Rxe7 Kf8 25. Rc7 Bxd4) (22. Qa7 $6 Bxe5 23. Nxd5
$5 (23. dxe5 Nc6 24. Qa3 b4) 23... Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Bxd5 25. Rc8 Qxc8 26. Qxb6
Nd7 27. Qxb5 Nf6 {[%cal Rc8g4]} 28. f3 Bxa2 $17) 22... Ra6 $11 {but Veselin
Topalov was playing for a win.}) 18. Ne2 b5 19. Qa3 Bf8 20. Bc2 Nc6 (20... Nd7
$5) 21. Qg3 (21. Qe3 $142 $14 {[%cal Ye2f4]}) 21... Rc8 22. h4 Ne7 (22... Be7
$5 23. h5 Qg5 $13) 23. h5 (23. Nf4 $5 Nf5 24. Bxf5 Rxc1 (24... Qxf5 25. Rc5 $1)
25. Rxc1 Qxf5 26. Rc7 $36) 23... g5 24. f4 $1 Qg7 (24... Nf5 25. Qf2) 25. Rf1 (
25. Qf2 $5 {[%cal Ye2g3]}) 25... f6 $1 26. Ng4 $6 {This retreat releases
White's pressure.} (26. Ng6 $142 $1 Nxg6 (26... Rdc6 27. Nxf8 Rxf8 28. Bd3 $14)
27. Bxg6 Rxc1 28. Nxc1 $1 $14 {[%cal Yc1d3]}) 26... Rdc6 27. Ne3 f5 $1 28. fxg5
(28. Qe1 {was probably more accurate.}) 28... Qxg5 29. Qxg5+ (29. Qf3 Bf7 30.
Nf4 Bg7 31. Rfd1 Rc4 $5 32. Nxc4 Rxc4 $44) 29... hxg5 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31. Rxc6
Rxc6 32. Nxf5 {[%mdl 4096]} Rc2 33. Neg3 Rxb2 {The position has sharpened.
Black's bishop pair has become an important factor but White's passed h5-pawn
should not be underestimated either.} 34. Re1 Bd7 (34... Bxf5 35. Nxf5 Rxa2 36.
Re8 $132) 35. Ne7+ Kf7 $6 (35... Kg7 $1 36. Nxd5 Bd6 37. Ne4 Be6 38. Nxd6 Bxd5
39. Re5 Rxg2+ 40. Kf1 Bf3 {is not easy to find and evaluate.}) 36. Nxd5 Bc6 37.
Rf1+ $1 Ke6 {Black's king is unsafe here but he has no choice.} (37... Kg7 $2
38. h6+ Kxh6 39. Rf6+) (37... Kg8 $6 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. d5) 38. Ne3 (38. Nc7+ $1
Kd6 39. d5 Kxc7 40. Rf7+ Kb6 41. Rf6 $16 {(indicated by GM P.Maletin)}) 38...
Bg7 39. Ngf5 Bh8 40. h6 Be4 41. d5+ Kd7 42. Ng3 (42. Ng7 $5 Rb1 43. Ne6) 42...
Bd3 43. Rf7+ Ke8 44. Rf3 Rxa2 45. Nef5 Rd2 $2 {[%mdl 64] Black misses a
tactical motif.} (45... Bxf5 46. Nxf5 g4 $1 {should be enough to save the game,
e.g.} 47. Rg3 Rd2 48. Rxg4 Rxd5 49. Rg8+ Kf7 50. Rxh8 Rxf5 $11) 46. Ng7+ $1 Ke7
47. d6+ $1 Kxd6 48. Rf8 {Black's h8 bishop is suddenly trapped!} b4 {
Desperation.} 49. Rxh8 b3 50. N7f5+ $2 {This check suddenly lets White's
victory slip.} (50. Ne4+ $1 {was the nicest way to win:} Bxe4 51. Rd8+ Ke5 (
51... Kc5 52. Rxd2) 52. Rxd2 Bc2 53. Kf2 b2 54. h7 $1 b1=Q 55. Re2+ $1 Kd5 56.
h8=Q $18) 50... Bxf5 $2 {Black fails to find a miraculous escape:} (50... Kc7
$1 51. h7 b2 52. Rc8+ Kxc8 53. h8=Q+ Kb7 $1 54. Qg7+ Ka8 {- White can't either
stop Black's pawn or capture his d2-rook and must give a perpetual.}) 51. Nxf5+
Kc7 52. h7 b2 53. Rc8+ Kxc8 54. h8=Q+ Kd7 55. Qh7+ (55. Qh7+ Kd8 56. Ne3 $18)
1-0

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. a4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nd5 Nc5 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. c3 a6 13. Bh6 Re8 14. b3 Rc8
15. Qd2 e5 16. Nc2 Nxb3 17. Qxd6 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 Be6 19. Qb4 Qd3 20. Ne3 Qxc3 21.
Qb1 Bg7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. h4 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nd5 Qd4 26. Ra5 Qd2 27. Qxb5
Rc1+ 28. Bf1 Bh3 29. Ne3 Bxf1 30. Nxf1 Qe1 31. Ra4 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. b3 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O b6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb7 10. Nc3 Qc8 11. Nc2 d6 12. e4 Rd8 13. Qe2 e6 14. Rfd1 a6 15.
Rac1 Qc7 16. Ne3 Ne5 17. h3 Ned7 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 h6 20. Rd2 Rac8 21. Rcd1
b5 22. cxb5 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qxc3 24. Rxd6 Rc7 25. b6 Rc6 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Rxd7
Rxb6 28. Qd1 Kg7 29. Qd4+ Qxd4 30. Rxd4 e5 31. Rd7 Bc8 32. Rd5 Kf6 33. Bf3 Be6
34. Ra5 Rd6 35. Kg2 Bc8 36. Be2 Bb7 37. f3 Ke6 38. Bc4+ Kf6 39. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Bd6 {In the static lines of the Catalan this is a
typical and entirely viable "loss of time".} ({The by far more popular} 10...
a5 11. Nc3 Na6 {has also been trotted out in some recent games, for instance:}
12. Qd3 (12. Rae1 {Van Wely,L (2672)-Karjakin,S (2759) Wijk a1 (0-1, 60)an Zee
2014 CBM 159 [Marin,M]}) 12... Nb4 13. Qb1 Nbd5 {Giri,A (2734)-Karjakin,S 
(2759) Wijk aan Zee 2014 CBM 159 [Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 32)}) 11. Qc1 $5 {A rare
move. The queen usually goes to c1 in the lines without a2-a4 when forced by ..
.Be4.} ({The most common answer is the equally typical loss of a tempo with} 
11. Bg5 {which eventually ensured White some slight initiative in Giri,A (2734)
-Aronian,L (2812) Wijk aan Zee 2014 CBM 159 [Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 48)}) 11... a5
{The typical answer, blocking the queenside and preparing ...Na6-b4. Other
moves are playable, though.} (11... Nbd7 12. Nc3 Ne4 13. Rd1 Bxf4 14. Qxf4 Ndf6
15. Nb1 {This looks a bit more sophisticted than required by the position, but
has the advantage of offering Black choices on every move with chances to
confuse him.} (15. Ne5 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 $14 {offers White a
comfortable space advantage.}) 15... Nd6 16. Nbd2 Qe7 17. Rdc1 Bd5 18. Bf1 h6
19. Qe3 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Nde4 21. f3 Nxd2 22. Qxd2 $14 {[%cal Ge2e4] After a long
manoeuvring phase, with possible improvements for both sides on the way, Black
has lost stability in the centre.} Nd7 $6 (22... b6 23. a5 $14 {[%csl Gb6,Gc6]}
) 23. Rxc7 $16 {Nielsen,P (2649)-Antonsen,M (2449) Koge 2013 (1-0, 40)}) ({
The simplistic} 11... Bxf4 12. Qxf4 Qd6 {may be not that bad and deserves
further investigation.} 13. Qxd6 (13. Nc3 $5) 13... cxd6 14. Nbd2 Bxf3 15. Bxf3
d5 16. Rfc1 Nc6 17. e3 Rfc8 $11 {Nowak,I (2330)-Bielavsky,J Warsaw 1979 (1-0,
42). Although White managed to increase his microscopic pressure and win, the
position looks rather equal.}) 12. Bd2 $5 $146 {This is not only a new move
but also the real original one in the game! By this paradoxical retreat White
attacks the a5-pawn aiming to prevent the planned knight manoeuvre to b4.} (12.
Nc3 Na6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Bxf3 ({Threatening to win the h4-bishop with ...
g7-g5. The immediate} 14... g5 $2 {loses to} 15. Nxg5 hxg5 16. Qxg5+) 15. Bxf6
Qxf6 16. Bxf3 c6 17. Rd1 Rad8 18. Kg2 Bc7 19. e3 Qe7 20. Qc2 Nb4 21. Qb3 Rd7
22. Rac1 Rfd8 23. Ne4 Bb6 $11 {Fridman,D (2600)-Boruchovsky,A (2472) Warsaw
2013 (1/2-1/2, 42)}) 12... Nbd7 {Giving up the initial plan.} ({In fact, Black
could have prepared ...Nb8-a6-b4, but only with some loss of time.} 12... b6
13. Rd1 h6 $5 {Trying to play a waiting game before retreating with the bishop.
} (13... Bb7 14. Nc3 Na6 15. Ne5 $14) 14. Bf4 (14. Nc3 Na6 15. Nb5 Bd5) 14...
Bb7 {It is not easy to find any useful waiting move.} 15. Nc3 Na6 16. Nb5 Bd5 {
with a playable position for both sides.}) 13. Rd1 Qe8 $5 {It may seem that
this move mainly sets up pressure on the generally well defended a4-plan, but
there is a lot more behind it. The queen maneoeuvre is typical for the Iljin
Zhenevsky Dutch and the game will actually transpose to a structure of that
kind.} 14. Bc3 {This bishop has surely moved a lot.} (14. Nc3 {is more natural.
} {Knowing Kramnik's plan in the game, we could suspect he would have done
something similar with} Nd5 ({If White was worried about} 14... e5 {he
probably missed} 15. e4 $1 Bxe4 (15... Nxe4 $2 16. d5 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 $18) 16.
Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Be3 $44 {White surely has more play than in the game.}) 15. Nb5 (
15. Nxd5 exd5 {may create problems only for White.}) 15... f5 $5) 14... Ne4 ({
Once again, the thematic central break would not offer complete relief:} 14...
e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bxe5 18. f3 (18. Qg5 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 Ne4)
18... Ra6 19. e4 Rc6 20. Qe3 $14) 15. Nfd2 (15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bc5 $132)
15... f5 $5 {Quite an ambitious way of fighting for the light squares.} ({
A safer alternative of the same kind was} 15... Nxd2 16. Nxd2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nb6
18. Qc2 f5 19. Nf3 Nd5 $11) 16. Nxe4 fxe4 {At first sight, Black has weakened
his central structure but the e4-pawn actually causes White space problems.
Although White's kingside structure is solid, the gradually building up black
pressure will be annoying.} 17. Be1 {Another bishop move with incomplete
development, but this is not completely atypical for the Catalan. Besides,
overdefending the f2-square would become necessary within a few moves anyway.}
(17. Qc2 Qh5 18. Bxe4 $2 (18. Be1) 18... Rxf2 $1 19. Kxf2 Qxh2+ {Black has a
winning attack. Here is a sample line in which the white king runs a lot
before being trapped.} 20. Ke3 Qxg3+ 21. Bf3 Bf4+ 22. Kd3 Bxf3 23. exf3 Qxf3+
24. Kc4 {The apogee of the king's incursion, now is time to retreat.} Qd5+ 25.
Kd3 Ne5+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ 27. Ke1 Nf3#) 17... Qh5 18. Nc3 Nf6 19. h3 Rf7 20. e3
Raf8 21. Qc2 Qf5 {Both players have completed their mobilisation and Black's
position surely looks more active. The only question is whether White can take
advantage of Black's pawn weaknesses. Since e4 is well defended, White should
look for his chances on the queenside.} 22. Nb5 h5 $5 {[%cal Gf6h7,Gh7g5,Gh5h4]
Even though engines disagree with this move, I find it entirely logical and
correct. Black gives up the a5-pawn but keeps strengthening the kingside
pressure, thus obtaining at least excellent compensation.} ({There were two
entirely viable alternatives to this ambitious approach.} 22... Bb4 23. Bxb4
axb4 24. Rd2 (24. Qc4 $2 Ng4 25. hxg4 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Bd5 27. Qxb4 Qxg3) 24... h5
$132) ({Or} 22... Nd5 23. Nxd6 (23. Bxa5 $2 Bxg3 $1 24. fxg3 Nxe3 $17) 23...
cxd6 24. Rac1 Nb4 25. Bxb4 axb4 26. Rf1 Qd5 $11) 23. Bxa5 Nh7 24. Nxd6 (24. Be1
Ng5) 24... cxd6 25. Bb4 {Active defence. If allowed to play Bxd6, White could
insert his bishop into the kingside battle.} Qd5 {The best way to protect the
pawn. The rooks are needed on the f-file and moreover the c6-bishop requires
protection in view of the threat a4-a5-a6.} (25... Rd8 26. a5 Ng5 $6 27. a6
Nxh3+ (27... Nf3+ 28. Kh1) 28. Bxh3 Qxh3 29. a7 Ra8 30. Bxd6 h4 31. Ra5 $16) (
25... Qxf2+ 26. Qxf2 Rxf2 27. Bxd6 R8f7 28. b4 $16) 26. Rf1 (26. Rd2 {looks
more natural, but the character of the position would not change greatly after}
Ng5 27. a5 h4 28. g4 Bb5 {White cannot make any queenside progress. Although
his kingside looks solid enough, it would probably not be pleasant to live
with Black's latent pressure on this wing.}) 26... Ng5 27. b3 (27. a5 $2 Bb5 {
[%csl Gf2][%cal Gb5f1]}) 27... Rd8 $5 {Now that he has completed the knight
manoeuvre, Black needs the queen on f5.} 28. Rac1 (28. h4 Nf3+ 29. Bxf3 Rxf3
30. Kg2 Qf5 31. Rad1 Kf7 $1 {[%cal Gf7d7,Gd8g8]} 32. Rh1 Ke7 33. Rd2 Rg8 {
[%cal Gg7g5]}) 28... Nf3+ 29. Kh1 ({Maybe it would have been safer to take the
knight:} 29. Bxf3 Rxf3 30. Kg2 (30. h4 g5) 30... h4 31. g4 {Once again, White
may be able to survive the pressure by simply waiting. But this was not an
easy practical decision, of course.}) 29... Qf5 {But now, Bxf3 is not possible
anymore because of the intermediate ...Qxh3+. White has to live with the
knight on f3.} 30. Qe2 Kh7 {Still waiting before opening the centre.} (30... e5
$5) 31. Rc2 Bd5 32. Rc3 Kg6 33. Qc2 Kh7 34. Ba3 e5 {After the opening of the
d-file, Black's attack acquires more strength.} 35. dxe5 dxe5 36. b4 $6 {
I see two main drawbacks to this move. Dynamically, it delays the fight for
the open d-file. Statically, it weakens the light squares.} (36. Rd1 Rfd7 37.
Rc8 Bxb3 $5 38. Rxd7 Bxc2 39. Rcxd8 $13) 36... Be6 37. Bc1 Qg6 38. Rd1 Rxd1+
39. Qxd1 Rd7 $36 40. Qf1 (40. Qe2 Bg4 $1 41. Qf1 (41. hxg4 hxg4 42. Bxf3 gxf3
43. Qf1 Qh5+ 44. Kg1 Rd6) 41... Qf5 42. Rc2 Bxh3 $1 43. Bxh3 Qxh3+ $1 44. Qxh3
Rd1+ 45. Qf1 Rxf1+ 46. Kg2 Rg1+ 47. Kh3 g5 {with mate to follow.}) 40... Bf5 (
40... Qf7 $1 {[%cal Ge6b3,Gd7d1]} 41. Ba3 {[%cal Gc3c1]} Rd2 $19) 41. Rc2 (41.
Ba3 Qe6 42. Rc1 Rd2 $40) 41... Qe6 42. Qe2 (42. Bb2 Bxh3 43. Bxh3 Qxh3+ 44.
Qxh3 Rd1+) 42... g6 (42... Bxh3 43. Bxf3 exf3 44. Qxf3 Bg4 45. Qe4+ Bf5 46. Qc4
Rd1+ 47. Kh2 Qxc4 48. Rxc4 Bd3 49. Rc7 Be4 50. g4 (50. f3 Bxf3 51. g4 h4) 50...
Rh1+ 51. Kg3 h4#) 43. Rc4 $6 {Making things simpler for Black} Bxh3 (43... Bxh3
44. Rxe4 (44. Bxf3 exf3 45. Qxf3 Qxc4) 44... Bxg2+ 45. Kxg2 Ng5 46. Rh4 (46.
Rc4 Qh3+ 47. Kg1 e4) 46... Qc6+ {[%csl Gc1]}) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c5 6. Nc3 {In Norway Caruana
invited his opponents into the Benoni, but Kramnik declines the offer.} (6. d5
e6 (6... b5 7. cxb5 a6 8. bxa6 d6 9. Nc3 Nxa6 10. O-O Bf5 $5 11. Ne1 Qb6 12.
Nc2 Rfb8 13. Ne3 Bc8 14. h3 Nd7 15. Na4 Qb5 16. Nc3 Qb6 17. Qd2 Nc7 18. b3 Ba6
19. Bb2 c4 20. Na4 Qb4 21. Qxb4 Rxb4 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nc2 Rb7 24. b4 Bb5 25.
Nc3 Ba4 26. Ne3 Rxb4 27. Rfb1 Na6 28. Rxb4 Nxb4 29. Rb1 Nc2 30. Nxc2 Bxc2 31.
Rb2 Ba4 32. Rb4 Nc5 33. Rxc4 Bd7 $11 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Ga8a2] Caruana,F (2791)
-Grischuk,A (2792)/Dubai rpd/2014/ Black used an unusual setup and although
White retained the extra pawn well into the endgame, he has no means to
convert it.}) 7. Nc3 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 9. O-O Re8 (9... a6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. Bf4
Qe7 12. h3 Nh5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bd2 f5 15. e4 $5 f4 $5 (15... fxe4 16. Re1 Nhf6
17. Bf4 Rb8 18. Re2 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qe1 Nb6 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Qf6 23.
Ra7 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Nxa8 25. Qa5 Bf5 26. Re1 h6 27. h4 Qxb2 28. Qa7 Qf6 29. Re7
Qa1+ 30. Qxa1 Bxa1 31. Bxd6 Rc8 32. Be5 $18 {[%csl Gd5] Wang,H (2715)
-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/RUS-chT/2010/}) 16. g4 Nhf6 17. Qc1 (17. Bxf4 Nxg4 $1 (
17... Nxe4 $6 18. Bh2 Nxc3 19. bxc3 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Yf1e1,Ye1e6]} Ne5 20. Bxe5
Bxe5 21. Re1 Rxf3 22. Qxf3 $16 {Mikhalevski,V (2584)-Kurmann,O (2446)/EU-ch
Aix-les-Bains/2011/}) 18. Bg5 (18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. hxg4 Ne5 $36) 18... Ngf6 $13)
17... g5 18. Nxg5 Ne5 19. Ne2 (19. Nf3 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 h5 $1 $36 21. g5 $2 Nh7
22. h4 Nxg5 23. hxg5 Qxg5+ 24. Kh2 Rf6 $19) (19. f3 Nh5 (19... h5 $5) 20. Ne6
Bxe6 21. dxe6 Ng3 22. Qc2 Nxf1 23. Rxf1 Qxe6 24. Nd5 Ng6 25. Nc7 Qa2 26. Nxa8
Rxa8 $11 {Carron,J (2355)-Kurmann,O (2431)/Leukerbad/2011/}) 19... Nfxg4 20.
Nxf4 Qxg5 21. Ne6 Qe7 22. Nxf8 Nd3 23. Qc2 Ngxf2 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. dxe6 Bd4 26.
Bc3 Be3 27. Bd2 Bd4 28. Bc3 {1/2, Gmuer,A (2426)-Nuesch,G (2239)/email/2008/})
10. Bf4 {Nowadays White's main try to get an advantage.} ({Rare is} 10. a4 Ne4
11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rb4 13. Ra2 a5 $5 14. b3 b5 15. axb5 (15. Ba3 Na6 16.
Bxb4 Nxb4 17. Ra3 Bb2 18. axb5 Bxa3 19. Nc4 Bd7 20. Nxa3 Qb8 $132) 15... Nd7
16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Qc2 Rxb5 18. Bg5 Nf6 19. Qd3 Rb7 20. Qe3 h6 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22.
Qf4 Be5 23. Qxh6 Rxb3 24. Nxc5 Rb5 25. Nd3 Bg7 26. Qd2 a4 $44 {Grischuk,A 
(2792)-Caruana,F (2791)/Stavanger/2014/ Later on White lost an equal position
due to a major oversight in time trouble.}) ({The classical} 10. Nd2 a6 11. a4
Nbd7 12. h3 Rb8 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Na3 Nh5 15. e4 {is in a crisis, after} Bd7 16.
a5 Qxa5 ({An even simpler and equally viable alternative is} 16... b5 $5 17.
axb6 Bb5 $1 18. Ncxb5 axb5 19. g4 Nf6 20. Nxb5 Qxb6 21. Na3 Qb3 $1 $44 22. Qxb3
Rxb3 23. Rd1 h6 24. Nc2 $2 Nd3 25. Ra4 Nd7 26. Ra6 Nxc1 27. Rxc1 Bxb2 28. Rd1
Be5 29. Na3 Nb6 $17 {Ponomariov,R (2756)-Bacrot,E (2723)/Elancourt/2013/ For
more details about this game see the notes by Marin in CBM 157.}) 17. g4 Nf6
18. f4 Nfxg4 19. hxg4 Nxg4 20. f5 h5 $5 {Black is doing OK in the sharp
complications:} 21. Bg5 ({The most recent example went} 21. Qf3 Qd8 22. Qg3 b5
23. Nd1 b4 24. Nc2 Bb5 25. Re1 Be5 26. Bf4 Bxf4 27. Qxf4 Qf6 28. Nde3 Ne5 $17 {
Golichenko,I (2430)-Simantsev,M (2479)/Marianske Lazne/2014/}) 21... Qb4 22. f6
Bh8 23. Qd2 (23. Na2 Qd4+ 24. Qxd4 cxd4 $13) 23... Qd4+ 24. Qxd4 cxd4 25. Ne2
Re5 26. Bf4 $5 (26. Bh4 Ne3 27. Nxd4 Nxg2 28. Kxg2 Rxe4 29. Nf3 Bf5 30. Rac1 {
Sasikiran,K (2689)-Anand,V (2817)/Bastia rpd/2011/} Rg4+ $17 {[%cal Rf5e4]})
26... Bxf6 27. Bxe5 (27. Nxd4 $5 Ree8 28. Rad1 Rbc8 $132) 27... Bxe5 28. Nc4
Bh2+ 29. Kh1 Bb5 30. b3 Be5 31. Ra2 Ne3 32. Nxe3 dxe3 $44 {Evans,G (2423)
-Overton,D (2462)/email/2010/ Here Black has enough even for a whole rook!})
10... a6 (10... Ne4 {is better without inserting a6 and a4, the exchange
sacrifice gives Black compensation after} 11. Nxe4 (11. Rc1 Nxc3 12. bxc3 b5 $5
13. Nd2 g5 14. Be3 Bf5 15. a4 a6 16. Qb3 bxa4 17. Qxa4 Nd7 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. Nxe5
Bxe5 20. Bd2 a5 21. f4 gxf4 22. gxf4 Bg7 23. e4 Bd7 24. Qc2 f5 $11 {/=/+,
Sargissian,G (2679)-Van Wely,L (2691)/ESP-chT Leon/2012/}) 11... Rxe4 12. Nd2
Rxf4 13. gxf4 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Bg7 15. e4 (15. Re1 Bh6 (15... Na6 16. e3 Nc7 17. a4
b6 18. Qb3 Qf6 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Nd2 Qf6 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. Nd2 Bh6 $5 23. Nc4 Bd7
24. Ra1 Na6 25. Qd1 Nb4 $44 {Tomashevsky,E (2733)-Yu,Y (2656)/St Petersburg
rpd/2012/}) 16. e3 Na6 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Qd2 b6 19. Rb3 Qf6 20. Qb2 Qxb2 21. Rxb2
Nb4 22. Reb1 Bf5 23. Rd1 Rd8 24. a3 Na6 25. Bf3 Nc7 26. a4 Bg7 $132 {
Gretarsson,H (2509)-Yu,Y (2688)/Reykjavik/2013/}) (15. Nc4 b5 $1 16. Rxb5 Ba6
17. Qa4 Bxb5 18. Qxb5 Bf8 19. Bh3 f5 20. e4 Nd7 21. exf5 {1/2, Gleizerov,E 
(2565)-Indjic,A (2451)/Paracin/2012/} Rb8 $132 {[%cal Yb8b4,Yd8h4]}) 15... Nd7
(15... Na6 16. Nc4 Rb8 17. a4 Nb4 18. Qf3 b6 19. Rbc1 Ba6 20. Rfe1 Na2 21. Rc2
Nb4 22. Rcc1 Na2 23. Rc2 Nb4 24. Rcc1 Na2 {1/2, Lagno,K (2543)-Hou,Y (2618)/
Khanty-Mansiysk/2014/}) 16. Qf3 (16. Nc4 Nb6 $1 $44) 16... b5 17. Rfe1 {
Eljanov,P (2723)-Sjugirov,S (2653)/EU-ch Yerevan/2014/} a6 $44) (10... Na6 11.
Re1 Bg4 12. e4 (12. Qb3 b5 $5 $44) 12... Nh5 (12... Nd7 $5 $13 {[%cal Yd7e5]})
13. Be3 Nf6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd7 16. Bg2 Nc7 17. a4 Rb8 18. Qd2 Ne5 19. b3
b5 20. Bg5 Qc8 $132 {Ivanchuk,V (2753)-Giri,A (2734)/Leon blitz/2013/}) (10...
Nh5 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. Qc1 Nd7 13. h3 f5 14. e4 fxe4 15. Re1 Nhf6 16. Nd2 e3 17.
Rxe3 Rxe3 18. Bxe3 Ne5 19. b3 Bf5 20. Qd1 Re8 $11 {Aronian,L (2783)-Ivanchuk,V
(2754)/ECC Plovdiv/2010/}) 11. a4 h6 (11... Nh5 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Re1 $5 Nd7 14.
e4 Rb8 15. Bf1 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Qf3 Bd7 18. a5 b6 19. axb6 Rxb6 20. Nd1
Bd4 21. Bd2 Qc8 22. Ba5 Rb8 23. Bc3 Bb5 24. Ne3 $36 {Nguyen,N (2625)-Akopian,V
(2691)/WCup Tromsoe/2013/}) 12. Qc1 (12. Re1 Bf5 13. Qc1 g5 14. Bd2 Nbd7 (14...
Ne4 $5 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. h4 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18. Bxh6 hxg3 19. Kg2 Qf6 $5 20.
Rh1 Nd7 21. Rh3 Kf8 22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. Rxg3+ Kf8 $11) 15. h4 g4 16. Nh2 Kh7 (
16... h5 $142 {saves a tempo}) 17. Nf1 Ne5 18. Bf4 Bg6 19. Ne3 h5 20. a5 Qc7
21. Ra4 Kg8 22. Qd2 $14 {/<=>, Caruana,F (2757)-Kramnik,V (2810)/Zuerich/2013/
For more details abou this game see the notes by Caruana in CBM 153.}) 12... g5
(12... Kh7 13. Re1 (13. Nd2 g5 14. Be3 $14) 13... Bf5 14. Nh4 $5 Bc8 15. Qc2
Nh5 (15... Kg8 16. Nf3 g5 17. Bd2 $14 {[%cal Ye2e4]}) 16. Bd2 Nd7 17. Nf5 $1
Bf8 18. Ne3 Rb8 19. a5 b5 20. axb6 Nxb6 21. Na4 Nxa4 22. Rxa4 Ng7 23. Be4 Be7
24. Ba5 Qd7 25. Bc3 Qd8 26. Nc4 Bd7 27. Ra3 Bb5 28. Na5 Qd7 29. Nc6 $16 {
Caruana,F (2781)-Nakamura,H (2776)/Zuerich rpd/2014/}) 13. Bd2 Bf5 (13... Nbd7
14. h4 g4 15. Ne1 Kh7 (15... h5 16. Nc2 $1 Ne5 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. Rb1 b5 19. b4
Bd7 20. Qc2 Qc8 21. Rfc1 $36 {Atalik}) 16. Nc2 Ne5 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. b4 b5 19.
axb5 axb5 20. Qc2+ Kg8 21. Rfb1 Bd7 22. Ra6 Qc7 23. Nf5 $16 {Nikolic,P (2490)
-Kindermann,S (2440)/EU-chT Plovdiv/1983/}) 14. h4 g4 15. Ne1 h5 16. Bg5 Bg6
17. Qf4 Qe7 18. f3 (18. Nd3 Nbd7 19. a5 Qf8 $13) 18... Nbd7 19. fxg4 hxg4 (
19... Qf8 $5 20. gxh5 Nxh5 $44) 20. Nd3 Rac8 {Doroshenko,M (2336)-Bruzon
Batista,L (2687)/Edmonton/2013/} 21. a5 $5 $13 {/+/=}) 6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Qc7 (
7... Nc6 8. O-O {leads to the index A39, even now we get a line of the
Symmetrical English.}) 8. Qd3 ({Last year Kramnik was successful with} 8. b3 d5
$1 9. Ndb5 (9. Bxd5 $6 Bh3 $1 $36) 9... Qa5 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. bxc4 Qd8 12. O-O
a6 (12... Nc6 13. Rb1 (13. Nd5 a6 14. Nbc3 Nd7 15. Rc1 e6 16. Nf4 Nc5 17. Ne4
Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bd7 19. Nd3 Qc7 20. Re1 Rab8 21. c5 Rfd8 $11 {Tesic,D (2348)
-Baklan,V (2610)/Trieste/2012/}) 13... Be6 14. Nd5 Nxd5 $1 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16.
Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Nc7 Qxa2 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Qc1 Qxe2 21. Rxb7 Ne5 $44
{Rustemov,A (2544)-Jochens,A (2298)/Bundesliga/2013/}) 13. Na3 Nc6 $1 ({
A clever move-order, which is better than} 13... Bf5 14. Nc2 Nc6 15. Ne3 Qd7 (
15... Qd4 $5 16. Nxf5 gxf5 17. Rc1 Rad8 18. Nd5 Ne4 19. Be3 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 e6
21. f3 $5 (21. Bxe4 fxe4 22. Nb6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {Gelfand,B (2700)
-Sokolov,I (2665)/Wijk aan Zee/1996/}) 21... exd5 22. fxe4 dxe4 23. Bh3 Bd4 24.
Kf2 $14 {Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Rodshtein,M (2682)/Basel/2014/}) 16. Nxf5 Qxf5 17.
Rb1 Rad8 18. Qc1 {Kramnik,V (2810)-Radjabov,T (2793)/London Candidates/2013/} (
18. Rxb7 Na5 19. Rb4 Qe6 20. Qc2 $5 $14) {Now} 18... Rd7 {would have kept
White's pull minimal. For more details about the game see the notes in CBM 154}
) 14. Nc2 Be6 15. Rb1 (15. Ne3 Na5 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Ncd5 Nxc4 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.
Nxc4 Rxc4 20. Bh6 Qxd1 21. Rfxd1 Bg7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Bxb7 a5 24. Rxc4 Bxc4
25. Rd2 Rb8 $15 {Khismatullin,D (2656)-Giri,A (2749)/ECC Rhodes/2013/}) 15...
Rc8 16. Ne3 Na5 $1 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rxb7 Bh3 (18... Qd4 $142 $1 $11 {[%cal
Yf8d8]}) 19. Re1 e6 20. Qc2 Qd4 21. Reb1 Rfd8 22. Be1 Ng4 23. Nxg4 Bxg4 24. Qa4
Bh3 25. Rd1 Qg4 26. f3 Rxd1 27. Nxd1 Qd4+ 28. Nf2 Bf8 29. Qd7 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 Bc5
31. Bb4 Bxb4 32. Nxh3 h6 33. Nf2 Bc5 34. Rd3 Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Rxc4 $11 {Nakamura,
H (2789)-Caruana,F (2782)/Wijk aan Zee/2014/ Kramnik undoubtedly knew this
game and was trying to avoid a line, well-known to Caruana.}) (8. Nd5 Nxd5 (
8... Qxc4 9. Nxe7+ Kh8 10. Nxc8 Rxc8 11. O-O Nc6 $132) 9. cxd5 Qb6 (9... Qa5+
10. Bd2 Qb6 11. Bc3 d6 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Nb3 Bxc3+ 14. Rxc3 a5 15. Qd4 Qxd4 16.
Nxd4 Nc5 17. Kd2 Bd7 18. Rhc1 a4 19. b4 axb3 20. axb3 Ra2+ $11 {Karpov,A (2619)
-Gashimov,V (2758)/Moscow blitz/2009/}) 10. e3 d6 11. O-O Na6 12. a4 Bd7 13. a5
Qc7 14. Bd2 Rac8 15. b4 Qb8 16. b5 Nc7 17. Qe2 e6 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6
20. Rac1 d5 21. Bb4 Rfd8 22. Qd3 d4 23. e4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8 25. Rxc8+ Qxc8 26.
Bf1 h5 27. f4 Qc1 28. Kf2 Qa1 29. a6 bxa6 30. bxa6 Bf8 $11 {Wang,H (2737)
-Radjabov,T (2793)/Beijing blindfold/2012/}) 8... Nc6 9. O-O (9. Ndb5 Qa5 10.
Bd2 (10. Bf4 d6 11. O-O a6 12. Na3 Qh5 13. f3 Qa5 14. Kh1 Be6 15. Rac1 d5 $1
16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 $15 {Kutirov,R (2381)-Cvitan,O (2526)
/EU-ch Ohrid/2001/}) 10... a6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Na3 b5 $5 ({More ambitious, than
} 12... d6 $11) 13. Bc3 Nxd5 (13... Rb8 $2 14. Nxf6+ exf6 15. cxb5 axb5 16.
Nxb5 Ba6 17. a4 Ne5 18. Qc2 Qb6 19. O-O Rfc8 20. Rfd1 Ng4 21. e3 Bxb5 22. axb5
$16 {Schmidt,W (2505)-Haik,A (2425)/Buenos Aires olm/1978/}) 14. cxd5 (14. Bxg7
Ndb4 15. Qc3 Nxa2 $1 16. Rxa2 b4 17. Qd2 Kxg7 18. Nc2 $44 {/=}) 14... Bxc3+ 15.
bxc3 Ne5 16. Qd4 d6 $15 {Brotherton,T (1800)-Suhardjo,J (1665)/email/2010/}) ({
Absolutely harmless is} 9. Nxc6 dxc6 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qc2 Be6 12. Bf4 Qa5 13.
Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Rd7 15. a3 Rad8 16. Rac1 Rd4 17. Bd3 a6 18. Be3 R4d7 19. Rfd1
Bd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 $36 {[%cal Gd8d1] Madebrink,L (2244)-Berg,E (2561)/Halmstad/
2013/}) 9... d6 {[%cal Rc6e5] This simple developing move is the best.} (9...
Ne5 10. Qe3 {only makes it more difficult for Black.}) (9... Qb6 10. e3 d6 11.
b3 Bd7 12. Bb2 Rfe8 13. Rfd1 Rac8 14. Qd2 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 Bc6 17.
d5 Bd7 18. Rd2 a6 19. a4 $11 {/+/=, Rotaru,D (2384)-Balshaw,A (2157)/email/
2010/}) 10. b3 (10. Ncb5 Qb6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. Qb3 Nfg4 $5 13. Nf5 Nxe3 14. Nxe7+
Kh8 15. fxe3 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Ng4 $44 {|^}) 10... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Ne4
$146 {[%mdl 8] Black simplifies the position.} ({More complex, but quite
playable is} 11... Be6 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Na4 (14. Qd2 $5) 14... Ne8
15. Qd2 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Bd7 17. c5 ({Kramnik probably wanted to play something
like} 17. Nc3 Nf6 18. Rfd1 $11 {/+/= The Maroczy like space advantage is very
stable, but while White's position is riskless, his pull is minimal at best.})
17... Bxa4 18. bxa4 dxc5 19. Qxb7 Ra7 20. Qb3 Nd6 21. Rfd1 Qa5 22. Rd5 Rac7 23.
Qc2 Nf5 {Bocharov,D (2647)-Shomoev,A (2567)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) 12. Nd5 (12.
Qxe4 Bxc3 13. Bh6 Bxa1 14. Bxf8 Bf6 $5 15. Bh6 Qa5 16. Qc2 (16. a4 Qb4 $11 {
[%cal Rb4b3,Yc8f5]}) 16... Bf5 17. Qd2 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Rb8 $11) 12... Bxd4 13.
Nxc7 Bxa1 ({A plausible alternative was} 13... Rb8 $5 {, after} 14. Bxe4 (14.
Bh6 $6 Nxf2 $1) 14... Bxa1 15. Be3 Bf6 16. Bxa7 Bh3 17. Rd1 {the simplest is}
Ra8 $5 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 19. Be3 Rxa2 20. Bxb7 Be6 $1 (20... Rb2 21. c5 dxc5 22.
Bh6 e6 23. Ra1 Rd2 $8 24. Bxd2 Bxa1 25. Be3 Bd4 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. b4 $14) 21.
Bd5 Rb2 $11) 14. Be3 $1 {[%mdl 576] This tactical sequence with a temporary
rook sacrifice will spice things up a bit.} (14. Nxa8 Nc3 15. Bg5 Nxe2+ 16. Kh1
Bf6 17. Bxf6 exf6 {is a drawish endgame, e,g,,} 18. Nc7 Nc3 19. a3 Bd7 20. Rc1
Rc8 21. Rxc3 Rxc7 22. Rd3 b5 $11) 14... Bf6 (14... Bf5 $6 15. Rxa1 Nc5 16. Nxa8
Rxa8 17. b4 Na4 $2 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. c5 {[%csl Ra4]} dxc5 20. bxc5 Bc6 21. Bxc6
bxc6 22. Rc4 Nb2 23. Rb4 Nd1 24. Bd4 Rd8 25. Kf1 f6 26. Ke1 e5 27. Ba1 e4 28.
Rd4 {1-0, Esen,B (2570)-Barbosa,E (2471)/Golden Sands/2014/ This game took
place later, than ours - Esen was obviosuly inspired by Kramnik.}) 15. Nxa8 (
15. Bxe4 $2 Bh3 $15 {and White drops an exchange.}) 15... Nc3 16. Bxa7 (16. Nc7
b6 $11 (16... Bd4 $5 17. Bh6 Bg7 $11)) 16... Nxa2 (16... Bh3 17. Nb6 Nxe2+ 18.
Kh1 Bxg2+ 19. Kxg2 $14 {/= and the endgame is more pleasant for White.}) 17.
Nc7 Nb4 18. Rd1 Kg7 (18... Bg4 $5 19. f3 Bf5 20. e4 Bd7 21. c5 (21. Kf2 Bc6
$132) 21... Rc8 22. Bb6 Be5 $5 23. f4 Bg4 24. fxe5 Bxd1 25. exd6 exd6 26. cxd6
$44) 19. f4 h5 $6 (19... Nc6 20. Bb6 Bf5 21. e4 Bg4 22. Rd5 $14) (19... Bg4 $1
20. Kf2 Rc8 21. Bb6 Na2 $5 $132) 20. Kf2 ({White could have already played} 20.
c5 $5 $14 {, but Kramnik is in no hurry.}) 20... h4 21. c5 hxg3+ 22. hxg3 dxc5
23. Bxc5 Na6 (23... Nc6 24. b4 $36 {() and Black's forces lack space.}) 24.
Nxa6 bxa6 25. e4 Bg4 26. Rd5 Bb2 ({Black prefers giving up a pawn; he will
retain reasonable drawing chances.} 26... Be6 $6 27. e5 $14 {/+/- is weaker,
White's bishops are powerful.}) 27. Bxe7 Re8 28. Bd8 Be6 29. Rd3 (29. Rd2 Bc3
30. Rd3 Bf6 {transposes into 29.Rd3 with an extra move.}) 29... Bf6 30. Bxf6+ (
30. Ba5 $5 Rb8 31. b4 Bc4 $14 {/<=>}) 30... Kxf6 31. Bf3 ({Allowing a
liquidation of the queenside with} 31. b4 Rb8 32. Rd4 a5 $5 33. bxa5 Rb2+ 34.
Kg1 Ra2 $11 {/+/= gives White practical chances at best.}) 31... Rb8 32. Bd1
Rb4 {Needlessly exposes the rook} (32... Ke7 $142 $1 $44 {[%cal Ya6a5,Yf7f6]})
33. Ke3 Ke7 ({Now} 33... a5 34. g4 $36 {[%cal Re4e5,Rf4f5] is unpleasant for
Black.}) 34. g4 {White could have postponed this.} (34. Rd4 $142 $1 Rb6 35. b4
$14 {gives him more realistic winning chances.}) 34... f6 35. g5 $6 ({Kramnik
wants to avoid the blockade} 35. Rd4 Rb6 36. b4 g5 {, , but now his pawn gets
fixed on b3.}) 35... fxg5 36. fxg5 a5 $1 {[%csl Rb3]} 37. Kf4 Rb5 38. Rc3 Kd6
39. Bc2 Rb4 40. Rg3 Ke7 41. Rd3 Rb5 42. Rc3 Kd7 $5 ({Black doesn't have to
allow even} 42... Kd6 43. e5+ $5 Rxe5 44. Rc6+ {, although} Kxc6 (44... Kd5 45.
Rb6 Kd4 46. Bxg6 $14) 45. Kxe5 Bd5 46. Kf6 Kc5 47. Kxg6 Kd4 48. Kf6 Kc3 49. Bd1
Kd2 $132 {holds the balance.}) 43. Bd1 (43. e5 Bd5 $1 44. Bxg6 Rb4+ {and the
king must retreat} 45. Ke3 (45. Kf5 $2 Be4+ 46. Kf6 Rb6+ $17) (45. Kg3 Rxb3 $11
) 45... Ke6 46. Bc2 Kxe5 47. g6 Rg4 {with a clear draw:} 48. Kd2 (48. Rc8 Bxb3
$11) 48... Rg2+ 49. Kc1 Be4 $1 50. Bxe4 Kxe4 51. Rc6 Kd3 $11) 43... Kd6 44.
Rd3+ Ke7 45. Rd2 {The last try, which is unexpectedly crowned with success.}
Bxb3 ({Consistent, Caruana doesn't want to sit tight anymore with} 45... Bf7
46. Ra2 $14 {He prefers to act and rightly so.}) 46. Bxb3 Rxb3 47. Rd5 a4 48.
Ra5 a3 49. Ke5 Kf7 50. Ra7+ Ke8 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A serious error just at the
moment when} (50... Kf8 {/\} 51. Kf6 Rb6+ $11 {draws easily.}) 51. Kf6 Rb6+ 52.
Kg7 ({Resignation in a position with equal material is often considered
premature, but here it was justified, as the position is won for White rather
easily:} 52. Kg7 Rb3 (52... Re6 53. Rxa3 Rxe4 54. Kxg6 $18 Rg4 55. Ra8+ Ke7 56.
Rg8 $18 {[%cal Rg6h7,Rg5g6]}) 53. e5 $1 ({Even quicker than} 53. Kxg6 Kf8 54.
Kf5 $18) 53... Rf3 54. e6 Re3 55. Kf6 Rf3+ 56. Kxg6 Re3 57. Kf6 Rf3+ 58. Kg7
Re3 59. g6 $18 {[%cal Rg7f6,Rg6g7]}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.03"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Al Modiahki, Mohamad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Qatar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "QAT"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Qe8 $5 {
A rare move, trying to step out of the heavily analysed variations. This
original way of putting pressure on the white centre slightly changes the
priorities for both sides.} ({It would make little sense to go for the Mar del
Plata attack with:} 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 {Kramnik is a leading expert in the
Bayonet attack initiated by} 9. b4 {a line with which he managed to "convince"
Kasparov to abandon his beloved King's Indian!}) 8. dxe5 {This looks like a
simplistic decision, but the early commitment of the black queen justifies it.}
(8. d5 {leads to an interesting position which has to be treated by comparison
with tho important systems, the aforementioned Mar del Plata attack and the
Petrosian system.} {I prefer} Nfd7 $5 (8... a5 {is the natural reaction and
the most popular, in the spirit of the Petrosian system. However, White can
refrain from Bg5 now that Black has spent a tempo on ...Qe8.} 9. Ne1 (9. Bg5 {
would transpose to an at times popular Petrosian tabyia after} h6 10. Bh4 Na6)
9... Na6 10. Nd3 {White has made good use of the offered tempo. Black cannot
control the c5- and b4- squares so easily.} Nd7 11. Be3 f5 12. f3 Ndc5 (12...
f4 13. Bf2 g5 14. a3 $36 {[%cal Gb2b4]}) 13. b3 Bd7 14. Rb1 b6 15. a3 Nxd3 16.
Bxd3 Nc5 17. Bc2 f4 18. Bf2 g5 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Na4 21. Nxa4 Bxa4 22. Bxa4
Rxa4 23. c5 $14 {Psakhis,L (2605)-Smirin,I (2545) Tel Aviv 1992 (1/2-1/2, 43)})
9. Ne1 f5 10. Nd3 Nf6 11. f3 f4 12. c5 {It is interesting to compare this
position with the Mar del Plata Ne1-d3 tabyia. The queen's knight is far from
the kingside, but can be useful for the queenside defence. At the same time,
the queen is ready to go to g6, something difficult to accomplish in the MdP
lines, where the knight goes to that square.} Rf7 13. cxd6 cxd6 14. Nf2 Bf8 15.
Bd2 h5 16. a4 g5 17. h3 Rg7 18. Nb5 Na6 19. Rc1 Qg6 20. Rc4 {All these were
played in the games Ikonnikov,V (2490)-Zakharevich,I (2350) Podolsk 1992 (0-1,
42) and Mitenkov,A (2420)-Zakharevich,I (2345) Smolensk 1992 (1/2-1/2, 48). It
seems that Black could have started his attack without further preparing:} g4
21. fxg4 hxg4 22. Bxg4 Nxg4 23. Nxg4 Nc5 $132) (8. Re1 {loses the e4-pawn with
not more than some compensation:} exd4 9. Nxd4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Qxe4 11. Be3 Qh4
12. Nb5 Qd8 13. Qd2 Nc6 {Nikolaidis,I (2493)-Kempinski,R (2612) Peristeri 2010
(1/2-1/2, 30)}) 8... dxe5 9. b4 $5 {Kramnik played this relatively rare move
instantly. The same as in the aforementioned variation, he starts the
queenside attack on the first given occasion.} ({The main variation is} 9. Be3
Nbd7 (9... b6 $6 {Van Wely,L (2687)-Khismatullin,D (2572) Warsaw 2005 CBM 108 
[Avrukh,B] (1-0, 38)}) 10. h3 (10. Nd2 c6 11. b4 Qe7 12. c5 Rd8 13. Qc1 Nf8 14.
Nc4 Ne6 15. Nd6 Nd4 $11 {Lajthajm,B (2478)-Sedlak,N (2571) Cetinje 2013 (1/2-1/
2, 76)}) 10... Qe7 ({If} 10... c6 {as played in Bauer,K-Fliter,I (2099)
Ueberlingen 2000 (1-0, 29),} 11. Qd6 $5 {could be annoying.}) 11. Nd5 Qd8 $1 {
A typical KI reaction. White cannot develop his initiative in the centre,
while Black can be happy that he has induced the releasing of tension (dxe5)
without getting harmed in any way.} 12. Qc2 Nh5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 c6 15. Nc3
Nf4 $132 {Georgiev,K (2636)-Sedlak,N (2571) Cetinje 2013 (0-1, 30)}) 9... Qe7 {
After having managed to clear matters in the centre, Black needs regrouping in
order to resume the process of development. It is worth mentioning that
starting with this move Black spend big amounts of time on almost every move.}
(9... Bg4 {looks logical, fighting for the d4-square, when White needs to
prove that his advance in development is more relevant than Black's ideas on
the dark squares.} 10. b5 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Qe6 12. Nd5 Rc8 13. Nxf6+ {It is best
to exchange knights before Black can bring the reserve knight into play.} (13.
Be3 Nbd7 14. c5 Bf8 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. a4 c6 $11 {Jankovic,A (2541)-Jovanovic,
Z (2525) Split 2008 (1/2-1/2, 24)}) 13... Qxf6 14. Be3 Rd8 (14... h5 {does not
seem to make too much sense. Preventing Bg4 is not so important and Black is
not in time preparing ...Kh7 and ...Bh6.} 15. Rb1 Bf8 16. Rb3 $36 {Van Wely,L 
(2618)-Georgiev,K (2453) Kallithea 2008 (1-0, 53)}) 15. Qc1 Qe7 16. c5 c6 17.
a4 Nd7 {This hands over the initiative to White.} (17... a6 $5 {, aiming for
general exchanges on b5 followed by ...Nc6 and ...Bf8, with a harmonious
regrouping, comes into consideration. If} 18. b6 {Black seems to be doing fine:
} Nd7 19. Qc4 h5 {[%csl Gg4][%cal Gd7f8,Gf8e6]} 20. Rfd1 Nf8 $11) 18. bxc6 bxc6
19. Qc4 h5 20. Rab1 Nf8 21. Qa6 Ne6 22. Rb7 Rd7 (22... Nxc5 23. Rxe7 Nxa6 24.
Rd1 $5 {[%csl Ga7,Gf7][%cal Gf3d1,Gd1b3]}) 23. Rfb1 $36 {Rapport,R (2509)
-Jovanovic,Z (2520) Chur 2010 (1/2-1/2, 65)}) 10. b5 (10. Nd5 $146 Nxd5 (10...
Qd8 $5) 11. cxd5 Qxb4 12. Qd3 {offers White compensation for the pawn, but
probably not more.} Qd6 13. Ba3 c5 14. dxc6 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Rd8 $11) 10... a6
$146 {A new and probably not very inspired move.} ({Previously,} 10... c6 11.
a4 Rd8 {was mostly played.} 12. Qc2 Bg4 13. Ba3 (13. a5 $5 {Marin}) 13... Qe8 (
13... Qc7 $1 {Atalik}) 14. a5 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Bf8 {Atalik,S (2619)-Socko,B (2621)
Polanica Zdroj 2006 CBM 113 ext [Atalik,S] (1/2-1/2, 43)}) ({My favourite is 
(even for abstract reasons) the developing} 10... Nbd7 11. a4 Nc5 12. Ba3 {
Ivanov,S (2538)-Kempinski,R (2549) Stockholm 2000 (1-0, 42)} b6 $5 {[%cal
Gc8b7]}) 11. a4 axb5 $6 ({Even now developing looks like a better idea,
although after} 11... Nbd7 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. a5 {the queenside pressure looks a
bit annoying.}) 12. cxb5 Rd8 13. Qc2 {From a very general perspective, the
consequences of the queenside operation favour Black, who has exchanged his
rook pawn for a more central one. But this would apply only if he was better
developed. With respect to the lines with ...c6 instead of ...a6, the queen
does not have the c7-square at her disposal and the d5-square is not defended
properly.} Nbd7 {Black obstructs the bishop, a piece that, sadly, will not get
the chance to be developed in this game.} ({With hindsight, it is easy to
recommend} 13... Bg4 {followed by ...Nbd7, which would also put up some fight
for the d4-square. One possible problem is that the a6-square is less well
defended, allowing, for instance,} 14. a5 c6 15. a6 cxb5 16. a7 Na6 17. Nxb5 {
with unpleasant queenside pressure.}) 14. Ba3 Qe8 15. Rfd1 {White is fully
developed and exerts strong pressure along files and diagonals. Black is very
passive and his move choice is strongly limited.} Bf8 $6 {Strategically, it is
right to exchange these bishops, but concretely Black loses a pawn. But, as
Tarrasch would say, in bad positions all moves are bad. Hm, or was it
Tartakower?! Whoever he was, I can only agree with him!} 16. Bxf8 Nxf8 ({Or if
} 16... Qxf8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 {Black loses either the c7- or the e5-pawn.}
) 17. Rxd8 Qxd8 18. Nxe5 Qd4 19. Nf3 Qc5 20. Qb2 Ng4 21. Nd1 $1 {This
apparently passive retreat annihilates Black's initiative. White is a pawn up,
has the safer king and more active play. Black is lost without even having got
out of the opening, as some of his pieces are still on their initial squares.}
Nd7 22. Rc1 Qb6 23. Nd2 $1 {More knight retreating, preparing for the final
assault.} Nc5 (23... Ngf6 {could be met with} 24. Ne3 Rxa4 25. e5 {with a
decisive attack.}) 24. Nc4 Qf6 $2 {Shortening the agony.} 25. Bxg4 ({And in
view of} 25. Bxg4 Qxb2 26. Ncxb2 $1 {(attacking the c5-knight)} Nb3 27. Bxc8 {
with decisive material gains, Black resigned.}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Nedev, Trajce"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2484"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Macedonia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. b3 g6 10. f4 d6 11. Qf2 Nf6 12. Be2 dxe5 13. O-O Ne4 14. Qf3 f5 15.
Nc3 exf4 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. Qxf4 Bg7 18. Ba3 Bd4+ 19. Kh1 c5 20. Rae1 Rf8 21.
Qg4 Bc8 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. Qf4+ Kg8 24. Rd1 g5 25. Qg3 Qg7 26. b4 Be6 27. bxc5
Rb8 28. h3 Qe5 29. Qxe5 Bxe5 30. c6 Rb6 31. c5 Rb8 32. Bc1 Bxa2 33. Bxg5 a5 34.
Be7 Bb3 35. Rf1 a4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.06"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Qd3 Nb6 ({
Another option is} 7... c6 8. O-O b6 9. b3 a5 (9... Ba6 {is more principled})
10. e4 Ba6 11. e5 Ne8 12. h4 h6 13. Rd1 b5 14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Ne2 {and White
got a clear plus in the recent game Kramnik-Baramidze, Dortmund 2014.}) 8. c5 (
8. b3 {is less ambitious:} dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 {and Black is fine.}) 8... Nbd7 9.
O-O c6 (9... b6 {is risky but a very direct move:} 10. c6 (10. b4 {doesn't
work here} a5 11. c6 axb4 $1 12. cxd7 Ba6 13. Nb5 c6) 10... Nb8 11. Ne5 {
with sharp play but probably in White's favour.}) 10. b4 b6 (10... e5 {is a
logical attempt to free the position, but White is better due to a nasty trick:
} 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 g5 13. Nxg5 $1 Bxg5 14. Qf5 Bxf4 15. Qxg4+ Bg5 16. h4
$16) 11. Bf4 a5 12. a3 (12. b5 Bb7 13. cxb6 Qxb6 $11) 12... Ba6 13. Qc2 {
So we get a typical Queen's Gambit position with the difference that the white
bishop is developed on g2. Due to this Black can't exchange the light-squared
bishops and is suffering more than usual.} Nh5 14. Bd2 Nhf6 15. Bf4 {Not a
plan to draw early of course, just trying to avoid future time trouble and to
tease my loveable opponent a little.} Nh5 16. Bd2 Nhf6 17. Rfe1 $1 {Don't even
dream about it!} Bc4 {Trying to get ready to manoeuvre this bishop to d5 after
the (premature at the moment) move e4.} 18. Bf4 {Now Nd2 is on the agenda,
followed by e4.} (18. e4 {leads to a draw after} dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxc4
Nxd2 21. Nxd2 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 bxc5 24. bxc5 Nxc5 $11) 18... Nh5 19.
Be3 Nhf6 20. Bf4 Nh5 21. Be3 {I checked my scoresheet carefully to make sure
there was no threefold repetition.} Nhf6 22. h3 $1 {I have told you already!}
h6 (22... Re8 {was another way to slightly improve the position. In general
Black can't do much here, just to try to get ready to meet the actions of the
opponent accordingly.}) 23. Nd2 Ba6 24. f4 {That was the idea behind 22.h3
which covered the g4-square to stop ...Ng4. Now the plan is Bf2 and e4 and
good or bad Black has to do something about it.} bxc5 25. bxc5 Nxc5 {This
tactical operation changes the (unfavourable) character of the position but
doesn't bring full relief.} 26. dxc5 d4 27. Bf2 dxc3 28. Qxc3 (28. Nf3 {
is what the computer prefers, but too delicate for me, especially since I saw
that the forthcoming complications are in favour of White.}) 28... Nd5 (28...
Qc7 $142 {strangely enough Houdini gives just a tiny plus for White here,
although visually he should be better in my opinion.} 29. Rab1 $14) 29. Qc2 Bf6
30. e4 $1 {An important and powerful resource which probably made my opponent
regret his decision of two moves ago.} Bxa1 31. exd5 $16 Qf6 (31... Bf6 32. d6
$1 (32. dxe6 {is not bad either but I somehow prefer my protected passed pawn
on the sixth rank.}) 32... Qd7 33. Nf3 Rab8 34. Bd4 {that was my plan during
the game. Black has difficulties defending the key c6-pawn plus his bishop is
out of play in addition to all other problems of his position.}) 32. d6 $1 {
Most ambitious.} (32. dxe6 {is the computer's first choice, but again I had 
(justified) plans to queen my d-pawn...} Bd4 33. exf7+ Rxf7 34. Ne4 Qd8 35. Nd6
$16) 32... Qc3 (32... Bd4 {is sad, although possibly objectively best} 33. Nb3
({or} 33. Nf3 Bxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rab8 35. Ne5 g5 36. Kg1) 33... Bxf2+ 34. Qxf2 Qc3
35. Qe3 Qc2 36. Rc1 Qa2 37. Nd4 $16) 33. Qd1 Bb2 34. Bxc6 {Tasty one.} Rad8 (
34... Rab8 {I expected this logical move (after all the rooks belong on the
open files, but the computer is not impressed with it either, giving the
following logical variation:} 35. Nb1 Qf6 36. Bg2 e5 37. Nd2 exf4 38. Ne4 Qg6
39. c6 {one of many other good options} Be5 40. Bc5 fxg3 41. d7 {and time to
call it a day.}) 35. Nb1 $1 {Not the best square for a knight in general, but
with such passed pawns White just needs to stop possible counterplay (tricks)
of the opponent. And mine is very tricky and resourceful - I experienced that
already long ago, in Elista 2006...} Qf6 36. Qd2 $18 Rb8 37. Be4 (37. d7 {
is simpler, but everything does it already, just not to blunder} e5 38. Bd5)
37... e5 38. Nc3 $1 Qe6 (38... Bxc3 39. Qxc3 exf4 40. Qxf6 gxf6 41. c6 {
and Black will be lucky if he manages to give a full rook for those pawns...})
39. Nd5 {Now, when the knight is on d5 instead of b1, it is hard to spoil it.}
Qxh3 40. Bg2 Qh5 41. d7 ({or} 41. c6) 41... exf4 42. Qxf4 Bxa3 (42... Bb5 43.
c6 Rbd8 44. Ne7+ Kh7 45. c7 Bxd7 46. cxd8=Q Rxd8 47. Qc7 {winning another
piece even if just one would be enough}) 43. Qxb8 {For the first time in the
game I had to calculate some 5 plus moves ahead. Just a dream scenario for a
pensioner like me...} Rxb8 44. Re8+ Kh7 45. Rxb8 Qd1+ 46. Kh2 Qh5+ 47. Bh3 {
No mercy.} Qf3 (47... Bf1 48. Nf4 Qf3 49. d8=Q {is what was planned} (49. Bf5+
g6 50. Bd4 {is even more humiliating}) 49... Qxf2+ 50. Bg2 {and mate follows.})
48. d8=Q Qxf2+ 49. Bg2 {A well played game by me, even if not very difficult.
Still, a rare case with me lately, so I am glad to present it to the public.}
1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.12"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Serbia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 c6 6. h3 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Bxg3 11. fxg3 Nh5 12. Kf2 Qd6 13. e4 Nxg3 14. Rg1 Qf4 15.
Bd3 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4+ 17. Bxe4 Nd7 18. g3 Qd6 19. Rae1 Nf6 20. Bf5 Bxf5 21.
Qxf5 Rae8 22. Rgf1 Nh5 23. Re5 Ng7 24. Qc2 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qe6 26. Kg2 Rd8 27. b3
Rd5 28. Qf2 c5 29. Re1 Qf5 30. Nh2 h5 31. Nf1 Qxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Ne6 33. Ne3 Rxe5
34. Rd1 Nd4 35. b4 b6 36. bxc5 bxc5 37. Rd3 Re6 38. Rc3 Rf6+ 39. Kg2 Rf3 40. h4
Rxg3+ 41. Kxg3 Ne2+ 42. Kf3 Nxc3 43. hxg5 Nxa2 44. Nc4 Nb4 45. Kg3 Nd5 46. Kh4
Nf4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 O-O (5... dxc4 {and}) (5... c5 {
are more principled continuations here.}) 6. Bg5 (6. cxd5 $5 exd5 $140 7. Bg5 {
obtaining the Exchange Variation Black tries to avoid with his move order (1...
Nf6, 2...e6, 3...d5).}) 6... c5 {This reaction to Qd1-c2 is common when the
moves e2-e3 Nb8-d7 are inserted. In the present position Black usually prefers}
(6... Nbd7) ({or} 6... h6) 7. dxc5 (7. cxd5 {is harmless, e.g.} cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Nxe7 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Qb3 Qxb3 12. Nxb3 Nbc6 13. g3 b6 14. Bg2 Bb7
(14... Ba6 $6 15. Nd4 Bb7 16. Ndb5 $14 {1/2 (40) Bacrot,E (2725)-Lautier,J 
(2680) Khanty-Mansiysk 2005 CBM 111 [Dautov]}) 15. Rd7 Rab8 16. O-O Rfd8 17.
Rfd1 Kf8 18. Nb5 a5 $1 $11 {R.Dautov}) 7... dxc4 (7... d4 $6 8. O-O-O Nc6 9. e3
e5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd5 Be6 12. Kb1 Bxd5 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bc4 Qd8 15. h4 Rc8
16. Ng5 g6 17. Ne4 $36 {0-1 (42) Abdulla,A (2506)-Thejkumar,M (2382) Kolkata
2008}) (7... Qa5 $5 {leads to a position with the isolated d5-pawn but Black
can probably equalise with accurate play:} 8. cxd5 exd5 (8... Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Nxe7
10. e3 Qxc5 11. Bd3 $32) 9. e3 Qxc5 (9... Nc6 10. Bb5 Nb4 11. Qa4 Qxa4 12. Bxa4
Nd3+ 13. Ke2 Nxc5 14. Bc2 Be6 15. Nd4 Rac8 16. Rac1 g6 17. Rhd1 Rfd8 18. Bb1
$14 {1-0 (44) Bacrot,E (2715)-Bologan,V (2683) Poikovsky 2005 CBM 106 [Ftacnik,
L]}) (9... h6 10. Bh4 Nc6 11. Be2 Qxc5 12. Rd1 Be6 13. O-O {-below}) 10. Be2
Nc6 11. Rd1 Be6 12. O-O h6 13. Bh4 Ne4 $1 (13... g5 14. Bg3 Ne4 15. Nd4 Nxd4
16. exd4 Qc6 17. Bb5 Qb6 18. Nxe4 Qxb5 19. Nc3 $14 {1-0 Akopian,V-Goldin,A/
Stratton Mountain 1999/ (39)}) (13... Rac8 14. Qb1 Rfd8 15. Nd4 Ne5 16. Nf5 Nc4
17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Rd4 $14 {1-0 (37) Markus,R (2477)-Abramovic,B (2509)
Yugoslavia 2002}) 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Nd4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rac8 $11 {[%csl Rc3] 1/2
Azmaiparashvili,Z-Geller,E/Belgrade 1988/ (65)}) 8. e4 {More aggressive than} (
8. e3 Qa5 9. Bxc4 Qxc5 10. Bd3 h6 11. Bh4 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Rfd1 Na6 14. Qa4
Qb4 15. Nd4 Qxa4 16. Nxa4 Nb4 17. Be2 Rac8 $11 {1/2 (53) Zhao,X (2538)
-Khotenashvili,B (2518) Lopota 2014}) 8... Nfd7 {This unnatural move can't be
healthy but White keeps some pressure in other lines, too:} (8... h6 9. Bxf6 $1
Bxf6 10. e5 Be7 11. Bxc4 Nd7 12. O-O (12. c6 $5 bxc6 13. O-O $14 {I.Tsesarsky})
12... Qa5 13. a3 Qxc5 14. Qe4 Rd8 15. Rac1 Qa5 16. Rfd1 a6 17. Qf4 b5 (17...
Rb8 18. Ne4 $36 {[%cal Ye4d6]}) 18. Nd5 Bf8 19. Ba2 Bb7 20. Nc7 $16 {[%csl Re6]
[%cal Gc7e6,Ga2f7] 1/2 (39) Pisulinski,J (2390)-Jaworski,M (2360) Lubniewice
1995}) (8... Qa5 9. e5 (9. Bxc4 $5 Qxc5 10. Qe2 Nc6 11. O-O Rd8 (11... Ng4 $5
12. Bf4 $5 Nge5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bb3 $14) 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. e5 $16 {1-0 (20)
Ibragimov,I (2602)-Arlandi,E (2445) Geneve 1999}) 9... Nd5 10. Bxc4 (10. Bxe7
Nxe7 11. Bxc4 Qxc5 {1/2 (31) Khenkin,I (2575)-Lutz,C (2595) Frankfurt 1996} 12.
Bd3 $5 Nbc6 13. O-O $14) 10... Nxc3 (10... Bxc5 11. Bxd5 exd5 12. O-O Be6 13.
a3 Qc7 14. Rfd1 {[%csl Rd5]} Bb6 15. Qd2 Nc6 16. Nxd5 $16 {1-0 (58) Popov,V 
(2505)-Chehlov,A (2290) St Petersburg 1998}) 11. O-O $1 Qxc5 12. Qxc3 Nc6 (
12... b6 13. Rac1 Bb7 14. Qb3 $1 $16 Bxg5 $140 15. Nxg5 Qxe5 16. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7
17. Rce1 $40) 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. a3 Bd7 15. Qe3 $5 (15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. b4 (16.
Qe3 $5 h6 17. Bd3 Be8 18. h4 a5 19. Qe4 f5 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (54)
Lerner,K (2523)-Volman,H (2197) Givataim 2005}) 16... a6 (16... b5 17. Bxb5
Nxb4 18. Bc4 Nc6 19. Rfd1 Be8 20. Bd3 $14) 17. Qe3 Be8 18. Bd3 Na7 19. Bb1 Bc6
20. Ng5 h6 21. Ne4 $14 {1/2 (37) Kasparov,G (2740)-Karpov,A (2700) Seville
1987 MainBase [Bulletin]}) 15... Rfd8 16. Bd3 Be8 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qe3 Nb8 19.
Be4 Bc6 {1-0 (50) Dokhoian,Y (2515)-Timoscenko,G (2485) Plovdiv 1988} 20. Qh6
$1 Qf8 21. Qh4 $14) (8... Nc6 9. Bxc4 (9. Rd1 $5 Qa5 10. Bxc4 Qxc5 11. Qe2 Ng4
12. Bxe7 Nxe7 13. O-O Ng6 14. Bb3 b6 15. h3 N4e5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 {1/2 (42)
Cramling,P (2520)-Hansen,S (2460) Reykjavik 1995} 17. Rd2 Bb7 18. Rfd1 $14)
9... Nd4 (9... Qa5 10. e5 Nd5 11. Bxe7 Ncxe7 12. O-O Nxc3 {1-0 (41) Bukal,V 
(2455)-Rhodin,B (2300) Balatonbereny 1985} 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14. bxc3 $14 {I.
Tsesarsky}) 10. Qd3 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Qd4 12. Bb3 Qxc5 13. Be3 Qa5 14. O-O Bd7 15.
Bd2 Bc6 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Bc2 $14 {1-0 (48) Popov,V (2505)-Kruppa,
Y (2540) St Petersburg 1998}) 9. Bf4 {[%csl Gf4][%cal Gf4b8]} (9. h4 {is
hardly appropriate:} Nxc5 10. Bxc4 a6 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e5 b5 13. Bxe7 (13. Bd3
Nxd3+ 14. Rxd3 {1-0 (30) Abdulla,A (2518)-Rahman,S (2247) Dhaka 2007} Nc6 $1
$13 15. Bxe7 $140 Nxe7) 13... Qxe7 14. Bd3 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 (15. Rxd3 Nd7 $13)
15... Nc6 16. O-O h6 $11) 9... b5 (9... Nc6 10. Bxc4 Bxc5 (10... Nxc5 11. Rd1
Qa5 12. a3 Nd7 13. O-O {[%csl Ra8,Rc8]} Nde5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Be2 Ng6 16. Bg3
a6 17. Kh1 $1 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Yf2f4,Yf4f5]} b5 18. f4 Re8 19. f5 Nf8 20. Bh5
$1 $16 {-> 1-0 (32) Azmaiparashvili,Z (2676)-Portisch,L (2599) Kallithea 2002
CBM 092 [Tsesarsky]}) 11. Rd1 (11. O-O-O $5 Qf6 12. Bg5 Qg6 13. h4 h6 14. h5
Qh7 15. Bf4 $14 {I.Tsesarsky}) 11... a6 12. e5 Be7 13. O-O $14 {[%csl Ra8,Rc8]}
Nb4 (13... Qc7 {[%cal Gb7b5]} 14. Bd3 h6 15. Ne4 $36) 14. Qe4 Rb8 15. a3 b5 16.
Bb3 Bb7 17. Qd4 Nc5 18. Qxb4 $18 {1-0 (40) Srokowski,J (2425)-Arlt,K Germany
1994}) 10. cxb6 Nxb6 11. Rd1 Qe8 12. Be2 $14 {[%csl Rc4] Black's c4-pawn is
rather weak than strong, and he does not have enough compensation as his
pieces are poorly developed.} Na6 13. Ne5 Nb4 14. Qc1 Ba6 15. a3 Nc6 16. b4 $1
{Using a tactical motif, White improves the position of his pawns.} Bf6 (16...
Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bb7 18. O-O f5 19. f3 $1 {[%csl Rb6,Rb7,Ge4]}) 17. Nf3 $1 {
[%cal Re4e5]} (17. Nxc6 $143 Qxc6 {[%csl Gc6]}) 17... Bxc3+ {Black must get
rid of his bishop (which will be passive after e4-e5 or ...e6-e5) but White's
strong dark-squared bishop now becomes an important factor.} 18. Qxc3 Qc8 (
18... f5 19. Bd6 Rf6 20. Qe3 $1 $16) 19. O-O Bb5 20. Bd6 {Other plans, keeping
the e4-pawn on its square to restrict Black's b6 knight, may be even stronger:}
(20. Nd4 $5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 {[%cal Yf1d1,Yd4d6]}) 20... Rd8 21. e5 h6 (21... Nd5
22. Qc2 Nf4 23. Ng5 $1 Nxe2+ 24. Kh1 $1 g6 25. Qxe2 $18 {-> A.Tukhaev}) (21...
a5 $142 $1 22. Ng5 h6 23. Ne4 axb4 24. axb4 Nd5 25. Qg3 Kh8 {but, of course,
White keeps strong pressure.}) 22. Nd4 $1 {[%cal Gc3g3]} a6 23. Bf3 Nxd4 $6 {
This exchange, activating White's rook, facilitates his task.} (23... Qd7 24.
Be4 $5 {[%cal Yc3g3]}) (23... Nd5 $5 24. Bxd5 (24. Qc2 $5 $16) 24... exd5 25.
f4 $1 $16 {->} (25. Nxb5 $143 axb5 26. Rxd5 Qa6 $132)) 24. Rxd4 {[%cal Gd4g4]}
Bc6 25. Be2 Bb5 26. Rg4 $1 {[%mdl 128]} Kh8 27. Qg3 $6 (27. Rc1 $142 {A.Tukhaev
}) 27... Rg8 $2 {Black misses a good chance:} (27... c3 $1 {(indicated by GM
Adam Tukhaev)} 28. Rxg7 Rg8 $1 (28... Bxe2 $143 29. Rxf7 Rg8 30. Qf4 Rg6 31.
Rf8+ Qxf8 32. Bxf8 Bxf1 33. Kxf1 Nd5 34. Qe4) 29. Rxg8+ Qxg8 30. Qf3 Nd5 {
- Black's strong c3-pawn makes White's task to convert his material advantage
quite difficult.}) 28. Rh4 Qd8 (28... c3 $2 29. Bxb5 axb5 30. Qe3 {[%cal Re3b6,
Rh4h6]}) 29. Qf4 Re8 (29... g5 $1 30. Qc1 $16 {was relatively better for Black.
}) 30. Rxh6+ gxh6 31. Qxh6+ Kg8 32. f4 $6 (32. Rd1 $142 $18 {[%cal Rd1d4]})
32... Bc6 33. Bf3 $2 (33. f5 $1 exf5 34. Rxf5 Re6 35. Rg5+ Qxg5 (35... Rg6 36.
Rxg6+ fxg6 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Bg4 $1 Bd5 40. e6 $3 Qxd6 41. Qg5+
Kh8 42. Qf6+ Kg8 43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Bf5 Ra7 45. Qxa7 Bb7 46. Qxb7 Qd4+ 47. Kf1
Qd1+ 48. Kf2 $18) 36. Qxg5+ Rg6 37. Qe3 {, and White should win.}) 33... Qc8 $2
{Both players missed an excellent defence:} (33... Nc8 $3 {(A.Tukhaev)} {
although after} 34. Bxc6 Nxd6 35. exd6 {White keeps a material advantage and
winning chances, e.g.} Qb6+ ({or} 35... Qxd6 36. Bxa8 Qd4+ 37. Kh1 Rxa8 38. h3
$16) 36. Rf2 Qxc6 37. Rf3 Qxf3 38. gxf3 Red8 39. Qg5+ Kh8 40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. h4
c3 42. Qxc3 Rxd6 43. h5 $16) {After the text move White successfully completes
his attack.} 34. f5 $1 ({Even better than} 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Qg5+ Kh7 36. Qh5+
Kg7 37. Rf3 Qxf3 38. Qxf3 $18) 34... exf5 35. Qg5+ Kh8 36. Bxc6 Re6 (36... Qxc6
37. Rxf5 Re6 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Qxf7+ Kh8 40. Rh5+ Rh6 41. Rxh6#) 37. Rxf5 Ra7 (
37... Rg6 38. Qh4+ Kg7 39. Rh5 $18) 38. Qh4+ Kg7 39. Rh5 Qg8 40. Be4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 {This is a quiet alternative.}
(5. a3 {is the main and, objectively, more ambitious line.}) 5... b6 (5... d5 {
is more common. Later on Black can develop in the spirit of the Classical
Queen's Gambit. Here is a recent example:} 6. a3 Be7 7. Bd3 c5 8. dxc5 a5 9.
Rb1 Bxc5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e4 h6 $1 14. exd5 Nxd5 $11 {
0-1 (44) Bogdanovich,S (2590)-Kuzubov,Y (2661) Lvov 2014}) 6. Bd3 c5 ({A few
days later the same players continued the dispute in the Tal Memorial, which
was a blitz event this year:} 6... Bb7 7. O-O d5 8. a3 Bd6 9. b4 dxc4 10. Nxc4
Nbd7 11. Bb2 Ne4 12. Qe2 f5 13. Nfe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qe7 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. f3 Ng5
17. Rfd1 $14 {1-0 (61) Kramnik,V (2760)-Morozevich,A (2724) Sochi 2014}) 7. a3
Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Bb7 9. dxc5 {White decided to determine the structure in the
centre. Instead, short castling looks more natural, but Vladimir has a
different idea in mind.} bxc5 10. Bc3 d6 {White has a pair of good bishops,
but Black's position is flexible.} 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. O-O-O $5 $146 {That's a
new approach in this position! The engine doesn't approve of this choice.
However, from the human point of view, it makes sense to hide the king on the
opposite side, so that White could attack on the kingside. For this purpose
White has to be in an aggressive mood and that was exactly the case in the
current game.} (12. Rd1 Qe7 13. O-O a5 14. e4 e5 15. Nh4 g6 16. g3 Nb8 17. f4
Nc6 $11 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gc6d4] 0-1 (58) Vocaturo,D (2582)-Vitiugov,N (2737)
Caleta 2014}) 12... Qe7 ({After} 12... h6 {White can go} 13. h4 {and then put
the knight on g5, as in the game.}) 13. Ng5 h6 14. h4 Ne5 $5 {Perhaps too
provocative.} (14... Bxg2 $6 {An engine might capture such a pawn and coolly
defend after} 15. Rhg1 Bc6 {but, hardly any human would dare to try it.}) (
14... hxg5 $2 {is suicide, of course.} 15. hxg5 $18 {[%csl Rg8]}) (14... Rfd8 {
was a logical alternative. Black should meet White's flank attack with
counterplay in the centre. For instance:} 15. f4 d5 $132) 15. Bh7+ {White
should avoid exhanging either of his bishops.} Kh8 16. f4 Neg4 (16... Nxc4 $2
17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxc4 fxg5 19. hxg5 Kxh7 20. Rxh6+ Kg7 21. Qc3+ e5 22. Rdxd6 {
with a crushing attack, for example:} Rh8 23. Rd7 $1 Qxd7 24. Qxe5+ $18) (16...
Ned7 {was possible, but then it's not clear what the move 14...Ne5 was made
for.}) 17. Rh3 h5 $6 {Alexander wanted to secure the g4-outpost, but the move
slightly weakens the kingside and also White's knight is no longer under
attack.} ({After} 17... e5 $6 {Kramnik mentioned the following spectacular
line:} 18. Bf5 Bc8 19. Bxc8 Raxc8 20. Rg3 h5 $2 21. Rxg4 $1 hxg4 22. Rxd6 $1
Qxd6 23. Bxe5 Qe7 24. Bxf6 Qxe3+ 25. Kb1 Qe1+ 26. Ka2 Qxh4 27. Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.
Bxh4 $18 {Not a forced line, but it is a good illustration of White's
attacking possibilities.}) ({I suggest bringing the bishop into the defence by:
} 17... Rad8 18. Bd3 Bc8 $1 19. Rg3 (19. Rf1 e5 20. Be2 e4 21. f5 d5 22. cxd5
Rxd5 23. Bxg4 Nxg4 24. Qxe4 Qxe4 25. Nxe4 f6 {[%csl Rf5] Black will get back
the pawn and is, at least, not worse}) 19... e5 20. Be2 (20. f5 $6 d5 $15)
20... Nf2 $1 21. Rf1 hxg5 22. Rxf2 ({After} 22. hxg5 N6e4 {the knights are
covering both h1 and h3 squares.}) 22... g4 23. f5 Bb7 24. Bd3 d5 $15) 18. Rg3
Rae8 19. Bd3 {Now White is threatening 20.Be2; Black's linked knights are not
as stable as they look. Therefore, Black's next move is necessary.} e5 20. Be2
(20. Bf5 {with the same idea seems to be more precise, not allowing the reply
that followed in the game.}) 20... Nf2 (20... exf4 21. Bxg4 Ne4 $1 (21... fxg3
$2 22. Bxf6 Qxe3+ 23. Kb1 Be4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 26. Bf3 Rxc4 27. Be7
Re8 28. Bxd6 Rxh4 29. Bxg3 {and the pair of bishops overcome the rook plus a
couple of pawns}) 22. exf4 (22. Be6 $6 fxg3 23. Qe2 Nxg5 24. Qxh5+ Nh7 25. Bf5
Qxe3+ 26. Rd2 Qg1+ 27. Rd1 Qe3+ $11) 22... hxg4 23. h5 f6 24. h6 Qd7 {The
engine doesn't show anything decisively disastrous here for Black, but the
position looks frightening.}) 21. Rf1 N2e4 22. fxe5 dxe5 (22... Nxg3 $2 {
falls to} 23. Rxf6 $1 $18 {[%cal Gc2h7]} ({But not} 23. exf6 $4 Qxe3+ 24. Kb1
g6 $19)) 23. Rxf6 $5 {It wasn't necessary to go "all in", but Kramnik felt
tempted to eliminate one of black's annoying knights.} (23. Rgf3 g6 (23... Nxg5
24. hxg5 Ne4 25. Rh3 g6 26. Bxh5 $1 Nxg5 27. Rh2 gxh5 28. Rxh5+ Kg8 29. Rfh1
Be4 30. Rxg5+ Qxg5 31. Qxe4 Qg7 32. b4 $1 $14) 24. Bd3 Nxg5 25. Rxf6 Nh7 26.
R6f2 Kg7 27. g3 $14) 23... Nxf6 24. Bxh5 Kg8 (24... Be4 $2 25. Nxe4 Nxh5 26.
Rg5 $1 $18 {[%csl Re5,Rh5]}) 25. Be2 Qd6 26. Rh3 Bxg2 {White has only one rook
left, so it's possible to grab this pawn now.} 27. Rg3 Bb7 28. h5 Re7 $1 (28...
e4 $2 29. Rg1 Qh2 30. Qd1 $1 $40) 29. Rg1 $1 {Moving the rook away to a safer
square. In some cases it can go to the d-file.} (29. h6 $2 g6 {and there is no
good attacking continuation.}) 29... e4 $2 {Closing the diagonal for White's
queen, but opening the diagonal for White's bishop.} (29... Rd8 $1 30. h6 (30.
Qf5 {is met by} Bc8) 30... g6 31. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 32. Qxg6+ Kf8 33. Rd1 Qe7 34.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 35. Bxe5 Qe7 36. h7 Rxh7 37. Qxf6+ Qxf6 38. Bxf6 Be4 {and this
endgame should end in a draw.}) 30. h6 Qh2 (30... Rd8 31. Rd1 Qc7 32. hxg7 $18
{[%csl Gc3]}) {[%tqu "En","What should White do?","","","g5h3","It seems that
Morozevich overlooked this resource. Now white's attack is crushing.",10]} 31.
Nh3 $1 $18 {It seems that Morozevich overlooked this resource. Now White's
attack is crushing.} Qxh3 (31... Ne8 32. hxg7 Qxh3 33. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 34. Qd2 $18
) (31... g6 32. Bxf6 Qxh3 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gh3e3]} 33. h7+ $1 Kxh7 34. Qd1 $18
{[%cal Gg1h1]}) 32. Rxg7+ Kh8 33. Bxf6 Qxh6 34. Rg6+ {Great game by Kramnik!}
1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bf5 8.
Nbc3 e6 9. O-O Qd7 10. Be3 O-O-O 11. Bc2 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 Kb8 13. a3 f6 14. Rfd1
Ne7 15. Nf4 Nbd5 16. Rac1 c6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Ne4 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Nd5 20. Qf2 f5
21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Ng3 Bd6 23. Nxf5 Rdf8 24. Rf1 Bc7 25. Rce1 Rf6 26. Qc2 Rhf8
27. Ng3 Bxg3 28. hxg3 Qg7 29. Rxf6 Rxf6 30. Rf1 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Qxg3 32. Qxh7
Qxe3 33. Qh2+ Kc8 34. Qh3+ Qxh3 35. gxh3 Kd7 36. Kf2 Ke6 37. Kf3 Kf5 38. h4 a5
39. b4 a4 40. Kg3 Ke4 41. Kg4 Kxd4 42. h5 Ke3 43. h6 d4 44. h7 d3 45. h8=Q d2
46. Qh1 Kd3 47. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nf5 Bxe3 8.
Nxe3 d6 9. c4 Nge7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be2 f5 12. exf5 Nxf5 13. Nxf5 Bxf5 14. O-O
Qd7 15. Bf3 Kh8 16. b3 Rae8 17. Re1 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Ne5 19. Bd5 Nd3 20. Qe3 b6
21. Rf1 Re8 22. Qd4 Nb4 23. Bf3 Bd3 24. Rd1 Bc2 25. Rf1 Bd3 26. Rd1 Bc2 27. Rf1
Bd3 28. Rc1 Bg6 29. h3 a5 30. Rd1 Bc2 31. Rd2 Bf5 32. Kh2 h6 33. Qf4 Nd3 34.
Qg3 Ne5 35. Bd5 c6 36. Bf3 Nxf3+ 37. Qxf3 Bg6 38. Qf4 Re6 39. Ne2 Rf6 40. Qe3
Qc7 41. Qg3 Qe7 42. Nf4 Bf7 43. Re2 Qd7 44. Qe3 b5 45. cxb5 cxb5 46. Qd4 Qf5
47. Nd3 b4 48. Rd2 Bg6 49. Nb2 Qc5 50. f3 Bf7 51. Na4 Qc7 52. Kg1 d5 53. Qc5
Rc6 54. Qd4 Rc1+ 55. Rd1 Rxd1+ 56. Qxd1 Qf4 57. Kh1 Qe3 58. Qc2 d4 59. Qf5 Be6
60. Qf8+ Bg8 61. Qc5 Qe1+ 62. Kh2 d3 63. Qd4 d2 64. Nb2 Qc1 65. Qd8 Qxb2 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. Nc3 d5 6. a3 e5 7. e4 d4 8. Nd5
Nge7 9. c4 dxc3 10. dxc3 h6 11. b4 O-O 12. Be3 cxb4 13. axb4 Nxd5 14. exd5 Ne7
15. c4 Nf5 16. Ra3 Bd7 17. c5 Bb5 18. Re1 e4 19. Nd2 Qxd5 20. Nxe4 Qxd1 21.
Rxd1 Bc6 22. Nd6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rfd8 24. Rad3 Nxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6 a5 27.
bxa5 Bf8 28. Rd7 Rxa5 29. Rd8 g5 30. Rc8 f6 31. Kf3 Kf7 32. Ke4 Be7 33. f4 Ke6
34. f5+ Kd7 35. Rh8 Bxc5 36. Rh7+ Kd6 37. Rxh6 Ra4+ 38. Kf3 Ra3 39. Rxf6+ Ke5
40. Rf7 Rxe3+ 41. Kg4 b5 42. Kxg5 b4 43. Rb7 Rf3 44. g4 Kd5 45. Kg6 Kc6 46. Rb8
Bd6 47. Rc8+ Kd5 48. f6 b3 49. Rc1 Ke6 50. g5 b2 51. Re1+ Be5 52. h4 Rb3 53. f7
Rf3 54. h5 Rxf7 55. h6 Rf2 56. Kh7 Re2 57. Rb1 Rc2 58. g6 Rc1 59. g7 Rc7 60.
Kg6 Rc8 61. h7 Bxg7 62. Kxg7 Rc7+ 63. Kh6 Kd5 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Nf3 e6 7. e5 Ng4 8. Ng5
Nxe5 9. f4 exd5 10. fxe5 d4 11. Nd5 Nc6 12. Nf3 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qh4+ 14. g3 Qe4+
15. Qe2 Qxh1 16. Nf3 d6 17. Kf2 Bg4 18. Bg2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxh2 20. Bf4 Qh5 21.
Qxh5 gxh5 22. Bxd6 Rfe8 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Bxc5 d3 25. Rd1 Rad8 26. Bd5 Rd7 27.
Nf5 Re2+ 28. Kf3 Rxb2 29. Nxg7 Rxa2 30. Nxh5 f6 31. Bd4 h6 32. Nxf6 Rd8 33.
Rxd3 Kg7 34. Ne4+ Kg6 35. Nc3 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. Re1
Ng6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Bf1 c6 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Bg5 Be6
15. a4 Rd7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. g3 Rad8 18. a5 Kf8 19. Ne3 Ne7 20. h4 Nc8 21. Kh2
Nd6 22. Nd2 b6 23. Nec4 Nxc4 24. Nxc4 b5 25. Ne3 Rd2 26. Re2 Rxe2 27. Bxe2 Rd2
28. Bg4 Rxf2+ 29. Kh3 h5 30. Bf5 Re2 31. Ng2 Rxe4 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. b4 f5 34.
Rd1 Ke7 35. Ne1 Re3 36. Kg2 e4 37. Nc2 Rxg3+ 38. Kf2 Rxc3 39. Nd4 Be5 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O d5 8. a3
Bd6 9. b4 dxc4 10. Nxc4 Nbd7 11. Bb2 Ne4 12. Qe2 f5 13. Nfe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qe7
15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. f3 Ng5 17. Rfd1 Nf8 18. h4 Nf7 19. Qf2 Rd7 20. Be2 Rad8 21.
Rxd7 Rxd7 22. h5 g5 23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Bd4 g5 25. Qg3 Ng6 26. f4 g4 27. Nd2 Kg7
28. Kf2 Rd8 29. Rh1 a5 30. Bc3 axb4 31. axb4 c5 32. b5 Qd7 33. Nc4 Qxb5 34. Nd6
Qb3 35. e4 Bxe4 36. Nxe4 fxe4 37. f5 Rd3 38. Bxd3 Qxc3 39. fxg6 Nxe5 40. Be2
Qd4+ 41. Kf1 Qa1+ 42. Qe1 Qd4 43. Rh7+ Kxg6 44. Qh4 Qa1+ 45. Kf2 e3+ 46. Kg3
Qe1+ 47. Kf4 Qf2+ 48. Qxf2 exf2 49. Rh1 Nc6 50. Ke3 g3 51. Rh3 Nd4 52. Rxg3+
Kf5 53. Kxf2 b5 54. Re3 e5 55. Bd3+ Ke6 56. g4 c4 57. Be4 b4 58. g5 b3 59. g6
c3 60. g7 Kf7 61. Rg3 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2541"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8.
Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ Kf8 11. Qxb4+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. O-O Kd8
14. Re1 Nf6 15. Ng5 Rf8 16. Nc3 h6 17. Nge4 Ne8 18. Re3 d6 19. Rc1 Bd7 20. d5
a5 21. Ne2 a4 22. Nd4 Ra5 23. Nc3 Nf6 24. Ne6+ Bxe6 25. dxe6 Re8 26. f4 c6 27.
Rce1 Ke7 28. h3 Rf8 29. Rd1 Ne8 30. Rd4 Nc7 31. g4 g6 32. Rb4 b5 33. Re2 c5 34.
Rbe4 b4 35. Nd1 d5 36. Re5 Rxf4 37. Ne3 c4 38. h4 a3 39. bxa3 Rxa3 40. h5 d4
41. Nd5+ Nxd5 42. Rxd5 Rxg4+ 43. Kf2 Re3 44. Rxe3 dxe3+ 45. Kxe3 Kxe6 46. Rb5
c3 47. hxg6 Kf6 48. Rb6+ Kg7 49. Kd3 h5 50. Kc2 h4 51. a3 h3 52. Rb7+ Kxg6 53.
Rb8 Rh4 54. Rg8+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. c4 e6 6. d3 dxc4 7. dxc4 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Nbd7 9. Nc3 Bb4 10. Bd2 O-O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. exf3 Ne5 13. a3 Ba5 14. b4
Nxc4 15. Be1 Bc7 16. f4 Rxd1 17. Nxd1 Rd8 18. a4 a6 19. Bf1 Nd2 20. Be2 Nb3 21.
Rb1 Nd4 22. Kf1 Nxe2 23. Kxe2 Nd5 24. Nb2 e5 25. f5 e4 26. Nc4 b5 27. axb5 axb5
28. Ne3 Bb6 29. Nc2 Kb7 30. Ra1 Ne7 31. g4 Rd3 32. Ra3 Nd5 33. Bd2 Rxa3 34.
Nxa3 Kc7 35. Nc2 Kd6 36. Bc1 Nc3+ 37. Kd2 Nd5 38. Ke2 f6 39. f3 e3 40. Kd3 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nh4 Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. e3 e6
9. Qe2 Bb4+ 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. O-O Ng8 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. f4 Ne7 14. Nf3 Ba5 15.
a3 Bc7 16. e4 dxe4 17. dxe4 e5 18. f5 O-O 19. Bg5 gxf5 20. exf5 Qe8 21. Rad1
Nd5 22. Rfe1 f6 23. c4 N5b6 24. Be3 e4 25. Nd2 Ne5 26. Nxe4 Nexc4 27. Bf2 Rf7
28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29. Qxe8+ Rxe8 30. Rxe8+ Kg7 31. Bd4 Be5 32. Bxe5 Nxe5 33. Rdd8
Kh6 34. Rh8+ Kg5 35. Rd4 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Debashis, Das"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Bf4 Nce7 12. a3 Ba5 13. b4 Bb6 14. Na4 Ng6 15.
Bc1 Nd6 16. Ne5 c6 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Rb1 Re8 19. Rb3 Nf8 20. Rbe3 f6 21. Ng4
Be6 22. h3 b5 23. Bd3 Bf7 24. Rxe8 Bxe8 25. Ne3 Bg6 26. Bf1 Qd7 27. h4 h6 28.
g3 Be4 29. Kh2 Qf7 30. Bh3 Re8 31. Kg1 Re7 32. c3 Qe8 33. f3 Bh7 34. Kf2 Ne6
35. Bf1 g5 36. Ng4 Kg7 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Bg2 Nf5 39. Ne3 Nd6 40. Ng4 Bg6 41.
Re2 Nf5 42. Qe1 Kf7 43. Bh3 Qh8 44. Kg2 Re8 45. Bd2 Qh7 46. Nf2 Nfg7 47. Kg1
Bf5 48. g4 Bc2 49. Bg2 Bb3 50. Nh3 Bc4 51. Re3 Qc2 52. Bc1 b6 53. Qd2 Qxd2 54.
Bxd2 Ra8 55. Bc1 Ne8 56. Re1 Nd6 57. Nf2 Nc8 58. Kh2 Ne7 59. Kg3 Ng6 60. Nh3 c5
61. dxc5 bxc5 62. bxc5 Nxc5 63. Be3 Nd3 64. Ra1 Re8 65. Bd4 Ne1 66. Bf2 Nxg2
67. Kxg2 Re2 68. a4 bxa4 69. Rxa4 Rc2 70. Ra3 Ne5 71. Kg3 Bf1 72. f4 Nd3 73.
Ra7+ Kg6 74. f5+ Kh6 75. Rf7 Ne5 76. Rxf6+ Kg7 77. Re6 Rxc3+ 78. Kh2 Nf3+ 79.
Kg3 d4 80. Rg6+ Kf7 81. Rh6 Nh4+ 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mista, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{When facing opponents who are rated around 150-200 points below himself,
Kramnik has shown a liking towards going for double fianchetto setups. He
figures out that in these relatively quiet and non-theoretical setups, he can
outfox his opponents.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3
{After the books of Marin on the English Opening and Delchev on the Reti, this
has become quite a popular setup.} (6. d4 {would of course transpose to the
Catalan in which Kramnik is a big expert but as previosuly mentioned he tries
to avoid well known theoretical paths.}) 6... c5 7. Bb2 b6 (7... Nc6 {is the
more natural move and White can continue with} 8. e3 {with an interesting
position.}) 8. Nc3 Bb7 (8... d4 {of course is impossible due to} 9. Ne1 $1 $16)
9. e3 dxc4 10. bxc4 Nc6 {This is one of the tabiyas in the double fianchetto
variation.} 11. Qe2 (11. d4 {is not so great because of} Na5 $1 {[%csl Rc4]}
12. Qe2 cxd4 13. exd4 Rc8 14. Ne5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nd7 $15 {There is extreme
pressure on the c4 pawn.}) 11... Qc7 {This is a provocative move because Black
is inviting White to play Nb5 with a tempo. But his philosophy is that he can
later kick the knight away from b5 with a6 and regain the lost tempo.} 12. Nb5
{Kramnik goes for it.} (12. Rfd1 {is the most popular move but I like
Kramnik's idea of provoking a6 in order to weaken the b6-pawn. However, there
is one more way of playing such positions and that is to remove the N to e1
and start rolling the kingside pawns forward with f4 and g4.} Rfd8 13. d3 Rac8
14. Rab1 Qb8 15. Ne1 Rd7 16. f4 Rcd8 17. a3 Qa8 18. g4 $36 {1-0 (18) Matlakov,
M (2668)-Kovalenko,I (2556) St Petersburg 2012, with a dangerous attacking
setup.}) 12... Qd7 13. Rfd1 a6 14. Nc3 Qc7 15. Rac1 {White is preparing for
the key break in the centre with d2-d4.} (15. d4 {would be premature thanks to
the pressure on the c4 pawn after} cxd4 16. exd4 Na5 $15) 15... Rfd8 16. Ba1 {
Kramnik makes all those little preparatory moves before going for d4. As you
can see Black has no meaningful pawn breaks in the position.} (16. d4 {could
have been a better idea now but Black can maintain the balance with} cxd4 17.
exd4 Na5 18. Nb1 Re8 $5 {Getting ready to face the d4-d5 break.} 19. Ne5 Bxg2
20. Kxg2 Nd7 $11) 16... Rab8 (16... Rac8 {was also possible but the b6-pawn is
a little loose and hence it makes sense to place the rook on b8.}) 17. Na4 {
Keeping an eye on the b6-pawn.} Ba8 (17... Na5 $1 {was better.} 18. d4 cxd4 19.
exd4 Bc6 20. Nc3 Ba3 21. Rc2 Rbc8 {Black is doing fine here.}) 18. d4 {Finally
Kramnik feels that this is the right time to open the position.} Qa7 (18...
cxd4 19. exd4 {As you can see in such positions, the perfect placement of
white pieces makes the central break of d4-d5 quite dangerous if Black is not
careful.} Ba3 20. Rc3 Bb4 21. Rc2 Qe7 {Black has co-ordinated well.}) 19. Ng5
h6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 {[%cal Ga1g7,Ge4h7,Ge2h5] White has two pieces aiming
towards the kingside and the queen is ready to join in. In such situations it
is extremely important for Black to bring some reinforcements to the kingside.
Instead of doing that Mista moves his knight to the far edge of the board.
What follows is a deadly attack.} Na5 $6 (21... cxd4 22. exd4 Bf6 23. d5 Bxa1 {
With one attacker exchanged, things are not so dangerous any more.} 24. dxc6 (
24. Rxa1 exd5 25. cxd5 Na5 $11) 24... Bd4 $11) 22. d5 $1 {From this point
onwards Kramnik conducts the attack to perfection.} b5 23. cxb5 axb5 24. Qg4 $1
{With the Q on a7, N on a5, B on a8, Black's king is looking very lonely on g8.
} Bf8 25. Nxc5 $1 {Of course the c5-knight cannot be taken because of mate on
g7 but Black has prepared this pawn fork with f5.} f5 26. Qg6 $1 fxe4 $2 {
The losing move of the game. Now the attack is irresistible.} (26... Bxc5 {
was forced and after} 27. Rxc5 fxe4 28. Be5 $1 {Not an easy move to see at all.
} (28. Qxe6+ Qf7 $11) (28. Rdc1 Nc4 29. dxe6 Rd5 30. Rxd5 Bxd5 $14) 28... Qf7 (
28... Rbc8 $2 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Qxe6+ $18) (28... Rb6 29. Rc7 $18) 29. Qxf7+
Kxf7 30. Bxb8 Rxb8 31. Rc7+ Kf6 32. dxe6 $14 {Though White is better here, he
is nowhere close to winning and Black has good fighting chances.}) 27. Nxe4 $1
{The immediate threat is the deadly Nf6+ and Black doesn't have a good way to
deal with it.} Ba3 28. Nf6+ Kf8 29. dxe6 $1 {Nd7 is now a huge threat.} Qb7 {
One move mate threat which is easily parried.} (29... Bxc1 30. Nd7+ $1 $18) 30.
e4 gxf6 31. Qxf6+ Ke8 (31... Kg8 32. Qh8#) 32. Qg6+ Kf8 (32... Ke7 33. Qf7#)
33. Qxh6+ Ke8 34. Qh5+ {And Black resigned.} (34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36.
Qg7+ Ke8 37. Qg8+ Ke7 38. Qf7# {would have been a nice mate. The game was
interesting and strategically complicated up till a certain point but once
Kramnik was able to play the d5-break, Black's position went downhill pretty
quickly.}) 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vovk, Andrey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A03"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Be2 Ngf6 5. Ne5 Bxe2 6. Qxe2 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8.
Qb5 Rb8 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Qxd7+ Kxd7 11. d3 b5 12. a3 c5 13. e4 dxe4 14. dxe4
Kc6 15. Bd2 b4 16. axb4 cxb4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5+ Kxd5 19. Rxa7 Bxb2 20. Ke2
Rhc8 21. Kd3 Bf6 22. Rb1 Rd8 23. Ke2 Ke6 24. Ra6+ Kf5 25. Kf3 g5 26. g4+ Kg6
27. Rxb4 Rbc8 28. Be3 gxf4 29. Rxf4 e6 30. Ra5 Rc3 31. Rc5 Rxc5 32. Bxc5 Rc8
33. Bf2 Rc3+ 34. Kg2 Rxc2 35. Kg1 Be5 36. Rf3 f6 37. h3 h5 38. gxh5+ Kxh5 39.
Rd3 Bf4 40. Kg2 e5 41. Ra3 f5 42. Kf1 e4 43. Ra5 Kg5 44. Ra3 Bc7 45. Rb3 Bd6
46. Rb5 Kf4 47. Rb3 Bc5 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2673"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:26:04"]
[BlackClock "0:08:34"]

{Kramnik was on a high after three wins in the three previous rounds. (draws
in the first two rounds). Today he played the young Russian Sanan Sjugirov. In
2010, Sanan had beaten Magnus (2826) in Khanty Mansiysk Olympiad 2010. So he
could not be taken lightly.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. O-O {
When I had just started playing chess, my coach advised me to play these exact
five moves from the white side just so that I wouldn't lose the game quickly.
As for Kramnik, he plays this setup just so that he can play an original game
without much opening theory.} Nbd7 6. Qe1 {Kramnik has good experience with
this line as he played it with the white pieces against Vitiugov in the
Alekhine Memorial in 2013 and against Levon Aronian with the black pieces in
2010.} e5 7. e4 {of course the threat is now exd5 followed by taking on e5.}
Bd6 {This idea had not been played by any grandmaster before. It can be
assumed that Sjugirov had analysed this at home and wanted to test Kramnik in
a new line. It turns out that Vladimir was in mood to refute this system of
play by Black.} (7... dxe4 {is the main line in this position.} 8. dxe4 Bd6 9.
Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. a4 Re8 (12... b5 13. axb5 cxb5 14. Ne3 $14
{[%cal Ge3d5,Ge3f5]} Nxe4 15. Nh4 $1 $16) 13. Nh4 Nc5 14. Nf5 Ne6 15. Be3 $14 {
1-0 (50) Kramnik,V (2801)-Vitiugov,N (2712) Paris/St Petersburg 2013, When
White had a very harmonious development and went on to win.}) 8. h3 Bh5 (8...
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 dxe4 10. dxe4 O-O {After seeing what happened in this game and in
retrospect, I feel that this is the best way for Black to continue. Even
though White has the bishop pair, the symmetrical pawn structure should give
Black good chances to equalise.}) 9. Nh4 {A very interesting idea. The knight
eyes the f5-square and also frees the way for the f-pawn. The development of
the queenside pieces can wait for the time being.} O-O 10. g4 Bg6 11. g5 (11.
Nf5 {is not at all good because of} Bxf5 12. exf5 (12. gxf5 Re8 $15 {when
Black has a very solid and nice position.}) 12... h6 {preventing g5 for the
time being.} 13. Qd1 Re8 14. Re1 (14. h4 $2 Nh7 $17) 14... Qb6 $15 {Once again
a very harmonious position for Black.}) 11... Nh5 12. exd5 {Kramnik indulges
in winning the d5-pawn. In order to win the pawn he has definitely to burn his
bridges. He has pushed his kingside pawns in such a fashion that weaknesses
abound in plenty and one gets the feeling that Black should have enough
compensation for the missing pawn.} cxd5 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Bxd5 Nf4 $44 {
Sjugirov makes the most logical move. He attacks the d5 bishop and also the
g5-pawn forcing White to take the knight on f4.} 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. h4 {These
kingside pawns might look weak but one important fact to understand here is
that Black would like to break this structure with f6 at some point but with
the bishop so strongly placed on d5, it is simply impossible. My chess sense
tells me that Black should definitely have compensation here but Kramnik's
subsequent play casts doubt on it.} Qc8 {Openly eyeing the c2-pawn and in a
stealthy way also the g4-square!} 17. Qe4 $1 {Kramnik is a class act. You can
bank on him to find the most challenging and ambitious moves in the position.
After all that's the reason why he played in such aggressive fashion in the
opening.} (17. Nc3 Ne5 18. Qe4 Qg4+ 19. Qg2 Qxh4 $132 {gives Black a lot of
counterplay.}) 17... Qxc2 {Sjugirov goes for the most critical continuation
asking White what exactly is he trying to do.} (17... Re8 18. Bxb7 $5 (18. Qxg6
Ne5 19. Qe4 Ng6 $5 20. Qxg6 Qg4+ 21. Kh1 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 18... Qc7 (
18... Rxe4 19. Bxc8 $16) (18... Qxc2 19. Qc6 $1 Qxc6 (19... Qxb2 20. Bxa8 Qxa1
21. Qxd6 $18) 20. Bxc6 $16) 19. Qc6 Rac8 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Bd5 Rxc2 22. Na3
Bxa3 23. bxa3 Rc5 $11 {+/=. Black should be able to hold the draw here.}) 18.
Nc3 {This is the most logical way to develop. The knight comes into the centre.
In such positions along with calculation you need to develop a feel for the
dynamics, something which is possessed by Kramnik to a high degree.} (18. Na3 {
might have been interesting.} Bxa3 (18... Qxb2 19. Nc4 $18) 19. bxa3 Rad8 (
19... Rae8 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. Qd5+ $16 Ke7 22. Rac1 Qa4 23. Rc4 Qa6 24. Rb1 $18
{with a fierce attack.}) 20. Qxf4 Nc5 {and in spite of being a pawn down, it
is clear that Black is not much worse because White's position has so many
weaknesses.}) (18. Qxg6 {[%cal Gg6d6]} Bc5 (18... Qxb2 19. Qxd6 Qxa1 20. Qxd7
$18) 19. Qh5 {threatening g6.} Qxd3 20. g6 Qg3+ $1 21. Kh1 Qh3+ {would be a
nice way to end the game.}) 18... Qxb2 (18... Rae8 19. Qxg6 $1 $16) 19. Qxg6
Bc5 (19... Qxc3 20. Qxd6 Ne5 (20... Rad8 {It is extremely difficult to assess
positions like these. But say after} 21. Rac1 Qe5 (21... Qxd3 22. Bxf7+ $18) (
21... Qa5 22. Be4 (22. Bxb7 Qf5 $1 $13) 22... Nf6 23. Qc7 Qxc7 24. Rxc7 Nxe4
25. dxe4 $14) 22. Qxe5 Nxe5 23. Bxb7 Rxd3 $11 {/+=. White has a small edge
thanks to his bishop being the superior minor piece in an open position. But
the number of pawns on both sdes of the board is equal and Black should be
able to hold this one with accurate play.}) 21. Rac1 Qd4 $5 {is the only move
for Black.} (21... Qb2 22. Rfe1 Nxd3 23. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 24. Qxd3 $18) 22. Rc4 $1
(22. Bxf7+ $2 Rxf7 23. Qxd4 Nf3+ $19) 22... Qb2 (22... Nxc4 23. Bxf7+ $18) 23.
Re4 (23. Rxf4 Rad8 $19) 23... Nf3+ 24. Kg2 Nxh4+ 25. Kh3 Nf3 26. g6 Ng5+ 27.
Kh4 Nxe4 28. dxe4 $14 {[%csl Gh4] The king on h4 looks quite safe and in this
position White stands better mainly because his bishop is so strong on d5. A
completely non forcing and long variation to show you how tricky and
complicated the position is.}) (19... Be5 {is another option to be considered.
But White has a strong idea with} 20. Qh5 $1 {[%cal Gg5g6]} Qxc3 21. g6 Nf6 (
21... Rfd8 22. Rac1 Qd4 23. Bxf7+ $40) 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bxf7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+
Kxf7 25. Qxa8 $18) 20. Ne4 Qe5 {Now after Bb3 White has a lot of threats in
the position, but the question is instead of ...Qe5 what should have Black
played? His position looks already quite perilous.} (20... Qd4 21. Bb3 Qxd3 22.
Nf6+ $18) (20... Rad8 21. Rab1 Qd4 22. Bb3 Be7) (20... Ne5 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22.
Qh7#) (20... Rae8 21. Rae1 $18 {[%csl Gd5,Ge1,Ge4,Gg6]}) 21. Bb3 $1 $14 {
The white rook is coming to e1 now. What should Black do?} Bxf2+ (21... f3 22.
Rae1 Qf4 23. Qh5 {With the threat of g6.} g6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qh5+ Kg7 {
it is surprising that White does not have a killer blow over here.} 26. Qh6+
Kg8 27. d4 Bxd4 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Qd6 Qg4+ 30. Qg3 (30. Ng3 Qh3 $19) 30... Qxg3+
31. Nxg3 $16 {White has a clear advantage.}) (21... Be7 {seems safer but after}
22. Rae1 $16 {you can clearly see who holds the initiative.}) 22. Nxf2 $1 {
Accurately calculated.} (22. Kxf2 {was a possibility.} Qb2+ 23. Kg1 Qxb3 24.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. axb3 f6 26. Ra5 fxg5 27. Rxg5+ Kh7 28. Kh1 $16 {with good
winning chances for White thanks to his superior activity.}) 22... f3 23. Ne4 {
Stopping the check on g3.} Qd4+ {Playing for the last trick. But the way
Kramnik was playing in this entire game it is hard to imagine that he will
stumble now.} (23... Qb2 24. Rxf3 $1 (24. Nf6+ Nxf6 25. gxf6 Qd4+ 26. Kh2 Qxh4+
27. Kg1 Qd4+ $11 {would have been a nice draw for Black.}) 24... Qxb3 (24...
Qxa1+ 25. Rf1 Qd4+ 26. Rf2 Qa1+ 27. Kg2 $18 {The threat of Nf6 is a killer and
Black can do nothing about it.}) 25. Qxg7+ Kxg7 26. axb3 $16 {Black is a pawn
down and most probably will lose this ending. But this was the last chance for
him to continue the game.}) 24. Kh1 $1 (24. Kh2 $2 Qb2+ 25. Nf2 (25. Rf2 Qxa1
$13) 25... Qxb3 26. Qxg7+ Kxg7 27. axb3 Nc5 $11 {Black is ok.}) 24... Qb2 25.
Nf6+ $1 {The final check that was well calculated by Kramnik. After Nxf6 gxf6
the queen on g6 will not only threaten a mate on g7 but also defend the mate
on g2. A great game by Kramnik. I cannot really pinpoint where Sjugirov went
wrong. Maybe the entire idea with 7...Bd6 is dangerous for Black and he should
stick to the simple 7...dxe4. But in order to refute Black's play you need a
player like Kramnik who feels the position like a human and calculates like a
machine!} (25. Nf6+ Nxf6 26. gxf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 ({With White always searching for ways to
combat the solid Slav, the immediate} 4. g3 {has also recently become popular:}
{Perhaps critical is} dxc4 (4... Bg4 5. Ne5 Bf5 6. cxd5 cxd5 (6... Qxd5 7. f3
Bxb1 8. Rxb1 e6 ({Risky, but more consistent is} 8... Qxa2 $5 9. Bd2 $44 (9.
Qc2 $5)) 9. a3 Nbd7 10. e4 Qa5+ 11. b4 Qc7 12. Nc4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Qxe5 15. Qb3 Be7 16. Bf4 Qh5 17. g4 Qg6 18. Bd3 Nd7 19. O-O Qf6 20. Bg3 $16 {
Rombaldoni,A (2505)-Altini,N (2394)/Boscotrecase/2014/}) 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. f3 $5
Rc8 $1 (8... Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. e4 e6 11. e5 Ng8 12. Be3 (12. a3 $5 Nge7 13.
Be3 Nf5 14. Bf2 Be7 15. Be2 $14) 12... Bb4 13. Bd3 (13. Rc1 Nge7 14. a3 Bxc3+ (
14... Ba5 $5 15. g4 $5 $13) 15. Rxc3 O-O 16. Be2 Rfc8 17. Qd2 Rc7 18. O-O Rac8
19. Rfc1 Nf5 20. Bf2 Nb8 21. g4 Rxc3 22. Rxc3 $14 {Lysyj,I (2661)-Prohaszka,P 
(2575)/Iasi/2014/}) 13... Nge7 14. Bf2 (14. g4 $5 Na5 $132) 14... Nf5 15. Bc2
Rc8 16. Kf1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Rc1 Nc4 19. Qe2 O-O 20. Kg2 f6 (20... Rc7
$132) (20... Na3 21. Bd3 Rc6 $13) 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Bd3 b5 23. Rhf1 Qf7 $6 (
23... Ne7 $142 $1 $132) 24. Rce1 Rf8 25. g4 Ne7 26. Bg3 Ng6 27. h4 Kh8 (27...
h5 $5 28. Bxg6 Rxg6 29. g5 e5 $14) 28. h5 Nf4+ 29. Bxf4 Rxf4 30. Bxc4 dxc4 31.
Qxe6 $16 {Grischuk,A (2777)-Tomashevsky,E (2697)/RUS-chT Loo/2014/}) 9. g4 Bd7
10. Bf4 (10. Nxd7 Nxd7 $1 (10... Qxd7 $6 11. g5 Nh5 12. e4 e6 13. Bh3 Bb4 14.
O-O Bxc3 15. bxc3 O-O 16. c4 dxc4 17. d5 Rfd8 {Laznicka,V (2679)-Matlakov,M 
(2689)/Dubai rpd/2014/} 18. f4 g6 19. Qe1 $1 Nd4 20. Qe3 Nb5 21. a4 $16) 11.
Bf4 (11. Nxd5 $2 e6 12. Nc3 Qh4+) 11... e6 12. e3 Be7 $15 {[%cal Ye7h4,Yh7h5]})
(10. g5 Nxe5 $5 (10... Nh5 11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. e4 e6 13. Bh3 Bb4 14. O-O $14) 11.
dxe5 Nh5 12. Qxd5 e6 13. Qxb7 Bc5 $44) 10... e6 11. e3 Bb4 12. Rc1 Nxe5 13.
Bxe5 O-O 14. Qb3 Qa5 15. a3 Be7 16. Bd3 Bc6 17. O-O Nd7 18. Bg3 {Melkumyan,H 
(2647)-Ter Sahakyan,S (2572)/Martuni/2014/} Qd8 $5 $11) (4... Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6.
Nh4 dxc4 (6... Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qb6 9. c5 Qc7 10. Bf4 Qc8 11. e4 Be7 12.
Bg2 Nh5 (12... O-O $142 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. O-O $14) 13. Bd6 $1 Bxd6 14. cxd6 O-O
15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. e5 c5 17. Ne2 Nc6 18. f4 cxd4 19. Rd1 f6 20. g4 $16 {
Laznicka,V (2676)-Perunovic,M (2602)/Tromso olm/2014/}) 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3 Nbd7
9. Bxc4 Nb6 10. Bb3 h5 11. Qd3 Qd7 12. Bd2 h4 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. f3 Bd6 15.
Rhg1 hxg3 16. hxg3 Bc7 17. Kb1 Kb8 18. Bc1 Rhe8 19. e4 fxe4 20. fxe4 $14 {
Mamedyarov,S (2764)-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/Baku/2014/ For more details about
this game see the noets by Marin in CBM 163.}) (4... g6 {is the solid
symmetrical Fianchetto Grьnfeld, but not all Slav players have it in their
repertoires.}) 5. Bg2 Nbd7 {and now:} 6. Qc2 ({Ambitious, but also more
committal is to ignore the Pc4 and occupy the centre with} 6. O-O g6 7. Nc3 Bg7
8. e4 O-O 9. Qe2 Nb6 10. a4 a5 11. h3 Ne8 $5 (11... e5 $6 12. dxe5 Nfd7 13. Bg5
Qe8 14. Qe3 Ra6 15. Rfd1 Nxe5 16. Rd8 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qe5 18. Rad1 Bxh3 $2 (
18... f6 19. Bf4 Qe7 20. Rxf8+ Bxf8 21. Bd6 Qe8 22. Bc7 Nd7 23. e5 fxe5 24. Be2
$40) 19. g4 $1 f5 20. Rxf8+ Bxf8 21. Rd8 Bxg4 {Avrukh,B (2585)-Motylev,A (2655)
/EU Cup Eilat/2012/} 22. Bxg4 (22. Bh6 Ra8 23. Qxb6 Rxd8 24. Qxd8 Qd6 25. Qxd6
Bxd6 26. Bxg4 fxg4 27. Be3 Kf7 28. Bb6 Bb4 29. Nd1 Bd2 30. Kf1 h5 31. Ke2 Bb4
32. Ne3 c3 33. b3 Kf6 34. Kd3 Kg5 35. Bc7 h4 36. Nd1 Bc5 37. Nxc3 Bxf2 38. Ke2
Bd4 39. Nd1 b6 40. Nf2 g3 41. Bd8+ Kh5 42. e5 g2 43. Nh3 Kg4 44. Nf2+ Kf5 45.
Nh3 g1=Q 46. Nxg1 Bxg1 47. Bxh4 Kxe5 48. Bd8 Ke4 49. Kf1 Be3 50. Ke2 g5 51. Bc7
g4 52. Bg3 Bf4 {0-1 (52) Avrukh,B (2585)-Motylev,A (2655) Eilat 2012}) 22...
fxg4 23. Bh6 Ra8 24. Qxb6 $18) 12. Rd1 Nd6 13. g4 f6 14. e5 (14. Bf4 $142 $44)
14... Ne8 15. Ne4 Be6 16. Nc5 Bd5 17. Nxb7 Qc8 18. Nc5 Nc7 19. Re1 f5 20. gxf5
Rxf5 21. Ra3 Nd7 22. Ne4 Ne6 $36 23. Ng3 $2 Rxf3 $1 24. Bxf3 Nxd4 25. Bxd5+
cxd5 26. Qd1 Nxe5 $19 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4,Gd5,Ge5] Manolache,M (2441)-Cheparinov,I 
(2567)/Ortigueira/2004/}) 6... Nb6 (6... b5 $5) 7. Nbd2 g6 ({Simple
development, Black is unwilling to risk} 7... Bg4 8. Nxc4 $5 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qxd4
10. Na5 $32) ({or} 7... Be6 8. O-O $44) 8. O-O Bg7 9. Nxc4 Bf5 10. Qc3 Nxc4 11.
Qxc4 O-O 12. Rd1 a5 13. Qb3 Qd6 14. Ne5 Nd7 15. Nc4 Qb4 16. Ne3 Qxb3 17. axb3
Be6 18. d5 cxd5 19. Nxd5 Nc5 20. Ra3 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rac8 22. Bg5 e6 23. Rd6 Bxb2
24. Rxa5 Bc1 $11 {Grischuk,A (2764)-Aronian,L (2809)/London candidates/2013/
For more details about this game see the notes by Marin in CBM 154.}) 4... e6
5. g3 $5 {Kramnik goes for the Catalan, which he knows so well. His move-order
is quite rare, as White has already committed his knight to c3.} ({He is in no
mood for either} 5. e3 Nbd7) ({or} 5. Bg5 h6 {Both systems are heavily
analysed mainline theory, to catch up with the confident leader (In Qatar Giri
started with 6/6) he has to come up with something less usual.}) 5... dxc4 {
Anish picks up the gauntlet.} ({Taking on c4 sooner or later is certainly
principled, the shy} 5... Nbd7 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Nd2 $5 {
[%cal Ye2e4] gives White chances for an edge without much risk - altogether in
the Catalan spirit...}) 6. Bg2 b5 {Protects his booty.} ({Black's main
alternative is} 6... Nbd7 7. a4 Bb4 (7... Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 $5 $132 {
has a solid reputation}) 8. O-O O-O {Here Giri had a pleasant experience in
the past, but with White:} 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Na2 Bd6 11. Qxc4 Nb6 12. Qc2 Qxa4 13.
b3 Qa5 14. Ne5 Nbd7 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rd1 e5 18. Nc3 exd4 19. Ba3
c5 20. e3 d3 21. Rxd3 Qb8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 b6 24. Bb2 a5 25. Ra4 Re8 26.
Rg5 g6 27. Bd5 Kf8 28. Rf4 {1-0, Giri,A (2720)-Caruana,F (2781)/Wijk aan Zee/
2013/ For the notes to this game by Marin see CBM 153. Naturally Black's play
can be improved, but it's no wonder that Giri prefers to avoid this particular
branch.}) 7. Ne5 a6 (7... Bb7 $2 8. Nxb5) ({Black mostly plays} 7... Nd5 {
, but holding on to the pawn means falling behind in development:} 8. e4 $5 (8.
O-O Bb7 (8... f6 9. Ng4 $5 Be7 10. e4 Nb4 $6 (10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. a4
$44 (12. e5 $5 f5 13. Ne3 Bb7 14. a4 {()})) (10... Nb6 11. a4 $32) 11. a4 bxa4
12. Ne3 Nd7 13. Qg4 $6 (13. Nxa4 $16 {[%csl Rc4,Re6]}) 13... g6 14. Nxc4 Nb6
15. Nxb6 axb6 16. Qd1 O-O 17. Rxa4 Rxa4 18. Qxa4 Qxd4 19. Be3 b5 20. Bxd4 bxa4
21. Nxa4 Rd8 22. Bb6 Rd2 23. Be3 Rd8 24. Rc1 e5 $11 {Eljanov,P (2712)-Gurevich,
M (2617)/Konya/2011/}) 9. a4 a6 {and now:} 10. axb5 (10. e4 {is more popular,
but postponing the swap on b5 can later gives Black a choice to advantageously
take back with the c-pawn:} Nxc3 (10... Nf6 11. d5 cxd5 12. exd5 exd5 13. axb5
axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Nxb5 Bc5 16. Qa4 O-O 17. Qxa8 Qe8 18. Nc3 Qxe5 19. Bf4
Qh5 20. Bxb8 Ng4 21. h4 Nxf2 22. Qb7 $1 Ng4+ 23. Kh1 Nf2+ 24. Kh2 Ng4+ 25. Kh1
Nf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bxf2 27. Bd6 $16 {Mikhalevski,V (2632)-Naiditsch,A (2637)/Heviz /
2008/ For more details about this line see the notes by Mikhalevski in CBM 123.
}) 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. Bf4 Be7 13. Qg4 g6 14. Nxd7 (14. Bh6 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qc7 16.
Qf4 g5 17. Bxg5 O-O-O 18. Bxe7 $13 {1/2, Nielsen,P (2625)-Goloshchapov,A (2558)
/Istanbul/2003/}) 14... Qxd7 (14... h5 $5) 15. Bh6 f6 (15... e5 {/\} 16. Qxd7+
Kxd7 17. Bg7 exd4 18. Bxh8 Rxh8 19. cxd4 Kc7 $36 {[%csl Ga6,Gb5,Gc4,Gc6]}) 16.
axb5 cxb5 17. Rfe1 e5 $1 18. Qxd7+ Kxd7 19. dxe5 fxe5 20. Bg7 Rhe8 21. Bxe5 Bc5
22. Bh3+ Kc6 23. Bf6 Kb6 24. e5 {Kortschnoj,V (2602)-Wang,Yue (2704)/Amsterdam/
2008/} a5 25. Bd7 Rf8 $15) {Safer is} 10... axb5 {, keeping the centre more
closed for the time being.} (10... cxb5 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. e4 $32 Be7 (12...
dxe4 13. Qh5 Qc7 (13... g6 14. Nxg6 $16 fxg6 15. Qe5+ $16) 14. Bxe4 $1 Bxe4 15.
Re1 g6 16. Nxg6 fxg6 17. Rxe4+ Be7 18. Qd5 Ra7 19. Bh6 Nc6 20. Rae1 $16 {->})
13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Nxf7 $1 Bxf7 15. Bxa8 O-O 16. Bf4 Qb6 17. Be4 Nc6 18. d5 $18
{Ben Menachem,I (2305)-Varga,Z (2480)/Ramat Hasharon/1992/}) 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12.
e4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nd7 14. Bf4 $5 (14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Be3 Bb7 (15... c5 16. Qa1
Bb7 17. dxc5 Be7 18. Qa7 Bf6 19. e5 Bxg2 20. Qb8+ Qd8 21. Qxb5+ Qd7 22. Qb8+
Qd8 23. Qxd8+ Kxd8 24. Kxg2 Bxe5 25. Bd4 $14) 16. Qg4 h5 17. Qe2 Be7 18. Ra1 g6
19. Ra7 O-O 20. Qa2 Qc8 21. e5 Rd8 22. h4 Rd7 23. Be4 $44 {Fridman,D (2635)
-Kraemer,M (2570)/Bundesliga/2014/}) 14... Bb7 ({Deserving attention was} 14...
Be7 {/\} 15. Qg4 g6 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Bh6 e5 $5 18. Qf3 $5 (18. Qxd7+ Kxd7 19.
Bg7 Re8 20. Bxe5 c5 $132) 18... exd4 19. Bg7 Rg8 20. Bxd4 c5 21. Bf6 Qc6 22.
Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Qf4 Rd8 $11) 15. Nxd7 (15. Qh5 g6 16. Qf3 f6 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 {
1/2, Wells,P (2517)-Haslinger,S (2468)/Caerleon/2007/} 18. Ra1 Be7 19. Ra7 O-O
20. Bh3 f5 $11 {/=/+}) 15... Qxd7 16. Qg4 Qd8 17. Ra1 h5 18. Qe2 Bd6 19. e5 Be7
20. Be4 g6 21. Qf3 Qc7 22. Be3 O-O 23. h4 Kg7 24. Qf4 Rh8 25. Kh2 Qb8 26. Ra2
Qc8 27. Bc1 Qd7 28. Ra7 Bd8 29. Qf3 Be7 30. Ba3 Bxa3 $6 (30... Rb8 $1 $14) 31.
Qf6+ Kg8 32. Rxa3 $36 {Mikheev,S (2547)-Van Unen,H (2552)/email/2010/}) 8...
Nxc3 (8... Nb4 9. a3 Qxd4 10. axb4 Qxe5 11. Bf4 Qf6 12. e5 Qd8 13. O-O $1 (13.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Nxb5 Bxb4+ 15. Bd2 Bxd2+ 16. Kxd2 a6 17. Kc3 Nd7 18. f4 Rb8 19.
Nd6 Ke7 20. Nxc4 Nb6 $11 {Tregubov,P (2646)-Pavasovic,D (2597)/Kallithea/2008/}
) 13... Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Bxb4 15. Nxb5 cxb5 16. Bxa8 a6 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18. Rxd2 Ke7
19. f4 Nd7 20. Rad1 f6 21. exf6+ gxf6 {Arngrimsson,D (2385)-Mihok,O (2451) /
Budapest/2013/} 22. Rd6 Nc5 23. Rc6 $36) 9. bxc3 Be7 (9... Bb7 10. Qh5 $1 {/\}
g6 11. Nxg6 fxg6 12. Qe5 $16) 10. Qg4 O-O 11. Bh6 Bf6 12. O-O Kh8 13. Be3 Bxe5
14. dxe5 Nd7 15. f4 Qe7 16. Qh5 b4 17. f5 (17. Qe2 $1 $14) 17... f6 (17... Nxe5
18. f6 gxf6 19. Bd4 Nd7 $5 $13) 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Qh4 bxc3 20. Rae1 Ng8 21.
Qxe7 Nxe7 22. Bc5 Re8 23. g4 $36 {Nyzhnyk,I (2620)-Graf,A (2605)/Bad Wiessee/
2012/}) (7... Qb6 8. O-O Bb7 9. e4 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O (10... h6 $5 11. Be3 $44)
11. Ng4 Qd8 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e5 Be7 14. Nxb5 Nd7 15. Nc3 Rb8 16. Qe2 Qb6 17.
Rad1 c5 18. d5 h5 19. Ne3 Nxe5 20. Qxh5 Qxb2 21. Rc1 $36 {Nisipeanu,L (2686)
-Van Wely,L (2685)/Canberra/2014/}) 8. O-O {[%mdl 512] Proceeds in gambit
style. Taking the pawn back releases the tension and is generally a relief for
Black.} (8. Nxc6 Qb6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. e4 Bb4 11. O-O O-O 12. d5 Nbd7 13. Be3 Bc5
14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. dxe6 Ne5 17. b4 Qxb4 18. Qd4 Nd3 19. Nd5 Bxd5
20. exd5 Qd6 $15 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2721)-Smeets,J (2669) Bundesliga/2010/}) (
8. a4 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 $5 (9... Nd5 {transposes to 7...Nd5 above.}) 10. axb5 axb5
11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 cxb5 13. Bxa8 O-O 14. Bg2 Nd5 15. f4 Bd6 16. e3 Bxe5 17.
fxe5 Nc6 18. Qg4 Qd7 19. h4 Ncb4 20. h5 {Nyzhnyk,I (2585)-Giri,A (2717)//EU-ch
Plovdiv /2012/} {Now, as Krasenkow points out in CBM 148,} f5 $1 $15 {gives
Black an excellent position.}) 8... Bb7 9. b3 $5 ({We have already had} 9. a4 {
above, Kramnik has a different approach on his mind, often championed by GM
Gleizerov.}) 9... cxb3 {Modest, but solid.} (9... b4 10. Na4 ({Interesting is
also the enterprising piece sacrifice} 10. bxc4 bxc3 11. Rb1 Ra7 12. Be3 Bd6
13. d5 c5 14. Qa4+ Nbd7 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Bxb7 Bxe5 17. Bxc5 Rxb7 18. Rxb7 Qc8
19. Ra7 {Li,Chao (2697)-Ankit,R (2455)/Graz/2014/} Kf7 $13) 10... c3 11. Nc4
$32 {is very risky, Black's lag in development makes it difficult for him to
retain his powerful pawn-chain after} a5 (11... Nbd7 12. Bf4 a5 13. a3 Nd5 14.
Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Bxd6 Nb8 16. Bc5 Na6 17. e4 Ndc7 18. Bb6 O-O 19. Bxa5 Qe7 {
Gleizerov,E (2549)-Hovhanisian,M (2513)/Charleroi/2014/} 20. axb4 Nb5 21. e5
Nxb4 22. Bb6 Na6 23. Qd3 $36) 12. a3 Ba6 13. axb4 axb4 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. dxc5
Qxd1 (15... O-O 16. Bf4 Nd5 17. Bd6 Nd7 18. e4 N5f6 19. Ra4 Nxc5 20. Bxc5 Qxd1
21. Rxd1 Bxc4 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Rxb4 Be2 24. Rc1 $18 {Gleizerov,E (2531)-Bruno,
F (2413)/Sibenik/2014/}) 16. Rxd1 O-O 17. Bf4 Nbd7 18. Bxc6 Bxc4 19. Rxa8 Rxa8
20. Bxa8 Bxb3 21. Rd4 $18 {Gleizerov,E (2546)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2543)/Koge/
2013/}) 10. axb3 Be7 (10... Nbd7 $5 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. Rd1 Be7 13. Bb2 Qb6 14. Ne4
Nxe5 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. dxe5 Be7 17. Qe4 (17. Rd6 $5) 17... O-O 18. Bd4 Qc7 19.
Rdc1 Bb4 20. Qe3 h6 21. Bb6 Qe7 22. Bc5 Bxc5 23. Rxc5 Rfd8 24. b4 $44 {
Melkumyan,H (2678)-Duda,J (2599)/Doha/2014/ White's compensation is just
enough to hold the balance, this game was played in Round 4.}) 11. Bb2 (11. Bg5
O-O 12. e3 Ra7 13. h4 c5 14. dxc5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Bxc5 17. Nd3
Nbd7 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. b4 Na4 21. Nxa4 bxa4 22. Rxa4 Rb7 $11 {
Li,Chao (2687)-Tomashevsky,E (2733)/St Petersburg/2012/}) 11... O-O 12. Qc2 ({
A later game went} 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Qc1 (13. Nc5 $5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 $36) 13... Nd7
14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Nc5 Qc7 16. Rd1 Rfd8 17. e3 a5 18. Ba3 b4 19. Bb2 Ba6 20. e4
Nf6 21. Nxa6 Rxa6 22. Qc4 Qb6 23. Rdc1 g6 24. Qe2 Ra7 25. Rc4 Ne8 26. Qc2 (26.
e5 c5 27. Qe3 Rad7 $5 28. dxc5 Rd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Bf1 Qc6 $132) 26... Rc7
27. e5 c5 $132 {Dubov,D (2629)-Shirov,A (2675)/Moscow rpd/2014/}) 12... Nfd7 $6
$146 {This anti-developing move doesn't make a good impression.} ({Black
should have been more generous with} 12... Nbd7 $1 13. Nxc6 (13. Bxc6 Qc7 14.
Bxb7 Qxb7 $11) (13. Nd3 {or}) (13. Rfc1 {retains pressure and compensation,
but White can't justifiably claim an advantage.}) 13... Bxc6 14. Bxc6 Rc8 15.
Bxd7 (15. Rxa6 $6 b4 {[%cal Rd7b8]}) 15... Qxd7 16. Qd3 Qb7 17. f3 Rfd8 18.
Rfd1 h6 19. Ne4 e5 20. e3 exd4 21. Bxd4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. fxe4 Rc6 $15 {
Onischuk,A (2699)-Roussel Roozmon,T (2487)/Montreal/2009/}) 13. Nd3 $1 $36 {
[%csl Rb8,Rd7][%cal Yc3e4,Ye4c5,Yb3b4,Yb2a3] The congestion on the queenside
makes Black's life difficult, while White has many different motifs to improve
his position.} Qb6 14. Ne4 a5 (14... c5 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. b4 $16) 15. Ndc5 (15.
Nec5 $5 Nxc5 16. Nxc5 $44) 15... Bc8 {Another retreat, which doesn't improve
the situation.} ({Most engines insist Black should have taken the plunge with} 
15... f5 $5 16. Nxe6 (16. Nxb7 Qxb7 (16... fxe4 17. Nc5 (17. Qxe4 Qxb7 18.
Qxe6+ Rf7 19. d5 Ra6 20. dxc6 Rxc6 $13) 17... Nxc5 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxe4 Qf5
20. Qe3 Bc5 21. Qc3 Ra7 22. Rxa5 Bxf2+ 23. Kh1 Qc5 24. Rxa7 Qxc3 25. Bxc3 Bxa7
26. Rd1 $36 {[%csl Rb8,Gc3,Gg2]}) 17. Nc3 (17. Nd2 Nb6 $13 {[%cal Yb6d5,Ya5a4]}
) 17... Na6 18. e4 $44) 16... fxe4 17. Nxf8 Nxf8 18. Qxe4 Qd8 19. Rfd1 $14 {
Although White should be on top with his central pawns, the position remains
sharp.}) 16. Qc3 $5 {[%cal Rd4d5]} b4 17. Qe3 {Kramnik has fixed Black's
queenside pawns and stopped the Na6-b4 option.} Na6 18. Rfc1 Nc7 $6 (18...
Naxc5 19. dxc5 Qc7 20. Rd1 $36 {[%cal Ye4d6,Yd1d2,Ya1d1]}) (18... Qb5 $5 $14)
19. Nxd7 Bxd7 20. Nc5 Be8 $8 {For the time being Black has to keep his Rf8
locked in.} (20... Bc8 21. Na4 $16) (20... Bxc5 21. dxc5 Qa7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23.
Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Rc4 e5 26. Be4 $1 Rfd8 27. Bxh7+ Kf8 28. Bg6 Be6 29.
Rh4 $18) 21. Ra2 Qb5 22. Qd3 (22. Be4 $5 $36 {[%cal Ye4d3]}) 22... Qxd3 (22...
Bxc5 $142 23. Qxb5 Nxb5 24. Rxc5 Ra6 {/\} 25. e4 {[%cal Yg2f1,Yd4d5]} Ra7 26.
Bf1 Nd6 27. f3 f5 $132) 23. Nxd3 Nd5 24. Ne5 Ra6 25. Bf1 $1 {[%cal Re2e4]} Nc3
$6 {Black will have to return at least one pawn anyway, but now the weaknesses
remain.} ({More resilient was} 25... Ra7 26. e4 (26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27. Rxc6 Rfa8
28. e4 Nc3 $14) 26... Nc3 27. Bxc3 bxc3 28. Rxc3 Bd7 {Here White's Pd4 is
vulnerable, winning the opposite-coloured bishops after} 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6
Rd8 $14 {/+/- won't be that easy.}) ({Also better than the text was} 25... Nc7
$5 26. e3 Nb5 27. Bg2 Na3 28. Raa1 a4 $14) 26. Bxc3 bxc3 27. Rxc3 $16 {[%csl
Ra5,Rc6]} c5 $6 {Black is in serious trouble, but this is desperation.} (27...
Bf6 28. e3 $16) 28. dxc5 Bf6 29. f4 {[%csl Gc5]} Bb5 30. Bg2 Ra7 31. c6 $16 {
/+- White has a powerful extra passed pawn - the game is more or less decided.}
Be7 32. Be4 f6 (32... Rc8 33. Nf3 {[%cal Yf3d4] is similar}) 33. Nf3 Rd8 (33...
f5 34. Nd4 Ba6 35. Bf3 $18) 34. e3 e5 35. fxe5 fxe5 36. Rc1 {[%csl Re5]} a4 37.
bxa4 ({Black has had enough,} 37. bxa4 Ba6 (37... Rxa4 $2 38. Rxa4 Bxa4 39. c7)
38. Nxe5 $18 {is hopeless.}) 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Salem, AR Saleh"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 {This is a small tweak in the opening.
Main moves are of course Be7 which leads to the QGD and Bb4 which leads to the
Ragozin. With this move Nbd7, Black keeps the game in QGD territory but gets
some additional options.} 5. Bg5 (5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Nh5 {Though only tried in
blitz by Carlsen and Kramnik, it could be possible that Kramnik was intending
to play this today and that is the reason why he chose 4...Nbd7 move order.})
5... h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 (9... exd5 10. Bd3 $14 {
is a definite edge for White from the opening.}) 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 {White should
be slightly better here. Black has played the opening quite unambitiously. But
White's advantage is not very threatening as Kramnik proves over the next few
moves.} 11. Be2 {The bishop looks much better placed on e2 than on d3.} (11.
Bd3 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2 (13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Ng6 $15) 13... Bxf3 $1 14.
Qxf3 cxd4 15. exd4 Nf6 $11 {In this IQP position where two pairs of minor
pieces have been exchanged and also the d5-square is under the control of the
knights, Black shouldn't be worse.}) 11... b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nd4
(14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Rfd1 Nd5 (15... Rac8 16. Nb5 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Bd5 $11) 16.
Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $11 {and in this symmetrical position I wonder how Kramnik
would have won. But I am nowhere near Kramnik's technique so it's better that
I do not get into it! The position however looks completely drawish.}) 14...
Nf5 $5 15. Nxf5 exf5 {Why would Kramnik voluntarily double his pawns? Maybe he
just wanted to unbalance the position in some way or the other, no matter how
little.} 16. Bf3 $6 {I dislike this move. It might be objectively fine but if
White wanted to play safely then why not just exchange the queens and play
Rfd1?} (16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Rfd1 $11 {[%cal Gf2f3,Gg1f2]}) 16... Qxd1 17. Rfxd1
Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rfd8 19. Kf1 {Bringing the king into the centre is natural.} (19.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rxd1+ 21. Nxd1 {This position might not hold any advantage
for Black but it is a very timid decision of trying to exchange both the rooks
and bringing your knight to an unfavourable square. Something that Salem Saleh
being an aggressive player would dislike. Also White has no reasons to resort
to such exchanging operations.}) 19... g6 20. Ke2 Kg7 21. Nb5 Kf6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8
23. b4 (23. Nxa7 {I like this variation because it is quite unusual.} Ra8 24.
Nc8 $5 {This is the surprising move.} Rxa2 (24... Rxc8 25. b4 Ra8 (25... Ke5
26. bxc5 bxc5 27. a4 Kd5 28. Kd3 Ra8 29. Ra1 Ra5 30. Kc3 h5 31. h4 $11) 26.
bxc5 Rxa2+ 27. Kf1 bxc5 28. Rxc5 $11 {and even the best technique in the world
cannot win this.}) 25. Rc2 Ra6 (25... Na4 26. Kd2 Ra1 27. b3 Nc5 28. b4 Nd7 29.
f4 Rh1 30. Rc7 $14) 26. Nxb6 Rxb6 27. Rxc5 $11) 23... Ne6 24. Rc6 (24. Nc7 Rd7
(24... Rc8 25. Nd5+ $18) 25. Nxe6 fxe6 $11) 24... Ke7 25. a3 Rd7 26. Rc8 a6 27.
Nc3 b5 28. Ra8 Rd6 29. Rh8 (29. Nb1 {with the idea of placing the knight on b3
via d2 is a good idea. It would tie up the knight on e6.} Kf6 30. Nd2 Kg5 31.
f4+ Kh4 32. Nf3+ Kh3 33. Ne5 {And it is White who is creating some dangerous
play.}) 29... g5 $1 (29... h5 {was also possible but the move g5 has a very
deep idea behind it. Kramnik wants to keep the h5-square free for his king
which would embark on a journey to attack the h2-pawn.}) (29... Rc6 $5 30. Kd3
Ng5 31. f4 Nh3 32. f3 Nf2+ 33. Kd2 Rd6+ 34. Ke2 Nd3 $36 {Black has an edge.})
30. Ra8 (30. Rxh6 $2 Nf4+ $19) 30... Kf6 $1 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gf6g6,Gg6h5,Gh5h4,
Gh4h3] Kramnik now starts a king march towards the weakest point in White's
camp. Any guesses? Of course the h2-pawn!} 31. Ra7 Kg6 32. Na2 Nd8 33. Ke1 $2 {
Why waste time? It would have been better to execute the manoeuvre of putting
the N on c5 via Nc1-b3-c5.} Kh5 {As Lasker said, "It is better to follow out a
plan consistently even if it isn't the best one than to play without a plan at
all". Here Black has a clear-cut plan of attacking the h2-pawn while White is
doing nothing much. That is the main reason why his position slowly goes
downhill.} 34. Nc1 Kh4 35. Nb3 Kh3 {Doesn't this king route remind you of the
game Cohn-Rubinstein that was played in St.Petersburg in 1909 where the God of
endgame play marched his king to the h3-square in a pure pawn endgame to
attack the weak pawn on h2. It could be possible that Kramnik was motivated to
find this idea from that game of Rubinstein.} 36. Nd4 (36. Nc5 Kxh2 37. Rxa6
Rxa6 38. Nxa6 Kg2 $19 {The h-pawn queens easily.}) 36... f4 37. Ra8 (37. Nf5 {
also doesn't really help.} Rf6 38. e4 (38. Nd4 Kxh2 {is also possible.}) 38...
Kg2 39. Ra8 Nc6 40. Rxa6 Re6 41. a4 (41. Ke2 Nd4+ $19) 41... bxa4 42. Rxa4 (42.
b5 Ne5 43. Rxe6 fxe6 44. Nd4 a3 45. Ke2 a2 46. Nc2 (46. Nb3 Nxf3 47. b6 Nd4+
$19) 46... Nxf3 $19) 42... Ne5 43. Ke2 Nxf3 $19) 37... Kxh2 38. Nf5 Rf6 39. e4
(39. Nxh6 Rxh6 40. Rxd8 Kg2 {is a scary position, particularly because Ke2
doesn't work here.} 41. Ke2 $2 (41. Rg8 $1 {would lead most probably to a draw.
} Kxf3 42. Rxg5 fxe3 43. Rf5+ Ke4 44. Rxf7 exf2+ 45. Kxf2 Rh3 46. Ke2 Rxa3 47.
Kd2 $11) 41... g4 $1 42. fxg4 f3+ $19) 39... Nc6 40. Rxa6 Rg6 {You can bank on
the fact that in this technical phase of the game, Kramnik will be the most
accurate.} 41. Kf1 {Trying to lock the king in on h2.} Ne5 42. Ra5 (42. Rxg6
fxg6 43. Nd4 h5 44. Nxb5 g4 45. fxg4 hxg4 $19 {[%cal Gg4g3,Gg3g2]}) 42... Nxf3
43. Rxb5 {It is a race between the pawns now but Black's pawns supported by
the king are way faster than the white pawns. Also there will be mating nets
being formed around the white king.} g4 (43... h5 {was the more accurate way
to start.} 44. a4 h4 45. a5 h3 46. Rb6 Nd2+ 47. Ke2 Kg2 $19) (43... Nd2+ 44.
Ke2 Nxe4 45. Re5 {gives White unnecessary counterplay.}) 44. Rd5 (44. a4 Rc6 $1
(44... g3 45. Nxg3 $1 Nd2+ 46. Ke2 fxg3 47. fxg3 Nxe4 48. Kf3 Nxg3 49. Rc5 $17
{White has some drawing chances because the black forces are not co-ordinated.}
) 45. Rc5 Rxc5 46. bxc5 g3 47. fxg3 fxg3 48. Nxg3 Kxg3 49. c6 Nd2+ 50. Ke2 Nxe4
51. c7 Nd6 52. a5 h5 53. a6 Nc8 $19) 44... h5 45. Ng3 h4 (45... fxg3 46. Rxh5+
Nh4 47. Rxh4# {would be horrible!}) 46. Ne2 g3 47. fxg3 (47. Nxf4 g2+ 48. Nxg2
Rxg2 $19) 47... fxg3 {Now it is just winning for Black.} 48. b5 Rf6 49. Rf5
Rxf5 50. exf5 g2+ 51. Kf2 Nd4 52. Ng1 Nxb5 53. a4 Nc3 54. Nf3+ (54. a5 Ne4+ $19
) 54... Kh1 55. a5 h3 (55... h3 56. a6 h2 $19 {A nice technical achievement by
Kramnik. The thing that was impressive about this game was that even though
Vladimir was in a must win situation and he was facing an opponent who was
rated 200 points below him, he wasn't afraid to go into equal positions. He
found those little imbalances like the h2-pawn weakness which would help him
to put pressure on the opponent. Using all his technical superiority he ground
out a win!}) 0-1

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Milliet, Sophie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2392"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 d5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Bg5 Nge7 8. Qc1
h6 9. Bd2 g5 10. a3 b6 11. Rb1 Bb7 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Rc8 14. b5 Na5 15. Na4
Qc7 16. Qa3 O-O 17. Rfc1 Nf5 18. e3 Rfd8 19. Bb4 d4 20. e4 Nd6 21. c4 dxc3 22.
Bxc3 Bxc3 23. Nxc3 Qe7 24. Qb2 Ne8 25. d4 Nd6 26. Qe2 Ndc4 27. h3 Rc7 28. Na2
Rdc8 29. Nh2 Na3 30. Rxc7 Rxc7 31. Rd1 Rc2 32. Qh5 Rxa2 33. Ng4 Kf8 34. Qxh6+
Ke8 35. Nf6+ Kd8 36. d5 exd5 37. exd5 Qe2 38. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bates, Richard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2346"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Bg5
b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Ng5 fxg5 11. Bxa8 c6 12. a4 Qxd4 13. axb5 cxb5 14. Rd1 Qb6
15. Nc3 Nd7 16. Be4 f5 17. Bg2 Nc5 18. e4 f4 19. e5 Nb3 20. Rab1 fxg3 21. Ne4
gxf2+ 22. Kh1 Bb7 23. Rd7 Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Nc5 25. Qd4 f1=Q+ 0-1

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ghasi, Ameet K"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nf6 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 e5 7. c4 Nbd7 8. d3
Nh5 9. Nc3 f5 10. e3 h6 11. Nd2 c6 12. b4 Ndf6 13. b5 d5 14. bxc6 bxc6 15. Qa4
Bd7 16. Qa6 e4 17. Nb3 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Rfd1 Rfc8 21. Nxd5
Nxd5 22. Bxg7 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Nxg7 24. dxe4 Be6 25. exf5 Bxb3 26. axb3 Rxa1 27.
Bd5+ Kf8 28. Rxa1 Nxf5 29. Kf2 Rc2+ 30. Kf3 Rc3 31. Re1 Ke7 32. Kf4 Kf6 33. e4
g5+ 34. Kg4 Ne3+ 35. Kh5 Ke5 36. Re2 g4 37. Kxh6 Kd4 38. Kg5 Rc8 39. Be6 Re8
40. Bf5 Kd3 41. Ra2 Kd4 42. Kf4 Nf1 43. Rf2 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fodor, Tamas Jr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2502"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. O-O e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. e4 Be7 8. Qe1
dxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. Nbd2 Ngf6 11. Nh4 O-O 12. Nc4 b5 13. Na5 Rc8 14. Nf5 Re8
15. Bg5 Bf8 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. a4 a6 18. Kh1 Rb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. g4 Bg6 21. Rd1
c5 22. Nc1 Re6 23. Ne2 b4 24. f4 Rbe8 25. Nxg7 Bxg7 26. f5 Ra6 27. Qh4 Qc6 28.
Bc1 Nf8 29. Qf2 c4 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Ng3 Qe6 32. g5 N6d7 33. Kh2 Qe7 34. h4 Ne6
35. Qe2 Rc6 36. Nf5 Qd8 37. Qg4 Rf8 38. Nd6 Qe7 39. Nf5 Qe8 40. Be3 Ndc5 41.
Rd5 c3 42. bxc3 bxc3 43. Nxg7 Kxg7 44. Qg3 Nd7 45. Rfd1 Rf7 46. Bh3 Nef8 47. h5
gxh5 48. Bf5 Re7 49. Qh3 Nb6 50. Rd8 Qf7 51. Rf1 Nc4 52. Bc8 Qg8 53. Rdxf8 Qxf8
54. Rxf8 Kxf8 55. Bd7 Rc7 56. Bf5 Nxe3 57. Qxe3 Rc6 58. Qd3 Kg7 59. Qd8 Rcc7
60. Qd6 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hawkins, Jonathan J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2546"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Qe2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Rc8 14. Rac1
Nxe5 15. dxe5 Rc5 16. f4 Rxc4 17. exf6 g6 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. Rd3 Qc5+ 20. Kh1 h5
21. Qd2 Qf5 22. Rd7 Bd5 23. Kg1 Ra4 24. c4 Bc6 25. Re7 Ra3 26. Qf2 Rd8 27. Rc7
Qe4 28. h3 Rad3 29. Re1 Qxc4 30. f5 exf5 31. Rxa7 h4 32. Rc7 Qd5 33. Bf4 Ba8
34. Rce7 Rxh3 35. a4 Bc6 36. R7e5 Qb3 37. gxh3 Qxh3 38. Qh2 Qg4+ 39. Kf1 Rd4
40. Be3 Rxa4 41. Bxb6 h3 42. R5e2 Rf4+ 43. Bf2 Bb5 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. Qe1 e6 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Bxf3 h5 9. Bg2 Qc7 10. e4 dxe4 11. dxe4 Bd6 12. f4 e5 13. Nd2 h4 14. Nc4 Bc5+
15. Be3 Bxe3+ 16. Qxe3 hxg3 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxg3 Nfd7 19. Rad1 O-O-O 20. Nd6+
Kb8 21. Nxf7 Nxf7 22. Qxc7+ Kxc7 23. Rxf7 Kc8 24. Rxg7 Ne5 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.
h4 Rh8 27. Rg5 Nf7 28. Rf5 Nd6 29. Rf4 Nc4 30. b3 Ne3 31. Kf2 Nxc2 32. e5 Kd7
33. Bh3+ Ke8 34. Bc8 b6 35. Bf5 Na3 36. h5 Ke7 37. Bg6 Ke6 38. Rf6+ Kxe5 39.
Rxc6 Nb5 40. Kg3 Nd6 41. Kg4 Kd5 1-0

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 Nc6 4. exd4 Nxd4 5. Nxd4 Qxd4 6. Nc3 c6 7. d3 Nh6 8.
Be2 g6 9. h3 Bg7 10. g4 f5 11. Be3 Qd6 12. Qd2 Nf7 13. O-O-O O-O 14. f4 b5 15.
d4 bxc4 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Qe2 Rab8 18. Rhe1 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rb4 20. Qa6 fxg4 21.
hxg4 Nh6 22. Qe2 Qe6 23. Rg1 c5 24. d5 Qb6 25. Qc2 Rb8 26. Rd2 Qa5 27. Nd1 Qxa2
28. Rd3 Rxb2 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2829"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Bc4 e6 5. O-O a6 6. Re1 Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5
O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 c5 11. Qf3 cxd4 12. Nd2 Nbd7 13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14. Bxe6 Nf8
15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Ne4 g5 17. Bg3 Bg4 18. Nd6+ Kg8 19. Qxb7 N8d7 20. Qb3+ Kh7
21. Qd3+ Kg8 22. Qxd4 Bh5 23. Nf5 Bf8 24. Bd6 Bg6 25. Ne7+ Kh7 26. Nxg6 Kxg6
27. Re6 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 Qe7 29. h3 Ne5 30. Rd1 Rc8 31. Qe4+ Kg7 32. Qf5 Rc6 33.
Rxc6 Nxc6 34. c3 Ne5 35. Kh1 Ng6 36. Qd3 Qb7 37. b4 Nf4 38. Qf3 Qc7 39. a4 h5
40. b5 axb5 41. axb5 Qc5 42. Rb1 N6d5 43. b6 Nxc3 44. b7 Nxb1 45. b8=Q Nd2 46.
Qfb7+ Kf6 47. Qh8+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2829"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nc6 3. d4 Bf5 4. Bg2 Nb4 5. Na3 e6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bf4 c6 8. c3
Na6 9. Nc2 Be7 10. Ne5 h6 11. Ne1 O-O 12. N1d3 Rc8 13. b4 Nb8 14. a4 a5 15. Qb3
axb4 16. cxb4 Ne4 17. Nc5 Nd6 18. Rfc1 Bg5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 20. a5 f6 21. Nf3 Qe7
22. Nd2 Na6 23. Nxa6 bxa6 24. Rc5 Nb7 25. Rc3 Bg6 26. Rac1 Nd8 27. e4 Rb8 28.
Rc5 Nb7 29. Bh3 Bf7 30. Qe3 Nxc5 31. Rxc5 Rxb4 32. Rxc6 dxe4 33. Nxe4 Rb1+ 34.
Kg2 g4 35. Bxg4 f5 36. Bxf5 exf5 37. Nf6+ Qxf6 38. Rxf6 Bd5+ 39. f3 Rb2+ 40.
Kg1 Rxf6 41. Qe8+ Rf8 42. Qd7 Rb5 43. Kf2 f4 44. gxf4 Rxf4 45. Qc8+ Rf8 46.
Qxa6 Rxf3+ 47. Ke2 Rb2+ 48. Ke1 Rc3 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 f5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Be2 g6 5. b4 Bg7 6. Bb2 e5 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. c4 Ngxe5 10. Qb3 a5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. b5 a4 13. Qa3 Qf6 14. Nc3 Qg7 15.
bxc6 bxc6 16. Bf3 Ra6 17. Nxa4 Be6 18. Qb3 O-O 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Nb2 Rfa8 21.
Nd3 Qg7 22. a4 Qf7 23. Rfc1 g5 24. g3 Qf6 25. Qc2 Bd7 26. Qb2 Qxb2 27. Nxb2 Rb6
28. Nd3 Rb3 29. Rd1 Ra5 30. c5 Be8 31. cxd6 cxd6 32. Nc1 Rc3 33. Rxd6 g4 34.
Bd1 Kf8 35. Nb3 Ra7 36. Nd4 Ra5 37. Nb3 Ra7 38. a5 c5 39. a6 Ke7 40. Rd5 c4 41.
Nd4 Rd3 42. Bc2 Rc3 43. Bxf5 h5 44. Re5+ Kf8 45. Rxe8+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 c5 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 O-O 8.
Bb2 Nc6 9. Ba3 Bg4 10. Be2 d4 11. Na4 b6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. c3 dxc3 14. dxc3 Qc7
15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4 Rad8 17. Qb3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nd4 19. Qd3 Nc2 20. Qb3 Bxh2+
21. Kh1 Nxa1 22. Rxa1 Qf4 23. g3 Bxg3 24. fxg3 Qh6+ 25. Kg2 Rd2+ 26. Kf1 Ng4
27. Ke1 Re8+ 28. Kf1 Qh3+ 29. Bg2 Qxg2# 0-1

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. e5 Ne8 6. d4 c5 7. d5 d6 8. Bf4 Nd7
9. exd6 exd6 10. Qd2 Ne5 11. Be2 a6 12. a4 f5 13. O-O Nf7 14. Ng5 Nxg5 15. Bxg5
Bf6 16. Bh6 Bg7 17. Bg5 Bf6 18. Bh6 Bg7 19. Rfe1 Bd7 20. Bd3 Rf7 21. Re2 Re7
22. Rae1 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 Bxh6 24. Qxh6 Qf6 25. Qf4 Kg7 26. Qe3 Rd8 27. a5 h6 28.
Bc2 Qf8 29. Ba4 Nf6 30. Bxd7 Rxd7 31. Qe6 Qd8 32. f3 Ng8 33. Qe3 Re7 34. Qd2
Qxa5 35. Rxe7+ Nxe7 36. Qe1 Ng8 37. h3 Qc7 38. Ne2 Qe7 39. Qd2 g5 40. b4 Nf6
41. bxc5 dxc5 42. Qb2 Kg6 43. Qd2 Ne8 44. Kf2 Nd6 45. Qd3 Qe5 46. Qa3 Qe7 47.
Kf1 Nxc4 48. Qd3 b5 49. g4 Qe5 50. Ng3 Qa1+ 51. Ke2 Qe5+ 52. Kf1 Nd6 53. Kg2 c4
54. Qa3 f4 55. Nh1 Qxd5 56. Nf2 Qc6 57. Qc3 Qe8 58. h4 gxh4 59. Qd4 Qe6 60.
Qxf4 c3 61. Qd4 Qf6 62. Qc5 Kg7 63. Qc7+ Nf7 64. Nd3 h3+ 65. Kg3 Qd6+ 0-1

[Event "London Classic 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. d5 {The
Petrosian variation was my favourite weapon against the King's Indian in the
good old days (1993, 1994) and brought me a few memorable victories including
two against the current world champion at that time Garry Kasparov.} a5 8. Bg5
h6 {The only acceptable move here, otherwise White plays Nd2 next and then
always meets ...h6 with Be3 reaching the best possible setup.} (8... Na6 9. Nd2
h6 10. Be3) 9. Be3 {This is a new, very direct concept. When I was playing
this variation some twenty years ago I always chose 9.Bh4 which is by far the
main theoretical move here.} Ng4 {Practically forced, Nd2 is coming next
otherwise.} 10. Bd2 f5 11. h3 Nf6 (11... Nxf2 $2 {just doesn't work} 12. Kxf2
fxe4 13. Nxe4 Qh4+ 14. Ke3 Qf4+ 15. Kd3 Qxe4+ 16. Kxe4 Bf5+ 17. Ke3) 12. exf5
gxf5 (12... Bxf5 {is not really an option} 13. g4 Bd7 14. g5 $16) 13. Qc1 $1 {
The point of White's play, starting very concrete play.} f4 {The most logical
move. There is no comfortable way to protect the pawn on h6.} (13... Kh7 14. g4
) (13... h5 14. Ng5 {followed by g4 at some point.}) 14. g3 {Again the only
justification of White's play.} e4 15. Nh4 e3 (15... f3 {strangely enough this
tempting move leads to a difficult position for Black after} 16. Bd1 Kh7 17.
Bc2) 16. fxe3 fxg3 17. Ng6 {The critical position of the variation. It is very
complicated and even with the help of the computer it's hard to understand who
is better here and why.} Rf7 {Two other acceptable options are} (17... Re8) ({
and} 17... g2 18. Rg1 Bxh3) 18. Qc2 Nfd7 $2 {This is just too slow, Black has
no time for regrouping.} (18... Na6 {is the only reasonable move here.}) 19.
O-O-O Ne5 (19... Nc5 {doesn't solve the problems} 20. Rhf1 $1 Rxf1 21. Rxf1
Bxh3 ({or} 21... Qe8 22. Rf3 g2 23. Rg3) 22. Rg1 Qg5 23. Nf4 Bf5 24. e4 {
and since Black is lacking development, his position just collapses.}) 20. Rhf1
{The most straightforward move although} (20. Nf4 {was very attractive too:}
Na6 21. Rhg1 Qh4 22. Qe4) 20... Rxf1 (20... Bxh3 {is just losing} 21. Nxe5 Rxf1
(21... Bxf1 22. Nxf7) 22. Bxf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 dxe5 24. Qg6) (20... Qe8 21. Rxf7
Qxf7 22. Nf4 Na6 23. Rg1 Nb4 24. Qb3 {taking the key pawn on g3.}) 21. Rxf1
Bxh3 22. Rg1 {Starting a direct attack.} Qf6 {Other moves do not make life
easier, for example} (22... Qg5 23. Nf4 Bf5 24. e4 Bg6 25. Ne6 Qe7 26. Rxg3 Na6
27. Bf4) (22... g2 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. Qg6 Qg5 25. Qe8+ Bf8 26. Ne4) 23. Rxg3 (
23. Nf4 {is good as well but less direct.}) 23... Nxg6 (23... Qf2 {the
computer shows this resource which I missed during the game but still White is
just a pawn up after} 24. Rxh3 Qg1+ 25. Bd1 Qxg6 26. Qxg6 Nxg6 27. Nb5 Na6 28.
Bxa5 b6 29. Be1 Ne5 30. Be2 {and White must manage to win this endgame.}) 24.
Rxg6 Qf7 (24... Bf5 {loses after} 25. Rxf6 Bxc2 26. Re6 Bf5 27. Re8+ Kf7 28.
Bh5+ Bg6 29. Bxg6+ Kxg6 30. Nb5) (24... Qf2 {is bad as well} 25. Nd1 Qxe2 26.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Bc3+) 25. Rg3 Bf5 26. e4 Bg6 27. Bg4 Qf1+ {This is losing by
force, the only way to keep the game on was the passive} (27... Kh8 28. Be6 Qe8
{at least not losing immediatly.}) 28. Nd1 Be5 ({or} 28... Kh7 29. Bh3 Qf7 30.
Rxg6) 29. Bh3 $1 Qf6 30. Rg1 {White has a powerful attack without being even a
pawn down.} Kh7 (30... Kh8 31. Bf5 Be8 {now anything wins} 32. Be3 (32. Ne3))
31. Bf5 $1 {The final blow.} Bxf5 32. exf5 Nd7 33. Rg6 Qf7 34. Rxh6+ Kg8 35.
Rg6+ Kf8 36. Nf2 {Simple chess, just getting the last piece into the attack,
there is no need to hurry.} b5 {The counterattack is a little late.} 37. Ng4
bxc4 38. Qxc4 Qxf5 39. Rg8+ Ke7 40. Bg5+ (40. Rxa8 {was tempting as well.})
40... Bf6 41. Qe2+ {To my slight disappointment Hikaru decided to call it a
day here instead of finishing it with ...Kf7 Nh6 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 dxc4 4. Bg2 Nd7 5. Qa4 a6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. O-O
Ngf6 9. d3 c5 10. a4 Be7 11. Nc3 Qb6 12. Qb3 b4 13. a5 Qd8 14. Nb1 Bd5 15. Qc2
O-O 16. Nbd2 Nb8 17. Rd1 Ra7 18. e4 Ba8 19. Nb3 Rc7 20. Be3 Nbd7 21. Qe2 Bc6
22. Nfd2 Bb5 23. Nc4 Rc8 24. e5 Nd5 25. Bd2 Nb8 26. h4 Nc6 27. Qg4 Kh8 28. Bg5
Rc7 29. Be4 h6 30. Bd2 f5 31. exf6 Nxf6 32. Qxe6 Nxe4 33. Qxe4 Bf6 34. Be3 Re7
35. Qg4 Bxb2 36. Rab1 Bd4 37. Nxd4 cxd4 38. Bf4 Bxc4 39. dxc4 Qe8 40. Qh3 Re2
41. Qg2 Qg6 42. Qf3 Re4 43. Qg2 Qe6 44. Bd6 Re8 45. Bxb4 Nxb4 46. Kh2 Qd6 47.
Qf3 d3 48. Kg2 Re2 49. Qh5 Rf8 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8.
e3 O-O 9. Rc1 Qg6 10. Qc2 Qxc2 11. Rxc2 Rd8 12. a3 Bf8 13. Nb5 Rd7 14. Bd3 a6
15. Nc3 Ne7 16. Ke2 Rd8 17. b4 Bd7 18. Rb1 Be8 19. cxd5 exd5 20. a4 Nc6 21. Na2
Bd6 22. b5 axb5 23. Bxb5 Bd7 24. Ne1 Bf5 25. Bd3 Bg4+ 26. Kf1 Bc8 27. Bb5 Nb8
28. Nc3 c6 29. Bd3 g6 30. h3 h5 31. f4 Nd7 32. Nf3 Nf6 33. Ne5 Bc7 34. Rcb2 Ra7
35. Kf2 Kg7 36. Rb3 Re8 37. R3b2 Re7 38. Kf3 Ba5 39. Ne2 Bd8 40. Nc3 h4 41. Kf2
Nh5 42. Bc2 Ng3 43. Ne2 Nf5 44. Rb3 Nd6 45. Nc3 Re8 46. Bd3 g5 47. fxg5 Bxg5
48. Re1 f5 49. g3 Ne4+ 50. Bxe4 fxe4 51. Rg1 Bf6 52. gxh4+ Kh7 53. Ng6 Bxh3 54.
h5 Rg8 55. Ne2 Bf5 56. Nef4 Bc8 57. Rb4 Kh6 58. Rg2 Bf5 59. Ne5 Rxg2+ 60. Kxg2
Kg7 61. Kg3 Bc8 62. h6+ Kh7 63. Nf7 Be7 64. Rb2 Rxa4 65. Kh2 Ra6 66. Rg2 Bf8
67. Rg6 c5 68. Ng5+ Kh8 69. h7 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 c5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. c4 d6 7. d4 Ne4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. h3 Bf5 10. e3 Nf6 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Qe2 a6 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15.
Rac1 Qa5 16. a3 Rfe8 17. b4 Qc7 18. Nb3 Qb8 19. c5 Be6 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. exd4
Bb3 22. Re1 e5 23. dxe5 Rxe5 24. Ne4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Be6 26. Bg2 dxc5 27. Be5 Qa7
28. bxc5 Rxc5 29. Bd4 Nd7 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Red1 h5 32. Bd5 b5 33. Qe3 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 {We are in the
Catalan.} dxc4 7. Ne5 (7. Qc2 {is the other big main line.}) 7... Nc6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 {This position is a very important one for the
evaluation of the whole Catalan.} 11. Na3 $5 (11. Qa4 {is the other line} e5
12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qxc4 Be6 {etc.}) 11... c5 (11... Rd8 12. Qc2 (12. Nxc4 c5 {
was good for Black in some games}) 12... c5 (12... Rxd4 13. Nxc4 Qc5 14. b3 Rd8
15. Ba3 $14) 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14. Be3 Qh5 {1-0 (37) Kjartansson,G (2446)-Sabuk,P 
(2206) Legnica POL 2013}) (11... e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Nxc4 $14 {1/2 (35)
Andrews,S-Arganian,D East Lansing 1991}) (11... Qb4 12. Qc2 $142 (12. Qd2 Rb8
13. Qxb4 Rxb4 14. Rb1 Ba6 {0-1 (28) Epp,E-Salman,J (2198) Bermuda 2005})) 12.
dxc5 Qxc5 13. Be3 Qc6 $146 (13... Qb4 {was played by Nakamura} 14. Qc1 (14. Qc2
Ba6 15. Bd2 Qb6 {1/2 (40) Omelka,R (2115)-Dobes,V (2061) Czechia 2011}) 14...
Ba6 15. Bd4 Rfd8 16. Rd1 Rac8 17. Qc3 Qa4 $13 {1-0 (50) Aronian,L (2797)
-Nakamura,H (2767) Saint Louis USA 2014}) (13... Qh5 {was playec by Anand} 14.
f3 c3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Qc1 Ba6 17. c4 Rac8 $44 {1/2 (31) Kramnik,V (2787)
-Anand,V (2770) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2014}) 14. Rc1 Bb7 {Black provokes f3 to
weaken the g1-a7 diagonal.} 15. f3 Ba6 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Qd4 Rfc8 18. b3 Qa6
19. bxc4 Qxa2 20. Kf2 $14 {White is already better} a5 21. Bg5 {White attacks
the N and forces Ne8.} (21. g4 {is the thematic move} Qa4 22. g5 Ne8 23. Rfd1
$14) 21... e5 $1 22. Qd6 Rd8 (22... e4 $1 23. Bxf6 exf3 24. Kxf3 gxf6 {leads
to a very unclear position.}) 23. Qb6 Rab8 (23... Rdb8 $1 {was important} 24.
Qe3 a4 $11) 24. Rfd1 $1 Re8 25. Qe3 $14 {White has seized the initiative.} a4
26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qe4 {White tries to activate the Q.} (27. c5 $1 $14) 27... a3
28. Rd7 Rbd8 $6 (28... Red8 $1 {the other R should stay on the b-file} 29. Rcd1
Rxd7 30. Rxd7 Qb3 $11) 29. Ra7 $1 {Black's Q can't go away.} Qb2 {If it
nevertheless does so...} 30. Rb1 $1 f5 $2 (30... Qc3 31. Qg4+ $16) (30... Qd4+
$1 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rb4 $1 Rc8 33. Rb6 Rcxc4 34. Rxf6 $1 $14) 31. Rxb2 fxe4
32. Rxa3 $16 Rd4 33. Rc2 Rc8 34. c5 exf3 35. Rxf3 Rc6 36. Rd3 Rxd3 37. exd3 f5
38. d4 exd4 39. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik comes back after three losses in a row.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6
4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. h3 Bh5 7. Qe1 e5 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 Bc5 10. a4 O-O 11.
Nh4 {Technically a novelty but similar moves have been played before by
different move orders.} ({One such game saw} 11. Na3 Re8 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. Nh4
Rad8 14. Bg5 (14. b4 $5) 14... Bf8 15. Kh1 Nc5 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nf5 Ne6 18. c3
Rd3 19. f3 Red8 20. Qe2 Bg6 21. Nfe3 h5 22. h4 Bh6 {1/2-1/2 Goldin,A (2549)
-Gerzhoy,L (2469)/Nassau 2012/EXT 2014 (42). Black's active pieces compensated
for the structural defects.}) 11... Re8 12. Na3 Nf8 (12... a5 $5 13. Nc4 Qc7 {
Now one method of development would be} 14. Bd2 b6 15. Bc3 $14 {with a slight
pull.}) 13. b4 Be7 14. Nf5 Ne6 15. Nxe7+ $5 Qxe7 16. Be3 {^^} Bg6 {Black could
have delayed this move and continued improving the Rs and Ns.} (16... Red8 $142
17. c3 (17. g4 Bg6 {is fine for Black.}) 17... c5 18. b5 Rac8 19. f3 (19. Nc4
Nd4 $1 $132) 19... Ne8 20. Nc4 f6 21. Rf2 (21. f4 exf4 22. gxf4 Nd4 $1 $132)
21... Nd6 22. Nxd6 Rxd6 {With good chances of equalising.}) 17. f3 {Supporting
the e4-pawn and at the same time making life difficult for the Black B on g6.
Now Black is in a strategic dilemma. He needs to remove the N from f6 and then
move the f7-pawn, in order to get the B on g6 into play via f7. But where to?
Each move has its own drawback.} Nd7 {[%csl Rd7][%cal Rd8d6] This gets in the
way of the R that wants to be on d8. So Black has problems with the d6-square.}
(17... Nh5 {[%csl Rh5] keeps the N on the rim, and as we have heard quite
often, it is actually dim.} 18. c3 f6 19. Kh2 Red8 20. Qe2 Bf7 21. a5 $14) (
17... Red8 {[%cal Ge6d4,Gf6e8] /\Nd4} 18. c3 Ne8 19. Nc4 f6 20. f4 $14 {
[%csl Re8] and now the N on e8 is passive on the last rank.}) 18. Nc4 f5 $6 {
This freeing move has a tactical flaw, which Kramnik spots quite easily.} (
18... f6 19. Rd1 Red8 (19... Bf7 20. Nd6 $16) 20. Rf2 $14 {[%cal Gf2d2]}) 19.
Rd1 f4 (19... Nd4 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Rxd4 $16 {is just a pawn up.}) (19... fxe4
20. fxe4 $16 {[%cal Gc4d6]}) 20. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 21. Nxe5 Qc7 22. gxf4 Nxf4 $6 (
22... c5 $142 23. bxc5 (23. f5 $5 Qxe5 24. f4 Qf6 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. bxc5 $16)
23... Nxc5 24. Qc3 Rac8 25. Rb1 {[%csl Rb7]} Re7 (25... Nxa4 26. Qb3+ $18) (
25... Bf7 26. Qxc5 Qxc5 27. Bxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxb7 $16) 26. a5 Bf7 27. Bf1 $16 {
White is better but Black has more fighting chances than in the game.}) 23.
Bxf4 Rxe5 {[%cal Gc7b6,Gb6g1]} 24. Qe3 Rd8 $2 {Giving up a second pawn brings
no respite.} (24... a5 $142 25. bxa5 Raxa5 26. Qd4 $16) 25. Qxa7 Qe7 26. Bxe5
Qxe5 27. Qe3 {Kramnik refuses to take the third pawn. Of course two extra
pawns are easily enough for him to win, but the cautious approach can be
attributed to some obvious psychological reasons. After three losses in a row,
it is not easy to have complete faith in one's nerves.} ({Objectively though
it is hard to find a serious reason to refuse the offer.} 27. Qxb7 Rd2 (27...
Rb8 28. Qxc6 Rxb4 29. f4 $18) (27... Bf7 28. Qb6 Rd2 (28... Rb8 29. Qc5 Qxc5+
30. bxc5 $18) 29. f4 Qe7 30. Rf2 $18) 28. Qc8+ Kf7 29. Kh1 {With Black's B
being unable to join the attack White does not seem to have anything to worry
about.} Rxc2 30. b5 Qd4 (30... Qg3 31. Rg1 $18) (30... Bh5 31. b6 $18) 31. Qc7+
Kf8 32. b6 $18) 27... Qb2 28. Qc5 h6 29. b5 cxb5 30. Qb6 Rd2 $2 (30... Qd4+
$142 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. axb5 Rb4 $16 {Black would win back one pawn and at
least provide some resistance.}) 31. Qxg6 bxa4 32. h4 Qd4+ (32... a3 33. Bh3 a2
34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Bf5+ $18) 33. Kh1 Qd8 34. Bh3 Qxh4 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Rg1 {
[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge6e8,Ge8g6,Gg6g7] /\Qe8-g6-g7#} g5 37. Qc8+ Kg7 38. Rb1 (38.
Rb1 Qg3 39. Rxb7+ Kg6 40. Qe8+ Kf6 41. Qe6#) 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[BlackTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 c5 6. c4 d4 7. b4 Nfd7 8. O-O
Nc6 9. bxc5 O-O 10. d3 Nxc5 11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Ba3 Qa5 13. Qc1 Na4 14. Nb3 Qc7
15. Qc2 Bd7 16. Rae1 Rfd8 17. e3 dxe3 18. fxe3 h6 19. d4 Bf5 20. e4 Bg4 21. e5
Nb6 22. Nh4 Nxd4 23. Qf2 Qxc4 24. Re4 Be6 25. Nxd4 Bd5 26. Ne6 Bxe6 27. Rxc4
Nxc4 28. Bxe7 Rd2 29. Qxa7 Bxe5 30. Nf3 Bc7 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow Our Heritage"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 e5 8. O-O
h6 9. Bh4 Qe8 10. e4 b6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. a4 a5 13. Bb5 Qc8 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 dxe5 16. f3 Rd8 17. Qc2 Qe6 18. Bf2 Nh5 19. b4 Bf8 20. Reb1 Nf4 21. Bf1
Ba6 22. b5 Bb7 23. c4 Bb4 24. Rxb4 axb4 25. c5 Qf6 26. Nc4 bxc5 27. Bxc5 Ne6
28. Bxb4 Nd4 29. Qc3 Bc8 30. Ba5 Qe7 31. Kh1 Bb7 32. Bb4 Qe6 33. Na5 Qb6 34.
Nc4 Qe6 35. Na5 Qb6 36. Rc1 Rd7 37. h3 Kh7 38. Nc4 Qe6 39. a5 Rb8 40. Ne3 h5
41. a6 Ba8 42. Qc5 Qb3 43. Bc3 Qe6 44. Bc4 Qf6 45. Bxd4 exd4 46. Nd5 Qh8 47.
Rd1 d3 48. Rxd3 Qa1+ 49. Qg1 Qxg1+ 50. Kxg1 Kg7 51. Ra3 f5 52. a7 Rb7 53. Ra6
fxe4 54. fxe4 Rf7 55. e5 c6 56. Nb6 Rfe7 57. bxc6 Rxa7 58. Nxa8 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.06"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[BlackTeam "Kazan Ladya"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 f5 7. O-O Nf6 8. d5 Nb4
9. a3 Na6 10. Rb1 O-O 11. b4 Kh8 12. Qb3 b6 13. Bb2 Nc7 14. Rfd1 Bd7 15. Ba1 a5
16. bxc5 bxc5 17. Qc2 Rb8 18. Rxb8 Qxb8 19. e4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Nce8 21. Ng3 Ng4
22. Bc3 Qc7 23. h3 Nh6 24. Ng5 Nf7 25. Nxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rb1 Kg8 27. Bg4 Bxc3 28.
Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Qxc3 e6 30. dxe6 Qxe6 31. Re1 Qd7 32. Qxa5 Nf6 33. a4 Rf8 34. Ra1
Qf7 35. Qc3 h5 36. Qd3 h4 37. Nf1 d5 38. cxd5 Nxd5 39. Qc2 c4 40. Qxc4 Qxf2+
41. Kh1 Rf5 42. Nh2 Kg7 43. Ng4 Qd2 44. Rb1 Rf7 45. Ne5 Rc7 46. Qe4 Nf4 47. a5
g5 48. a6 Rc1+ 49. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 50. Kh2 Qa3 51. Nf3 Qxa6 52. Qe7+ Kg8 53. Qxg5+
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.06.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Qe2 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Nbd2 d6 8. O-O
Ne7 9. d4 a6 10. dxc5 axb5 11. cxd6 Qxd6 12. Qxb5 Ng6 13. Re1 b6 {Yifan's
opening was a little suspicious. She is up a pawn right now, but her
develoment is lacking. Black has at least enough compensation for the pawn,
but probably it is even sufficient for a small advantage.} 14. Nc4 Qe6 15. Ne3
Nxe4 $1 {A very strong move!} 16. Qd5 (16. Nd5 Nd6 17. Qd3 e4 $17) 16... Nc5 $1
{This is the beautiful point, otherwise White is even better.} (16... Qxd5 17.
Nxd5 $14) 17. b4 (17. Qxa8 Bb7 18. Qa3 Bxf3 $1 {The lines are complicated
still, but Black's attack is too strong. Taking the bishop loses to:} (18...
Ra8 19. Qb4 Ra4 20. Qb5 Ba6 21. Qxa4 Nxa4 {is also quite strong.}) 19. gxf3 Nh4
20. Kh1 Nd3 {and White cannot hope to keep her position together.}) 17... Bb7
18. Qxe6 Nxe6 19. Nf5 Rfd8 20. a4 Rd3 21. Be3 Rxc3 {Black is up a pawn with
the better position. The rest is easy.} 22. a5 Rb3 23. axb6 cxb6 24. Rxa8+ Bxa8
25. Bxb6 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Ng5 27. Kh1 Nxf3 28. Re4 Nf4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.06.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d5 7. Nc3 dxc4 8.
Qa4+ Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rd1 Nb6 11. Qa3 Qd6 12. Qxd6 exd6 13. a4 a6 14. Bf4
Ne8 15. Rac1 a5 16. Ndb5 Bd7 17. Bxd6 Nxd6 18. Rxd6 Bc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Rxc6
Rab8 21. Rc5 Rfd8 22. Na7 Rd2 23. Rb5 Nd7 24. Rxb8+ Nxb8 25. Ncb5 Nd7 26. Rxc4
Bxb2 27. Kf1 Nb6 28. Re4 f5 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Nxa4 31. Nc6 Nc3 32. Nxa5 Rd1+
33. Kg2 Nxe2 34. Nc4 Ba1 35. Nbd6+ Kg7 36. Rb7+ Kg8 37. Re7 Nc3 38. h4 Nd5 39.
Rd7 h5 40. Ra7 Bd4 41. Ra8+ Kg7 42. Rd8 Ba1 43. Nb6 Nc3 44. Nbc8 Kf6 $2 (44...
Nd5 $11) 45. Rd7 $1 Nd5 46. Nb6 $1 Be5 $2 (46... Nxb6 47. Ne8+ {is, of course,
impossible.}) (46... Nc3 $1 {is still far from easy, but this is clearly just
a computer move.}) 47. Nb7 {Suddenly Black is in danger of losing his knight.
His saving resource fails:} Nc3 48. Nd8 $1 {A mate threat out of nowhere! The
rooks cant be traded because of the deadly fork.} g5 49. Rxd1 Nxd1 50. Nd7+ Ke7
51. Nxe5 Kxd8 (51... gxh4 52. Nec6+ Kd7 53. gxh4 $18) 52. hxg5 Ke7 53. f4 {
The endgame is easily winning.} Nc3 54. Kh3 Ne4 55. Kh4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.07.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2654"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. c3 Bd6 11. Bd3 Nce7 12. Nbd2 c6 13. Nf1 g6 14. h3 Kh8 15.
Bd2 f6 16. Qc2 Bd7 17. b3 Rc8 18. Re2 b6 19. g4 Ng7 20. Rae1 c5 21. dxc5 bxc5
22. Qc1 Bc6 23. Bf4 Ng8 24. Bg3 d4 25. N1h2 Bxg3 26. fxg3 g5 27. Be4 Bxe4 28.
Rxe4 Qd6 29. Kg2 f5 30. Re5 h6 31. Qd2 Rcd8 32. Qd3 f4 33. Nf1 Qc6 34. cxd4
cxd4 35. R1e4 fxg3 36. Nxg3 Nf6 37. Rxd4 Ne6 38. Rxe6 Rxd4 39. Qxd4 Qxe6 40.
Qxa7 Rc8 41. Nf5 Qe2+ 42. Qf2 Qd3 43. Qd4 Rc2+ 44. Kg1 Rc1+ 45. Kg2 Qc2+ 46.
Kg3 Qc7+ 47. Kg2 Rc2+ 48. Kg1 Rc6 49. Kf2 Kh7 50. Ke2 Rc2+ 51. Ke3 Rxa2 52. Qc4
Qb7 53. Qe6 Nd5+ 54. Kd4 Qb4+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Cori Tello, Deysi Estella"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2419"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. g4
{Aggressiv!} h6 9. Rg1 b5 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Bd2 Qe7 12. Bf5 g6 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14.
O-O-O {[#] Nun steht zuviel auf der c-Linie herum} c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Be1 (
16. Kb1 $17) 16... Rc8 17. Kb1 d4 $19 {Damit ist die Partie schon vorbei.} 18.
exd4 (18. Nxd4 b4 19. Nce2 Be4 {das drohte auch noch.}) 18... Bxf3 19. dxc5
Bxd1 20. Qxd1 Rxc5 {Zählen: Schwarz hat eine Qualität mehr.} 21. Qf3 O-O 22.
Ne4 Rc4 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Bd2 Be5 25. g5 hxg5 26. Nh5+ {Weiß hat noch einen
Trick.} Kg8 (26... gxh5 {ging nicht:} 27. Bxg5 Qb4 $11 (27... Qe6 28. Bf4+ Kf6
29. Bxe5+ Kxe5 30. Re1+ Kd6 31. Rxe6+ Kxe6 $11) 28. Bf6+ Kh6 29. Bg5+) 27. Bxg5
Qb4 28. Nf6+ Bxf6 29. Qxf6 {Droht Lh6 mit Matt, aber...} Rg4 30. Rd1 (30. Bh6
Qe4+ 31. Kc1 Rc8+ {nebst Matt.}) 30... Qe4+ 31. Ka1 Qd5 {Das sieht alles so
leicht aus.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cori Tello, Deysi Estella"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B37"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2419"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nc2 Nd7 10. Bd2 a5 11. Re1 Nc5 12. Bf1 Bd7 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 Kh7 15. f3
f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Kh1 Rc8 20. Rad1 a4 21. Nd5 Rf7
22. Bf2 e6 23. Nc3 Bc6 24. Nxc6 Rxc6 25. Qc2 Qf8 26. Bg3 Rf5 27. Nb5 Nf7 28. b4
axb3 29. axb3 Be5 30. b4 Na6 31. Qb3 Rh5 32. f4 Bf6 33. Rxe6 Kg7 34. Rxf6 Kxf6
35. Qc3+ Ke7 36. Nd4 Rc8 37. Re1+ Kd7 38. c5 Nc7 39. c6+ bxc6 40. Qxc6+ Kd8 41.
Qb6 Kd7 42. Be2 Nd8 43. Bxh5 gxh5 44. Bh4 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.14"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "233"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Nxc6 bxc6 9. Na3 Bxa3 10. bxa3 a5 11. Bxc6 Rb8 12. Qc2 Ba6 13. Rd1 Nd5 14. e4
Ne7 15. Ba4 f5 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Rf7 18. Be3 f4 19. Bxf4 Ng6 20. Be3 Ne5 21.
Qe4 Qe7 22. Bf4 Qxa3 23. Bxe5 Qxa4 24. Bc3 Bc8 25. g4 Qd7 26. h3 h5 27. Rd4
hxg4 28. hxg4 Bb7 29. Qe6 Re8 30. Re1 Ref8 31. f4 Qd8 32. f5 Qg5 33. Bd2 Qh4
34. Kg2 Rd8 35. Rh1 Bxd5+ 36. Rxd5 Qxg4+ 37. Kf2 Rxd5 38. Qxd5 c6 39. Qe6 Qd4+
40. Be3 Qd5 {[#]} 41. Qxd5 $6 {Danach wird die Aufgabe für Weiß viel
schwieriger.} (41. Qe8+ Rf8 42. Rh8+ Kxh8 43. Qxf8+ Kh7 44. Qc5 $18) 41... cxd5
42. Bd4 Rxf5+ 43. Ke3 Kf7 44. Rh7 Rg5 45. Kf3 Kg8 46. Rh1 Kf7 47. a3 Ke6 48.
Rb1 Rh5 49. Kg4 Rh2 50. Rb6+ Kd7 51. Kf5 Rh5+ 52. Kg4 Rh2 53. Be5 Ra2 54. Rd6+
Ke7 55. Ra6 c3 56. Bxc3 Rxa3 57. Bxg7 {[#]} Kd7 {Das Endspiel ist theoretisch
natürlich remis, nur muss Schwarz das auch nachweisen.} 58. Kf5 Kc7 59. Bd4
Kb7 60. Rb6+ Kc7 61. Ke5 Rh3 62. Kxd5 Rh5+ 63. Kc4 Kd7 64. Ra6 Rf5 65. Bc5 Rf4+
66. Kd5 Rf5+ 67. Kd4 a4 68. Kc4 Rf4+ 69. Bd4 a3 70. Kd5 Rf5+ 71. Be5 Rf7 72.
Ra8 a2 73. Ra7+ Ke8 74. Ra8+ Kd7 75. Rxa2 Ke7 76. Ra6 {Mit Let's check hat man
Zugriff auf die dort gespeicherten Tablebases und sieht, dass natürlich auch
dieses Endspiel remis ist.} Kd7 77. Bf6 Ke8 78. Ra8+ Kd7 79. Ke5 Kc6 80. Ke6
Rb7 81. Be5 Kb5 82. Kd5 Rd7+ 83. Bd6 Rb7 84. Ra1 Kb6 85. Rc1 Kb5 86. Bc7 Ka6
87. Kd6 Rb5 88. Kc6 Rb6+ 89. Kd7 Rb5 90. Kc8 Rd5 91. Rb1 Rc5 92. Rb2 Rc4 93.
Kd7 Rc5 94. Bd6 Rb5 95. Ra2+ Kb7 96. Ra4 Kb6 97. Ra1 Kb7 98. Rd1 Kb6 99. Rh1
Kb7 100. Rh6 Rd5 101. Rh8 Rb5 102. Rc8 Kb6 103. Bc7+ Kb7 104. Rg8 Rd5+ 105. Bd6
Rb5 106. Rg6 Rd5 107. Ke6 Rb5 108. Rg1 Kb6 109. Rc1 Kb7 110. Bc5 Kc6 111. Bd4+
Kb7 112. Kd6 Ka6 113. Bc5 {[#] Bis hier ist alles im Lot für Schwarz.} Kb7 $2
{Nach langer Verteidigung einmal fehlgegriffen.} (113... Rb7 $11 114. Ra1+ Kb5
115. Rb1+ Ka6) (113... Ra5 $11 114. Kc6 Rb5 $8) (113... Rb3 $11 114. Ra1+ Kb5 (
114... Kb7 $2 115. Ra7+ Kb8 116. Kc6 Rd3 117. Ra1 Rd2 118. Bd6+ Kc8 119. Ra8#))
114. Ra1 Rb3 115. Ra7+ Kb8 116. Kc6 Rh3 117. Ra1 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O c5 5. d3 g6 6. e4 d6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
a6 9. Re1 e5 10. Nb3 Bg7 11. a4 b4 12. a5 O-O 13. Ra4 Bc6 14. Rxb4 Bb5 15. c4
Nc6 16. cxb5 Nxb4 17. b6 Nc6 18. Nc3 Rc8 19. Bf1 Nb4 20. Bg5 Qd7 21. Nd2 Rc5
22. Be3 Rxa5 23. Nb3 Ra4 24. Nd2 Ra5 25. Nc4 Rc5 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Qxd7 Nxd7
28. Rd1 Nb8 29. Na4 Bf6 30. Nxc5 Rd8 31. Rxd8+ Bxd8 32. Bh3 f6 33. f4 exf4 34.
gxf4 Kf7 35. Nd6+ Ke7 36. Nc8+ Ke8 37. Kf2 Be7 38. Na4 Kd8 39. Ke3 Bf8 40. Be6
Nd7 41. b7 Nb8 42. Ncb6 Kc7 43. Bc8 Bd6 44. Nc4 Nc2+ 45. Kd2 Nd4 46. Kd3 Ndc6
47. Nab6 Nb4+ 48. Kc3 Bc5 49. Na4 Bf8 50. e5 fxe5 51. fxe5 Nd5+ 52. Kd4 Ne7 53.
Nab6 Kc6 54. Ke4 Bh6 55. e6 Bg7 56. Nd7 Kc7 57. Nxb8 Kxb8 58. Nb6 Kc7 59. Nd7
1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. g3 Nb6 13. Kd2 Nc8 14. Bd3
Nd6 15. b3 O-O-O 16. f3 Rhe8 17. Rac1 Kb8 18. Ne2 Nc8 19. Nf4 Bb4+ 20. Ke2 Nd6
21. g4 Re7 22. a4 Rde8 23. Nhg2 Nc8 24. Rc2 Bd6 25. Nh5 Bxh5 26. gxh5 h6 27.
Kf2 Bb4 28. Re2 Nd6 29. Rc1 f5 30. f4 Ne4+ 31. Bxe4 fxe4 32. Nh4 Re6 33. Rec2
Rf6 34. Rg1 b6 35. Ke2 c5 36. Rd1 Rd8 37. a5 Kb7 38. axb6 axb6 39. Ra2 Bc3 40.
dxc5 bxc5 41. Rc2 Bb4 42. Ra2 d4 43. Rda1 d3+ 44. Kf2 Rdd6 45. Ra7+ Kc6 46. Re7
Rde6 47. Rea7 Kb5 48. Rb7+ Rb6 49. Rba7 Bc3 50. Rb1 Ra6 51. Rb7+ Kc6 52. Re7
Ra2+ 53. Kg3 d2 0-1

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bg4 6. c3 Qb6 7. dxc5 Qxc5 8.
Qb3 Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bb5 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Nd7 12. Ke2 e6 13. Rhd1 Be7 14. c4
dxc4 15. Nd4 Bf6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bxc6 O-O-O 18. Bb5 Nc5 19. Bxc4 Kb7 20. Rxd8
Rxd8 21. Rb1 Ne4 22. Bd3 Nxf2 23. Bxh7 Ng4 24. Be4+ Ka6 25. h3 Ne5 26. Rc1 g5
27. Bg3 Bh8 28. Rc7 b5 29. b4 f5 30. Re7 fxe4 31. Rxe6+ Nc6 32. Rxc6+ Kb7 33.
Rc5 Ka6 34. Be5 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c6 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. Bxd6 Qxd6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 c5 14. Nc3 cxd4 15.
Nxd4 Rfd8 16. Rd2 Nc5 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. Nxf3 Rxd2 19. Qxd2 Rd8 20. Qe2 Nd3 21.
Rd1 Nf4 22. Qf1 h6 23. g3 Ng6 24. Qe2 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qb4 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. a3 Qc5
28. b4 Qc8 29. Qd3 Nc6 30. Nb5 e5 31. Nd2 a5 {[#] Wie soll man den b4 decken?}
32. c5 {Gar nicht!} axb4 33. cxb6 Qa6 {[#] Das Spiel steht objektiv vielleicht
gleich. Aber mit dem Freibauern hat Weiß doch etwas einfacheres Spiel.} 34.
Qc4 Qxb6 35. axb4 Nd8 36. Nc3 Ne6 37. b5 Nd4 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Nc4 Qa7 40. Kg2 (
40. b6 Qa1+ 41. Kg2 Qxc3 $19 {musste beachtet werden.}) 40... e4 $2 {Nun rennt
der weiße Bauer einfach durch.} (40... Nd7 $14) 41. b6 Qa1 42. b7 Nf3 {
Droht Matt, doch im Hinblick auf die kommende zweite Dame kann das leicht
abgewehrt werden.} 43. Nxe4 Qg1+ 44. Kxf3 Qh1+ 45. Ke2 Qxe4+ {[#]} 46. Ne3 {
Der Springer ist der beste Freund des Königs.} 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Qe2 O-O 8. b3
Nbd7 9. Bb2 c5 10. c4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. Bc2 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Qd5 14. f3 Ba6
15. e4 Qb7 16. b4 e5 17. Nf5 Ne6 18. Bxe5 Bxb4 19. Kh1 Nd7 20. Bb2 Qc7 21. Bb3
Ndc5 22. Rfc1 Rfd8 23. Rc2 Bb5 24. Be5 Bxc4 25. Bxc7 Bxe2 26. Bxd8 Nxb3 27.
axb3 Bd3 28. Rca2 Rxd8 29. Rxa7 h5 30. h4 Bb5 31. Ra8 Rxa8 32. Rxa8+ Kh7 33.
Rb8 Bc5 34. b4 Bf2 35. g3 Bf1 36. Rb7 Kg6 37. Rd7 b5 38. Rd2 Ba7 39. Kh2 Bc4
40. Kg2 Bb8 41. f4 Ba7 42. Nd6 Kh7 43. Nxc4 bxc4 44. Rc2 g6 45. Rxc4 Kg7 46. e5
Kf8 47. Kf3 Ke7 48. Ke4 Kd7 49. f5 gxf5+ 50. Kxf5 Bf2 51. g4 hxg4 52. Rxg4 Ke7
53. h5 Be3 54. Ke4 Bd2 55. b5 Nc5+ 56. Kd5 Nd7 57. Re4 f5 58. Re2 Bh6 59. e6
Nf6+ 60. Kc6 Ne4 61. b6 Kxe6 62. Rg2 Kf7 63. b7 Bf4 64. h6 Ng3 65. Rd2 Ne4 66.
Rd7+ Kg8 67. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rasmussen, Allan Stig"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2498"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3
Qe7 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. f4 f6 12. Bh4 Qf7 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. O-O e5 15.
Bxf6 gxf6 16. e4 Kh8 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Be4 Qd6 19. Nc4 Qe7 20. Qh5 exf4 21.
Rxf4 Ne5 22. Nxe5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bachmann, Axel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg5 c6 8. Bg2
h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. O-O Bc7 11. Qb3 Nd7 12. e4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 e5 14. Nd5 Qe6 15.
Ne3 Qxc4 16. Nxc4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Nb6 19. Ne3 Na4 20. Rab1 Bb6 21.
Nec2 Bg4 22. Rd2 Rd7 23. h3 Be6 24. a3 Rad8 25. Nxe6 Rxd2 26. Nxd8 Bxf2+ 27.
Kh2 Rxd8 28. b4 Rd3 29. g4 Bg3+ 30. Kg1 Rd2 31. Ne1 Nc3 32. Ra1 Re2 33. Nd3 Re3
34. Nc5 b6 35. Na6 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lagarde, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 c6 12. Nd2 d5 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Qc2 g6 15.
Bg5 f6 16. Bd2 Bd7 17. h3 Qc7 18. Bd3 Rae8 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Re1 Qd8 21. Qc1 b6
22. Bf4 Rxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Bf8 24. Nf3 c5 25. Qe1 c4 26. Bf1 b5 27. g4 Ng7 28. Bg2
Ne6 29. Bg3 Bc8 30. Nd2 Kf7 31. Nf1 a5 32. Ne3 Bb7 33. f4 Qd7 34. Qf2 b4 35. f5
Ng5 36. h4 Ne4 37. Bxe4 dxe4 38. fxg6+ hxg6 39. Be5 Qe6 40. g5 b3 41. axb3 cxb3
42. Bxf6 Kg8 43. c4 a4 44. d5 Qh3 45. Qf4 Bc5 46. Qb8+ Bc8 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Belov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
O-O O-O 9. c4 Be7 10. Rc1 h6 11. h3 Nb4 12. Bb1 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Bd7 14. Nd4 Nbd5
15. Bg3 Rc8 16. Qe2 Bc5 17. Nb3 Bb5 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. b3 Qb4 21.
e4 Bxc4 22. bxc4 Nc3 23. Qe1 Rxc4 24. Bd6 Qb2 25. Rc2 Qa1 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27.
Rdc1 Nfxe4 28. f3 Ng3 29. Kh2 Nge2 30. Rxe2 Nxe2 31. Rxc4 Qe5+ 32. f4 Qe3 33.
Re4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Qc7 9. Qc2 Nd7 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Ng5 Bd6 13. h3 Bh2+ 14. Kh1 Bf4
15. Re1 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 h6 17. Bd2 Nf6 18. c4 O-O 19. a4 Rfd8 20. Be3 Rac8 21.
Rac1 Qc6 22. Bf1 Nd5 23. Bd2 Ne7 24. Be3 Nf5 25. d5 Rxd5 26. cxd5 Qxc2 27. Rxc2
Rxc2 28. dxe6 fxe6 29. Bd3 Nxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxf2 31. Rxe6 Rxg2 32. Re7 Bc6 33.
Bc4+ Kf8 34. Rc7 Be4 35. Rf7+ Ke8 36. Rf4 Rg4+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3 a6 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Qd7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Rfe8 14. Rad1 b5
15. h3 Ne7 16. Nh4 c5 17. Qc2 d5 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Qf3 dxe4 20. dxe4 Qc6 21.
Nhf5 Nxf5 22. Nxf5 Rxd1 23. Qxd1 h5 24. Qf3 g6 25. Ne3 Rd8 26. c4 Rd4 27. Nd5
Kg7 28. cxb5 axb5 29. Nxf6 Qxf6 30. Qc3 Qd6 31. b3 b4 32. Qc1 Rd2 33. a4 bxa3
34. Qxa3 Qd4 35. Rf1 Rd3 36. Qa4 Qc3 37. Qc6 Rd4 38. f3 Rd2 39. Kh1 Qc2 40. Rg1
Qc3 41. Qc7 Rb2 42. Rd1 Rxb3 43. Kh2 Qb2 44. Rd7 Rxf3 45. Rd8 Rf2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 d6 10. c3 Nbd7 11. Re1 a6 12. a4 Re8 13. Bh2 Nf8 14. Nc4 Ng6 15.
a5 b5 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. b3 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. c4 bxc4 20. bxc4 Ba8 21. d5 Bf6
22. Ra3 exd5 23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. cxd5 Bxd5 25. Bxg6 Bxf3 26. Bxh7+ Kxh7 27. Rxf3
Re7 28. Qd3+ Kg8 29. Bf4 Qb5 30. Qxb5 axb5 31. Rb3 Ra7 32. Bd2 Bd4 33. Rxb5 Bc5
34. g4 f6 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. f4 Ke6 37. Kf3 Kd5 38. h4 Kc4 39. Rb1 Kd3 40. Be1 Re7
41. Rd1+ Kc4 42. Bd2 Rb7 43. g5 f5 44. h5 Rb3+ 45. Kg2 Rb2 46. h6 gxh6 47. gxh6
Kd3 48. h7 Bd4 49. a6 Ra2 50. Kf3 Kc4 51. Be3 Bh8 52. Rxd6 Kb5 53. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. c3 e6 8.
Qb3 Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bb5 Nd7 11. a4 Be7 12. h3 Bh5 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfe1
Rfc8 15. Re3 h6 16. Rae1 Bg6 17. Rc1 Bd8 18. Ree1 Bc7 19. Bxc7 Rxc7 20. Nf1 Be4
21. N3d2 Nf6 22. Ne3 Na7 23. Bf1 Bg6 24. c4 Rac8 25. Rc3 dxc4 26. Ndxc4 b5 27.
Nd6 Rxc3 28. bxc3 Rxc3 29. axb5 b6 30. Nec4 Rb3 31. Nxb6 Rb4 32. Ra1 Rxd4 33.
Nbc4 Nxb5 34. Nxb5 Rd8 35. Ne5 Be4 36. Ra7 Rd1 37. Nc3 Re1 38. f3 Bf5 39. Ra5
Rc1 40. Ne2 Rb1 41. Nd4 Bg6 42. Nxg6 fxg6 43. Nxe6 Nh5 44. Kf2 Rb2+ 45. Ke3 Ng3
46. Bc4 Nf5+ 47. Kd3 Kf7 48. Nd4+ Kf6 49. Nxf5 gxf5 50. g4 fxg4 51. hxg4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Ne5
Bf5 9. O-O Ne4 10. Be3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. Nd3 Rc8 13. Nf4 e6 14. Rc1 Na5 15.
f3 Nc4 16. Bf2 g5 17. Nh5 Bh8 18. e4 Bg6 19. g4 Qa5 20. Qe2 h6 21. h4 Qd8 22.
hxg5 Bxh5 23. gxh5 Qxg5 24. f4 Qxf4 25. exd5 e5 26. Rcd1 Rfe8 27. Rde1 Bg7 28.
Qd3 Qd2 29. Qg3 Qg5 30. Qh3 exd4 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Qd7 Rd8 33. Qc7 Nd2 34. Rd1
dxc3 35. d6 Be5 36. Qxb7 c2 37. Re1 c1=Q 38. Rxc1 Nf3+ 39. Qxf3 Qxc1+ 40. Bf1
Rxd6 41. Be3 Qxe3+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. O-O d5 6. c3 Bd6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Qe2
e5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. e4 h6 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Ne4 Bb6 13. Ng3 Re8 14. Re1 Bg4 15.
h3 Be6 16. Bc2 Qc7 17. Qe4 Nf6 18. Qh4 Nh7 19. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Qxh6 f5 21. Nxf5
Bxf5 22. Bxf5 Qg7 23. Qh4 Rf8 24. Qe4 Ng5 25. Qc4+ Qf7 26. Qxf7+ Rxf7 27. Nxg5
Rxf5 28. Ne4 Rd8 29. Rad1 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Rf4 31. Re1 Ne7 32. g3 Rf8 33. Kg2 Nd5
34. Re2 Nf6 35. Nd6 e4 36. b4 Rd8 37. Nxe4 Nxe4 38. Rxe4 Rd2 39. Rf4 Rxa2 40.
c4 a5 41. c5 Bc7 42. Rg4+ Kf7 43. bxa5 Rxa5 44. Rb4 Rxc5 45. Rxb7 Kg6 46. Rb2
Be5 47. Re2 Rb5 48. h4 Bd4 49. g4 Bf6 50. h5+ Kg5 51. Kg3 Rb3+ 52. f3 Kh6 53.
Re8 Kg7 54. Re4 Bg5 55. Re5 Bf6 56. Rf5 Rb4 57. g5 Be7 58. f4 Rd4 59. Kg4 Bd6
60. Rf6 Be7 61. h6+ Kg8 62. h7+ Kh8 63. Rf7 Ba3 64. g6 Rd6 65. Rf8+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vovk, Yuri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Ba3
Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Re8 10. Nc3 a6 11. e4 Nc6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 e4 14. dxc6 Bxa1
15. Ng5 Bg7 16. Bxe4 bxc6 17. Bxc6 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Ne4 a5 21.
Be7 a4 22. bxa4 Be6 23. a5 Bxa2 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxd8 Bd4+ 26. Kg2 Bb1 27.
Bxc7 Bxc2 28. Bb6 Be5 29. a6 Bb8 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. Nd7 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "SHSM Legacy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 (6. b3 $6 c5 $1 {
(with reversed colours) has been seen in a number of games.} 7. c3 $6 Ne4 {
happened, e.g., in the following encounters:} 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. Nbd2 Qa5 10. Nxe4
dxe4 11. Nd2 (11. Ne5 $6 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bf5 13. c4 Qc7 14. f4 exf3 15. Bxf3 Rad8
16. Qe1 b6 17. Qc3 Rd4 18. Kh1 Bxe5 $19 {0-1 (54) Doan,T (1994)-Dang,B (2228)
Da Lat 2014}) (11. Ne1 cxd4 12. cxd4 Rd8 (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rd8 14. Nc2 Bxd4
15. Nxd4 e5 16. Qb1 Rxd4 {1/2 (39) Petran,P (2311)-Saric,A (2565) Split 2013}
17. e3 Rd2 18. Qxe4 $11) 13. e3 e5 $36) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nc4 Qc5
14. e3 (14. Bxe4 Bg4 $15 {0-1 (62) Alonso Alvarez,A-Sion Castro,M (2423)
Benasque 1999}) 14... Nc6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Bxe4 $11) 6... b6 {Black's attempt
to break the symmetry meets an unexpected response.} 7. c4 $5 c6 {There are
more logical moves:} (7... e6) (7... Bb7 {(after 6.b3 c5 White usually plays 7.
e3 or 7.Bb2 keeping an option to push c2-c4.}) 8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Qa4
Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 $6 {Ian Nepomniachtchi repeats the inaccuracy committed by
the Vietnamese player (see above with reversed colous).} (11... Nd7 $142) 12.
Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bf4 e3 {This "improvement" doesn't help him too much as his
b7-bishop finds itself encarcerated.} (13... c5 14. Qc2 {- see Doan-Dang above.
}) 14. Bxe3 Bxe5 $14 {[%csl Rb7]} 15. Rad1 (15. Rab1 {is more accurate. The
humble b2-pawn is important.}) 15... Qc7 16. c5 {[%csl Rb7][%mdl 32]} (16. b3
$5) (16. Rd2 $5 Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Qxa7 Ra8 19. Qxb6 Qxb6 20. Bxb6 Bxb2
21. Bc5 $14) 16... Bxb2 17. Qb3 Bf6 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Bxb6 Qc8 20. Rc1 Qg4 21.
Rc2 Ra6 22. Bf3 Qa4 23. Qxa4 Rxa4 {White has an outside passed pawn but at the
moment it is rather weak so his advantage is not yet decisive.} 24. Rd1 (24.
Rb1 $1 {[%cal Yb6c5] looks stronger.}) 24... Ba8 $2 {Passivity is hopeless
here.} (24... Ra6 $142 $1 25. Be3 (25. Rb1 Bc8 $1 26. Bxc6 $140 Be6 27. a4 Rb8
28. a5 Rxa5) 25... Bc8 $1 {[%cal Yc8e6] activating the bishop, e.g.} 26. Rdd2
Bh3 $1 27. Rxc6 Rb8 28. Rc1 Be6 {with a probable draw.}) 25. Bc5 Rb8 26. a3 e5
27. e3 e4 28. Be2 Rb7 29. Rc4 Rxc4 30. Bxc4 Kg7 31. a4 {The pawn moves forward
and becomes White's main trump.} Be7 32. Bxe7 Rxe7 33. a5 f5 34. Rd8 Ra7 35. a6
Kf6 36. Re8 c5 37. Kf1 Kg7 38. Ke2 Bc6 39. Rc8 Bd7 40. Rg8+ Kh6 41. Rb8 Bc6 42.
Rb6 Ba8 43. Bb5 Rc7 44. Kd2 Rc8 45. Kc3 Kg5 46. h3 h5 47. Kc4 h4 48. Re6 hxg3
49. fxg3 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Mednyi Vsadnik"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Ne5 Qd6 $5 {
Vladimir Kramnik employs the rather rare continuation. As usual, it was played
after deep home preparation and came as a real surprise for Peter.} ({The main
alternatives here are:} 7... c5) ({and} 7... Nc6) 8. Nxc4 {The most natural
reply.} ({The resulting position offers different interesting possibilities
for both sides. For instance, White could have opted for} 8. O-O $5 Rd8 9. Bg5
h6 (9... c5 $5) 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Ne4 Qxd4 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Nxc4 {with
sufficient compensation for a pawn.}) 8... Qa6 {A very concrete approach -
White has to waste a tempo on protecting the knight, while Black is ready to
put pressure on White's centre along the d-file.} 9. Qb3 {After this move
White is well prepared to meet the standard c7-c5 advance, but the
vulnerablity of the Pd4 offers Black more counterplay.} ({After} 9. Qa4 Rd8 10.
e3 c5 (10... Nd5 $6 11. Qxa6 Nxa6 12. O-O Rb8 13. Rd1 Nb6 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. e4
$14 {1/2 Gnusarev,P (2357)-Lutz,C (2596)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (32)}) 11. dxc5
Nfd7 12. O-O Nxc5 13. Qxa6 Nbxa6 14. b3 Rb8 {Black should be able to solve the
problem of passive Bc8 and equalise.}) ({Black's idea is well illustrated in
the following line:} 9. b3 Rd8 10. O-O c5 11. a4 Bd7 ({After} 11... cxd4 12.
Nb5 Ne8 13. Ba3 Bxa3 14. Nbxa3 $44 {White gets full compensation.}) 12. dxc5
Bc6 13. Qc2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Bxc5 $11 {with comfortable equality.}) 9... Nc6 10.
e3 {The most natural way of protecting the pawn.} ({After} 10. Be3 Nd5 11. O-O
Nxe3 12. fxe3 Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 $132 {White has some compensation for an
exposed pawn structure, but hardly more.}) 10... Rb8 {Obviously, this move is
aimed at solving the problem of the passive light-squared knight. The
vulnerable state of White's queen gives Black an additional tempo for the
fianchetto.} 11. Qb5 ({Black shouldn't face any problems in the event of} 11.
O-O b5 12. Nd2 Na5 13. Qc2 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nce4 Be7 $11 {- Vaulin,A (2515)
-Ivanovic,B (2470)/Podgorica 1993}) ({The consistent attempt to reduce Black's
q-side activity by means of} 11. a4 {is well met by} b5 $1 12. Nxb5 Bd7 13. O-O
(13. Rb1 Na5 14. Nxa5 Bxb5 15. axb5 Rxb5 16. Qc2 Bb4+ 17. Bd2 Bxd2+ 18. Qxd2
Rxa5 $11) 13... Nxd4 14. exd4 Bxb5 15. axb5 Qxa1 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. Nc6 Qa6 $1 (
17... Rb6 18. Bg5 Qa6 19. bxa6 Rxb3 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nxa7 Rxb2 22. Ra1 c5) 18.
Nxb8 Rxb8 $11) 11... Qxb5 12. Nxb5 Nb4 $146 {A logical novelty - the Nc6 was
clearly misplaced, so Vladimir removes in order to free a way for the c-pawn.}
(12... Bd7 13. O-O Na5 14. Nxa5 Bxb5 15. Rd1 Nd5 16. Bd2 b6 17. Nb3 a5 $11 {
1/2 Pedersen,S (2390)-Wells,P (2485)/Budapest 1993/CBM 036 ext (42)}) ({
Another decent way of handling the position is:} 12... a6 $5 13. Nc3 (13. Nxc7
$2 b5 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Ng4 $17 {[%csl Rc7]}) 13... b5 14. Bxc6 bxc4 15.
O-O Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 $11) 13. O-O Bd7 14. Nc3 Rfc8 $1 {Black reasonably
doesn't hurry with the c6-c5 advance.} ({After} 14... c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. a3
Nbd5 17. Bd2 Rfc8 18. Rac1 $14 {White's position would be preferable.}) 15. a3
Nbd5 16. Bd2 c5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 18. Ne5 Be8 $11 {Black has successfully solved
all the opening problems.} 19. Nxd5 ({After} 19. Nd3 Rcc8 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21.
Bxd5 exd5 22. Nf4 Bg5 $11 {White cannot put any pressure on the isolated pawn.}
) 19... Nxd5 20. Rfc1 Rxc1+ {Vladimir doesn't mind exchanging the rooks, since
White has no squares for penetration along the c-file.} ({There was nothing
wrong with} 20... Rcc8 $11) 21. Rxc1 Bf6 22. Nc4 {The knight is obliged to
leave the central square.} ({Quite risky from the strategic point of view is:} 
22. f4 Bxe5 23. fxe5 Bc6 $11) 22... Rd8 {The position is balanced now, but
White has to take care of the Pb2 now.} 23. b4 {The first step in a wrong
direction.} ({The safest way to equality was:} 23. e4 Nb6 24. Nxb6 axb6 25. Bc3
Bxc3 26. bxc3 e5 27. Bf1 Bc6 28. f3 Ra8 29. Ra1 $11) 23... b5 24. Na5 Nb6 {
Black's pieces are somewhat more active now, but White's position remains very
solid.} 25. Bc3 {A correct choice.} (25. Rc2 {was too passive:} Nc4 26. Bc1
Rd1+ 27. Bf1 a6 $15) 25... Rc8 ({Black achieves nothing after} 25... Bxc3 26.
Rxc3 Rd1+ 27. Bf1 Kf8 28. Kg2 $11) 26. Bc6 ({Obviously, Peter didn't like} 26.
Bd2 Bb2 27. Rxc8 Nxc8 {and the pawn is gone. However, it looks like after} 28.
Nc6 Bxa3 29. Bc3 f6 30. Kf1 Kf7 31. Ke2 $11) 26... Bxc6 27. Bxf6 Bd5 $1 {
The resulting position is almost symmetrical, but White is in definite danger,
since the Na5 is out of moves.} 28. Rxc8+ Nxc8 {[%csl Ra5]} 29. Bd4 f6 30. Bc5
{Black's knight is now restricted by the bishop, but the b6-square is still
vacant.} Kf7 31. Kf1 e5 ({It was worth considering} 31... g5 $5 {seizing more
space on the k-side and intending to occupy the weak light squares later on.})
32. Ke2 Ke6 33. f3 f5 34. h4 g6 35. Kf2 Nb6 36. g4 $6 {Inviting more troubles
- opening up the position would suit Black here.} ({A much safer move was} 36.
f4 Nc8 37. Ke2 a6 38. Kd2 Nd6 39. Bxd6 Kxd6 40. Kd3 h6 41. Kc3 Ke6 42. Kd3 Kf6
43. Kc3 $11) 36... fxg4 37. fxg4 h5 $1 {Vladimir immediately takes advantage
of White's inaccuracy - now Black's king gets much more space.} 38. Kg3 {
The best reply.} (38. gxh5 $6 {is worse:} gxh5 39. Ke2 Kf5 40. Kd3 Nc8 41. Bf8
a6 42. Bc5 Ba8 $17 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Gf5g4]}) 38... Na4 {Vladimir sacrifices a
pawn in order to keep the Na5 trapped. Well, this idea was fully justified in
the game, but it is not the best choice from an objective point of view.} ({
The more patient} 38... Kf6 $1 39. Kh3 {would force White to give up a pawn:} (
{Even worse is} 39. gxh5 gxh5 40. Bd6 Kf5 41. Bc7 Nd7 $17 {and Black is
dominating over the board.}) 39... Be6 40. e4 Bxg4+ 41. Kg2 Bd7 $15 {The
limited material balance leaves White definite drawish chances, but a pawn is
a pawn!}) 39. Bxa7 Nc3 {A critical moment.} 40. Bb8 $4 {As often happens in
chess, the last move before passing the time control turns out to be a
decisive mistake.} ({The correct way was:} 40. gxh5 gxh5 41. Bb6 Nd1 ({Black
cannot make progress after} 41... Kf5 42. Kf2 Kg4 43. Bd8 Nb1 44. Ke2 Nxa3 45.
Kd2 $11) 42. e4 $8 (42. Bc5 Kf5) 42... Bxe4 43. Nb3 Bc6 44. Nd2 {The knight is
back into the game, so White should be able to achieve a draw.}) 40... Ne4+ {
The loss of the k-side pawn is fatal here, since the Na5 is still out of play.}
41. Kh3 (41. Kf3 Nf6+ 42. e4 Bxe4+ 43. Ke3 hxg4 $19) 41... Nf2+ 42. Kg3 Nxg4
$19 43. e4 (43. Ba7 {offers no hope either:} Kf5 44. Bc5 Ke4 45. a4 bxa4 46. b5
Nxe3 47. b6 Nc2 48. b7 Bxb7 49. Nxb7 a3 $19) 43... Bxe4 44. Nb3 {The knight is
coming back too late.} Kd5 45. Nd2 Ne3 {Impressive positional play by Vladimir
Kramnik!} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.22"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. c4 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Qg4 {This old theoretical line seems to be
promising for White in general, plus Topalov was not very familiar with it.} f5
{The safest choice.} (11... Nf6 {is more principled but dangerous at the same
time:} 12. Qh4 {/\ Bg5} Ne4 13. Qh3 Qxd4 14. Bf4 {with complicated sharp play
ahead.}) 12. Qe2 Bf6 13. Bc4 {It is clear that White has managed to get a nice
initiative out of the opening although Black's position is solid.} Re8 (13...
Nd7 $2 14. Nc6 $1) 14. Rd1 Nd7 (14... Nc6 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. f4 $1 Qd6 17. Bb3 {
with a clear positional advantage.}) 15. Bb5 (15. Bd2 {was possible, with some
advantage, but I decided to choose a more ambitious move.}) 15... Bxe5 16. dxe5
Qe7 {The only reasonable move.} (16... a6 17. Nxd5 axb5 (17... Bxd5 18. Bxa6)
18. Nb4 $1 Qe7 19. Rd6 $16) 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qh5 $1 {The point.} g6 {
Weakening, but there is no other way to defend against Bg5.} (18... h6 19. Bxh6
$1 gxh6 20. Qg6+ Kf8 21. Qxh6+ Kf7 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qxf5+ Qf7 25.
Bxd7 Qxf5 26. Bxf5 Rxe5 27. Bd3 Rae8 28. Kf1 {and White is clearly better in
this endgame.}) (18... Nxe5 {was a try although White is better, being an
exchange up even if Black has chances for a draw} 19. Bg5 Qf8 20. Bxe8 Rxe8)
19. Qh6 Rec8 20. Bg5 Qf7 21. Bxd7 (21. Bf4 {was another, more positional
approach, keeping some pressure} a6 22. Bf1 b5 23. b3 {with some advantage.})
21... Qxd7 22. Bf6 {White has good attacking potential in this position and
even if Black might hold with precise defence it is not easy to demonstrate
over the board.} Qf7 {He has to lose a tempo with this move because Rxd5 was
coming otherwise.} (22... Rc2 23. Rxd5 $1 exd5 24. e6 Qc7 25. e7) ({or} 22...
Rc4 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. e6) 23. b3 {It is important to prevent the ...Rc4, ...
Rg4 resource.} (23. Rd3 {is very direct approach but Black seems to have
enough defensive resourses:} Rc2 (23... Rc4 24. b3) 24. Rg3 Rac8 25. h4 R8c4 $1
26. h5 Rg4 27. Rxg4 fxg4 28. Qg5 h6 29. Qxg4 g5 {/\ ...Qh7.}) 23... Qf8 24. Qf4
(24. Qg5 {was tempting, but Black is just in time again to defend his king:}
Rc2 25. h4 Rac8 26. h5 Qb4 $1 {that is why Qf4 was chosen instead of Qg5 in
the game} 27. hxg6 Qg4 28. Qxg4 fxg4 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rd4 g3 $1 31. Rh4+ Kg6
32. Rg4+ Kf5 33. Rxg3 Rc1+ 34. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 35. Kh2 Rc2 {with a draw.}) 24... Rc2
$2 {The only mistake in the game but quite a serious one. Before starting
counterplay Black should have improved his king position.} (24... h6 $1 25. h4
Rc5 $1 {followed by ...Kh7 next and Black's position is passive but difficult
to break.} (25... Rc2 26. Rxd5 $1 exd5 27. Rd1 Qc5 28. h5 {and mate is near}))
25. h4 Rac8 26. h5 {Now seemingly active rooks and control of the c-file
doesn't help Black to defend against the threats on the kingside.} Qe8 (26...
Qf7 {was slightly more logical but does not change much.}) 27. Rd3 {/\ hxg6.}
R2c3 28. Rad1 gxh5 {Topalov presumably pinned his hopes on this idea but
underestimated the exchange sacrifice; in any case, there was no longer
anything else to do here.} 29. Rxd5 $1 {Strong and logical.} exd5 30. e6 {
More forcing and leads to a forced win in all lines, so I have chosen it.} (30.
Rxd5 $18 {was good enough.}) 30... R3c7 (30... Qg6 31. Bxc3 Rxc3 32. Qb8+ Kg7
33. e7 {game over}) (30... R3c6 31. Rd3 Rxe6 32. Rg3+ Kf7 33. Qh6 $1 {once I
noticed this move in my calculations I understood that my attack is decisive}
Rxf6 34. Qg7+ Ke6 35. Re3+ $18) 31. Rxd5 Qxe6 (31... Qg6 32. Qxc7 $1) (31...
Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Qg6 33. Qxc1 $1) 32. Qg5+ Kf8 ({or} 32... Kf7 33. Rxf5 Rc5 34.
Qxh5+ Kf8 35. Be5+ Ke7 36. Qxh7+ Ke8 37. Rg5 (37. f4) 37... Rxe5 38. Qh5+) 33.
Rxf5 Rf7 (33... Rc5 {does not change anything even if is more resistant} 34.
Be7+ Ke8 35. Bxc5 {was my intention} (35. Rf8+ Kd7 36. Bxc5 {wins on the spot
according to computers}) 35... Rxc5 36. Qxh5+ Kd7 37. Rxc5 bxc5 38. Qxc5 {
with an easy technical win.}) 34. Qh6+ Ke8 35. Re5 Rc6 {Trying to use some
pinning motifs.} 36. Qxh5 {White is counterpinning with devastating effect, so
Topalov resigned.} 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Alkaloid"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 h6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. h3 Ne7
15. Nh2 c6 16. Rad1 d5 17. Nhg4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Rad8 19. d4 exd4 20. Rxd4 Qc8 21.
Red1 b5 22. Qc2 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Nd5 24. Qd3 Qe6 25. Qf5 Qxf5 26. gxf5 Re5 27. g4
Kh7 28. R1d2 {[#]} h5 $1 {Zersplittert die weißen Bauern am Königsflügel,
was sich für das kommende Turmendspiel als vorteilhaft erweist} 29. gxh5 Rd6
30. b3 a5 31. Nxd5 $6 ({Nach} 31. c4 bxc4 32. bxc4 {scheitert} Nxe3 33. Rxd6 {
an} Nxc4 {mit Bauerngewinn.}) ({Die Maschinen empfehlen} 31. a4 $5) 31... Rdxd5
{[#]} 32. c4 $2 {Danach entsteht ein für Weiß ungünstiges Turmendspiel.} (
32. Rxd5 $5 cxd5 33. f6) 32... bxc4 33. bxc4 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Rxf5 35. Rd7 f6 36.
Ra7 Rxh5 37. Kg2 Kg6 {[#]} 38. f4 $2 ({Besser war} 38. Kf3 {z.B.:} Rc5 39. Ke3
Rxc4 40. Rxa5 $17) 38... Rc5 39. Kf3 Kf5 40. Ke3 Rxc4 41. Rxa5+ c5 42. a4 Re4+
43. Kd3 Kxf4 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Khotenashvili, Bela"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2496"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
dxc4 9. e4 Be7 10. Qe2 b5 11. Rfd1 Bb7 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. h4 h6 14. Bf4 Re8 15.
Bh3 b4 16. Na4 Qa5 17. b3 c5 18. Ne5 cxb3 19. axb3 cxd4 20. Nb2 d3 21. Nbxd3
Qb6 22. Nc4 Qb5 23. Bg2 a5 24. Bd6 e5 25. Qe3 Bd8 26. Ndb2 Nb6 27. Qc5 Qxc5 28.
Bxc5 Nxc4 29. Nxc4 Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Nxe4 31. Bxb4 Bxh4 32. Rxa5 Bf6 33. Re1 Rab8
34. Ra4 Ng5 35. Kg2 e4 36. Nd6 Re6 37. Nc4 Nf3 38. Rb1 Bd4 39. Bd6 Rb5 40. Ra8+
Kh7 41. Ra2 g5 42. g4 f5 43. gxf5 Nh4+ 44. Kg1 Nxf5 45. Bh2 e3 46. fxe3 Nxe3
47. Rd2 Bc5 48. Rd7+ Kg6 49. Ne5+ Kh5 50. Nd3 Bb6 51. Kh1 Ng4 52. b4 Re2 53.
Bg1 Bxg1 54. Kxg1 Kh4 55. Nc5 Ne5 56. Rd6 Kg3 57. Rxh6 Nf3+ 58. Kh1 Rxb4 59.
Rf1 Rh4+ 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3
c5 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nac4 Nd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd2 Ba6 13. Ne5 Qd6 14. Re1 cxd4
15. cxd4 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. Rc1 Rfd8 18. Qc2 Rac8 19. Qc5 Qd6 20. Qa5 c5
21. Bh3 e6 22. Bg5 Re8 23. Rcd1 Qe5 24. Bd2 Qh5 25. Bf1 Bb7 26. Qxa7 Rc7 27.
Qa4 Ra8 28. Qc4 Nb6 29. Qc1 c4 30. Bg5 Qg4 31. Bd8 Rc6 32. h3 Qh5 33. Bg5 Rc5
34. Bf6 Qf5 35. Bd4 Rb5 36. e4 Qf3 37. Bg2 Qa3 38. Qxa3 Rxa3 39. Rb1 Rxb1 40.
Rxb1 c3 41. Bxb6 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. dxc5 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxc5 11. O-O a6 12. Nd4 Nfe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc2
Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Na4 16. Qc2 Bd7 17. b3 Nb6 18. Be2 Rac8 19. Qe4 Nd5 20. Bd3 f5
21. Qe5 Nc3 22. Nc6 Rxc6 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. Qxc3 Rc8 25. Qd2 Rd8 26. Qe2 Bc6 27.
a4 Qg5 28. f3 Rd6 29. Rd1 Kf7 30. Bc2 Rxd1+ 31. Bxd1 {First of all if you want
to learn how to create something from nothing, to squeeze water from a stone,
you must study this game carefully from this point onwards. The position is
very drawish and it is not clear why any side should be better but Kramnik
makes use of his trumps excellently.} f4 $5 {A very counter-intuitive move.
This spoils the structure and isolates the e6 pawn. But there are some upsides
to it too. It White replies e4, all his pawns are fixed on light squares and
if he takes on f4 as in the game then the d5 square is a fixed outpost for the
light squared bishop. Of course it is not much but there is some progress!} 32.
exf4 Qxf4 33. Qd3 Qe5 34. h3 (34. Kf2 Qxh2 $17) (34. g3 {It might be
positionally desirable, to place your pawns on the opposite colour from your
bishop but after} Qb2 {there will always be some problems with the f3 or the
b3 pawns although} 35. Bc2 {might hold out here.}) 34... Ke7 {A micro edge
that Black has in this position is that his king is much more active than
White's king. It is a joy to see how Kramnik makes use of that imbalance. And
also the a4- and b3-pawns are currently on light squares, and so are f3-g2-h3.
Vladimir fixes them so that they will remain targets for his bishop.} 35. Bc2
Qc5+ 36. Kh1 a5 {The b3-pawn is fixed forever. Something to nibble at!} 37. Qd2
(37. Qg6 Qc3 $15) 37... Qe5 38. Bd3 Qa1+ 39. Kh2 Qd4 {Not allowing Bc4 at
least for the time being.} 40. Qc2 Kd6 41. Bc4 {White has been able to
activate his bishop and it stands wonderfully on c4. The position should be
equal now.} Be8 42. Kh1 h5 $1 {The h-pawn threatens to go to h4 to fix more
pawns.} 43. Qc1 Bd7 44. Qa3+ Kc7 45. Qc1 Kd6 46. Qa3+ Kc7 47. Qc1 Kb6 $1 {
No draw!} 48. Qc2 h4 49. Bd3 Bc6 50. Be4 Bd5 $1 {A curious situation: if the
bishop is taken it gives Black a passed pawn and if it is not then there is
constant pressure on the b3 pawn. It's quite a confusing situation for
Matlakov. Besides that his king is caged in on h1.} 51. Kh2 (51. Qc8 $5 Bxe4
52. fxe4 Qxe4 53. Qd8+ {leads to a draw by perpetual.} Kc5 54. Qxa5+ Kd4 {
This is similar to the game, but the pawn is on e6 and not on d5 and this
increases the drawing chances for White.}) 51... Qe3 52. Bxd5 Qe5+ 53. Kh1 exd5
54. Qc8 Qe1+ 55. Kh2 Qe5+ 56. Kh1 Qd6 57. Qe8 Kc5 $1 {A bold decision, playing
for a win. You can see how this position is a picture of complete victory for
Black's play, how he made use of all the imbalances to his favour while White
did not. The king is active on c5 and the white pawns have been fixed by a5
and h4. The margin of error is very small here. Only one move gives equality
and Matlakov wasn't able to find it.} (57... d4 58. Qb5+ Ka7 59. Qxa5+ Kb8 60.
Qd2 $11) 58. Qb5+ $6 (58. Qe1 $1 {Stopping the march of the black king was the
only way to draw.}) 58... Kd4 59. Qxa5 Kd3 $17 {The d-pawn shepherded by the
king and the queen will spell White's doom.} 60. Qb5+ Kc3 61. Qa5+ Kc2 62. Qe1
d4 (62... Qf4 {might have been more accurate as after} 63. Qf2+ Qd2 64. Qc5+
Kb2 $19 {There are no more checks and the d-pawn starts running down.}) 63.
Qe2+ Kxb3 64. Qd1+ Kb4 65. Qb1+ Kxa4 66. Qxb7 d3 67. Qb2 d2 68. Qa2+ Kb5 69.
Qb2+ Qb4 70. Qc2 (70. Qe5+ Kc4 71. Qe4+ Kc3 72. Qe3+ Kc2 $19) 70... Qd4 71.
Qb3+ Kc5 72. Qc2+ Kb4 73. Qd1 Qb2 {A beautiful technical grind by the ex-World
Champion.} 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Bf5 7. c3 e6 8.
Qb3 Qc8 9. Nh4 $1 {At the first possible opportunity Kramnik goes ahead to
create an imbalance. Once he achieves that he will have a much easier task in
outplaying his opponent.} Bg6 (9... Be4 $5 10. f3 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 {should
have been considered. The move f3 doesn't do anything constructive for White's
position.}) 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Bd3 Nh5 12. Be3 Bd6 13. O-O-O a6 14. Kb1 b5 15.
Qc2 Na5 (15... Nf4 16. Bf1) 16. Nf3 Nc4 17. Bc1 $1 {First this bishop retreats
to its initial square and after a few moves the other one also retreats!} Qc7
18. Ng5 Nf4 19. Bf1 $1 {Quite a picturesque position. Both bishops on their
initial squares.} O-O-O $6 {A bad decision by Sanan whose king is not at all
safe on the queenside. Kramnik must have been glad to see the sight of 0-0-0.}
20. a4 Qb7 21. axb5 axb5 22. b3 Na5 (22... Na3+ 23. Bxa3 Bxa3 24. g3 Nh5 25. b4
$16 {and the bishop on a3 has come too far from home.}) 23. Qa2 Nc6 24. g3 Nh5
25. Bd3 Kb8 26. Qe2 Na7 27. Bd2 Rc8 28. Kb2 Rc6 29. Ra1 Rf8 30. Ra2 Ra6 31.
Rxa6 Qxa6 32. Ra1 {By methodical play Kramnik has got everything in his favour.
The bishops are wonderful defenders and at the same time attacking the black
queenside and the rook has controlled the open a-file.} Qb7 33. b4 Nf6 34. Ra5
Bc7 35. Bf4 Bxf4 36. gxf4 Qc7 37. Bxb5 Qxf4 38. Nf3 Ne4 39. Ne5 {The knight,
bishop, rook, and queen will launch a deadly attack against the black king.}
Rh8 40. Nc6+ Nxc6 41. Bxc6 Nxc3 $5 {A desperate attempt to complicate the
position. But Kramnik is alert and up to the mark.} 42. Kxc3 Rh3+ 43. Kc2 Qxd4
44. Qb5+ Kc7 45. Qb7+ Kd6 46. Qb8+ (46. Rxd5+ $1 exd5 47. Qd7+ Ke5 48. Qxh3 $18
{was another way to win.}) 46... Ke7 47. Qa7+ Qxa7 48. Rxa7+ Kd6 49. Ba4 Rh4 (
49... Rxh2 50. Rd7+ Ke5 51. Rxf7 $18) 50. Kb3 Rh3+ 51. Kb2 Rh4 (51... e5 52.
Rxf7 Rxh2 53. Kc3 Ke6 54. Rxg7 Rxf2 55. Rxg6+ Kf5 56. Rd6 $18) 52. Rd7+ Ke5 53.
Ka3 Kd4 54. Rxf7 Rxh2 55. b5 Kc5 56. Rc7+ {A great game by Vladimir but it
must be said that Sanan made his task considerably easier when he castled long.
} 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Opening Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Na4 Qb5 14. Rc1 Rac8
15. Bd4 c5 16. Nc3 Qa5 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nxd5 Qxa2 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Bd5 Bxd5
21. Qxd5 Qxe2 22. Rfe1 Qb2 23. Rc4 Rfd8 24. Rg4+ Kf8 25. Qh5 Qd2 26. Rge4 Kg7
27. Re7 Rf8 28. R1e4 Rcd8 29. Qxc5 Qd1+ 30. Kg2 Qxb3 31. Rd7 Qb6 32. Rg4+ Kh8
33. Rxd8 Qxc5 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Usually top-level chess does impress me a lot. Not only the preparation, but
mainly the depth, accuracy and energy that they show in every single game.
What impresses me even more, is masterpieces being played in rapid chess games.
In the Zurich Chess Challenge 2016, the time control was 40 minutes with a 10
second increment, apparently enough time for a genius like Kramnik to create
such a beautiful strategic win against one of the toughest opponents on the
circuit today, the current number 4 in the world, Anish Giri.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3
g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 $5 {As a Grünfeld player myself, I
totally understand and approve of this setup - White simply wants to develop
and go for a long positional game, keeping all the pieces on the board, and
avoiding early contact.} O-O 7. Bb2 Bf5 {The most typical setup, Black usually
plays ...a5 to create some play on the queenside, and also ...Ne4 (mostly when
White plays Nc3), in order to exchange a piece with Nxc3, and try to play ...
Be4. This plan is important, because the black light-squared bishop could
eventually look weird on f5 (White could play Nh4 if the e4-square is
controlled by a white knight on d2 or c3, and then play e4, if play retreats
the bishop to e6, let's say).} 8. c4 a5 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 cxd5
{Now Black wants to play ...Ne4.} 12. Ne5 $5 Nc6 (12... Be4 {was in fact
playable, but I feel like White is supposed to have a small advantage always,
since the knight on b8 looks slightly weird and Black's queenside is somewhat
weakened.} 13. Bxe4 (13. Bh3 $5 {threatening f3} Qb6 {avoiding f3 because of ..
.Bxe5} 14. e3 $14) 13... dxe4 14. Rc1 {threatening d5} (14. d5 $2 Qc7 $1 $19 {
oops, winning a piece}) 14... Qd5 15. Nc4 Nd7 16. Ne3 $14 {followed by d5,
looks good for White.}) 13. Qd2 {White basically wants to play Rac1 and build
up pressure on the queenside. It's not that simple to play as Black, because
taking on e5 (...Nxe5) or allowing Nxc6 has its problems. I feel that Giri
made a good choice here.} a4 (13... Nxe5 $6 14. dxe5 $14 {and it's hard to
defend d5 (14...e6 looks very ugly).}) (13... Qd6 $5 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. e3 $11 {
/+/= , is similar to the game and it looks somewhat preferable for White
already} (15. Bxa5 $6 Bxd4 $1 $13)) 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. b4 Bc8 (15... a3 $1 {
possibly was Giri's best chance in the game. This makes it hard for White to
move the c3-bishop after Rac1 (Black could play ...Qb6 and Rab8, for example)}
16. f3 {doesn't look too threatening, now the transfer to the other diagonal
with Bc8 and Ba6 should be good} Bc8 17. Rfd1 (17. e4 {It is too early for
this. White had better prepare it with Rfd1 and Rac1} dxe4 18. fxe4 e5 19. d5
cxd5 20. exd5 $13 {now both Ba6 or Bf5 followed by Qd6 seem to be interesting
for Black, with an unclear position}) 17... Ba6 18. Rac1 Qb6 19. e3 Rab8 $13 {
the position remains unclear, but it looks better than in the game, where
White started to build an advantage and gradually improved it.}) 16. e4 $1 Ba6
17. Rfe1 dxe4 {e4-e5 should not be allowed.} 18. Bxe4 Bb5 19. Rac1 (19. a3 $5 {
It feels like this was better to avoid ...a3 once for all.}) 19... e6 (19... a3
$5 {threatening to play e6 and reach the same position as in the game, with
the difference that now White's b4 could be a possible target. White could try
and act now, but apparently Black holds with some precise moves.} 20. d5 $5
Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Qd6 $1 {threatening e6} 22. g4 $5 {threatening Rh3} (22. Rc5 e6
23. Qc3 exd5 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Rxb5 d4 $11 {should be equal}) 22... e6 (22...
cxd5 $5 23. Rh3 Qf6 24. Bxd5 Rad8 25. Qh6 Qg7 26. Qg5 Qf6 $11 {is at least
fine for Black}) 23. Rh3 Ra7 $1 24. Qe3 Rc7 $11 {and everything is in order
for now.}) 20. a3 $1 Qd6 (20... Qb6 $5 {was another possible plan, followed by
Rad8-Rd6 and Rfd8, creating stronger counterplay against d4.}) 21. Bb2 Rfd8 22.
Red1 Rac8 (22... e5 $2 {Black is not ready for this fight} 23. d5 $1 f5 24. Bg2
e4 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rc5 $16) 23. Rc5 Qb8 24. Rdc1 Qb7 25. Qg5 h6 26. Qf4 Qd7
27. Bf3 {White has been able to create a nice positional grip, but the next
step was not clear, possibly h4-h5 (and if Black plays ...h5, then maybe g4!?
- taking advantage of the fact that Black's light-squared bishop is out of
play on b5).} g5 $2 {This was not necessary at all, Black's king starts to
suffer a lot from now on.} 28. Qe3 Rc7 (28... Bf8 $2 29. d5 $1 Bxc5 30. Qe5 f6
31. Qxf6 Qh7 {White has many winning moves now} 32. Qxe6+ Qf7 33. Qxh6 Qh7 34.
Qxg5+ Kf8 35. bxc5 $18) 29. Qc3 Rdc8 30. Be4 Qd6 31. Bb1 Kf8 32. Qc2 $6 Ke7 $2
(32... Bxd4 $5 {good or bad, Black had to accept the challenge to try
something. It was hard to keep on playing while having to watch out for d5 all
the time (and it eventually happened)} 33. Rd1 (33. Re1 $5 {A truly original
computer move. It is basically suggesting that Black has no good moves at his
disposal, which is extremely bizarre with so many pieces in play} Bxc5 (33...
e5 $2 34. Rcxe5 $1 Bxb2 (34... Bxe5 35. Bxe5 $18 {is an easy win after Qh7})
35. Qxb2 $18 {with the deadly threat of Re8+ followed by Qh8#}) (33... Bxb2 $2
34. Qxb2 $18 {with decisive invasions on the kingside}) (33... Ba6 $5 $13 {
probably the only move that holds together the position - that still remains
highly complex, and I would be happy to evaluate it as unclear}) 34. bxc5 Qe7
35. Qh7 Ke8 36. Qxh6 (36. Qg8+ Qf8 37. Rxe6+ fxe6 38. Qxe6+ Qe7 39. Qg8+ {
is just a draw} Qf8 40. Qe6+ Qe7 $11) 36... Qxc5 37. Ba2 $40 {looks very
dangerous for Black}) 33... e5 34. Rxe5 (34. Qh7 Qf6 35. Bxd4 exd4 36. Rf5 $2
Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Kxg7 38. Rxd4 c5 $1 $17 {and suddenly Black gets the initiative,
because of the weak a3-pawn}) 34... c5 $1 35. Rde1 $1 {threatening Qh7} (35.
Rxc5 Rxc5 36. bxc5 Qxc5 37. Qf5 Qxf5 $1 (37... Bxb2 {allows} 38. Rd8+ $1 {
but after} Ke7 39. Qxc8 Qxc8 40. Rxc8 Bxa3 $14 {This should be a draw after ...
Bd6 and ...a3 (and Be8, if needed, to defend f7)}) 38. Bxf5 Rc5 $1 $11) 35...
Qf6 36. Bxd4 cxd4 37. Qd2 $36 {and White retains the initiative.}) 33. Re1 Kf8
(33... Rb8 $5 {To defend the b5-bishop and answer 34.d5 with ...Bxb2 35.Qxb2
cxd5!} 34. Qh7 Kf8 35. Bc3 {planning d5 at some point} Rbc8 36. Ba2 {This has
to be very bad for Black, but there is still some play.}) 34. d5 $1 {Now the
all the lines are open, and the pressure becomes irresistible, White is
winning by force.} e5 {Forced, because} (34... Bxb2 35. Qxb2 {with a winning
position, since 35...cxd5 loses the bishop, and...} exd5 36. Qh8#) (34... exd5
35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qh8#) (34... cxd5 35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. Qh7+ Kf8
37. Qxh6+ Ke8 38. Rxb5 $18) 35. Rc1 Bf6 36. Qf5 Bg7 37. dxc6 Bxc6 38. Qc2 Qe6
39. Qf5 Qd6 {I want to remind you that this is a rapid game, so all the missed
chances deserve much more compassion than usual. Now Kramnik makes a mistake
and gets close to wasting an impeccable game. Chess is very hard!} 40. Ba2 $2 {
Allowing Black to survive.} (40. Qd3 $1 Qe7 (40... Ke7 41. Qc4 Rd7 42. Be4 Bxe4
43. Rxc8 $18) 41. Qc3 $18 {and Black collapses.}) 40... Be8 $1 41. Qxc8 (41.
Rxc7 Rxc7 42. Rxc7 Qxc7 43. Qe4 $14 {White still would have the better chances
in the endgame, with the better king, and the better pawn structure.}) 41...
Rxc8 42. Rxc8 Qd2 $2 (42... e4 $1 {was a golden chance to keep the game
balanced, since 43.R1c7 doesn't work now} 43. Bxg7+ (43. R1c7 Qd1+ $1 44. Kg2
Qf3+ {this is the key, now the e4-pawn supports the perpetual check, forcing a
draw} 45. Kg1 Qd1+ 46. Kg2 $11) 43... Kxg7 44. Rxe8 {apparently wins a piece,
but} Qd2 $1 45. Ra1 Qb2 46. Re1 Qxa2 {and despite White's strong passed pawn
on b4, it is hard to defend the a3-weakness, since Black has f5-f4 coming as
well} 47. R8xe4 {seems to be the only chance} (47. Re3 f5 $1 $132) 47... Qxa3
48. b5 Qb3 49. Ra1 a3 50. Re3 Qxb5 51. Rexa3 $14 {Leko,P (2741)-Kramnik,V 
(2770) World Championship 2004 (1) 0-1 From what I knew, this was supposed to
be a draw, but it's funny that the very Kramnik won this exact endgame with
the rooks against Peter Leko, on the 1st game of their 2004 World Championship
match (another reference is Landa,K (2613) - Kornev,A (2511) RUS-ch Higher
League 64th Taganrog 2011):}) 43. R1c7 $1 $18 {And the game is over.} Qxb2 44.
Rxf7+ Kg8 45. Rxe8+ Kh7 46. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e5 7. c4 c6 8.
cxd5 cxd5 9. d3 Be7 10. Nc3 d4 11. Nb5 a6 12. Na3 Rb8 13. Bd2 b5 14. Rc1 O-O
15. Rc6 e4 16. dxe4 Ne5 17. Rc1 d3 18. Bg2 dxe2 19. Qxe2 Qd3 20. Qxd3 Nxd3 21.
Rc7 Bd6 22. Rc6 Be5 23. Rxa6 Bxb2 24. Ra5 b4 25. Nc4 Bc3 26. e5 Nd7 27. Rd5
N7c5 28. Be3 Rfd8 29. Nd6 Bxe5 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Rxe5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Nbd2 Nd7 12. a3 N5f6 13. b4 Be7 14. Rc1 Rc8 15.
Qa4 Rxc1 16. Rxc1 Qa8 17. Rc7 Bd6 18. Rxd7 Bc6 19. b5 Bxd7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21.
Qg4+ Kh8 22. Qd4 Qd5 23. Qxf6+ Kg8 24. e4 Qc5 25. e5 Be7 26. Qh6 Qc1+ 27. Bf1
f6 28. exf6 Bxf6 29. Kg2 Bg7 30. Qe3 Qc5 31. Qe4 Qd5 32. Qe3 Bxb5 33. Bxb5 Qxb5
34. Qxe6+ Kh8 35. Ne4 Qf5 36. Qxf5 Rxf5 37. h4 Ra5 38. Nfg5 Rxa3 39. Nd6 Rd3
40. h5 h6 41. Nge4 a5 42. f4 a4 43. f5 a3 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nf3 f6 12. Nd4 Kc7 13. Nb3 e5 14. f4
Bd6 15. Be3 Re8 16. Kf2 Ba6 17. Rhe1 Bc4 18. Rab1 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. gxf4
Rab8 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 cxd4 8. exd4
d6 9. d5 e5 10. Re1 O-O 11. Rb1 Nbd7 12. b4 Ne8 13. Bc2 Rc8 14. Qe2 Ba6 15. Nd2
Bg5 16. Bb3 f5 17. Nf3 Bxc1 18. Rbxc1 Kh8 19. a4 Qe7 20. Nd4 Bb7 21. Ncb5 Ra8
22. Ne6 Rf6 23. f4 Rg6 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. c5 bxc5 26. bxc5 Ba6 27. Qf2 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Be2 dxc4 7. bxc4 c5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Nc3 b6 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Rad1 Rc8 12. Qb1 h6 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nc3 Qc7 15.
Na4 Nd7 16. Qa1 Bf6 17. Rb1 e5 18. d3 Nb4 19. a3 Nxd3 20. Bxd3 e4 21. Bxf6 Nxf6
22. Qe5 exd3 23. Nxb6 Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Rcd8 25. Rfd1 Rfe8 26. Na4 Be4 27. Nf3 Nd7
28. Nd2 Bc6 29. Nc3 Ne5 30. Rb6 Rb8 31. Rdb1 Rxb6 32. Rxb6 Bd7 33. f3 Be6 34.
Rxa6 Nxc4 35. Nxc4 Bxc4 36. Rc6 Rxe3 37. Rxc5 d2 38. Rxc4 Rxc3 39. Rd4 Rc1+ 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. Bc4 Nbd7 7. O-O b6 8. a4
a5 9. e4 e5 10. c3 Bb7 11. Re1 Qe7 12. d5 c6 13. dxc6 Bxc6 14. Bb5 Rfc8 15. Qe2
h6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nc4 Bxb5 18. axb5 Rab8 19. Red1 Rd8 20. Ne3 d5 21. exd5
Nh5 22. g3 f5 23. Nc4 f4 24. Nfxe5 fxg3 25. hxg3 Qc5 26. Qg4 Nf6 27. Qxg6 Rf8
28. Ne3 Rbe8 29. Nf5 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Iotov,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. c3 c5 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Bd3 (6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 $14
{is the main variation.}) 6... Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. f4 {The slightly modified
move order allows Kramnik to develop his knight behind the f4-pawn. This move
creates a spatial advantage as well as a potential attack on the kingside. The
problem is that White may not be developed well enough to be able to stop any
counterplay motifs such as the manoeuvre Ne7-Nf5 to attack the already
weakened pawn on e3.} cxd4 9. cxd4 O-O (9... Nb4 10. Be2 O-O 11. a3 Nc6 12. Bd3
$11 {Even though this move doesn't change the outcome of the position, it is
worth noting that the trick exists. Eventually White ends up playing a2-a3
anyway, but in some positions that is simply not the case and White ends up
playing it while Black plays a more beneficial move.}) 10. a3 Ne7 $1 11. Ngf3 (
11. g4 {An interesting idea - deny ...Nf5! Unfortunately, it doesn't lead to
an advantage.} Bd7 (11... Qb6 12. g5 Ne8 13. Qb3 $14) 12. g5 (12. Qf3 $6 Qb6
$17) (12. h3 a6 13. Ngf3 Bb5 14. Bxb5 axb5 15. Qb3 Qb6 16. Kf2 Rfc8 17. Rhc1
Ne8 $15) 12... Ne8 13. Ngf3 Nf5 14. Qb3 (14. Qe2 f6 15. O-O-O Ba4 16. Rde1 b5
$132) 14... Rc8 (14... Nxe3 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qxe3 g6 17. Ne5 Ng7 18. h4 $40)
15. Kf2 Qe7 16. Rac1 Ned6 $15 {With a better pawn structure and well
established control over the centre, it is a no-brainer to say that Black has
solved all his problems and is the only one in the position who can fight for
the advantage!}) (11. Qe2 Qb6 12. Rb1 Nf5 13. g4 (13. Ngf3 Ng4 14. Nf1 Bd7 $17)
13... Nd6 14. Nh3 Nfe4 15. Nf2 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Bd7 $15) 11... Qb6 $6 {It seems
like Grandelius has already made his choice of game plan, and it doesn't
involve ...Nf5. The position remains equal but it slowly transforms into a
position in which only Kramnik can fight for an advantage.} (11... Nf5 $1 12.
Qe2 (12. Qb3 b6 $5 (12... Nxe3 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qxe3 Bd7 15. O-O Kg8 16. Ne5
Rfc8 $11) 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. g4 Nxe3 15. Bxh7+ Nxh7 16. Qxe3 Rac8 17. O-O Rc2 $15)
(12. Nf1 Qe7 $1 $15 {[%cal Gf5d6]}) 12... Ng4 13. Nf1 (13. Bxf5 exf5 14. h3 Nf6
15. O-O Qb6 16. b4 Bd7 $15) 13... Qe7 $1 (13... Qb6 14. h3 Nf6 15. g4 Nd6 16.
Ng3 Bd7 17. Ne5 Be8 18. O-O Nfe4) (13... f6 14. h3 Ngxe3 15. Nxe3 Ng3 16. Qf2
Nxh1 17. Qh4 h6 18. O-O-O b5 19. Rxh1 $14 {There doesn't seem to be enough
counterplay for Black on the queenside to make up for the material
disadvantage.}) 14. h3 Nf6 15. g4 Nd6 {Simple chess! The idea executed by
Black follows the same concept as the one I talked about in the 9...Nb4
variation.} 16. Ng3 Nfe4 17. Qg2 (17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nd2 Bd7 $17) 17... Bd7 $15
{Black has rearranged his pieces perfectly!}) 12. Qb3 Qxb3 13. Nxb3 b6 14. Rc1
$14 Bd7 $6 (14... Nf5 $142 {Once again! This is the last time this idea is
possible. However, if Grandelius hadn't gone for this idea until now it was
clearly not his intention to do so.} 15. Ke2 $8 (15. Kd2 $6 Ng4 16. Rhe1 Nf2
17. Bb5 Nd6 18. Ke2 Nxb5 19. Kxf2 Ba6 $15) (15. Bxf5 $6 exf5 16. Ne5 Ba6 $15)
15... Ng4 16. Bxf5 (16. Rhg1 h5 $1 17. h3 (17. Nbd2 Ngxe3 18. h3 Nc4 19. Nxc4
dxc4 20. Bxc4 Bb7 $15) 17... Ng3+ 18. Kd2 Nf2 19. Bb5 a6 $15) 16... exf5 17.
Ne5 f6 18. Nxg4 fxg4 19. Nd2 Ba6+ 20. Kf2 Rac8 21. Nb1 Kf7 $11 {Unfortunately
for Black there are no weaknesses to be attacked. There are no targets for the
light-squared bishop. Unfortunately for White, the same can be said for the
knight on b1.}) 15. Ke2 (15. Ne5 {There isn't much of a positional difference
between this move and 15.Ke2. However, I believe that the more active approach
would have been the better option.} Ba4 (15... Rfc8 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Ba6 Rxc1+
18. Nxc1 Rd8 19. Ke2 Nb8 20. Bd3 Nd7 $11) 16. Nd2 Rfc8 17. Ke2 Rxc1 18. Rxc1
Rc8 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. g4 Nd6 $14) 15... Nc8 {I cannot say that I approve of
how Grandelius abandoned the c-file. If it were up to me I would have played
15...Rfd8 right away. However, it doesn't seem like White can take much out of
the situation.} (15... Rfc8 $142 16. Ne5 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Ba4 (17... Rc8 18. Nxd7
Nxd7 $11) 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. g4 Nd6 21. b3 Be8 $1 $11) 16. Ne5 (16.
Rc7 Nd6 17. Rhc1 Rfc8 18. Ba6 Rxc7 19. Rxc7 Bb5+ 20. Bxb5 Nxb5 21. Rc6 Ne8 $11)
16... Ba4 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. b3 (18. Ba6 Bb5+ 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. Rc6 Rfc8 21. Rhc1
Rxc6 22. Rxc6 Ne8 23. a4 Nbd6 24. b4 f6 25. Nd3 Rc8 $11) (18. Nc6 $5 Bb5 19.
Ne7+ Kh8 20. Bxb5 Nxb5 21. a4 Nd6 22. Rc7 Rfd8 23. Rhc1 Nfe8 24. R7c3 $14)
18... Bb5 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. a4 Nd6 21. Rc6 Rfd8 22. Ra1 $1 {23.a5 is coming!
It's always a good idea to spend some time cautiously preparing an idea when
the opponent is forced to stay in one place.} (22. a5 bxa5 $1 {A typical
example of everyday logic in chess. White has played a5 without preparation,
therefore the best counter option should be to take the pawn!} (22... b5 23.
Rhc1 Nfe8 24. g4 f6 25. Nd3 $16) (22... Nde4 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. a6 Nd5 25. Rhc1
$14) (22... Nfe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Rc7 bxa5 25. Nc6 Rd6 26. Rc1 $14) 23. Ra1
Nde4 24. Rxa5 Rdb8 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 $11) 22... Nfe8 23. a5 f6 24. axb6 (24. Nd3
Rdc8 (24... Rac8 25. Nb4 Rxc6 26. Nxc6 Rd7 27. axb6 axb6 28. Ra6 Nc8 29. Ra8
Ned6 30. g4 $11) 25. Nb4 Rxc6 26. Nxc6 Nc7 $11) 24... axb6 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26.
Nd7 b5 27. Nc5 Kf7 28. e4 {Not a winning move. Unfortunately for White there
is nothing else that could be done. Black's position is, simply said - solid,
and the rook on a8 is no less active than the one on c6.} (28. g4 h6 29. h4 Ra1
30. g5 Rh1 $132 (30... Rg1 31. Ra6 hxg5 32. hxg5 Rg2+ 33. Kd3 fxg5 34. fxg5
Rxg5 35. Nf3 Rg3 36. Ne5+ Kf6 $11)) (28. Na6 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Nxc8 30. Kd3 Na7 (
30... Ncd6 31. Kc3 Ke7 32. Kb4 h5 33. Kc5 Nf5 34. Nf1 $14) 31. e4 Nc6 32. exd5
exd5 33. Nb1 b4 $11) (28. Rb6 h5 29. h3 Ra1 $11) 28... dxe4 29. Ndxe4 Nxe4 $2 {
A pivotal moment in the game, most likely caused by time trouble.} (29... Ra2+
$1 30. Kf3 (30. Nd2 h6 31. Kd3 g5 $11) 30... Nf5 31. Nxe6 Rb2 32. g4 Rxb3+ 33.
Ke2 (33. Kf2 Rb2+ 34. Kf3 Rb3+ $11) 33... Re3+ 34. Kd2 Rxe4 35. gxf5 Ke7 $11)
30. Nxe4 Ra2+ 31. Kf3 Rb2 32. Nc5 g5 33. Rb6 $6 {There is an unwritten rule in
chess which states that every time a piece takes (or often attacks) a pawn it
takes up a less active position - which is the case with 33.Rb6. That is why
Kramnik should have gone for the endgame where his more active pieces could
have decided the game to his advantage. Activity is key in chess, and more
specifially - in endgames!} (33. fxg5 $1 fxg5 34. h3 Ng7 35. g4 Rc2 36. Rb6
Rc3+ 37. Kg2 Rc2+ 38. Kf1 Rc1+ 39. Ke2 Rc2+ 40. Kd3 Rh2 41. Rxb5 Rxh3+ 42. Kc4
h5 43. Ne4 Rh4 44. Nxg5+ Kf6 45. Ne4+ Kf7 46. Rb7+ Kf8 47. b4 Rxg4 48. Nc5 $14)
33... gxf4 $2 (33... g4+ 34. Kxg4 Rxg2+ 35. Kf3 Rxh2 36. Nxe6 Rh3+ 37. Ke4 h5
38. d5 h4 39. Nd8+ Ke7 40. Nc6+ Kf7 41. Nd4 Rh1 $11) 34. Rb7+ Kg6 (34... Kg8
35. Nxe6 (35. Rxb5 e5 36. Rb8 Kf7 37. Rb7+ Kg6 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Nd3 Rc2 40.
Nxe5+ Kf5 41. Nc4 Rc3+ 42. Ke2 $16) 35... Rxb3+ 36. Kxf4 b4 37. Re7 Rc3 38. d5
Rc8 39. Rb7 Rc4+ 40. Ke3 $16) 35. Nxe6 Kf5 36. Nc5 Rc2 $2 {At this point it
may be difficult to save the game but not impossible. Chess holds infinite
resources! However, practical chess is very different from theory and in here
time trouble is key in deciding the final result.} ({The last chance for
counterplay was} 36... Rd2 37. Rd7 (37. Rxb5 Nc7 38. Rb7 Nd5 39. Rxh7 Rxd4 40.
Rh5+ Kg6 41. Rh8 Rb4 42. Rd8 Ne7 43. Nd3 Rxb3 44. Kxf4 $16) 37... b4 38. h3 h5
39. Rd5+ Kg6 40. Ne6 Rd3+ 41. Kxf4 Ng7 42. Nxg7 Kxg7 43. Rxh5 Rxb3 44. Rb5 $16)
37. Ne4 $18 Nc7 (37... Kg6 38. Rxb5 $18) 38. Rb6 Nd5 (38... Ne8 39. Rxb5+ Kg6
40. Rb8 Kf7 41. Rb7+ $18) 39. Rd6 {A good game from Kramnik! I still find it
amazing how given all the inaccuracies made by Grandelius, his position
remained solid until the very end. Grandelius fought well but was outmatched
in time trouble.} 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kramnik has lately more and more often avoided a heated theoretical
struggle and relied on his experience and positional understanding.} ({In
Stavanger we saw also} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. c3 c5 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Bd3
Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. f4 $1 {with a good version of the Stonewall:} cxd4 9. cxd4
O-O 10. a3 Ne7 11. Ngf3 Qb6 12. Qb3 Qxb3 13. Nxb3 b6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Ke2 Nc8
16. Ne5 Ba4 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. b3 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. a4 Nd6 21. Rc6 Rfd8 22.
Ra1 Nfe8 23. a5 $36 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Grandelius,N (2649) Stavanger 2016}) 1...
e6 2. g3 b5 3. e3 $5 {A very rare move.} ({White usually without second
thought continues} 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O {, after} Nf6 {the most popular
alternative is} 5. d3 {, striving for structures from the King's Indian
Reversed. With the text move Kramnik gains a tempo to build up a position,
resembling the Queen's Indian.}) 3... a6 4. Bg2 ({Also interesting is} 4. a4 $5
b4 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. d3 c5 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8. e4 d6 (8... Be7 9. e5 Nd5 $13) 9. O-O
Nbd7 (9... Be7 $142) 10. Nc4 Be7 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Nh4 g6 14. Bg5 $14
d5 $2 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nxe5 Nh5 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Nhf3 Bf6 20.
Nc4 $16 {Anikaev,Y (2460)-Korzubov,P (2450) Minsk 1983 White went on to
convert his extra pawn.}) 4... Bb7 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 c5 {The few examples here
arose mostly via a different move order.} ({The choice of alternatives is
still a matter of taste; a fully playable one is} 6... Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Qe2 c5
9. c4 d5 10. d4 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Rac1 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rxc1 15.
Rxc1 Qa8 16. Bh3 (16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. e4 Bb7 18. Rc7 Bc8 $1 $11 {[%cal Ye7d8,
Ye7d6]} (18... Rd8 $2 19. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 20. Qg4 $18)) 16... N5f6 17. N2f3 Rc8
$11 {/=/+, Giri,A (2734)-Ivanchuk,V (2753) Leon blitz 2013}) 7. c4 Be7 8. Nc3 {
The players are gradually entering almost unexplored territory.} ({Apart from
the text White has mostly tried} 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Bb2 {- 6...Be7}) 8... O-O {
The simplest, Black doesn't have to protect b5 yet.} ({Releasing the tension} 
8... b4 9. Na4 d6 {seems a bit premature due to} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. d5 $5 (11. Bb2
O-O 12. Nd2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 {Tomashevsky,E (2523)-Ostrovskiy,A (2297) Serpukhov
2004} Qc7 $11 {[%csl Ra4]}) 11... e5 12. Nh4 g6 13. e4 O-O 14. Bh6 (14. Nb2
$142 $14) 14... Re8 15. Nb2 $6 Nh5 (15... Nxe4 $1 16. Bxe4 Bxh4 $15) 16. Nf5
Bf8 17. Bxf8 Nxf8 18. Nd3 $14 {(),Stokke,K (2385)-Susak,Z (2200) Split 2013/
Here the King's Indian structure is advantageous for White.}) (8... Qa5 9. Bb2
O-O 10. Qe2 (10. d4 $5 {is more ambitious}) 10... Nc6 11. Rfb1 bxc4 12. bxc4
Rab8 13. d3 Ba8 14. a3 Rfc8 15. Qc2 Nd8 16. Bc1 d6 17. Bd2 Qc7 18. Rxb8 Rxb8
19. Rb1 Bc6 20. Rxb8 Qxb8 21. Ne1 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qb7+ 23. f3 Nd7 24. Qb1 Qxb1
25. Nxb1 Nc6 $11 {Karpov,A (2770)-Kamsky,G (2735) FIDE WCh Elista 1996}) (8...
Qb6 9. d4 O-O 10. d5 $5 (10. Qe2 Ne4 11. Bb2 d6 12. dxc5 Qxc5 13. Rac1 b4 14.
Na4 Qc7 15. Rfd1 Nd7 16. Qe1 Rab8 17. a3 bxa3 18. Bxa3 Ndc5 19. Nxc5 dxc5 20.
Bb2 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Qc3 Be4 23. Nd2 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Rfd8 $11 {Georgiev,K 
(2648)-Gloor,R (2335) Zuerich 2013}) 10... exd5 11. cxd5 d6 12. e4 Nbd7 13. h3
{[%csl Gd5,Ge4] [+]} Rfe8 14. Be3 Bf8 15. Nd2 g6 16. a4 Bg7 17. Qc2 Rab8 18.
Rfc1 Nh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. g4 Nhf6 21. b4 Ba6 22. Nb3 h5 23. g5 Nh7 24. Qd2
Rec8 25. f4 $16 {Banusz,T (2585)-Goganov,A (2604) Riga 2014}) 9. d4 $5 $146 {
[%csl Gc4,Gd4][%mdl 8] A natural novelty: White occupies the centre himself
rather than letting his opponent get there before him.} ({After} 9. Qc2 Nc6 10.
Rd1 d5 {it's already late for} 11. d4 $2 bxc4 12. bxc4 dxc4 13. dxc5 Qa5 14.
Rb1 Nb4 15. Qa4 Qxc5 16. a3 Nbd5 17. Qc2 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Be4 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Bb2
Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Rd3 $19 {Zygouris,H (2218)-Melia,S (2403) Caleta 2013}) (9. cxb5
axb5 10. Nxb5 $2 Ba6 $17) 9... d5 {[%csl Gc5,Gd5] An equally logical reaction.}
(9... Qb6 {- 8...Qb6}) ({After} 9... cxd4 10. exd4 {the hanging pawns are more
an asset than a drawback, e.g.} d6 11. d5 $5 b4 12. Na4 exd5 13. Nd4 $44 {|^})
10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 (11. Bb2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Nd7 $11 {, but even the text
doesn't give White anything tangible.}) 11... Bxd5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 {Playable,
but Black didn't have to move his bishop again.} (12... Nd7 $5 $11 {/\} 13. b4
a5) 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bb2 (15. e4 Bb7 16. Bg5 f6 $11) 15... Rac8 16.
Rac1 Bb7 $6 {[%mdl 32] An unnecessary retreat, after which Black's position
starts deteriorating.} (16... Nf6 17. Ne5 $5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 $14) ({However,
White's risk-free strategy (after a heavy loss with Carlsen in the previous
round) hasn't given him much and the natural} 16... Rfd8 $1 $11 {retains
symmetry and approximate equality.}) 17. Ng5 $1 $14 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 {[%cal Rg5h7,
Re2d3,Yg5e4,Ye2h5]} f5 $6 {Radically prevents both Ne4 and Qg4, but weakens
the kingside.} (18... Nb6 $142 19. Qg4 $1 ({The forcing line} 19. Qh5 h6 20.
Ne4 Ba3 21. Nf6+ $5 gxf6 22. Bxa3 Qxa3 23. Rd4 f5 $1 24. Qxh6 Qe7 25. Rh4 f6 {
leads only to a perpetual after} 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Kg6 28. Rh6+ $11) {
and only now} 19... f5 (19... h6 $143 $6 20. Ne4 f5 21. Qxg7+ Qxg7 22. Bxg7 $36
) 20. Qh5 h6 21. Nf3 Nd5 22. Qg6 Qf7 $14 {Black is worse, but his position
remains defensible.}) (18... h6 $6 19. Ne4 $36) (18... Rfd8 $2 {runs into} 19.
Qh5 h6 20. Ne4 Bb4 21. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 22. Qg4 f5 23. Nf6+ Kf7 (23... Kh8 24. Qg6
$18) 24. Qh5+ g6 25. Qxh6 Qb7+ 26. Kh3 $1 Rh8 27. Nh7 $18 {->}) (18... Qxg5 19.
Rxd7 $14) 19. e4 $5 {Active play, Kramnik opens the centre even more.} ({
Komodo indicates an alternative solution} 19. Qf3 Rc7 20. Nh3 $1 {[%cal Yh3f4]
/\} e5 $6 {[%csl Re5,Rf5]} 21. b4 Bb6 22. Qd5+ Rf7 23. a3 $16) 19... h6 (19...
f4 20. Qg4 fxg3 21. f4 $1 Be3 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Qxe6+ Qxe6 24. Nxe6 $16) (19...
e5 $142 $5 20. Nf3 Rcd8 21. a4 $36) 20. Nf3 (20. Nh3 $5 {[%cal Yh3f4] also
deserved attention.}) 20... Nf6 (20... f4 21. Rc2 $14 ({and} 21. Nh4 $5 $36 {
are unpleasant for Black, but now he loses material.})) 21. exf5 exf5 22. Qxe7
Bxe7 23. Nd4 Rxc1 (23... g6 $2 24. Nc6 $18) (23... f4 24. Ne6 $16 (24. Nf5 $16)
) 24. Rxc1 Nd5 25. Ne6 Rf7 26. Rc8+ Kh7 27. Ra8 f4 ({Po} 27... Nb4 $2 28. Ra7
$18 {[%cal Re6d8]}) (27... Bf6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 (28... Rxf6 $2 29. Nf8+) 29. a3 $5
$16 {White stops b4, the Pa6 won't run away.}) 28. Rxa6 {White gains a healthy
pawn with excellent winning chances.} ({However,} 28. Bxg7 $5 Rxg7 29. Nxg7
Kxg7 30. Ra7 $1 {[%cal Ra7d7] was also very strong. This intermediate move
forces Black's king to abandon the Ph6 and after} Kf7 31. Rxa6 {there is no
time for the blockading b4. White should win the resulting endgame after} h5
32. a4 bxa4 33. bxa4 $16 {/+-}) 28... fxg3 {Simplifies the position, but also
White's task.} (28... f3+ 29. Kf1 (29. Kh3 $5) 29... Bf6 30. Bxf6 Rxf6 31. a3
Nc3 $16 {offered more practical chances}) 29. hxg3 Bf6 30. Bc1 (30. Bxf6 Rxf6
31. a3 $16 {is also good; somewhat later White will return to the idea of the
bishop swap.}) 30... Re7 (30... Nb4 31. Ra5 Bc3 32. Be3 $16) 31. Rd6 Nc3 32. a3
Kg8 33. Bb2 $1 Ra7 ({A more resilient try was} 33... Ne4 $142 34. Bxf6 gxf6)
34. Rc6 Nd5 (34... Ne4 35. Bxf6 gxf6 36. Rc8+ Kf7 37. Rc7+ Rxc7 38. Nxc7 Nc3
39. Kf3 Ke7 40. Ke3 Kd7 41. Kd3 b4 (41... Nd1 42. Nxb5 Nxf2+ 43. Ke3 $18) 42.
Na6 $18) (34... Nb1 35. Bxf6 gxf6 36. Nd4 Nxa3 37. Rxf6 Rd7 38. Nf5 $16 {/+-})
35. Bxf6 Nxf6 (35... gxf6 36. Rc5 b4 (36... Ne7 37. Rc7 $18) 37. Rxd5 (37. a4
$5 $18) 37... bxa3 38. Rd1 $18) 36. Rc7 $1 Rxa3 (36... Rxc7 37. Nxc7 $18 {
[%csl Rb5] However, even now Black loses another pawn.}) 37. Rxg7+ Kh8 38. Rg6
Ne4 (38... Ng8 39. Nd4 b4 40. Rb6 $18 {[%csl Rb4]}) 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 40. Rh4 $18 {
Stops any possible action against f2, the rest requires no comment.} Nd2 41. b4
Nc4 42. Nc7 Ra2 43. Re4 Nd6 44. Rd4 Nf5 45. Rd8+ Kf7 46. Nxb5 Rb2 47. Rd3 (47.
Rd3 Rxb4 48. Nd6+ $18 {is a trivially won rook endgame.}) 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Samara region Zhiguli"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[TimeControl "6000+1020"]
[WhiteClock "0:24:15"]
[BlackClock "0:00:34"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 {[#]} Nf6 3. d4 g6 (3... e6) (3... d5) 4. d5 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6.
Bc4 d6 7. O-O Re8 8. e4 e6 (8... Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nbd7) 9. Re1 exd5 10.
Nxd5 Nc6 11. Bg5 Be6 12. c3 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Qc7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd2 Rad8 16.
Qb3 {[#]} a6 17. a4 Rb8 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. a5 Nxc4 20. Qxc4 b5 21. axb6 Rxb6 22.
Re2 Reb8 23. Ra2 Rb5 24. g3 Kg7 {[#]} 25. Rxa6 Rxb2 26. Rxb2 Rxb2 27. Qa4 Qd8
28. Ra7 Be7 29. Rd7 Qe8 30. Qa7 Kf8 31. Kg2 h6 32. Bc6 {[#]} Bg5 (32... g5 33.
Qc7 f6) 33. Rc7 Qe6 34. Bd5 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 (4... exd5 {mit diesem Zug erlitt
Kramnik beim Norway Chess vergangenen Monat einen bцsen Schiffsbruch gegen
Carlsen.} 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7
11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 Nb6 13. Ng3 Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Na4 15. Ngf5 Kd7 16. Rb1 Ke6 17.
Bd3 Rhc8 18. Ke2 Bf8 19. g4 c5 20. Ng2 cxd4 21. exd4 Bd6 22. h4 h5 23. Ng7+ Ke7
24. gxh5 Bxd3+ 25. Kxd3 Kd7 26. Ne3 Nb6 27. Ng4 Rh8 28. Rhe1 Be7 29. Nf5 Bd8
30. h6 Rc8 31. b3 Rc6 32. Nge3 Bc7 33. Rbc1 Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Bf4 35. Rc5 Ke6 36.
Ng7+ Kd6 37. Ng4 Nd7 38. Rc2 f5 39. Nxf5+ Ke6 40. Ng7+ Kd6 41. Re2 Kc6 42. Re8
Rxe8 43. Nxe8 Nf8 44. Ne5+ Bxe5 45. dxe5 Kd7 46. Nf6+ Ke6 47. h5 Kxe5 48. Nd7+
Nxd7 49. h7 Nc5+ 50. Ke2 {1-0 (50) Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger
NOR 2016}) 5. Nf3 c5 6. g3 (6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+
10. Qxd2 O-O {ist die Hauptvariante}) 6... Nxc3 (6... Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. cxd4) 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 b6 {Kramnik wandelt auf den Spuren Rubinsteins, modernere
Interpretationen des schwarzen Aufbaus verzichteten auf b6 um WeiЯ den Hebel
a4-a5 nicht anzubieten.} (10... Bd7 11. Bg2 Bc6 12. O-O Nd7 13. Rfe1 Nf6 14.
Qf4 Be4 15. Rac1 O-O 16. g4 Qb8 17. Qxb8 Raxb8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rbc8 20.
Kf3 Rfd8 21. e4 Kf8 22. Ke3 g5 23. h4 h6 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rh1 Ke7 26. Kd3 Nd7
27. Nxd7 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Kxd7 29. Rh1 Ke7 30. Rc1 Kd7 31. Rh1 Ke7 32. Rc1 {
1/2-1/2 (32) Grandelius,N (2581)-Roiz,M (2592) Stockholm 2015}) 11. Bg2 Bb7 12.
O-O {Diagramm [#]} O-O (12... Nd7 {wurde bereits 1937 von Rubinstein gespielt.
Dies erlaubt allerdings das sofortige a4 - ob Tfc1 sofort benцtigt wird, ist
nдmlich nicht klar. Deswegen erscheint mit Kramniks Zugfolge erst einmal
flexibler.} 13. a4 $1 (13. Rfc1 O-O 14. a4 Rc8 15. Rxc8 Qxc8 16. a5 b5 17. Rc1
Qb8 18. Qb4 a6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Qxc8 22. Nd3 Nb8 23. f3 Qc7
24. Kf2 f6 25. Nc5 Qd6 26. e3 Kf7 27. Ke2 Ke8 28. Qb1 f5 29. Qb3 Qd5 30. Qxd5
exd5 31. Kd2 Ke7 32. Kc3 Kd6 33. Nb7+ Kc7 34. Nc5 Kd6 35. Nb7+ Kc7 36. Nc5 Kd6
37. Nb7+ Kc7 {1/2-1/2 (37) Weinstock,K-Rubinstein,S Vienna 1937}) 13... O-O 14.
a5) 13. a4 (13. Rfc1 Nd7) 13... Nc6 $5 {Vorgдnger platzierten den Springer
immer bescheidener auf d7, von wo aus er weniger Einfluss auf das Zentrum
nimmt, jedoch den Lдufer nicht versperrt und weniger anfдllig steht} 14. Ne5 $1
{ansonsten wir Schwarz mit ...Sa5 fortfahren und der Bauernzug a4 wдre
lediglich eine Schwдchung gewesen.} Rc8 15. a5 $1 (15. Rfc1 $2 Qxd4 16. Qxd4
Nxd4 17. Bxb7 Rxc1+ 18. Rxc1 Nxe2+ 19. Kf1 Nxc1 $19) (15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Rac1 Na5
$11 {Schwarz kontrolliert alle Einbruchsfelder auf der c-Linie und kann bequem
mit der Dame auf b7 wiedernehmen. Langfristig hat Schwarz den entfernten
Freibauern, a4 kann zudem zur Schwдche neigen. WeiЯ muss hier vermutlich im
Ausgleichssinne den konkreten Durchbruch d5 anpeilen}) 15... b5 16. Qb2 $6 (16.
a6 $5 Ba8 17. Rfd1 (17. Nxc6 {ist zu wenig} Bxc6 18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. Ra5 Qd5 $11)
17... Qd6 (17... Ne7 $5 18. Bxa8 Rxa8 19. Rac1 {Schwarz steht noch etwas
unkoordiniert, hat jedoch langfristige Trьmpfe. Entscheidend wird sein, ob der
weiЯe Bauer auf a6 oder der schwarze auf b5 schwдcher wird.}) 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19.
d5 $5 {schlдgt Houdini vor} exd5 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Qb6 22. Qb7 Rb8 23.
Qxb6 Rxb6 24. Rd7 Ra8 25. Rb7 $14 {wird vermutlich in einem 4-3 am
Kцnigsflьgel enden.}) 16... a6 {Kramnik hat seine Stellung nun gefestigt. Der
Bauer auf a5 ist mehr Schwдche denn Stдrke, die weiЯfeldrige Konstellation Lb7,
Bauern a6,b5 ist konkret nicht auszunutzen.} 17. Nd3 $6 (17. Rfd1 Ba8 18. e3
Nxa5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Qa2 Nb7 21. Rac1 $44 {und WeiЯ hat Kompensation, doch
keinesfalls mehr}) 17... Ba8 18. Bxc6 (18. Nc5 Nxd4 19. Bxa8 Rxc5 $17) (18. e3
Nxa5 {und WeiЯ hat nicht genug Kompensation} 19. Qb4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nc6 21. Qb1
Nb8 $15) 18... Rxc6 19. Nb4 Rc4 {konkret gespielt} (19... Rd6 $1 {behдlt den
a6 - Schwarz kann nun mittels h5-h4 den geschwдchten weiЯen Kцnig aufs Korn
nehmen}) 20. Nxa6 Qd5 21. f3 Rxd4 22. Nc7 Qc5 23. Kh1 Bc6 24. Rfc1 Rc4 25. Na6
$2 {diesen Zeitverlust hдlt die weiЯe Stellung nicht mehr aus} (25. a6 $1 Rc8 (
25... Bxf3+ 26. exf3 Qxc7 27. Rxc4 Qxc4 28. a7 Qd5 29. Kg2 {und WeiЯ hдlt dank
des starken Freibauern das Gleichgewicht}) 26. a7 Rxc7 27. Rxc4 $1 Qxc4 28.
a8=Q+ Bxa8 29. Rxa8+ Rc8 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qxb5 $11) 25... Qf2 $1 26. Qe5 Bd5
{Es droht f6 nebst Dxe2.} 27. Nc7 f6 28. Qd6 Rxc7 29. Qxc7 Qxe2 30. Ra3 {
und offensichtlich wollte sich Svidler ...b4 nicht mehr zeigen lassen} 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.08"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Samara region Zhiguli"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[TimeControl "6000+965"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:17"]
[BlackClock "0:03:58"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. Re1 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. d5
Ne7 9. c4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Kh8 13. Ba4 Nfg8 14. Bc2 f5 15.
exf5 gxf5 16. g4 fxg4 17. Qxg4 Qe8 18. Be3 Bh6 19. Kh1 Nf6 20. Qh4 Bxe3 21.
fxe3 Qh5 22. Qxh5 Nxh5 23. Ne4 Nf5 24. Kh2 a6 25. Rac1 b6 26. a3 h6 27. Bd3 a5
28. Rc2 Nh4 29. Be2 Rf3 30. Rf1 Rxf1 31. Bxf1 Rf8 32. Rf2 Rxf2+ 33. Nxf2 Nf3+
34. Kg2 Ne1+ 35. Kh2 Kg7 36. Be2 Nf6 37. Bd1 e4 38. Kg3 Kg6 39. b4 Kf5 40. bxa5
bxa5 41. Ba4 Nd3 42. Nd1 Nc5 43. Bb5 Nfd7 44. Kh4 Kg6 45. Bxd7 Nxd7 46. Nc3 {
[#]} Ne5 (46... Kf5 47. Kh5 (47. Nb5 Nb6 48. Nd4+ Kf6) 47... Ne5 48. Nb5 Nxc4
49. Nxc7 Nxe3) 47. c5 Kf5 48. cxd6 (48. c6 Nc4 49. Nb5 Nxe3 50. Nxc7 Ke5 51.
Kg3 Nf5+ 52. Kf2 Ne7) 48... cxd6 {[#]} 49. Kh5 (49. a4 Nc4 50. Nd1 Nb6 51. Nc3
Ke5 52. Kh5 Nxd5 53. Nd1 (53. Nxd5 Kxd5 54. Kxh6 Kc4 55. Kg5 d5 56. h4 d4 57.
h5 dxe3 58. h6 e2 59. h7 e1=Q 60. h8=Q Qg3+ 61. Kf5 Qf3+ 62. Ke6 e3) 53... Nb6
54. Kxh6 Nxa4 55. Kg5 Nc5 56. h4 a4 57. h5 a3 58. Nc3 Nd7 59. h6 Nf8) 49... Nc4
50. Kxh6 Nxa3 (50... Nxe3 51. h4) 51. Kg7 Nc4 52. h4 Nxe3 53. h5 Ng4 {[#]} 54.
Nb5 (54. h6 Nxh6 55. Kxh6 e3) 54... Ke5 55. Kg6 e3 56. Nc3 a4 57. Kg5 Nf6 58.
h6 a3 59. Kg6 e2 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {The super-fashionable Berlin Variation of the
Ruy Lopez.} 4. d3 {This is the most flexible response, maintaining pieces and
avoiding massive exchanges.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 {A typical idea,
bringing the knight over to g6, from where it will stand better. On c6 the
knight is always somewhat limited, because of White's c3-pawn.} 8. d4 Bb6 9.
Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 {Achieving a symmetrical position, but White is always one
slight step ahead, since he has played d4, and Black has yet to show how to
fully equalise the position.} 11. Bd3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bc7 13. a4 a5 14. Nf1 d5 $5
15. exd5 $6 (15. Bg5 $1 $146 {defending against the pressure on e4 in the most
active way} dxe4 (15... h6 $6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Ne3 Rd8 19. dxe5
Nxe5 20. Nxd5 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 $16) 16. Bxe4 exd4 17. Qc2 $5 {
threatening to play Rad1, and also planning Bxf6 followed by Bxg6, using the
weakness of the 8th rank.} Bd7 {defending the tactical ideas on e8} (17... dxc3
$2 18. Bxf6 $1 (18. Rad1 $6 Qxd1 $1 19. Rxd1 Nxe4 $44) 18... Qxf6 (18... gxf6
19. Rad1 $16) 19. Bxg6 Rxe1 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Rxe1 g6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. bxc3
$16) 18. cxd4 (18. Rad1 $6 h6 $1 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 $15 {and Black is even better})
18... Nf8 $5 $13 {followed by ...h6.}) (15. Ng3 {was played in April, But
black also achieved comfortable equality} exd4 16. Qxd4 Bxg3 17. fxg3 Nxe4 18.
Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Qxd4+ 20. Rxd4 Be6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (77) Landa,K (2626)-Nyback,
T (2608) Germany 2016}) 15... e4 $1 16. d6 {The only way to avoid a strong
centre for Black with 16...cxd5. In any case, Black's position is preferable
already.} Qxd6 17. N3h2 (17. Ng5 $6 Bf5 {simply threatening ...h6} 18. g4 {
looks suicidal} Be6 19. Nxe6 (19. Nxe4 $2 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bd5 $1 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 {
...Nh4 coming} 22. Ne3 Qd6 23. Nf1 Nh4 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 $19 {with the decisive ..
.Re1 threat}) 19... Qxe6 $40 {and it has to go wrong for White somehow.}) 17...
h5 $5 {Avoiding Ng4 at all costs.} 18. f3 {Risky, but probably the best
decision here, to avoid suffocation.} (18. Bg5 Bf5 $1 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxh5
Nf4 21. Qd1 Qh4 {threatening ...Nxg2} 22. Re3 Bg6 {and after ...f5 (and ...
Rad8, ...Nd5), White will be under a huge pressure} 23. Qg4 Qh7 $1 $17) 18...
Bf5 19. fxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 21. Qxh5 Nf6 $5 {An interesting practical try,
that worked out well.} 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qf3 $2 (23. Qf5 $1 {the best defence
- not an easy move to find} Nh4 (23... Re1 $2 24. Nf3 $1 $16) (23... Ne4 24.
Nf3 Ng3 25. Qg4 $13) (23... Re2 24. Nf3 Ne4 25. Be3 Ng3 26. Qc8+ Nf8 27. Bf2
Nxf1 28. Kxf1 Rxb2 29. Re1 $132) 24. Qf2 $13 {and White controls Black's
initiative for now}) (23. Qd1 {was also acceptable, keeping an eye on ...Re1}
Nd5 $1 24. Nf3 Ngf4 {threatening ...Re2} 25. Ne5 Qf6 26. Bxf4 Nxf4 $40 {
looks very good for Black.}) 23... Re1 24. Kf2 $2 (24. Bf4 {was the only move
to survive, but sometimes it is hard to realise that you are lost, and that
you have to give material right away. Especially in a position that was
completely normal 5 moves ago.} Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Nxf4 $17 {Black is much better
in the endgame, but there's still play.}) 24... Nh4 $1 25. Qd3 (25. Kxe1 Nxf3+
26. Nxf3 Ne4 $19 {and Black still maintains a strong attack, not to mention
the material superiority.}) 25... Qe6 $1 26. Ng4 Nxg4+ 27. hxg4 Nxg2 $1 28.
Kxg2 Qxg4+ 29. Kf2 Qh4+ {Kramnik plays like a computer and gives no survival
chances to Topalov, a very nice attack by the ex-world champion and current
world number 2.} 30. Kg2 Rxc1 $5 (30... Re6 $19 {was also good enough, with a
devastating attack.}) 31. Rxc1 Qg5+ {...and Black is totally winning in the
forthcoming endgame, after taking on c1.} 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Re1 c5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Na3 Qe7 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. Bg5 f6 15.
Be3 Nhf4 16. Bf1 Kh8 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Kh2 f5 19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Nc4 Bc7 21. Ne3
fxe4 22. Qxe4 Nxh3 23. gxh3 Rxf3 24. Re2 Raf8 25. Bg2 Rxf2 26. Rxf2 Rxf2 27.
Qxb7 e4+ 28. Kh1 Bg8 29. Ng4 Re2 30. Qc8 h5 31. Bf1 hxg4 32. Bxe2 Qe5 33. Kg2
Qh2+ 34. Kf1 e3 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 e6 8. c4 b6
9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Qc7 13. Nxf6+ Nxf6 14. Ne5 Rad8
15. Rad1 Nd7 16. Nxd7 Rxd7 17. Rd2 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Qd6 19. Bc3 Qa3 20. b4 b5 21.
Qb3 Qa6 22. c5 Ba8 23. h4 h5 24. Be4 Qc8 25. Bb2 Re7 26. Qe3 Qd7 27. Bc3 Qe8
28. Qf3 Bb7 29. Kh2 Rc7 30. Qf4 Re7 31. Bf3 Bc8 32. Rd3 Kh7 33. Qe4 Rd5 34. Qe2
Rd8 35. Bb2 Rc7 36. Bc1 Bd7 37. Bf4 Rb7 38. Be5 Qh8 39. Be4 Kg8 40. Qf3 Rc8 41.
Qf4 Be8 42. Ra3 Rd8 43. Bf3 Kh7 44. Ra6 Rc8 45. Rd3 Rd8 46. Rda3 Bxe5 47. dxe5
Rbd7 48. Rxa7 Rd2 49. Bxc6 R8d4 50. Qe3 Bxc6 51. Rxf7+ Kg8 52. Rc7 Qh6 53. Rc8+
Kg7 54. Ra7+ Bd7 55. Rg8+ Kxg8 56. Qxh6 Rxf2+ 57. Kh3 Rf8 58. Qxg6+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qe2 Qc7 8.
f4 Bb4 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 d6 11. g4 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. g5 Nd7 14. h4 Na5 15.
Nxa5 bxa5 16. Rb1 Nc5 17. h5 O-O 18. g6 h6 19. gxf7+ Qxf7 20. O-O Rae8 21. c4
Ba6 22. Bxa5 Rc8 23. Bb4 Rfd8 24. Rf2 Nd7 25. Bxd6 Bxc4 26. Qf3 Nf6 27. Be5
Bxa2 28. Ra1 Bc4 29. f5 Qxh5 30. Qxh5 Nxh5 31. Rxa7 Rf8 32. Bh3 Rce8 33. Rc7
Rc8 34. Rxc8 Rxc8 35. fxe6 Re8 36. Bg4 g6 37. Bxh5 gxh5 38. Rg2+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. e4 c5 7. d5 h6 8. Bh4 e6
9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O Qc7 12. Re1 Rad8 13. Qc2 d5 14. Bb5 g5 15. Bg3
Qb6 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. a4 Na5 18. b4 cxb4 19. cxb4 Nc6 20. Nc4 Nxb4 21. Qf5 Qc5
22. Ne3 Qc8 23. Qxc8 Rxc8 24. Bd6 Nc2 25. Nxc2 Rxc2 26. Nd4 Rd2 27. Bxf8 Bxf8
28. Rad1 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 a6 30. Bd3 Bc5 31. Nf5 h5 32. Rc1 Nd7 33. a5 Kf8 34. g3
Bc6 35. Be2 Be4 36. Ne3 g4 37. h3 h4 38. Bxg4 Bxe3 39. fxe3 f5 40. Bxf5 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O e5 7. Nxe5 Bxe5 8.
Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Qxc6+ Bd7 10. Qe4 f6 11. f4 Bf5 12. Qc6+ Bd7 13. Qe4 Bf5 14. Qe3
Qd4 15. fxe5 Qxe3+ 16. dxe3 fxe5 17. e4 Bxe4 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Bg5 Rb8 20. Rad1
h6 21. Bf6 Rh7 22. Bxe5 Rxb2 23. Rf4 Re7 24. Bh8 Rc2 25. Rdf1 Kd7 26. Rxc4 Bb7
27. Rf8 Re8 28. Rxc7+ Kxc7 29. Rxe8 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 {Vladimir has an
exceptional knowledge of the Catalan, but this time he deviates from playing
d2-d4 so early.} c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. d4 {The position contains a
definite strategic danger for Black, who is suffering from a passive
light-squared bishop.} (9. Nc3 {has also been successfully employed by
Vladimir:} Bf6 (9... Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bd7 11. Qb1 Rc8 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. d4 Qe7 14.
Qb2 cxd4 15. Nxd4 b6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rac1 Bxg2
20. Kxg2 $14 {Kramnik,V - Anand,V / Leuven BEL 2016}) 10. Qc2 b6 11. Nxd5 exd5
12. d4 $14 {Kramnik,V - Nakamura,H / Leuven BEL 2016}) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7
11. Na3 ({Another game in the same event saw} 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Rc8 13. Qd3
Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bb5 15. Qxb5 Qxd4 16. Qxb7 $14 {Giri,A- Anand,V / Leuven BEL
2016, White was a pawn up, but didn't manage to win.}) 11... Bf6 ({Another way
to simplify matters didn't fully solve the problems:} 11... Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bf6
13. Qd2 Bc6 14. Nc4 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 $14) 12. Nc4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bb5 {Black
manages to find an effective job for the bishop.} 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. a4 Ba6 {
This position was well-known to Vladimir Kramnik, who had to defend Black's
side in the previous event.} 16. e3 $146 {This prophyactic move is a novelty.}
({After} 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 $6 (16... Nxf6 $142 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Nd6 Rb8 19. Nb5
Bxb5 20. axb5 a6 $11) 17. Bxd5 Rcd8 18. e4 exd5 19. exd5 Qg5 20. d6 $14 {
Giri,A - Kramnik,V / Paris FRA 2016, Black was under pressure.}) 16... b6 (
16... b5 $5 {deserved serious attention:} 17. axb5 Bxb5 18. Re1 Nb4 19. Qd2 Be7
{and Black is close to full equality.}) 17. Bxd5 {Forcing major
simplifications.} Qxd5 ({The more dynamic way of handling the position was} 
17... Bxd4 $5 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. exd4 Rf3 $1 21. Ne5 Rfc3 {
and the activity of the pieces offers Black full compensation for a pawn.}) 18.
Bxf6 Qxd1 $6 {This isn't a serious mistake, but giving up control over the
d-file is a definite concession.} ({Instead, the cool-blooded} 18... gxf6 $1
19. Qxd5 exd5 20. Nd6 Rcd8 21. Nb5 d4 $1 22. exd4 Bxb5 23. axb5 Rxd4 24. Rc7
Rb4 $11 {would allow Black to get half a point quite comfortably.}) 19. Rfxd1
gxf6 20. Rd7 {The rook's penetration to the 7th rank is quite annoying for
Hikaru.} Bxc4 21. bxc4 {[%mdl 4096]} a6 $2 {Mistakes rarely come singly! This
one leads to the loss of a pawn.} ({Instead, the correct} 21... a5 22. Rd6 Rb8
23. Kf1 Rfc8 24. Ke2 Kf8 25. Kd3 Ke7 26. Rd4 Rc6 {would still offer Black a
defendable position.}) 22. Ra7 $2 {Both players are committing mistakes in the
resulting endgame, but this is usual for rapid games.} (22. Rd6 $1 {was much
stronger:} b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. c5 $1 {and the Pb5 would fall soon:} Rfd8 25.
Rb6 Rb8 26. Rb1 $16) 22... b5 $2 {Returning the favour!} ({The patient} 22...
a5 $1 23. c5 Rc6 $1 (23... bxc5 {is less precise:} 24. Rc4 Rfd8 25. Rxa5 Rd1+
26. Kg2 Ra1 27. g4 $14) 24. Ra6 Rfc8 {would have solved all the problems!}) 23.
axb5 axb5 24. c5 Ra8 $2 {A loss of time.} ({The only way to provide resistance
was} 24... Kg7 $1 25. Ra6 ({Now} 25. Rb7 {isn't effective:} Rb8 26. c6 $2 Rxb7
27. cxb7 Rb8 {and suddenly White is in trouble!}) 25... b4 26. Rb6 Rb8 27. Rc4
b3 {Black manages to keep the passed b-pawn, though the position still seems
difficult after} 28. Rg4+ Kh6 29. Rgb4 Rbc8 30. Rc4 Rb8 31. Kg2 Rfc8 32. Rcb4
Ra8 33. Rb7 $16) 25. Rb7 Rfb8 26. c6 $1 {White's passed pawn is too strong now!
} b4 27. Rc4 b3 28. Kg2 $1 {The last precise move. Vladimit doesn't allow
Black to activate the rook.} ({The impatient} 28. Rcb4 $2 {would have spolied
the lion's share of the advantage:} Rc8 29. Rg4+ Kf8 30. Rc4 Ra1+ 31. Kg2 Rb1
32. c7 Ke7 $14) 28... Kg7 29. Rg4+ Kf8 30. Ra4 {Vladimir finds the most
elegant way of collecting the pawn.} (30. Rgb4 {was also possible:} Rc8 31. Rd7
$1 Rxc6 32. Rbb7 Kg8 33. Rxf7 b2 34. Rg7+ Kh8 35. Rxh7+ Kg8 36. Rhd7 $18) 30...
Kg7 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxb3 $18 {The rest was quite easy for GM Kramnik.} Rc8
33. Rc3 f5 34. c7 Kf6 35. Kh3 Kg5 36. Rc5 Kg6 37. g4 e5 38. f4 f6 39. Rc6 exf4
40. exf4 fxg4+ 41. Kxg4 h5+ 42. Kf3 Kf5 43. h4 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bd7 11. Qb1 Rc8 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. d4 Qe7 14. Qb2 cxd4
15. Nxd4 b6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rac1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2
Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8 22. Rc7 Rd2 23. Rxa7 Rxe2 24. Kf3 Rb2 25. g4 Kg7 26. h4 e5
27. Ra6 Kg6 28. Rxb6 Rxa2 29. g5 Kh5 30. Rxf6 Kxh4 31. Rxf7 Kxg5 32. Rxh7 Rb2
33. Rb7 Kf5 34. Ke3 Rc2 35. Kd3 Ra2 36. Rc7 Rb2 37. Kc3 Ra2 38. Rd7 Kf4 39. Rd2
Ra8 40. b4 Rc8+ 41. Kb3 Rb8 42. Rd6 Ke4 43. Rd2 Kf3 44. Rb2 e4 45. Ra2 Rh8 46.
b5 Rh2 47. b6 Rh6 48. Ra6 Rh1 49. Kc2 Rh6 50. Ra3+ Kxf2 51. b7 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Nf6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Nbd7 7. d3 Bc5 8.
Nd2 O-O 9. Bg2 a5 10. c4 c6 11. e3 a4 12. d4 Bd6 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Rd1 Qc7 15.
Rb1 b5 16. cxb5 cxb5 17. Qxc7 Bxc7 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Rab8 20. Nc3 Rec8 21.
Bf1 b4 22. Nxa4 Nd5 23. Bd2 Ra8 24. Nc5 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Be5 26. Bg2 Rcb8 27. Bf4
Bxf4 28. gxf4 Rd8 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rd4 Kf8 31. Rxb4 Rxa2 32. Rd4 Rb8 33. b4
Re8 34. c6 Ree2 35. Rxd5 Rec2 36. Rc5 Rxc5 37. bxc5 Ke7 38. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. d4 b6 8. c4
Bb7 9. Nc3 Na5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qc2 Rc8 13. e4 Bb7 14. Rad1 Qd7
15. Ne5 Qb5 16. Rfe1 {Diagramm [#]} Rfd8 $2 {Damit bringt sich Schwarz
überraschend in Schwierigkeiten.} 17. Bh3 $1 {Die weißen Figuren sind
hervorragend aufgestellt, was man von den schwarzen nicht behaupten kann.} Bb4
18. Re3 Bd6 19. d5 $1 {Diagramm [#]} Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Nc4 21. Rb3 Qa4 22. Rd4 Ba6
23. dxe6 Rxd4 24. Bxd4 Rd8 25. exf7+ Kf8 26. Qc3 Ne5 27. Bc5+ bxc5 28. Qxc5+
Rd6 29. Qxe5 Rd1+ {Diagramm [#] Da muss man glatt zweimal hinschauen!} 30. Bf1
(30. Kg2 $1 Bf1+ 31. Kf3 Bxh3 32. Rb8+ Kxf7 33. Qh5+ Ke7 34. Qh4+ Kf7 35. Qxh3
Rd3+ 36. Kf4 g5+ 37. Kxg5 Qxe4 38. Qh5+ $18) 30... Bxf1 $2 (30... Rxf1+ $1 31.
Kg2 Qc6 {ebenfalls mit großem Vorteil für Weiß, aber in einer Blitzpartie
wäre das nicht einfach zu realisieren gewesen.}) 31. Qc5+ Kxf7 {Diagramm [#]}
32. Rf3+ $2 (32. Qh5+ $1) 32... Ke6 33. Qf5+ Kd6 34. Qf8+ Kc6 $4 (34... Ke6 $1)
35. Qe8+ Kb7 36. Qxa4 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8.
Qxd3 Nbd7 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Rad1 e6 13. d5 Qe7 14. Nd4 a6
15. Qe2 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Rae8 17. Qc2 Qf6 18. b4 h5 19. c5 dxc5 20. dxe6 fxe6 21.
Ne4 Qg6 22. bxc5 Ne5 23. Qb1 h4 24. Qxb7 Rb8 25. Qxc7 Qxe4 26. Nxe6 Qg6 27.
Nxf8 Rxf8 28. Qd6 Qh5 29. gxh4 gxh4 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. f4 Rg8 32. fxe5 Bxe5 33.
Qf3 Qg5 34. Rd5 Rg6 35. Rxe5 Qxe5 36. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qc2 c5 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14.
Qh4 Qb7 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Bg5 Ng4 17. h3 Qxb2 18. Rfc1 h6 19. hxg4 hxg5 20. Qxg5
f6 21. Qe3 Bxg4 22. Rab1 Qa3 23. Rb3 Qa5 24. Qe4 Be6 25. Rb5 Qa3 26. Qb1 Rac8
27. Qb2 Qxb2 28. Rxb2 Rc5 29. Rb5 Rc6 30. Ra5 Rfc8 31. Ra3 e4 32. Kf1 e3 33.
fxe3 Rc4 34. Ke1 R8c7 35. Kd2 Rd7+ 36. Ke1 Rdc7 37. Kd2 Kf7 38. Rb1 Rg4 39. Nb5
Rd7+ 40. Nd4 Rxg3 41. Rb5 Rxd4+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 g6 7. c4 Nxd2 8.
Qxd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Qxd5 cxd5 13. O-O-O Bf5
14. Bb5+ Kf8 15. Bd3 e6 16. Kb1 Be5 17. f4 Bd6 18. Bf6 Rg8 19. h3 Ke8 20. e4
Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxf4 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxd5 Bc7 24. Re1+ Kf8 25. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Najer, Evgeniy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. e4 c6 7. Nge2 a6 8. O-O b5
9. f4 Qb6+ 10. Kh1 Ng4 11. Qe1 Nd7 12. h3 h5 13. b4 Ne3 14. Bxe3 Qxe3 15. d4
Qd3 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. d5 Bb7 19. Rd1 Qc4 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. Nd5
Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Nb6 23. Rc5 Qe6 24. Nc3 O-O 25. Rxb5 Rfc8 26. a4 Nxa4 27. Nd5
Rab8 28. Ra5 Nb6 29. Ra7 Rf8 30. Ra6 Rfd8 31. Qf2 Rd6 32. b5 Rb7 33. Qc2 Kh7
34. Qc5 Kg8 35. Kh2 Kh7 36. h4 Kg8 37. Bh3 Rxd5 38. exd5 Qxd5 39. Qc6 Qd2+ 40.
Bg2 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.03"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Atabayev, Yusup"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2453"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Turkmenistan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "TKM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bd6 6. h3 Be6 7. Nc3 Qe7 8.
Qe2 O-O-O 9. Bd2 h6 10. O-O-O Kb8 11. Kb1 Rhe8 12. g4 Bc8 13. Rdg1 Nd7 14. Nd1
Nc5 15. Ne3 Ne6 16. Nf5 Qf8 17. Qe1 f6 18. h4 Bc5 19. h5 Qf7 20. Rg3 b5 21. Ng1
Bb6 22. Ne2 c5 23. Rf1 Bb7 24. Nc1 Rd7 25. Nh4 Red8 26. Be3 c4 27. Bxb6 axb6
28. Ng6 Nc5 29. Qe2 cxd3 30. cxd3 Rd4 31. f4 exf4 32. Nxf4 b4 33. Re3 Qd7 34.
Qf3 Qa4 35. Nfe2 Rxd3 36. Nxd3 Rxd3 37. Ng3 Ba6 38. b3 Qa3 39. Rd1 Na4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.08"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 {Throughout his career Kramnik has mostly preferred closed openings, but
more than a decade ago he for about 2-3 years switched almost completely to 1.
e4. The results were not too encouraging an around 2006 Vladimir went back 1.
d4, 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. This year he decided to give the "aggressive serve"
another go and so far it's working nicely for him - both in Baku and Moscow 
(Tal memorial) he scored 2 nice wins against strong opposition.} e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 {Meier plays this line regularly even
against top players, so this was hardly a surprise.} ({He was certainly not
tempted by the newer idea} 6... Be7 7. Be3 b6 {where Kramnik recently
demonstrated an excellent idea} 8. Qd2 O-O 9. h4 $1 ({Too soft is} 9. Nd1 a5
10. c3 a4 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. f5 b5 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2
Qb6 17. Nf2 a3 18. b3 b4 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. c4 Ne4 $36 {Giri,A 
(2790)-Harikrishna,P (2763) Stavanger 2016}) 9... Nc6 10. Bb5 Qc7 (10... Nxd4
11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Bxd4 f6 (12... Bxh4+ $2 13. g3 $40 {[%cal Gh1h8]}) 13. exf6
Bxf6 14. O-O-O Nc5 15. Qe3 Bd7 16. Be2 (16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. h5 $14) 16... Qc7 17.
h5 Rae8 (17... h6 $5) 18. h6 g6 19. Rhe1 Bc6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21. g3 Qf7 22. Bg4
Qf8 23. Qe5 Rf7 24. Qg5 Qe7 {Brkic,A (2584)-Smirnov,A (2482) Baku olm 2016} 25.
b4 $5 Ne4 26. Nxe4 dxe4 27. Qxe7 Rfxe7 28. c4 $36) 11. O-O-O a6 12. Bd3 f5 (
12... Rd8 $5 {[%cal Yd7f8]} 13. Qf2 $14 {/\} c4 14. Bxh7+ Kxh7 15. f5 Kg8 16.
h5 $36) (12... c4 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qe2 g6 16. Qg4 $40 {[%cal
Rg5e6,Rh4h5]}) 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 (14. Bxf5 $5 exf5 15. Qg2 Ndb8 16. Nxd5 Qb7
17. gxf5 Bxf5 18. Rhg1 Bd8 19. Nd2 b5 20. Ne4 $40 {Kramnik}) 14... cxd3 15.
fxe6 Ndb8 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 $1 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxe6
21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 {Kramnik,V (2812)-Buhmann,R (2653) Dortmund 2016} 23.
Qh5+ $1 Bg6 24. Qe2 $44 {-> For more details see the notes to this game by
Prasanna in CBM 174.}) 7. Be3 a6 {Black has more than one way to treat this
line:} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 {There is still no clear refutation of} Qb6 $5 (8...
Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O ({Agianst a technician as Kramnik, Meier is in no mood for the
dry endgame after} 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 Qb6 12. Nb5 Qxd4 13. Nxd4
Ke7 14. g3 Nc5 15. O-O-O Bd7 16. Bg2 g6 17. g4 h5 18. h3 Rh6 19. f5 gxf5 20.
gxf5 Rg8 21. f6+ Kd8 22. Bf3 Rg5 23. Rde1 h4 24. Rhg1 Rg3 25. Bg4 Ne4 26. Ne2
Re3 27. Nf4 Rg3 28. Rxg3 hxg3 29. Rg1 Bc6 30. Nh5 $14 {Navara,D (2706)-Meier,G
(2637) Belfort 2012}) 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 {This was actually introduced into
top-level practice by Kramnik during his first 1.e4 "outing".} ({Kasparov's} 
11. h4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 $132 {is not considered too dangerous nowadays, so the
main alternative is}) ({Therefore the main alternative is} 11. Nb3 $5 Bb4 (
11... Bxe3 12. Qxe3 b5 13. Bd3 b4 14. Na4 a5 15. Qh3 g6 16. Qh6 Nb6 17. Bb5 Ne7
18. Nd4 Nxa4 19. Bxa4 f6 20. Rhe1 Ra6 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Qg5 Qf8 23. Qe5 Nf5 24.
Nf3 Ra7 25. g3 $14 {Carapinha,F (2310)-Dutra Neto,A (2465) email 2013}) 12. Bd3
b5 13. g4 $1 (13. Nd4 Bb7 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd4 Nc5 16. Qf2 Nxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Be7
18. Nd1 b4 19. Rh3 Rc8 20. Ne3 f5 21. g4 (21. Rg1 $142 Be8 $15) 21... fxg4 22.
Nxg4 Be8 $1 23. Nf6+ Bxf6 24. exf6 Bg6 25. fxg7 Rf7 $40 {[%csl Rd4,Gg6] Robson,
R (2680)-Vovk,Y (2628) WCup Baku 2015}) 13... Bb7 (13... Na5 $5) 14. Rhg1 Rc8
15. Rg3 {scores excellently for White, especially in email games.}) 11... Bxd4
(11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qc7 13. Bd3 b5 14. Qh4 h6 15. Ne2 f6 16. Qg4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4
Nc5 18. Qg6 Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Qc4 20. Rhd1 Ra7 21. Kb1 Qc7 22. f5 $1 $40 {Kramnik,
V (2807)-Radjabov,T (2624) Linares 2003 See the notes to this game in CBM 093
by Finkel.}) 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qc7 16. Nd4 (16. Ng3 a5
17. Nh5 a4 18. Bb5 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rd3 Rc8 21. Rc1 Ne7 (21... a3 $5 22.
b3 Ncxe5 23. fxe5 Qxe5 24. Bd4 Qxh5 25. Rh3 Qf5 26. Rf3 $11) 22. Qd2 Qb7 23. g4
Rac6 24. Bd4 Qb5 25. Rf3 $13 {Caruana,F (2796)-Meier,G (2610) Dortmund 2013})
16... Nxd4 17. Bxd4 a5 18. Bb5 Ba6 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. g4 a4 21. b3 Qc6 (21...
Rfc8 22. f5 Qb5 23. Rhe1 axb3 24. cxb3 Rc3 25. Bxc3 $1 (25. Re3 Rxe3 26. Bxe3
Rc8 27. f6 gxf6 28. Qxf6 Qe2 29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. Bc5+ Rxc5 31. Qd8+ {½, Karjakin,
S (2762)-Goganov,A (2575) Nizhnij Novgorod 2013}) 25... bxc3 26. Qd4 Qa5 27. a4
$16) 22. f5 Bb5 23. Rd2 axb3 24. cxb3 Ra3 (24... Qa6 25. Qe3 Rfc8 26. f6 Rc7
27. h4 $14 {is also better for White - he overprotects d3 and can continue his
attack.}) 25. Re1 Rfa8 26. Re3 Rc8 27. Qe1 Rc7 28. Qd1 Ra8 29. Re1 Rac8 30. Qf3
Qa6 31. Red1 Qa3 32. Bb2 Qa6 33. Qe3 Kh8 34. f6 gxf6 35. exf6 Rg8 36. g5 $16 {
Caruana,F (2789)-Meier,G (2632) Dortmund 2014 The whole branch is dangerous
for Black and Meier was not interested in continuing the theoretical fight
here.}) 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 a6 13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3
Qe7 15. Rxb7 Rc8 (15... Qd8 16. O-O Rb8 17. Rxb8 Qxb8 18. f5 (18. Rb1 $5 Qc8
19. Qe3 $14 {Negi}) 18... Qc8 19. f6 gxf6 20. Qf4 Qc4 21. exf6 Rg8 22. Nxd5
exd5 23. Re1+ Kd8 24. Qb8+ Bc8 25. Qa7 Be6 26. Bb6+ Kc8 27. Qa8+ Kd7 28. Qb7+
Kd6 29. Ba7 Rxg2+ $1 $11 {Caruana,F (2795)-Robson,R (2663) Saint Louis 2016})
16. O-O (16. f5 Qh4+ 17. g3 Qg4 18. Rf1 Be7 19. Rf4 Qh5 20. Be3 Bc6 21. Rxe7+
Kxe7 22. Qd4 Rhd8 23. Qc5+ Kd7 {½, Motylev,A (2665)-Iljiushenok,I (2450)
Jerusalem 2015} 24. fxe6+ Kxe6 25. Ne2 Qxe2+ $1 26. Kxe2 Bb5+ $11) 16... Qa3
17. f5 Bc5 18. fxe6 (18. Ne2 exf5 19. Qg5 g6 20. Qf6 O-O 21. e6 Bxd4+ 22. Nxd4
{Dourerassou,J (2436)-Alonso Garcia,R (2339) Barcelona 2015} Qe3+ $1 23. Kh1
fxe6 24. Qh4 Rf7 25. Re1 Qc3 $17) 18... Bxe6 19. Ne2 O-O 20. Rb3 Bxd4+ 21. Nxd4
Qxa2 22. Rg3 Qb2 23. Rb3 Qa2 24. h4 $44 {Chigaev,M (2542)-Bykov,O (2378)
Voronezh 2016} Kh8 25. h5 h6 26. Rg3 Rg8 27. Rf6 Kh7 $11) (7... Be7 8. Qd2 O-O
(8... a6 {transposes into the game}) 9. dxc5 (9. Be2 b6 $5 (9... a6 10. O-O b5
{is more usual and also quite playable}) 10. Nd1 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4
Nc5 (12... Nb8 $142 $5 13. O-O Nc6 $132) 13. Nf2 a5 14. O-O-O Ba6 15. Bg4 Rc8
16. Kb1 Rc6 17. Rhe1 Qd7 18. Qe3 Qc7 19. Qh3 Bc8 20. Be2 Ba6 21. Bg4 Bc8 22.
Be2 Ba6 23. Bxa6 Nxa6 24. Ng4 Rc8 25. c3 Nc5 26. f5 exf5 27. Ne3 $36 {
Dominguez Perez,L (2720)-Bareev,E (2675) Baku olm 2016}) 9... Nxc5 10. O-O-O a6
11. Qf2 (11. h4 Qc7 12. Bxc5 Bxc5 13. Bd3 f5 14. exf6 Rxf6 15. g3 h6 16. Qe2
Bd7 17. h5 Re8 18. Rhe1 Bb4 19. Ne5 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Nxe5 21. Qxe5 Qa5 22. Qd6 Bc6
$132 {Harikrishna,P (2762)-Shirov,A (2679) Austria 2016}) 11... b6 12. Nd4 Qc7
13. Kb1 Bb7 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd4 Bb7 16. Bd3 b5 17. Ne2 b4 18. Ng3 Rac8 19. f5
f6 $1 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Qxc5 Rxc5 23. fxe6 Re8 24. Rde1 g6 25.
Rhf1 {So,W (2773)-Nakamura,H (2787) Saint Louis 2016} Bg7 $11) 8. Qd2 Be7 (8...
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. O-O-O O-O {- see 7...cxd4}) ({However, Black's most
popular alternative is still} 8... b5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bd3 (10. Ne2 Qb6 11.
Bxc5 Nxc5 12. Ned4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 b4 14. Qe3 Rb8 15. Bd3 a5 16. O-O O-O 17. Nb3
Nxb3 18. Qxb6 Rxb6 19. axb3 Ba6 20. Rxa5 Bxd3 21. cxd3 Rc6 22. Rb5 Rc2 23. Rxb4
Rxb2 24. f5 exf5 25. Rxf5 Rc8 26. Rf2 Rc1+ 27. Rf1 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Kf8 29. Rb8+
Ke7 30. b4 Ke6 31. d4 Kf5 32. Rb7 f6 $44 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Anton Guijarro,
D (2630) Monzon 2016}) 10... Qb6 11. Bf2 Bxf2+ 12. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Ke7 14.
a3 Nb6 15. Rhe1 Bd7 16. Ne2 Rag8 17. h4 h5 18. Ned4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Na4 20. b3
Nc5 21. Ke3 Rb8 22. Re2 f5 23. Kd2 Rhc8 24. Re3 Rc7 25. c3 g6 $11 {Hou,Y (2649)
-Short,N (2670) Hoogeveen 2016/ Black's fortress held strong in the simplified
position.}) 9. a3 $5 {A rare, but tricky continuation.} ({We have shortly
mentioned} 9. Be2 b5 10. O-O O-O {above, here Black is doing more or less OK.
A notable example is} 11. Kh1 (11. a3 $142) 11... Qc7 12. a3 Bb7 13. Rad1 Rac8
14. Qe1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bc5 17. Qh4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 f6 19. Bd3 h6 20.
exf6 Rxf6 21. f5 Rcf8 22. Rg1 Nc5 23. fxe6 Nxe6 24. Rg4 Nf4 $17 {Karjakin,S 
(2720)-Carlsen,M (2810) Wijk aan Zee 2010}) (9. O-O-O $6 c4 {[%cal Rb7b4] is
too dangerous, but Kramnik doesn't want to give up the idea of queenside
castling yet.}) 9... O-O (9... b5 10. dxc5 {gives White a useful extra move in
comparison with 8...b5 9.dxc5 above -} Bxc5 (10... Nxc5 11. b4 $36) 11. Bxc5
Nxc5 12. b4 Nd7 13. a4 $14) 10. dxc5 ({White is still not interested in the
transpositional} 10. Be2 b5 11. O-O Bb7) 10... Nxc5 (10... Bxc5 {loses a tempo
with the B, White is slightly better after} 11. Bxc5 Nxc5 12. b4 $5 Nd7 13. Bd3
$14) 11. Qf2 b6 $146 {[%mdl 8] New, but rather passive.} ({Until now Black has
preferred the counterattacking} 11... Qa5 12. O-O-O (12. Bd3 f6 13. exf6 Nxd3+
14. cxd3 Bxf6 15. O-O Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qxc3 17. Qe2 Bd7 18. Rac1 Qa5 19. Qb2 Qb5
20. Qc3 Rad8 21. Rb1 d4 22. Bxd4 {½, Lennartz,M (2430)-Galanov,S (2502) email
2013} Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Bc6 $132) 12... Nd7 {[%cal Ye7a3,Yb7b4]} (12... Bd7 13. f5
d4 14. Bxd4 exf5 15. Bc4 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Qe2 b5 18. Kb1 Rab8 19. Bxc5
Bxc5 20. Na2 Qc7 21. Nc1 Be7 $11 {/=/+, Sethuraman,S (2633)-Korobov,A (2687)
Czech Republic 2016}) 13. Bd3 (13. Bd2 Qc7 14. h4 b5 15. h5 b4 16. axb4 Nxb4
17. Kb1 Nc5 18. h6 g6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. Rh3 Rfb8 21. g4 Ra7 22. Bc1 Qa5 23. Nb3
Nxb3 24. cxb3 Rc7 $36 {Jankowicz,R (2387)-Galanov,S (2376) email 2008}) 13...
b5 (13... f6 14. Qh4 f5 15. Qe1 Nc5 16. Qg1 Rb8 17. Ne2 Ne4 18. Bb6 Bc5 19.
Bxa5 Bxg1 20. Rhxg1 Nxa5 21. g4 fxg4 22. Bxe4 gxf3 23. Bxf3 Bd7 24. Bg4 Rbe8
25. h4 Re7 26. b3 Bb5 27. Nd4 Bd7 28. Rdf1 Nc6 29. Ne2 Nd8 $132 {Kochemasov,A 
(2507)-Hamarat,T (2604) email 2012}) 14. Nd4 Qc7 (14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 b4 $132)
15. Nf5 $5 exf5 16. Nxd5 $44 Qa5 17. Bd2 (17. Bxf5 $1) 17... Bc5 $2 (17... Qd8
$13 {/=/+}) 18. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 19. Qxc5 Qc7 20. exf6 Be6 21. g4 $18 {Salem,A 
(2650)-Svane,R (2552) Douglas 2016}) 12. b4 $5 Nd7 13. Bd3 f6 {Hits the centre
before White fully consolidates.} (13... Qc7 14. Na4 b5 (14... Rb8 15. O-O $14)
15. Nb6 Rb8 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. O-O $14) 14. Qg3 (14. Qh4 f5 (14... g6 15. Qh3
$36) 15. Qf2 $14) 14... d4 (14... fxe5 $2 15. Qh3 Nf6 (15... e4 16. Nxe4 $1
dxe4 17. Qxe6+ Rf7 18. Qxe4 Bh4+ 19. Kd2 $18 {[%csl Rc6,Rh7]}) 16. fxe5 g6 17.
Na4 $5 $16) (14... Qc7 $5 15. Qh3 (15. Nd4 {[%cal Rg3g7]} Ndxe5 $5 (15... Nxd4
16. Bxd4 f5 17. O-O $14) (15... Nd8 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Nf5 Rf7 18. Nh6+ Kf8 19.
Nxf7 Kxf7 20. O-O $13 {/+/=}) 16. fxe5 fxe5 $44) (15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qh3+ Kg8
17. Qxe6+ Rf7 18. Nxd5 Qb7 $15 {leads nowhere}) 15... f5 16. Ne2 a5 17. b5 Nd8
18. g4 Nc5 $14 {/<=>}) (14... a5 15. Bxh7+ $5 (15. Qh3 f5 16. b5 Na7 17. g4 $5
(17. Na4 Nc5 18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. c4 Bb7 $13 {[%cal Ya7c8,Yc8b6,Yd5d4]}) 17... Nc5
18. gxf5 Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 Rxf5 20. Nd4 $14) {seems crushing, but after} 15...
Kxh7 16. Qh3+ Kg6 $8 17. f5+ exf5 18. Nh4+ Kh7 (18... Kf7 $2 19. e6+ Kxe6 20.
Qxf5+ $18) 19. Qxf5+ (19. Nxf5+ Kg8 20. Qg4 g5 21. Nh6+ Kh7 22. Qh5 Qe8 $17)
19... Kg8 20. Qe6+ Kh7 21. Qxc6 Ra6 22. b5 (22. e6 axb4 23. exd7 Bxd7 24. Qxd5
Ra5 $1 25. Qd3+ f5 $11 {/=/+}) 22... Nxe5 23. Qxd5 Ra7 24. O-O Qxd5 25. Nxd5
Nc4 26. Bf2 Rd7 $14 {/= Black has reasonable chances to hold the resulting
endgame.}) 15. O-O-O $5 {[%mdl 64] Initiates hair-raising complications.} ({
However, White had a simpler road to an advantage with} 15. Bxd4 $1 Nxd4 (15...
Ndxe5 16. fxe5 Nxd4 17. O-O-O fxe5 18. Qxe5 Nxf3 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Qh5 Bg5+ 21.
Kb2 $18) 16. Nxd4 Nxe5 17. O-O-O $1 Nxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Qc7 (18... Qe8 19. Re1 Qf7
20. Qf3 Bd7 21. Qb7 $16) 19. Qf3 $32 {White's lead in development is
overwhelming, Black's ^^ hardly have a chance to show their potential and he
will find it almost imposible to hold the material balance in the long run:}
Rb8 (19... Bb7 20. Nxe6 Qc8 21. Qe3 $16) (19... Ra7 20. f5 $5 (20. Re1 Qc4 21.
Qc6 Qxc6 22. Nxc6 Rc7 23. Nxe7+ Rxe7 24. Rd6 b5 25. Ne4) 20... Qc4 21. fxe6 $16
Bxe6 $2 22. Re1 Bf7 23. Nc6) 20. Re1 Bd6 21. g3 {[%csl Re6]} Re8 22. Ndb5 axb5
23. Nxb5 Bxf4+ 24. gxf4 Qe7 25. Nd6 {[%csl Gd6]} Rd8 26. Red1 {/\} Bb7 27. Qe3
{[%csl Rb6,Re6][%cal Rd6f5]} Kf8 28. Nxb7 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Qxb7 30. Qxh7 $16)
15... dxe3 (15... dxc3 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qh3+ Kg8 $142 (17... Kg6 18. f5+ Kf7
(18... exf5 19. Nh4+ Kh7 (19... Kf7 20. e6+ Kxe6 21. Qxf5+ Kf7 22. Qg6+ $1 Ke6
23. Nf3 Bxb4 24. Ng5+ Ke7 25. Qxg7+ Ke8 26. Qg6+ Ke7 27. axb4 Qe8 28. Qd3 $18 {
and the K can't aurvive in the centre for long.}) 20. Nxf5+ Kg8 21. Qg4 g5 22.
Qc4+ Kh8 23. h4 g4 24. Qxc6 $1 (24. e6 Qe8 25. Qf4 (25. Qxc6 Ne5 26. Qxa8 Qa4
$132) 25... Rf7 26. Nd6 Bxd6 27. Rxd6 Rg7 28. exd7 Bxd7 29. Rxf6 $13) 24... Ra7
25. Qe4 fxe5 26. Qxg4 Rxf5 (26... Rf7 27. Bg5 $18) 27. Qxf5 $16) 19. fxe6+ Kg8
20. exd7 Bb7 21. Qe6+ Rf7 22. Rhf1 $16) 18. Qxe6+ Kh7 19. Qxc6 Ra7 20. e6 Nb8
21. Qe4+ f5 22. Rxd8 fxe4 23. Rxf8 Bxf8 24. Ng5+ Kg8 25. f5 $44 {[%csl Rb6,Re4]
} a5 $5 26. b5 Bxa3+ 27. Kb1 $36) ({Black can't avoid the danger and has to
take one of the pieces:} 15... fxe5 $2 16. Qh3 Rf5 17. fxe5 dxc3 18. g4 Bxb4 (
18... Rxf3 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Qh8+ Kf7 21. Bg6+ $1 Kxg6 22. Qh5#) 19. axb4 Qf8
20. gxf5 Nxb4 21. Rdg1 Nxd3+ 22. cxd3 Qa3+ 23. Kd1 Qb3+ 24. Ke2 Qc2+ 25. Nd2 $5
cxd2 26. Bxd2 $16 {[%cal Rh3g2,Rf5f6]}) 16. Bxh7+ $1 {[%mdl 512] The standard
sacrifice with a new twist.} Kxh7 (16... Kh8 $2 17. Bg6 $18) 17. Qh3+ Kg8 {
The motifs are already known from the 15...dxc3 line, but there are
differences as well:} (17... Kg6 18. f5+ $1 (18. Nh4+ Kf7 19. f5 Ndxe5 $5 20.
Rxd8 Rxd8 $19) 18... Kf7 (18... exf5 19. Nh4+ Kh7 (19... Kf7 20. e6+ $18) 20.
Nxf5+ $1 Kg8 21. Qg4 g5 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. h4 g4 24. e6 $1 (24. Qxc6 Ra7 25. Qe4
fxe5 26. Qxg4 Rf7 $13) 24... Qe8 (24... Nce5 25. Qf4 Rf7 26. exf7 Nxf7 27. Qxg4
$18) 25. Qxc6 Ra7 26. Nxe7 e2 (26... Qxe7 27. Nd5 $16) 27. Rd6 $5 Qxe7 28. Nd5
$16) 19. fxe6+ Kg8 20. exd7 Bb7 21. Qe6+ Rf7 (21... Kh8 22. Nd5 e2 23. Rd3 fxe5
24. Re1 $5 $36) 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Nd5 e2 (23... Kf8 24. Qxe3 Rxd7 25. Nxb6
Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Bb2+ 27. Kxb2 Qxd1 28. Qf4+ Ke8 29. Nxa8 Bxa8 30. Qe4+ Kd8 31.
Qh7 $16 {White wins the Pg7 and has very good winning chances}) 24. Qxe2 Kh8
25. Nxf6 Qxf6 26. Qe8+ (26. Kb1 $5) 26... Rf8 27. Qh5+ Qh6+ 28. Qxh6+ gxh6 29.
Rhe1 $36 {[%cal Yd1d6,Ye1e6]}) 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 (18... Kh7 $6 19. Qxc6 Ra7 20.
Qe4+ f5 21. Qxe3 $16 {[%cal Yc3d5,Re5e6] Formally material is equal, but
White's forces dominate the board and he has a huge attack.}) 19. Qxc6 Ra7 20.
Nh4 Qe8 21. Nd5 $6 {Tempting, but not ideal according to the engine.} ({
The silicon beast prefers} 21. e6 $142 $1 Nb8 (21... Nc5 22. Qxe8 Rxe8 23. bxc5
Bxe6 (23... Bxc5 24. f5 $16) 24. Ng6+ Kh7 25. Nxe7 Raxe7 26. Rhe1 Bg4 27. Rd3
bxc5 28. Nd5 $16) 22. Qxe8 $1 (22. Qxb6 Rb7 23. Qxe3 f5 24. Qg3 Bxh4 25. Qxh4+
Kg8 26. Rhe1 Bxe6 $13 {/\} 27. Rd6 Qc8) 22... Rxe8 23. f5 Nc6 (23... g5 24.
Ng6+ Kg7 25. Nxe7 Raxe7 26. Nd5 e2 27. Rd2 $14) 24. Ng6+ Kg8 25. Rhe1 Bd8 (
25... Ne5 26. Nxe7+ Raxe7 27. Nd5 Ra7 28. Rxe3 b5 29. Rg3 Kf8 30. Rd4 $14 {
[%cal Rd4h4] /+/- Sooner or later Black will be forced to take on e6 and
grovel in an endgame a pawn down.}) 26. Ne4 Bc7 27. Nd6 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 $36)
21... Kh7 (21... g5 $5 22. fxg5 (22. Nxe7 gxh4 23. Nxc8 Qxc8 24. Qf3 Qc3 {
and White doesn't have more than a perpetual with} 25. Qh5+ Kg7 26. Qg4+ $11)
22... Bb7 (22... e2 $5) 23. Qe6 Bxd5 24. Qh3 Kg8 25. Nf5 Nxe5 26. Rxd5 Qa4 {
and again White doesn't seem to have more than} 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Nf5+ $11) (
21... Bb7 $2 22. Qxd7 Qxd7 23. Ng6+ Kg8 (23... Kh7 24. Nxf8+ Bxf8 25. Nxf6+
gxf6 26. Rxd7+ Kg6 27. e6 $18) 24. Ndxe7+ Qxe7 25. Nxe7+ $18) 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23.
Nf5 Nxe5 $6 {[%mdl 4096] Black decides to avoid direct danger by returning the
piece and simplifying the position. However, this comes at a cost, as in the
endgame he will remain a pawn down.} (23... Qe8 $142 $1 24. Nd6 (24. e6 Nb8 25.
Qxb6 Rb7 (25... Bxe6 $5 26. Nd6 Qe7 27. Rhe1 Rd7 28. Rxe3 f5 $13 {[%cal Ye7f6]}
) 26. Qc5 Qxe6 $5 27. Qxf8 Qxf5 28. Rd8 Rc7 {and White must bail out with} 29.
Qh8+ Kg6 30. Qe8+ $11) 24... Qe6 {with an unforced, but plausible follow-up}
25. Rhe1 Qa2 26. Rxe3 Qa1+ 27. Kd2 Qd4+ 28. Ke2 Qxf4 29. Rh3+ Kg6 30. Rg3+ Kh7
31. Nxc8 (31. Rh3+ $11) 31... Nxe5 32. Qe6 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Qxc2 $11 {Here White
either gives, or allows a perpetual after} 34. Rd4 Qc1+ 35. Ke2 Qc2+ $11) 24.
Nxe7 Nxc6 25. Nxc6 Rc7 26. Nd4 Re8 (26... Rd8 27. Kb2 (27. Rhe1 Bg4 28. Rd3 Rc4
29. c3 Bf5 30. Rdd1 Bg4 $11 (30... Rxc3+ 31. Kb2 Rdc8 32. Nxf5 Rc2+ 33. Ka1 e2
34. Rb1 R8c3 35. Rb2 Rc1+ 36. Rb1 R1c2 $11)) 27... Re7 28. Rd3 Re4 29. Ne2 (29.
Nf5 Rxd3 30. cxd3 Rxf4 31. Nxe3 Rf2+ 32. Kc3 Re2 $44) 29... Rxd3 30. cxd3 Re8
31. Re1 $14) 27. Rd3 Bb7 $6 (27... Rce7 $5 {seems more resilient. After} 28.
Re1 Kg6 29. h3 $14 {White has reasonable winning chances, but for the time
being Black retains the Pe3 and more tension.}) 28. Re1 Bxg2 29. Rdxe3 $16 {
/+/= White has a healthy extra pawn and although his kingside pawns are split,
Black's queenside is vulnerable as well. All in all with good technique
Kramnik should be able to convert has advantage.} Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Bd5 (30... Rc4
31. c3 Kg8 32. Kd2 Kf7 {was perhaps more stubborn}) 31. Nf5 g5 {Pawn exchanges
should help the defence, but here White gets rid of a potential weakness.} (
31... g6 32. Re7+ $5 Rxe7 33. Nxe7 Be6 (33... Bf7 34. Nc8 b5 35. Nd6 $16) 34.
Kd2 Kg7 35. f5 gxf5 36. Ke3 $16) (31... b5 32. Kd2 $5 $16 (32. Ne7 Bg2 $14) (
32. Re7 Rxe7 33. Nxe7 Be4 34. Kd2 Kh6 35. c4 bxc4 36. Kc3 g5 $16 {/<=>})) 32.
fxg5 fxg5 33. Re5 {[%csl Rg5]} Bf7 34. Kb2 $1 {White first improves his king.}
(34. Nd6 $143 Bb3 {forces the retreat} 35. Re2 $16) 34... b5 35. Nd4 Kg6 $6 {
Drops another pawn and is tantamount to resignation. However, the endgame was
almost certainly beyond saving anyway:} (35... Rd7 36. Ne6 Bxe6 37. Rxe6 Rd2
38. Rxa6 Rxh2 39. Rb6 g4 40. Rxb5 Kg6 41. Rd5 g3 42. Rd1 $18) (35... Kh6 36. a4
$5 bxa4 (36... Rd7 37. Kc3 {/\} Rc7+ 38. Rc5 Rxc5+ 39. bxc5 bxa4 40. Kb4 $18)
37. Ra5 Rd7 (37... Bc4 38. Rc5 $1 $18) 38. Rxa6+ Kh5 39. c3 $18) 36. Nf3 g4 37.
Rg5+ Kf6 38. Rxg4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4
O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 h6 12. Bf1 Re8 13. a5 Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 15. d5
Bd7 16. c4 Nf4 17. c5 g5 18. Nc4 Qe7 19. Be3 Bb5 20. Rc1 Nxe4 21. cxd6 Nxd6 22.
Bxf4 gxf4 23. Ncxe5 Bxf1 24. Kxf1 Nb5 25. Qd2 Qf6 26. Re4 Qg7 27. Rxf4 Rxe5 28.
Rg4 Rh5 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. g4 Rxh3 31. Kg2 Rxf3 32. Kxf3 Rd8 33. g5 Rd6 34.
gxh6+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.12"]
[Round "10.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. O-O c6 5. d3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Qe1
Be7 9. f4 Nfd7 10. Nf3 f5 11. e4 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 O-O 13. Nc3 fxe4 14. dxe4 d4 15.
Nd1 e5 16. Nf2 c5 17. Qe2 Nc6 18. Bg4 Kh8 19. Be6 exf4 20. gxf4 g5 21. Ng4 gxf4
22. Bxf4 Qe8 23. e5 Bh4 24. Bc4 Qg6 25. Kh1 Bg5 26. Bh2 Nb6 27. Bd3 Qe6 28. Qe4
Qd5 29. e6 Rae8 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Ne5 Qxe4+ 32. Bxe4 Nd8 33. a4 Nxe6 34. a5
Nc8 35. Nd7 Re8 36. Be5+ Ng7 37. Rg1 Bh6 38. Bxb7 Ne7 39. Nf6 Rf8 40. Be4 Ng8
41. Nxh7 Re8 42. Ng5 Re7 43. Bd3 Bxg5 44. Rxg5 Nh6 45. Bxg7+ Rxg7 46. Rh5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.13"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vocaturo, Daniele"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 {An quite interesting
sideline, trying to avoid the mass of theory after 6.c4.} e5 (6... c5 {is
another principled move, but things are not easy for Black here either, as I
managed to show in a rapid game against Fabiano:} 7. c4 Nc6 8. Bb2 Ne4 9. h3
Bf5 10. e3 Nf6 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Qe2 a6 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15. Rac1 Qa5
16. a3 Rfe8 17. b4 Qc7 18. Nb3 Qb8 19. c5 Be6 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. exd4 Bb3 22. Re1
e5 23. dxe5 Rxe5 24. Ne4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Be6 26. Bg2 dxc5 27. Be5 Qa7 28. bxc5
Rxc5 29. Bd4 Nd7 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Red1 h5 32. Bd5 b5 33. Qe3 {1-0 Kramnik,V 
(2783)-Caruana,F (2811)/Zurich SUI 2015}) 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Ba3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Re8
10. c4 {Actually I had forgotten during this game the following blitz
encounter played a year previously. I just remembered that 10.c4 is the most
principled option.} (10. Nc3 a6 {Too slow, probably there are better moves} 11.
e4 Nc6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 e4 14. dxc6 Bxa1 15. Ng5 Bg7 16. Bxe4 bxc6 17.
Bxc6 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Ne4 a5 21. Be7 a4 22. bxa4 Be6 23. a5
Bxa2 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxd8 Bd4+ 26. Kg2 Bb1 27. Bxc7 Bxc2 28. Bb6 Be5 29. a6
Bb8 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. Nd7 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2777)-Vovk,Y (2617)/Berlin GER 2015})
10... e4 (10... Nc6 {this is very logical, but White can still try to fight
for an advantage after} 11. Nc3 e4 12. Ne1 Bf5 13. Rac1 e3 14. f3 {and at some
point the pawn on e3 might become a target.}) 11. Nd4 c6 $6 {Too "solid".
Black should try something active like 11...Ng4 12.Nc3 e3 because if White
manages to consolidate his position he will have a pleasant advantage due to
his more active pieces and rather "sensitive" e4-pawn.} (11... Ng4 $142 12. Nc3
$140 e3) 12. Nc3 Na6 13. e3 Bg4 14. Rd2 Rad8 15. h3 Bc8 (15... c5 {doesn not
work because of} 16. hxg4 cxd4 17. Rad1 $1 Nxg4 (17... d3 18. g5) 18. Nxe4) 16.
Rad1 h5 17. Be7 $1 {A nice tactical trick. Once I saw it I could not resist
playing it even if simply pushing the b-pawn would give White considerable
pressure.} (17. b4 Nc7 18. b5 {is actually good enough and gives White a nice
advantage.}) 17... Rxd4 $8 (17... Rxe7 {is just losing because of} 18. Nxc6
Rxd2 19. Nxe7+ Kf8 20. Nxc8) (17... Rd7 {leaves Black without the e4-pawn
after Bxf6 and Nxe4.}) 18. Rxd4 Rxe7 19. Rd8+ Ne8 $8 (19... Re8 20. Rxe8+ Nxe8
21. Rd8 Kf8 22. Nxe4 Be6 23. Nd6 Ke7 24. Nxb7 {taking on c6 next.}) 20. Nxe4
Be6 (20... Bxh3 {this was my main concern when playing 17.Be7 but I saw that
it should not work:} 21. Nd6 Bd7 (21... Bxg2 22. Nxe8 Bf3 23. Nf6#) 22. Nxb7
Bg4 23. f3 Bf5 24. e4 Be6 25. Na5 Kh7 26. Nxc6 Rc7 27. Nd4 {with a technically
winning position.}) 21. Ra8 {The point of this combination, Black has problems
defending his queenside pawns.} Be5 22. Rdd8 Kf8 23. Rxa7 {Here in my
calculations before move 17 I was thinking that White has a serious advantage.
In fact the computer shows that things are less simple than I thought after
the best defence 23...Bf5! which I had not seen, frankly.} Bc7 (23... Bf5 $1
24. Ng5 Bc7 $1 25. Rda8 Bb6 26. Rxa6 $1 bxa6 27. Rxa6 Bd8 28. Bxc6 Rc7 29. h4
Bc8 30. Rb6 Ke7 31. Nf3 {and although White still retains an advantage Black
has some drawing chances here.}) 24. Rda8 $1 Bb6 $8 25. Rxa6 bxa6 26. Nf6 $1 {
Possibly missed by Black in his earlier calculations.} Bd7 {Sad but it seems
to be the only defence} (26... c5 27. Bc6 {just collecting the piece back.})
27. b4 $1 {The most energetic.} (27. Nxd7+ Rxd7 28. Bxc6 Rd8 29. Rxa6 {is also
very good.}) 27... c5 (27... Bc7 28. c5 $1 Be5 29. Nxd7+ Rxd7 30. Bxc6 Re7 31.
a4 {and nothing can prevent White from queening his pawns.}) 28. Nd5 $1 Bc6 (
28... Re6 {loses because of} 29. Rb8 Ba7 30. Rb7) 29. Rxa6 Bxd5 30. Bxd5 Bd8
31. b5 {Now I just push my pawns and there is not much Black can do trying to
stop them because of his badly situated pieces and very strong white bishop
supporting his pawns.} Rd7 (31... Nc7 32. Rd6 Nxd5 $140 33. Rxd8+ Re8 34. Rxd5)
32. b6 Ke7 33. b7 ({or} 33. a4 Nf6 34. b7 Bc7 35. Rc6) 33... Bc7 34. Ra8 Nf6 (
34... Rd8 35. a4 Nd6 36. a5 Nxb7 37. Ra7 Bxa5 38. Rxb7+ Rd7 39. Rxd7+ Kxd7 40.
Bxf7 h4 41. gxh4 Bd8 42. Bxg6 {should be enough extra pawns to win even in the
opposite-coloured bishop endgame}) 35. Rc8 Bd6 36. Bc6 Rd8 37. a4 {Nice to
play without being forced to use your brain, simply pushing the pawns!} Nd7 38.
a5 Bb8 (38... Nb8 39. Bb5) 39. a6 Ne5 (39... Ba7 40. Bxd7 Kxd7 41. Ra8 Bb8 42.
Rxb8 Rxb8 43. a7 Kc7 44. a8=Q) 40. Rxb8 {Time to promote.} Rxb8 41. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Bd6 8.
b3 Nd7 9. Nc4 O-O 10. Ne3 Re8 11. Bb2 f6 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bf7 14. f3 Bf8
15. Qe2 a5 16. a4 Ne5 17. Rad1 Qc8 18. Ndf5 Qe6 19. Nd4 Qc8 20. Nef5 c5 21. Nb5
c4 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. bxc4 Qxf5 24. Nxc7 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Qc5+ 26. Rf2 Qxc7 27.
Rfd2 Re8 28. Qd3 Bxc4 29. Qd7 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 b5 31. axb5 Bxb5 32. R7d5 Be2 33.
Ra1 Bb4 34. h3 Bc4 35. Rdd1 h6 36. Kh2 Re3 37. Rdc1 Rc3 38. Kg3 Kh7 39. Kf4 Bc5
40. Kg3 Ba3 41. Rd1 Bb4 42. Rdc1 Kg6 43. Kf4 h5 44. Ke4 Be6 45. Kd4 h4 46. Rab1
Bf5 47. Rb2 Kg5 48. Rb3 Rxc2 49. Rxc2 Bxc2 50. Rb2 Bf5 51. Ke3 Bc5+ 52. Ke2 Kf4
53. Rb7 g5 54. Rc7 Bb4 55. Rc6 Ke5 56. Rb6 Be6 57. Kd3 Bd5 58. Rb8 Bc6 59. Ke3
Bc5+ 60. Kd3 a4 61. Rc8 Bb5+ 62. Kc2 Bd6 63. Ra8 Bf1 64. Rxa4 Bxg2 65. f4+ gxf4
66. Kd3 Bf1+ 67. Kd2 Bxh3 68. Ke2 Bg4+ 69. Kf1 h3 70. Kg1 Be6 71. Kh2 Bc5 72.
Ra5 Kd4 73. Ra6 Kd5 74. Ra8 f3 75. Kg3 f2 76. Rd8+ Ke4 77. Rd1 Bc4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. Nxd4 g5 8.
Bg3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. c3 e5 11. N4b3 Qe7 12. Qh5 Be6 13. Bb5 O-O-O 14. Bxc6
bxc6 15. O-O g4 16. Rac1 Kb8 17. Na5 Rc8 18. b4 f5 19. Ndb3 Qf7 20. Qxf7 Bxf7
21. Nc5 h5 22. c4 h4 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. Rfd1 h3 25. gxh3 Rxh3 26. Rxd5 Rch8 27.
Nxc6+ Ka8 28. Kf1 Rh1+ 29. Ke2 Rxc1 30. Rd7 Rc2+ 31. Kd3 Rxa2 32. Rxg7 Rc8 33.
b5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Re1
Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 {The most ambitious
continuation. White avoids the exchange of light-squared bishops and he
prepares for d4.} d5 13. exd5 (13. Qe2 {is far more popular.}) 13... Bxd5 14.
Ng3 Bc5 ({Last year Anand played} 14... Qd7 {in a blitz game,} 15. Nh4 Rad8 16.
Nhf5 Kh8 17. d4 $1 $132 {Giri-Anand, Stavanger blitz 2015, with a double-edged
fight.}) 15. b4 Bf8 16. a4 g6 $146 {A logical novelty by Anand. A typical move,
Black prepares for ...Bg7.} (16... b5 {has been played in a few games,} 17. Be3
(17. Bd2 Rb8 18. Qe2 Qd7 19. Nh2 Be6 $13 {Bologan-Stefansson, Dresden 2008,
with a complicated middlegame.}) 17... Rb8 (17... Qc8 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. Bb3 Bxb3
20. Qxb3 Qb7 21. Qd5 {1/2 Predojevic-Sargissian, Germany 2007, and a draw.})
18. axb5 axb5 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nfd2 Ra8 21. Qf3 Kh8 22. Nb3 Qd7 23. Nbc5 Bxc5
24. Nxf6 Bxf3 25. Nxd7 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Bd5 27. Nc5 $14 {Petrosian-Melkumyan,
Martuni 2011, and White looks more comfortable.}) 17. Bb2 b5 {A similar idea
to that behind the previous move. White has gained some space on the queenside
and Black tries to rein him in a bit.} 18. Ne4 Rb8 19. Bc1 {Kramnik thought
the bishop was useless on b2, so he activates it on the c1-h6 diagonal.} (19.
Bb3 $5 {was the alternative choice.}) 19... Nd7 $6 {A little bit passive.} (
19... Nh5 {looks more ambitious, for example} 20. Be3 Kh7 {and Black will play
on the kingside with ...f5.}) 20. Bb3 $1 {The right plan. Black's
light-squared bishop was already too strong and White can't continue his
queenside play, so he exchanges the bishops.} Bxb3 (20... Nb6 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Be3 $14 {looks more comfortable for White.}) 21. Qxb3 Re6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Be3
Nf6 24. Rad1 Nxe4 ({I think} 24... Nd5 $5 {was more accurate to keep the
tension, however White controls the c5-square.}) 25. dxe4 Qe8 {The pawn
structure is symmetrical again. White is more flexible, because Black's knight
is passive and difficult to activate. White is obviously slightly better.} 26.
Rd5 Nd8 27. Ra1 Nb7 28. Ra7 c6 29. Rd1 Nd6 30. Nd2 Ra8 31. Rda1 Rxa7 32. Rxa7
Re7 {Black tries to simplify the position, he would have more chances to hold
his position.} 33. Ra6 {Of course White avoids the exchange.} Rc7 34. Qa2 Kg7
35. Bb6 Rb7 36. Bc5 Be7 37. Ra8 Rb8 (37... Qd7 $5 {was the other option and it
is hard to continue the pressure with White.}) 38. Ra7 Rd8 39. Bb6 Rc8 40. Bc7
Qd7 41. Bb6 Qe8 42. g3 Bg5 43. Bc7 Bxd2 $6 ({Probably} 43... Be7 {was more
accurate, however} 44. c4 bxc4 45. Nxc4 $14 {is slightly better for White.})
44. Bxd6 Bxc3 45. Re7 $1 {White has sacrificed a pawn, but he is very strongly
placed on Black's 7th rank.} Qg8 {At first the engine says this is a decisive
mistake, but 45...Qf8 is also similar.} ({In the event of} 45... Qf8 46. Qe6 $1
Ra8 47. Qd7 Bd4 48. h4 {Black is under pressure like in the game and} Ra2 $2 {
loses on account of} 49. Re8 $18) 46. Qe6 $1 {Another strong reply!} Qf8 47.
Kg2 $1 {A very nice cool-blooded move. Black can't do anything, just hold his
position.} ({The engine suggests} 47. Rc7 Rxc7 48. Bxf8+ Kxf8 49. Qd6+ Re7 {
as a clear winning position for White, but by human measures this is a good
chance to survive for Black.}) 47... Rd8 (47... Ra8 {also leads to a similar
position,} 48. Qd7 ({, but not} 48. Bc5 Bd4 49. Qxc6 Ra2 $1 $11 {and a draw.})
48... Bd4 49. h4 Rc8 50. g4 $16 {and it is very difficult to continue with
Black.}) 48. Bc5 Bd4 49. Qxc6 Kg8 $6 {This loses immediately, but Black's
position was difficult.} (49... Bxc5 {was tougher,} 50. Qxc5 Kg8 51. Qxe5 h5
$16 {and White should be much better, but it is not easy to play with his rook,
as the b4-pawn will be hanging.}) 50. Qxb5 Rb8 51. Rxf7 $1 {Nice victory by
Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qe2
Qc7 9. O-O-O b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. g4 Rc8 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. h4 Qb6 14. Rh3 h5 15.
f5 e5 16. Nb3 hxg4 17. Qxg4 b4 18. axb4 Qxb4 19. Kb1 Nb6 20. Qe2 Bh6 21. Qf2
Rc6 22. Na2 Qa4 23. Rc3 Ke7 24. Rxc6 Qxc6 25. Na5 Qc7 26. Nxb7 Qxb7 27. Nb4 Rb8
28. Qxb6 Qxb6 29. Nd5+ Kf8 30. Nxb6 Rxb6 31. c3 Be3 32. Kc2 Kg7 33. b4 Kh6 34.
Bc4 Bf2 35. Rh1 Rc6 36. Kb3 Rb6 37. Kc2 Rc6 38. Kd3 Rc7 39. Bxa6 Kh5 40. Bc4
Ra7 41. Bd5 Kh6 42. h5 Bb6 43. Kc4 Be3 44. Kb3 Bb6 45. Rh2 Be3 46. Re2 Bb6 47.
Ra2 Rxa2 48. Kxa2 Kxh5 49. Kb3 Bf2 50. Ka4 Kh6 51. Kb5 Kg7 52. Kc6 Kf8 53. b5
Ke7 54. Kc7 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 32nd"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2016.11.08"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2016.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow SHSM Legacy"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 {A very popular line, it is
similar to any other Bxc6 ideas in the Ruy Lopez and should be compared and
analysed as such. Obviously White is trying to get the initiative using
entirely different methods, a kind of similar way of playing to the
Nimzo-Indian strategy that Black uses.} dxc6 6. Be3 Bd6 7. h3 Nd7 8. Nbd2 O-O
9. O-O Re8 10. c3 {I will add another game where actually we saw similar ideas
for both sides:} (10. Nc4 Nf8 11. a4 Ng6 12. c3 Bf8 13. Qc2 Qf6 14. Bg5 Qe6 15.
Be3 h6 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Ncd2 a5 18. Rac1 Be6 19. Kh2 Rad8 20. Nf1 c5 21. Ng3 b6
$13 {1/2-1/2 (56) Zhao Jun (2616)-Ma Qun (2608) Zaozhuang 2015}) 10... c5 {
Probably best. Other moves that more or less lead to the same type of
positions are presented in the next few games:} (10... b6 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rad1
c5 13. Rfe1 Qe7 14. Nf1 Nf8 15. Ng3 g6 16. Bh6 Ne6 17. Qc1 Rad8 18. a3 a5 19.
d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Rxd4 Bxg3 $17 {0-1 (66) Sevian,S (2556)
-Le Quang Liem (2697) Saint Louis 2015}) (10... Nf8 11. d4 Ng6 12. Qc2 exd4 13.
cxd4 Bf4 14. Rfe1 Qf6 15. Nf1 Be6 16. Ng3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Nf4 18. a3 a5 19. Qd2
Qh6 20. Rc1 $14 {½-½ (45) Inarkiev,E (2671)-Aronian,L (2783) Mainz 2010.
Even here although we can say that White has achieved something, it's really
not much.}) 11. Qc2 ({Another idea is} 11. a3 a5 12. Re1 Nf8 13. d4 cxd4 14.
cxd4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Bc5 $5 (15... Be5 16. N2f3 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 b6 18. Be5 $1 Qxd1
19. Rexd1 Ra7 20. Rac1 c5 21. Rd6 Rb7 22. Bg3 Rxe4 $4 (22... Bd7 23. Ne5 Bb5
24. f3 Ne6 {should be ok for Black}) 23. Rd8 Bd7 24. Re1 {1-0 (24) Nakamura,H 
(2764)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2706) Baku 2014}) 16. N4f3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 b6 18. Qc2 Bb7
{Black is fine.}) 11... Nf8 12. Nc4 Ng6 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. d4 {I was never fond
of such ideas for White in this type of structure; they can be played really
only when White can gain some development advantage or concrete action. In
this particular case I don't think that any of those elements are present.} (
14. Rfe1 b6 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Qe7 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bc1 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Qf7 20.
b3 Bb7 $11) 14... exd4 15. cxd4 Qe7 $1 16. dxc5 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Rxe4 18. b3 Re8
19. Rd2 (19. Na3 c6 20. Nc4 Be6 21. Nd6 Re7 {with ...Bd5 to follow will give
Black good counterplay.}) 19... b6 20. Rc1 Ba6 {Black is fine.} 21. a4 $6 (21.
Rd7 Re7 22. Rd2 Ree8 $11) 21... bxc5 $5 {Taking the pawn was not forced at all,
but Kramnik saw the b3-pawn as a potential target.} 22. Rd7 $2 {Simply
overlooking the next few moves.} (22. Na5 {was better:} Red8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24.
Nc6 (24. Bxc5 Nf4 $19) 24... Rd5 25. Nxa7 c4 26. bxc4 Ra5 $11) 22... Bxc4 $1
23. Rxc4 Bd6 {Suddenly the rook is trapped on d7!} 24. Bxc5 Nf8 $17 25. Bxd6
Nxd7 26. Rxc7 Nb6 27. a5 Nd5 28. Rb7 Red8 29. Bg3 a6 {With an exchange up it
is not that easy to win, but we will see that Kramnik does it fast.} 30. Ng5
Nc3 $5 31. Be5 $6 (31. Nxf7 Rd5 32. Be5 Nb5 {and the white pieces are
awkwardly placed.}) 31... Ne2+ 32. Kh2 f6 33. Ne6 fxe5 34. Nxd8 Rxd8 35. Rb6
Ra8 36. g3 Rf8 $1 37. Kg2 Rf6 $19 38. Rb8+ Kf7 39. Rb7+ Kg6 40. Re7 Nc1 41.
Rxe5 Rxf2+ 42. Kxf2 Nd3+ 43. Ke3 Nxe5 44. Kd4 Nc6+ 45. Kc5 Nxa5 46. b4 Nb7+ 47.
Kb6 a5 $1 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3
b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Ne7 11. O-O Qc7 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Ne5 Rad8 14. Qf3 Ng6
15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qh3 Ba6 17. Rfe1 Nh7 18. f4 Bb5 19. Ndf3 Qe7 20. Qg3 Be8 21.
Rf1 Qf6 22. Ng5 Qe7 23. Rf3 f6 24. Nxh7 fxe5 25. Ng5 Rf5 26. Qh4 Bf7 27. g4
Qxg5 28. Qxg5 Rxg5 29. fxg5 cxd4 30. cxd4 Rc8 31. Rdf1 Rc7 32. h4 exd4 33. exd4
e5 34. dxe5 Be6 35. Rf8+ Kh7 36. Re8 Bf7 37. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. Ngf3 Qxc5 7. Bd3 Nbd7
8. Qe2 Qc7 9. Nb3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a4 b6 12. Re1 Bb7 13. a5 bxa5 14. Nfd4
Nc5 15. Nxa5 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Bb4 17. Bd2 Be4 18. Qe2 Bd6 19. Nb5 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1
Qb8 21. Bg5 Be5 22. Ra4 a6 23. Na3 Bxb2 24. Bxf6 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Bxf6 26. Qe4
Qc7 27. Nc6 Rfc8 28. Rc4 Qd6 29. Re3 Qd5 30. Qxd5 exd5 31. Ne7+ Bxe7 32. Rxc8+
Rxc8 33. Rxe7 g6 34. Re3 Kg7 35. Rd3 Rc5 36. c3 a5 37. Kf3 h5 38. Ke3 h4 39.
Kf4 f6 40. Kg4 g5 41. f4 Kg6 42. fxg5 fxg5 43. Re3 a4 44. Rd3 Kf6 45. Rf3+ Kg6
46. Rd3 Kh6 47. Re3 Rc6 48. Rd3 Rf6 49. Rd4 Rf1 50. Nc2 Rg1+ 51. Kh3 Rg3+ 52.
Kh2 Rxc3 53. Rd2 a3 54. Nd4 Kg6 55. Ra2 g4 56. Nb5 Rc5 57. Nxa3 Ra5 58. Ra1 d4
59. Rg1 g3+ 60. Kh3 Rxa3 61. Kxh4 Kf5 62. Kh3 Ke4 63. Re1+ Re3 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 a6 6. dxe6 Bxe6 7. e5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bxe5 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Kc8 11. Bg3 Be7 12. Be2 Rd8 13. Nh3 Bxh3 14.
gxh3 b5 15. Rhe1 Bf8 16. a4 c4 17. Bf3 Ra7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Kb1 Ra5 20. Bc6
Bb4 21. Nxb5 Bxe1 22. Nd6+ Kc7 23. Nxf7+ Kxc6 24. Nxd8+ Kb5 25. Rxe1 Nc5 26.
Re5 Nfd7 27. Rg5 g6 28. Nb7 Ra6 29. Nd6+ Kb4 30. f3 Rc6 31. Be1+ Ka4 32. b3+
Nxb3 33. cxb3+ Kxb3 34. Rb5+ Ka3 35. Kc2 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Qe2 c5 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. e4 Nc6 10. c3 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bg3 O-O 14. Rad1 Qc8
15. Nd6 Bxd6 16. Bxd6 Rd8 17. Bg3 h6 18. Bb1 Nf6 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Rd1 Qe8 21.
Nd4 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Rd8 23. Qd1 Rd5 24. c4 Rxd4 25. Qxd4 Nd7 26. Qd6 Qc8 27. Qc7
Qxc7 28. Bxc7 Kf8 29. b4 Ke7 30. f3 Ba6 31. Bd3 Kf6 32. Kf2 e5 33. a4 Ke6 34.
Ke3 f5 35. a5 Bb7 36. Bc2 bxa5 37. Bxa5 a6 38. Bc7 Bc6 39. g4 g6 40. gxf5+ gxf5
41. f4 e4 42. h3 Nf6 43. Bd8 Ne8 44. Kd4 Ng7 45. Bb3 Nh5 46. Bc7 Nf6 47. Be5
Bb7 48. Ba4 Nd7 49. Bg7 h5 50. Bh6 Nf6 51. Bg5 Nh7 52. Bd8 Nf6 53. Bd1 h4 54.
Be2 e3 55. Kxe3 Bg2 56. Bxf6 Kxf6 57. c5 Bxh3 58. Bxa6 Ke7 59. Bd3 Ke6 60. b5
Kd5 61. b6 Kc6 62. Be2 Kb7 63. Bf3+ Kc8 64. Kf2 Kd7 65. c6+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. c4 g6 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Bg7 9. e4 d6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 Ba6 12. Bf4 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 a6 14. Rad1 Ne8 15.
e5 Ra7 16. Rfe1 b5 17. Ne4 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Nd7 20. Bf4 Ng7 21. Bd6
Re8 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Nxc5 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Nf5 25. Ne4 Rc7 26. d6 Rc4 27. d7 Kg7
28. Nd6 Nxd6 29. Qxd6 Rc7 30. Rd1 Rb7 31. Qe5+ Kh6 32. Qe8 Rb8 33. Qxf7 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. exd4 d5 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. c3 Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Re1
O-O 9. Bg5 Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nbd2 e6 13. Nb3 Kh8 14. Nc5 Qc7
15. Qd2 Rg8 16. Nd3 Rg4 17. g3 Rag8 18. Kh1 Re4 19. Nc5 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Ne7 21.
Nd3 Nc6 22. Nf4 Qd8 23. b4 a6 24. a4 Ne7 25. Nh5 Nc8 26. Nxf6 Qxf6 27. Qf4 Ne7
28. Qc7 f4 29. Qxf4 Qxf4 30. gxf4 Rc8 31. Ne5 Kg7 32. Rg1+ Ng6 33. Rg3 Kf6 34.
a5 Rc7 35. Rh3 Kg7 36. Rf3 Kf6 37. Rh3 Nxf4 38. Rxh7 Ne2 39. h4 Nxc3 40. h5 Ne4
41. h6 Nxf2+ 42. Kg2 Ne4 43. Rg7 Rc2+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Ke3 Rh2 46. Ng4+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 a5 8. Ba4
Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Ba7 11. Nbd2 Bd7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 b5 14. Ng3 c5 15. d5
c4 16. Nh2 Rb8 17. Nhf1 Bc5 18. Ne3 Nf4 19. a4 b4 20. Nxc4 bxc3 21. bxc3 Qc8
22. Ne3 g6 23. Bd3 h5 24. Ne2 Bxh3 25. gxh3 Qxh3 26. Nxf4 exf4 27. Bf1 Qh4 28.
Qf3 fxe3 29. Bxe3 Nxe4 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Bb5 Re7 32. Rxe7 Qxe7 33. Kf1 Qe4 34.
Qxe4 Nxe4 35. c4 f5 36. Kg2 Kf7 37. f3 Nc5 38. f4 Rb7 39. Kf3 Kf6 40. Rh1 Re7
41. Rb1 Re4 42. Rb2 Rxf4+ 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. Nxd5 Nxd5 6. Qxd5 Nc6 7. Ng5 Qe7 8.
c3 d6 9. Bf4 Be6 10. Qd2 d5 11. e3 h6 12. Nxe6 Qxe6 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Bd3 Bd6
15. Rhe1 Bxf4 16. exf4 Qf6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Qe2 g5 19. Bc2 gxf4 20. Qf3 d4 21.
Qxf4+ Qxf4+ 22. gxf4 dxc3 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. bxc3 Rg8 25. Be4 Kc7 26. Bf3 a5
27. a4 b6 28. Kc2 Rg6 29. Bd5 Rf6 30. Re4 Kd6 31. Bxc6 Kxc6 32. c4 Kd6 33. Kd3
Rg6 34. Re3 Rf6 35. Ke4 Kc6 36. f5 Rd6 37. Rh3 Kd7 38. Ke3 Ke7 39. Rh4 Rf6 40.
Re4+ Kf8 41. Kf4 Rd6 42. Ke5 Rd2 43. Rh4 Kg7 44. f6+ Kh7 45. Rg4 Rd7 46. Rg7+
Kh8 47. f3 Ra7 48. Kd6 b5 49. cxb5 c4 50. b6 Rb7 51. Kc6 Rb8 52. b7 c3 53. Kc7
1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. c3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 d6 8.
Bb5+ c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O e5 11. a4 a6 12. Nc4 g5 13. Re1 g4 14. Nfd2 h5 15.
Qb3 Qd8 16. Ne3 Bh6 17. Ndc4 Qc7 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Nce3 Nf6 20. Bc4 Bc8 21. Rad1
b5 22. dxe5 bxc4 23. Nxc4 dxe5 24. Ncd6+ Bxd6 25. Nxd6+ Kf8 26. c4 Kg7 27. Qe3
Qe7 28. Qc5 Kg6 29. Qxc6 Bd7 30. Qc7 Rad8 31. Nf5 Qb4 32. Qxe5 Rhe8 33. Nh4+
Kg7 34. Qg5+ Kf8 35. Qxf6 Bxa4 36. Ng6+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. dxc5 Nbd7 8.
Nb3 Qc7 9. Qd4 e5 10. Qh4 Ne4 11. c4 Bf6 12. Qh6 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Ndxc5 14. Nxc5
Qxc5 15. b3 Bg7 16. Qh4 Nd6 17. Ng5 h6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Rb8 20. a4 Bf5 21.
Qh4 g5 22. Qh5 Qc6 23. Ba3 Bg6 24. Qe2 Rfd8 25. Rad1 a6 26. h3 Kh7 27. a5 f5
28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rd1 Qc7 30. Bb4 e4 31. Rd2 f4 32. Qd1 Rxd2 33. Qxd2 Bf7 34.
Qc2 Qc6 35. exf4 gxf4 36. f3 Bg6 37. fxe4 Bd4+ 38. Kh1 Bxe4 39. Qd2 Be3 40. Qd8
Bxg2+ 41. Kh2 Qg6 42. Qe7+ Kh8 43. Bc3+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m1 fin blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2572"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14. a4
Rc8 15. Bd3 h6 16. a5 Qc7 17. axb6 axb6 18. Ra3 Rfd8 19. Qb2 Qd6 20. Rb3 Rc7
21. Ne5 Nf6 22. Nf3 Qf4 23. Qe2 Rc1 24. Qe3 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Qxe3 26. fxe3 Bxe4
27. Bxe4 Nxe4 28. Rxb6 Ra8 29. Rb2 Ra1 30. Kf1 g5 31. Rc2 Kg7 32. Ke2 f5 33. h3
Kf6 34. Nd3 h5 35. Nc1 h4 36. Rc6 Ra3 37. Rc2 Nc3+ 38. Kd2 Nd5 39. Nd3 g4 40.
hxg4 Rxd3+ 41. Kxd3 Nb4+ 42. Kd2 Nxc2 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Meier,Georg"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 {To begin the game this modestly has become very popular. It's
an invitation to the Reti Opening, where computer preparation is not very
effective and there is plenty of room to get a positional game.} g6 {From a
theoretical standpoint, this is a clever choice. While White enjoys an array
of options against most other setups, here he will be quickly restricted. It's
either allowing Black to post a claim in the centre with e7-e5 or go into the
rock-solid Symmetrical Grünfeld. It's no coincidence that most of the players
in the London field see this line quite regularly in their games.} 3. Bg2 Bg7
4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 {Kramnik has played this position so many times
that recently he felt compelled to toy with alternatives like 6.Nbd2 and even
6.c3.} c5 {A very odd choice to me. When Black keeps the centre closed, you
can barely feel White's extra tempo. Now that the position will open up,
speedy development matters and White's chances to get a real edge certainly
improve.} (6... c6) ({and} 6... dxc4 {are far and away the main options.}) 7.
dxc5 dxc4 8. Na3 c3 ({Symmetry won't work for too long:} 8... Na6 9. c6 c3 10.
Qxd8 Rxd8 11. bxc3 Ne4 12. Nd4 {leaves Black struggling.}) 9. Nb5 $1 {In a
moment we'll get to why this is so strong... but here I actually figured out
what Topalov is doing! After the first couple of times I played and lost to
Vladimir in Dortmund I shared my approach with a friend: I would come to the
game, let Vladimir show what he had prepared and then try and see how I would
fare against him at his best. My friend was certainly amused, likening this
ritual to a kind of fetish and closing with the remark: "Certainly there would
also be someone who would try to survive against the Terminator until the
stage of arguments!" To cut a long story short, if you ask Kramnik to show his
improvement in a type of position he likes anyway and you arrive empty-handed,
you won't make it far. As of late, Topalov has claimed that he does not take
tournaments as seriously as before. I believe it shows in moments like these.}
(9. Nd4 Nfd7 10. bxc3 Nxc5 {½-½ (73) Kramnik,V -Giri,A Leuven 2016, and
things worked out for Black.}) 9... cxb2 ({After} 9... Na6 10. Nxc3 Nxc5 11.
Be3 Nfe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd4 {Black still has to tread carefully with the
Bg2 soon putting pressure on the black queenside.}) 10. Bxb2 $14 {Instead of
giving Black a nice spot for his knight on c5, Kramnik has kept his pawn there.
Supported by superior development, this pawn is an asset, ready to drive a
wedge into Black's queenside at any point.} Bd7 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 $6 {
In the early years of my work with the now famous coach Vladimir Chuchelov I
tried to develop a mantra, that I consider still very helpful: When there is
an obvious natural move, try to make it work the best you can. Only if you are
then convinced it fails, look for something else. Chess is a game of harmony,
and I would feel compelled to consider the developing move 12...Nbd7 before
looking at something as clumsy as ...Qc8.} (12... Nbd7 13. Rac1 (13. Ne5 Bxg2
14. Kxg2 Qc8 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rac1 {White will keep trying, but
as so many pieces have come off, Black can breathe and gradually unravel.})
13... Qa5 14. Nbd4 $1 {The key is to break through on c6.} Bd5 15. Qa3 Qxa3 16.
Bxa3 Rfc8 (16... Rac8 17. Bh3 $1 e6 $2 18. c6 {[%csl Rf8]}) 17. c6 bxc6 18.
Bxe7 $14 {[%csl Rc6]}) 13. Rac1 {White's play flows naturally, while his
opponent must already feel cramped.} Nbd7 14. Nbd4 Bd5 15. Qa3 Re8 16. c6 $1 {
All of White's pieces stand well, there can be no other move. White creates
targets to exploit his far superior coordination.} Nb6 $2 (16... bxc6 17. Nxc6
Qb7 {was the only choice, but} 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Nfe5 {leads to a grip that is
already hard to shake off.}) 17. c7 {It is very hard to sharpen play and go
for the throat, when continuing at a leisurely pace conserves a very large
advantage. While c7 is certainly a good move, it passes up on a decisive
assault, starting with} (17. Ng5 $1 h6 (17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 bxc6 19. Qb3 e6 20.
Nxc6 Qb7 21. Kg1 Rac8 22. Ne5) 18. Bh3 Ng4 19. e4) 17... Nc4 18. Qb4 Nxb2 19.
Qxb2 b6 20. Qa3 $2 {This indecisive move opened a window of resistance for
Topalov, but he was not ready.} (20. Ne5 $1 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qb7+ 22. Kg1 Rac8 23.
Qb3 e6 24. Nb5 {is overwhelming} Ne4 25. Nc4 Bf8 26. Qf3 $18) 20... e6 $4 {
[%csl Rd6] Somehow, all 3 decisive games got decided by crude mistakes in this
round. But here I am sure Topalov was already despising his position in any
case. Still, when defending it is crucial to avoid making new weaknesses. The
new hole on d6 is too much for Black.} (20... Bh6 $142 $1 21. Rc2 Qb7 22. Bh3
$1 {White is ready to go to great lengths to provoke the weakening of the
d6-square.} e6 23. Nb5 {is of course no picnic either.}) (20... Qb7 21. Bh3 $1
e6 22. Ng5 h6 23. e4 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Nb5 {looks winning}) 21. Nb5 Bf8
22. Qb2 Bg7 23. Qd2 Qd7 24. a4 {With Ne5 imminent, Black can't avoid
collapsing.} Ne4 25. Qf4 a6 26. Qxe4 axb5 27. Qd3 f5 28. Ng5 {A trademark game
by Kramnik! Powerful play with all the pieces, and only a short moment of
hesitation that didn't spoil anything this time.} (28. Ng5 bxa4 29. Nxe6 Bxe6
30. Qxd7 Bxd7 31. Rxd7 {and all White's pieces push the c-pawn through.}) 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 a5 7. e4 a4 8. Re1
a3 9. b3 c5 10. e5 Nfd7 11. Nf1 Nc6 12. h4 b5 13. h5 f5 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Rb1
Nb4 16. d4 Nxa2 17. Bd2 cxd4 18. h6 Nc5 19. hxg7 Bxg7 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Qg4+
Bg7 22. Ra1 Qf6 23. Rxa2 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Ne4 25. c4 Nxd2 26. Rd1 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 g6 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Be3 e5 8.
dxe5 dxe5 9. Bc4 Qe7 10. Qd2 Nb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 12. Ne1 c5 13. f3 Bd7 14. a4 Bc6
15. a5 Nbd7 16. Nd3 b5 17. axb6 axb6 18. Bc4 Rfd8 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Rd1 Nf8 21.
Nf2 Ne6 22. Qd6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 Nd8 24. Bg5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e3 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 O-O 8. Nf3
d5 9. b3 Ne4 10. Bb2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 b6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Ne5 Nxe5
15. dxe5 Be6 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rac8 18. Bd4 Rc7 19. a4 Rfc8 20. Bf1 Bf8 21.
Ba6 Rd8 22. h4 Bc5 23. b4 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Qe7 25. Bd3 Kg7 26. a5 Rdc8 27. axb6
axb6 28. Bf1 b5 29. Bd3 Rc4 30. Bxc4 Qxb4 31. Rab1 Qxc4 32. Qd2 h5 33. Rbc1 Qb3
34. Rxc8 Bxc8 35. Qf4 Bf5 36. e6 Bxe6 37. Qe5+ Kh7 38. Ra1 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Oparin, Grigoriy"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 dxc4 5. Na3 e5 6. Qc2 Ne7 7. Nxc4 Nbc6 8.
O-O O-O 9. d3 Bg4 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. Qa3 Re8 12. Ne3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nd4 14. Qxa7
Nxf3+ 15. exf3 Qxd3 16. Qc5 Nc6 17. Kg2 e4 18. f4 Qe2 19. Nc2 Rbd8 20. Be3 h5
21. h4 Ne7 22. Rae1 Qf3+ 23. Kh2 Nf5 24. Qb5 Re6 25. Qe2 Bxb2 26. Qxf3 exf3 27.
Rb1 Bf6 28. Rxb7 Rc6 29. Nb4 Rc4 30. Ba7 Nh6 31. Na6 Ng4+ 32. Kg1 Ra4 33. Nxc7
Rxa2 34. Bc5 Bd4 35. Bxd4 Rxd4 36. Nb5 Rd3 37. Ra7 Rb2 38. Ra3 Rdd2 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 d5 4. Nbd2 e6 5. b3 cxd4 6. exd4 Bd6 7. Bd3 b6 8. Qe2
Nc6 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Ne5 Nd7 12. f4 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qe7 14. O-O O-O 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Qe8 18. Qd3 Rc7 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bh3
Re7 22. Nf3 Bc8 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Rae1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Ne7 26. c4 Kg8 27. Kg2 Nf5
28. cxd5 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Bc1 Ne7 31. Qe4 Qb5 32. Bf4 Bxa3 33. d6 Nf5 34.
Qa8+ Kg7 35. Be5+ f6 36. Qxa7+ Kh6 37. Bf4+ g5 38. Qf7 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {As far as I can see, this is the first time
Kramnik has entered the Ruy Lopez from the white side in a very long time.} (3.
Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bb5 a6 9. Ba4 b5 10. Bc2 c5
{Why give this line? Explanation follows after 8.c3 in the game.}) 3... a6 $1 {
Harikrishna also has the Berlin Defence in his repertoire, but to play it
against Kramnik? I don't think so.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 (6. Re1 {
is still the main move, but after} b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 (8. a4 {is the most
challenging move for those who prefer to avoid the gambit.}) 8... d5 {no-one
above 2600 has lost with the black pieces in the last half year.}) 6... b5 7.
Bb3 d6 (7... O-O {is played far less. Perhaps since} 8. a4 {is an option again.
} (8. Nc3 d6 9. a3)) 8. a3 {White must save the light-squared bishop. And
since the other options have been found to set Black few(er) problems, this
seemingly meek move has become the latest fashion.} (8. Nc3 $6 Na5 $1) (8. a4
Bd7 $1 {is a neat point behind 7...d6. After} 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qb8
12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. axb5 axb5 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. Qd5 Qc8 17. b4 Be6 18.
Qxc5 Qxc5 19. bxc5 Kd7 $1 {Morozevich,A (2680)-Vitiugov,N (2715) 32nd ECC Open
2016, Black was doing very well and went on to win.}) (8. c3 O-O 9. Re1 Na5 10.
Bc2 c5 {is a position that can also arise in the Prussian Defence (3.Bc4 Nf6).}
) 8... O-O (8... Be6 {is an idea that is usually better when White has already
played h3. Then after} 9. Bxe6 fxe6 {Black can aim for Nf6-h5-f4 later on.
When White's pawn is still on h2, White can just stop this with g2-g3; not
worrying about any weaknesses around the king.} {I assume White ought to be a
bit better here, although it is far from clear (to me) how.} 10. c3 O-O 11.
Nbd2 Qd7 12. Re1 Rae8 (12... Nd8 $5) (12... Nh5) 13. a4 $14 {Pavlidis,A (2530)
-Schwarz,D (2290) European Rapid 2016}) 9. Nc3 {There are few positions in
chess where there are more than 4-5 decent moves, but in this position there
are no less than 7 perfectly reasonable moves for Black! It is also notable
that this position was reached 4 times in the last WCh match between Karjakin
and Carlsen, with Magnus, as Black, scoring three draws and one win.} Nb8 $5 {
The start of the Breyer-plan. Black is aiming for a harmonious setup with Nbd7
and Bb7, before continuing - usually - with Re8, Bf8, g6 and Bg7. For someone
who has played the Pirc/Modern for many years, it gives rise to a kind of
déjà vu; haven't I seen something similar somewhere?} (9... Be6 10. Be3 d5
11. Bg5 $1 {has scored well for White.}) (9... Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 {was played by
Carlsen in two of the WCh games.} ({Playing Chigorin-style with} 10... c5 {
, makes more sense when White has spent time on moves like c3 and h3. Here
White is ready to fight for the d5-square immediately:} 11. b4 Nc6 12. Nd5 $36
{This is possibly the reason why Carlsen played Nb8, c5, Nc6 in an earlier
game. Here it actually helps White to have the bishop kicked back to a2.}) 11.
b4 (11. d4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Re8 13. Ra1 Nc4 14. Re1 Rc8 15. h3 h6 16. b3 Nb6 17.
Bb2 Bf8 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. a4 c6 20. Qxd8 Rcxd8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ne2 Bb4 23.
Bc3 Bxc3 24. Nxc3 Nbd7 25. Ra6 Rc8 26. b4 Re6 27. Rb1 c5 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nxb5
cxb4 30. Rxb4 Rxc2 31. Nd6 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rc2 33. Kg1 {1/2-1/2 (33) Karjakin,S 
(2770)-Carlsen,M (2850) WCh 2016}) 11... Nc6 12. Nd5 Nd4 13. Ng5 Bxd5 14. exd5
Nd7 15. Ne4 f5 16. Nd2 f4 17. c3 Nf5 18. Ne4 Qe8 19. Bb3 Qg6 20. f3 Bh4 21. a4
Nf6 22. Qe2 a5 23. axb5 axb4 24. Bd2 bxc3 25. Bxc3 Ne3 26. Rfc1 Rxa1 27. Rxa1
Qe8 28. Bc4 Kh8 29. Nxf6 Bxf6 30. Ra3 e4 31. dxe4 Bxc3 32. Rxc3 Qe5 33. Rc1 Ra8
34. h3 h6 35. Kh2 Qd4 36. Qe1 Qb2 37. Bf1 Ra2 38. Rxc7 Ra1 {0-1 (38) Karjakin,
S (2770)-Carlsen,M (2850) WCh Rapid TB 2016}) 10. Ne2 {The start of the most
famous manoeuvre known to chess. The terminus is g3, where the knight is
bolstering e4, stopping ...Nh5, and making sure that a future ...Bg4 will be
truly kicked away with h3; all this while not being in the way of any other
pieces.} Nbd7 {Harikrishna is going for a more traditional interpretation of
the Breyer setup.} ({Carlsen preferred} 10... c5 11. Ng3 Nc6 12. c3 Rb8 13. h3
a5 14. a4 b4 15. Re1 Be6 16. Bc4 h6 17. Be3 Qc8 18. Qe2 Rd8 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20.
d4 bxc3 21. bxc3 cxd4 22. cxd4 exd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Rb4 25. Rec1 Qd7 26.
Bc3 Rxa4 27. Bxa5 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Ra8 29. Bc3 Rxa1+ 30. Bxa1 Qc6 31. Kh2 Kf7 32.
Bb2 Qc5 33. f4 Bd8 34. e5 dxe5 35. Bxe5 Bb6 36. Qd1 Qd5 37. Qxd5 Nxd5 {1/2-1/2
(37) Karjakin,S (2770)-Carlsen,M (2850) WCh Rapid TB 2016}) 11. c3 ({If Black
is worried about the Nb6/c5-plan that Kovalev used against Kobalia (see next
comment), it makes sense to play} 11. Ng3 {first.} Nb6 (11... Nc5 12. Ba2 Be6 {
is probably the reason why Kramnik choose the move order with c3 first.}) 12.
Bd2 c5 13. Ba5 $5) 11... Bb7 {This quite logical move seems new. If we compare
the position with the classical Breyer System, then White has played d3
instead of d4, has added a3, avoided h3 and can play the knight to g3 without
going Re1 first. Black should be ahead on tempi, but not having played d4 is
something of an advantage for White, who is more flexible and doesn't have to
worry about tactical operations revolving around a weak e4-pawn.} (11... Nb6
12. Ng3 c5 13. d4 Qc7 14. Re1 a5 15. h3 Bd7 16. Bd2 a4 17. Bc2 Nc4 18. Bc1 Rfc8
{Kobalia,M (2646)-Kovalev,V (2562) Gjakova 2016, led to a very complex fight.})
12. Ng3 c5 13. Re1 Rc8 {Black would love to get a chance to force the exchange
of the c-pawn for White's d-pawn.} 14. Nf5 $5 {This move changes the flow of
the game and takes it into unclear waters.} ({I would only consider} 14. Ba2 {
or}) (14. Bc2 {Both look quite reasonable.}) 14... c4 $1 15. dxc4 ({If} 15. Bc2
cxd3 16. Bxd3 Re8 17. Bc2 {, then} Nc5 18. Bg5 Bf8 {and Black's pieces are too
harmonious for White even dream of an advantage.} 19. Nd2 g6 20. Ne3 Be7 21.
Bxf6 Bxf6 22. a4 Bg5 $11) 15... Bxe4 ({Black can also consider} 15... bxc4 16.
Bc2 Nc5 {, but after} 17. Bg5 Rc7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxd6 {Black doesn't have
enough compensation for the pawn.}) 16. Nxe7+ (16. Nxd6 $2 Bxd6 17. Qxd6 Nc5 {
leads to a total collapse on the light squares.}) 16... Qxe7 17. cxb5 axb5 18.
Bg5 $1 {This must be played before Black gets to shut it out of the game with
h6.} Nc5 19. Ba2 {Ambitious.} (19. Bc2 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 Ne6 {looks about balanced.
}) 19... h6 20. Bh4 $5 {I might be overly pessimistic here, but to me this
seems like burning bridges. The bishop will be terribly passive on g3, so the
natural thing to do would be to go} (20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Re3 {Still, Black has
no complaints here, so I guess Kramnik's choice was in harmony with the bishop
retreat to a2. He is aiming for complications.}) 20... g5 $1 21. Bg3 Bh7 ({
Usually the bishop is better off at g6, from where it supports h5 and leaves
the h7-square for other pieces:} 21... Bg6 {After} 22. Bb1 Nfe4 23. Nd2 d5 24.
Nf3 f6 25. Qxd5+ Kg7 {Black has a nice initiative for the pawn.}) 22. Qe2 (22.
Bb1 $5) 22... Kg7 $1 {Black's plan is to evacuate the knight from f6, play f6
in order to bury the bishop on g3, and then occupy the light squares. White
needs to come up with an antidote to this scenario.} 23. Rad1 {If Kramnik
played this seeing what is coming next, then this is one of the greatest moves
I have ever seen.} (23. Qxb5 $2 Nd3 {and the b-pawn falls.}) (23. Nd4 $5 Qd7
24. Nb3 Nce4 25. Nd2 Nc5 26. Bb1 {is another way to get some grip on the light
squares. If Black is unable to move the central pawns forward, they could turn
out to be weak in the end.}) 23... Nfe4 $1 24. Rd5 {!!!??!?} ({White doesn't
have the time to play} 24. Qxb5 {, since} f5 $1 {leaves Bg3 in mortal danger,
and} 25. h3 Rb8 26. Qe2 f4 27. Bh2 Na4 28. Rb1 Nec5 {is game over-ish.}) ({
To play something like} 24. h3 {, is paramount to resignation:} f5 25. Bh2 f4
26. Bb1 Qb7 27. Nd2 Nf6 {and Black has the most terrible domination.}) 24... f5
{This looks so natural and so strong. How to stop oneself from playing such a
move?} ({I would have played} 24... f6 $1 {, just to realise that I don't have
much choice after} {, so:} 25. Bb1 f5 {and we get a position similar to the
one in the game. How is the sacrifice here? I would not be able to make a
precise evaluation over the board.}) (24... Rfe8 {might be the most flexible
move, planning on f5 while opening a slot for the king on f8. It seems to me 
(and the engine) that Black is just clearly better here.}) 25. Rxe5 $3 {
Daring and genius in one move. I presume Kramnik realised he was sliding into
a bad situation and decided to change the course of the game, whatever the
price.} ({This is much more tricky than} 25. Rxd6 $6 Nxd6 26. Qxe5+ Qxe5 27.
Bxe5+ Rf6 $1 {when there is no obvious way for White to get full compensation.
With no queens on the board, this would be far easier for a human to handle.})
25... dxe5 26. Bxe5+ Nf6 $6 {Not a big, but a step in the wrong direction.
Black should find a way to exchange one of the bishops, as fast as possible,
with no delay. The best way to do that is:} (26... Kg6 $1 {avoids the pins and
prepares for ...Bg8...} 27. Bd4 $1 Bg8 $1 {Now the price to avoid the exchange
is too high:} 28. Bxg8 (28. Bb1 Kh7 29. Qxb5 Nb3) 28... Rxg8 29. g4 $5 (29.
Qxb5 g4 30. Ne5+ Kh7 $19) 29... Rge8 30. gxf5+ Kh7 31. Qc2 Qb7 (31... Qd7 $5)
32. f6 Qd7 $17 {Even here there are still traps to watch out for, so from a
practical point of view Kramnik's move was brilliant.}) 27. Qxb5 $1 {Picking
up a pawn, so as to make the queenside mobile.} Nce4 28. Bd4 Rfd8 {What to do
now?} 29. h3 $1 {What a cool move. It is still not clear what Black should do,
so creating breathing space for the king cannot be wrong.} Rb8 30. Qe2 {
There seem to be so many good moves for Black, but which one wins?} Bg8 $6 (
30... Re8 {is what Karpov would have played. Over protecting the knight on e4,
gives more freedom to the rest of the pieces.} 31. b4 Bg6 32. Qb2 Kh7 33. c4
Rbd8 {...Botvinnik would have liked this one.} 34. c5 {and finally, Black is
ready for} g4 $1) 31. Bb1 Qb7 (31... Rb3 32. Ba2 $1) 32. b4 Re8 33. c4 {
A few moves ago Black only had one problem; how to get out of the pin and get
his pieces active. Now there is a second issue. The pawns are starting to look
menacing.} Qc6 $2 {This move allows White to get fully coordinated. Last
chance for an advantage was} (33... Qa6 $1 {, but things are still not as
clear as the engine would like you to think:} 34. b5 $5 (34. Qb2 Bxc4 35. Rc1
Bd5 36. Rc7+ Kg8 37. Bxe4 fxe4 38. Nh2 Nh5 39. Ng4 Rb7 $17) 34... Qd6 (34...
Qxa3 $6 35. Bxe4 Rxe4 36. Qd2 Rbe8 37. Ra1 $44) 35. Qb2 Bxc4 36. a4 Ra8 {
(There might be something better here)} 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 fxe4 39. Ne5 Be6
(39... Rd8 40. Nc6) 40. b6 Rxa4 41. Nc6 Rxd4 42. Nxd4 Kf7 43. b7 Nd7 44. Nxe6
Kxe6 45. Qg7 {and White will probably get a draw.}) 34. Qb2 {Now White's
initiative is terrific. Black would like retreat the knight from e4, but it is
oh so hard.} {With this move Black's position goes from hard-to-handle to just
worse.} Rbd8 $6 (34... Kh7 $1 {is a good chance for Black, but after} 35. c5 {
, Black still needs to find a few exact moves:} (35. Be5 Rbd8 36. Nd4 Qxc4 37.
Nxf5 Rd2 38. Nd6 Rxb2 39. Bxb2 Qb3 40. Bxf6 Qxb1 41. Rxb1 Nxd6 42. a4 $132)
35... Bf7 $1 (35... Nd7 $6 36. Nd2 Bd5 37. Nf1 $36 {[%cal Gf1e3]}) 36. Ne5 Qd5
37. Nxf7 Qxf7 38. f3 Ng3 39. Be5 Nfh5 40. Kh2 Qd5 41. Qc3 Nf1+ 42. Kg1 Nfg3 43.
Bxb8 Qd4+ $1 44. Qxd4 Rxe1+ 45. Kf2 Re2+ 46. Kg1 Re1+ $11) 35. c5 (35. b5 Qd6
36. Rc1 Rc8 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. c5 Qe7 39. c6 {is even better. Black is
balancing on the edge of the abyss.}) 35... Qe6 36. b5 $5 (36. Rc1 $1 g4 37.
hxg4 fxg4 38. Bxe4 Rxd4 39. Qxd4 Qxe4 40. Qxe4 Rxe4 41. Nd2 Re2 42. Nf1 $14)
36... Kf8 $2 ({Black's last chance was} 36... Qb3 $1 37. Qa1 Kg6 $1 38. Bxf6 (
38. b6 Nd7 39. Rc1 Rc8 40. c6 Nxb6 41. Bxe4 fxe4 42. Bh8 Qf7 43. Ne5+ Rxe5 44.
Qxe5 Qe6 $11) 38... Nxf6 39. Rxe8 Rxe8 40. Bxf5+ Kg7 41. Nd4 {and this
unbalanced position, to my surprise, seems to be in balance.}) 37. c6 g4 $2 {
This accelerates the ending, but White's pawns were too advanced for a remedy
to be found.} 38. hxg4 fxg4 39. Bxe4 $1 gxf3 ({Or} 39... Nxe4 40. Rxe4 Qxe4 41.
Bg7+ Ke7 42. Qf6#) 40. Bxf6 Rd6 41. Bg7+ Kf7 42. Be5 {and Harikrishna resigned.
A marvelous swindle by Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
a6 9. Nf1 Re8 10. a4 Ba7 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Qd7 14. b5 Ne7 15.
bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Qb3 c6 18. Rab1 Ng6 19. g3 a5 20. Ne3 Re8 21. Nc4
Kh7 22. Qc2 Qe6 23. Ne3 d5 24. Kg2 Kg8 25. h4 Rd7 26. c4 $1 {For a long time
White has maintaned a slight but persistent pull, and, finally, as Adams
started getting a bit uncomfortable on the clock, Kramnik turned the screw.}
Red8 $2 {A big error. It was hard enough to contain White's threats to
infiltrate on the b-file, but with two files open it'll become simply
impossible.} (26... d4 {was the only way to continue:} 27. Nf5 Ne7 28. Nxe7+
Rdxe7 {Perhaps, Mickey worried about his a-pawn after} 29. c5 {but then there's
} Nh5 30. Nd2 Qg6 31. Nc4 Qg4 {with some counterchances, provided by the ...
Nf4 idea.}) 27. cxd5 cxd5 28. Rb5 Ne7 $2 ({Once again,} 28... dxe4 29. dxe4 Nh5
{and hope for the best.}) 29. Rc5 Rd6 30. Rc1 Ra6 31. Qb2 Ng6 32. Qb7 Ne7 33.
Nf5 $1 {White drives the stake through the heart of Black's position.} Rd7 ({
The endgame after} 33... Nxf5 34. exf5 Qb6 (34... Qd6 35. Nxe5) 35. Qxb6 Rxb6
36. Nxe5 {wouldn't be any fun to play against Vladimir Kramnik.}) 34. Rc7 Rb6
35. Qa7 Ra6 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. Rc8 $1 Ng6 (37... Nxf5 38. exf5 Qxf5 39. Nxe5 {
is just mate from h8.}) 38. Rh1 $1 {A very elegant switching of the tracks.}
Nh5 39. Ng5+ hxg5 40. hxg5 Ngf4+ 41. gxf4 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 {Kramnik loves the QGD so much that I can say he
is addicted to this move order!} 4. g3 {No QGD for today, The Ukrainian opts
for a Catalan instead, but another opening in which Kramnik is considered one
of its main theoreticians!} Be7 (4... dxc4 5. Bg2 {could lead to very sharp
and long theoretically forced lines, where current theory admits that Black is
doing just fine!} a6 (5... Nc6) (5... b5 $6 {is a risky line that Anish Giri
once punished Morozevich for employing!} 6. a4 c6 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. O-O a6 9. axb5
cxb5 10. b3 $1 cxb3 11. Qxb3 Bb7 12. e4 Nf6 13. d5 $1 Bd6 14. Nxf7 (14. dxe6
fxe6 15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Nd3 e5 17. Nxe5 $1 {is more decisive.}) 14... Kxf7 15.
dxe6+ Ke8 16. e5 Bxg2 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Kxg2 Qxa1 19. Bb2 Qa4 20. Qf3 Ra7 21.
Rc1 Kd8 22. Bf6+ Be7 23. Qd5+ Nd7 24. Bd4 Rc7 25. Qa8+ {1-0 (25) Giri,A (2720)
-Morozevich,A (2748) Beijing 2012})) 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {This line is
called the Open Catalan.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 (9. Rd1 {is another
'less' common though better known line that is losing ground and importance in
contemporary theory for being considered too 'harmless'! The most recent
famous game in this line was between the talented American GM Jeffrey Xiong
against none other than the new Catalan expert, world No.2 Wesley So! You
should read this game's commentary in our US Championship coverage by GM Alex
Yermolinsky!} Bc6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Bg5 Rb8 14. e3 c5
15. dxc5 Qe8 16. Rd4 Nd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. c6 Ne5 19. Qe4 Qc5 20. Nd5 Nd3 21.
Nxc7 Nxf2 22. Kxf2 $2 Rxb2+ $19 {0-1 (31) Xiong,J (2674)-So,W (2822) Saint
Louis 2017}) 9... Bc6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 (10... Nd5 11. Nc3 $5 {and it is 'ok' to
let the pawns be doubled and lose the bishop pair. The reason is that in
exchange, White creates a long-term grip with his spatial advantage.} Nxf4 12.
gxf4 a5 13. Ne5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 c6 15. Rad1 Na6 16. e3 Nb4 17. Rg1 Nd5 18. Kh1 f6
19. Nf3 $14 {1-0 (30) Avrukh,B (2668)-Sanikidze,T (2600) Novi Sad 2009}) 11.
Nc3 Bd6 $5 {A less common move which had been tested successfully by the
'world champion' before in a blitz game.} (11... Nb6 12. Qd3 (12. Qb3 Nbd5 13.
Bd2 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Be4 15. Ne5 Bxg2 (15... c5 $2 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxb7 Nxd2 18.
Nc6 Qd6 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Rfd1 $16 {1/2 (63)-1/2 (63) Sargissian,G (2673)
-Svetushkin,D (2560) Rethymno 2010}) 16. Kxg2 Rb8 17. Nd3 Qc8 $1 {and I
believe after ...c5 Black should not have any difficulty.}) 12... Nbd5 13. Bg5
(13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bd2 Nf6 15. Rfd1 Be4 16. Qb3 Bd5 17. Qe3 Rc8 {with equal
play}) 13... Nb4 14. Qd2 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 {and Black has equalised.} 16. Qf4
Bc6 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rfc1 Rac8 (18... a5 $1) 19. Ra3 Qd6 20. a5 Qxf4 21. gxf4
Rfd8 $11 {1-0 (63) Rahman,Z (2492)-Babu,N (2339) Chennai 2004}) 12. e3 (12.
Rfe1 Bxf4 13. gxf4 Nb6 14. Qd3 Nbd5 15. e3 Nb4 (15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 Be4 17. Qf1
c5 {½-½ (33) Postny,E (2625)-Tang,A (2421) Kavala 2016, also looks good!})
16. Qd2 a5 17. Rac1 Qe7 18. Red1 Rfd8 19. Qe2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 c6 {0-1 (52)
Ragger,M (2632) -Carlsen,M (2881) Dubai 2014, with equal play.}) ({In another
blitz battle between another two opening experts, one of whom was the world
championship finalist, the game took a different path:} 12. Bd2 Ne4 13. Nxe4
Bxe4 14. Ng5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nf6 16. Qc2 Rc8 $5 (16... h6 17. Nf3 Qe7 18. e4 $14
Bb4 19. Bxb4 Qxb4 20. a5 Rac8 21. Rfc1 c5 22. Ra4 Qb5 23. Rc4 Qxa5 24. b4 Qb5
25. dxc5 Qc6 26. Rd4 Rfd8 27. Rcd1 Rxd4 28. Rxd4 a5 29. bxa5 Nd7 30. Rc4 Qb5
31. Nd4 Qa6 32. c6 bxc6 33. Rxc6 Rxc6 34. Qxc6 Qa7 35. Nb5 {1-0 (35) Gelfand,B
(2741)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2704) Berlin 2015}) 17. b4 e5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Rad1 Qe7
20. e4 h6 21. Nf3 c5 22. bxc5 Rxc5 23. Qb3 a5 24. Bc1 Qe8 $1 {should be equal
too but it is not that easy.}) 12... Nb6 13. Qb3 Bxf4 14. gxf4 a5 15. Ne5 Bxg2
16. Kxg2 Nbd5 17. Rg1 {This came after some thought. There should be something
new here for Eljanov.} (17. Qxb7 Rb8 18. Qc6 Rb6 19. Qc4 Rxb2 {looks more
comfortable for Black.}) 17... Rc8 {Kramnik is playing enterprising chess and
opts for ...c5.} 18. Rac1 (18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qc6 Rb6 20. Qc4 Rxb2 {is worse
this time as the f2-pawn is not protected anymore.}) 18... Nb4 19. Qc4 g6 20.
Rgd1 c6 {Change of heart for both players. They have gone back to the centre
with a rigid pawn structure. It is hard to claim anything for either side.} 21.
Qe2 Qe7 22. Nc4 Qc7 23. Qf3 Nbd5 24. h4 {Eljanov decided to try something.}
Rfd8 25. b3 Nxc3 26. Rxc3 Qe7 27. Ne5 (27. Nxa5 $4 Qb4 $19) 27... Kg7 28. Kh3 {
White is not really pushing, but in an attempt to create something, Eljanov
managed to provoke Kramnik into 'trying' something as well.} c5 {A natural
reaction. White's king could become weak if Black manages to open up a central
file.} 29. Rdc1 b6 30. dxc5 Rxc5 31. Rxc5 bxc5 32. Nc6 Qb7 33. Kg2 Rd5 34. Nxa5
Qb4 35. Nc4 Qxb3 36. a5 {After a series of forced moves, the players reached
an 'almost' equal endgame. The knight on c4 is strong but it keeps White's
rook tied to c4 and while the a-pawn looks strong too, it is very much under
control.} Qa2 37. Kf1 Rh5 38. Qe2 Qb3 $2 (38... Qa4 {is necessary to stop the
a-pawn.} 39. Kg2 Rxh4 40. Qb2 Rg4+ 41. Kf3 Qc6+ 42. Ke2 Rg2 43. Ra1 Qa6 44. Kf1
(44. Ra4 $4 Rh2 {and White is losing as he cannot make any progress because}
45. Qb6 {loses to} Qa8 46. a6 Qg2) 44... Rg4 (44... Rh2 45. Kg1 Rh5 46. Ne5 {
and White dominates and wins!}) 45. Rc1 Qc6 46. Ne5 Qa6+ (46... Qg2+ 47. Ke2
Rg3 (47... Rh4 48. a6 Qxf2+ 49. Kxf2 Rh2+ 50. Ke1 Rxb2 51. Rxc5 Nd5 (51... Ra2
52. Rc7 Ne4 53. Rxf7+ Kg8 54. a7 Ra1+ 55. Ke2 Nc3+ 56. Kf3 Nb5 {and Black
should be able to hold this position}) 52. e4 Nxf4 53. Ra5 Ng2+ 54. Kf1 Ne3+
55. Kg1 Rb8 56. a7 Ra8 57. Nc6 Nc4 58. Rb5 Kf6 59. Rb8 Ne5 60. Rxa8 Nxc6 {
is a surprising draw too but it is very hard to find.}) 48. Rxc5 {does not
look as if Black has a concrete plan for counter play.}) 47. Nc4 {with a draw
as the most probable result.}) 39. Qc2 $2 (39. Qb2 Qd3+ 40. Kg1 Rxh4 (40... Qe4
41. f3 $3 {be my guest!} Qxf3 42. Qg2 Qxg2+ 43. Kxg2 Rd5 44. a6 Rd7 45. Ra1 Ra7
46. Nd6 Nd5 47. Nb5 Ra8 48. Kf3 {with very good winning chances for White.})
41. f3 $3 {is too insanely hard to see!} Rh5 (41... Qd5 42. Ne5 {and Black's
pieces are scattered around the board and the pin along the diagonal and the
a-pawn would tear them apart!}) 42. a6 Rd5 43. a7 Rd8 44. Qb7 $18 {another
counter-intuitive move! White's queen leaves its allegedly weakened king to
promote the a-pawn to yet another queen.}) 39... Qb7 40. Qb2 Qa8 41. Ke2 Rxh4
42. Rb1 {Time trouble is over and the dust has settled: we have a position
similar to the one analysed earlier on move 38.} Qg2 $6 {A blunder according
to Houdini and colleagues!} 43. Ne5 $6 {Returns the favour once again.} (43. a6
{wins in a collection of fantastic geometry and finesse. I really cannot
expect anyone to see all this unless their intuition leads them to the
solution. The following line, selected out of many possible ones is worthy of
study!} Rh2 (43... Rh3 44. Rf1 {same story} e5 45. Qxe5 Qf3+ 46. Ke1 Rh1 47.
Nd2 Rxf1+ 48. Nxf1 (48. Kxf1 $4 Qd1+ 49. Kg2 Qxd2 50. a7 Qd8 51. Qb8 Qd5+ {
and perpetual!}) 48... Qa8 49. Qa1 $3 {Sheer poetry, fantastic geometry!} c4
50. a7 c3 51. f5 $1 h5 (51... gxf5 52. Ng3 Kg6 53. Qa5 Nd5 54. Qa6+ f6 55. Qe6
Qxa7 56. Qg8+ Qg7 57. Qxd5 {and White wins!}) 52. fxg6 fxg6 53. Qa5 Nd5 54. e4
c2 55. Kd2 {and White wins! I can hardly blame Eljanov for missing all these
beautiful moves!}) 44. Rf1 Qd5 45. Ne5 {and surprisingly, it is once again
Black's pieces which are going to be torn apart. due to the pin and advanced
a-pawn.}) 43... c4 $1 {Kramnik fixes matters. Now Black is safe again!} 44. Qd4
$2 {A serious mistake!} (44. Nd7 Rxf4 45. exf4 Qe4+ {it was time to call it a
day.}) 44... c3 $1 45. a6 (45. Qxc3 {loses on the spot:} Ne4 $19) 45... c2 46.
Rc1 Rh1 $1 {Flawless technique by the ex-world champion} 47. Rxc2 Qf1+ 48. Kd2
Qd1+ $1 {Even better than ...Qxf2+ - great intuition!} 49. Kc3 Qa1+ 50. Kb3
Qxa6 {The a-pawn is gone, and with it all of White's hope! White's king has no
shelter and Black slowly but assuredly converted!} 51. Nc4 Rb1+ 52. Nb2 Ra1 53.
Rc5 Ra3+ 54. Kb4 Ra2 55. Qc3 Qb6+ 56. Rb5 Qd6+ 57. Rc5 Ra8 58. Nd3 Rb8+ 59. Ka4
Qa6+ 60. Ra5 Qb7 {The king is tied up and all White's pieces are defending
mating squares. Black just needs his knight.} 61. Nc5 Qb1 62. Ka3 Kg8 $1 {
Here comes the knight, unpinned!} 63. Nb3 (63. Qxf6 Qb4+ 64. Ka2 Qxa5+ 65. Na4
Qxa4#) 63... Nd5 {A sad loss for Eljanov when he actually could have won the
game! He really needed some intuition more than calculation but it is really
hard to have intuition when your king is not in the safest situation!} 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2017.05.10"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Rozum, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.05.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Central Federal District"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Re1 Ne4 8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. Ng5 Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Bxd4 11. Nxe4 Na6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Be3 Nc7 14.
Red1 f5 15. Nc5 e5 16. a4 Re8 17. a5 e4 18. Bd4 Bf8 19. f3 b6 20. Nb3 c5 21.
Bf2 e3 22. Be1 Be6 23. Nc1 b5 24. f4 Rad8 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Nd3 Bb3 27. a6 c4
28. Ne5 Rd2 29. Kf1 Rxb2 30. g4 Kg7 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Bc6 Bd6 33. Bh4 Rd2 34.
Kg2 Bd1 35. Kf3 Bc5 36. Nd7 Bxe2+ 37. Kg3 Rd6 38. Ne5 Bd1 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Bg4 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nd7 11. Be3 Bf6 12. b4 Re8 13. a4 Nf8 14. b5 Qd7 15.
Rfb1 Ne6 16. bxc6 Qxc6 17. a5 a6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Qd1 Qd7 20. Rb7 Qc8 21. Qa4
Qxb7 22. Qxe8+ Nf8 23. Qa4 Rb8 24. c5 c6 25. Nb6 dxc5 26. Bxc5 Ne6 27. Be3 g6
28. Rb1 Kg7 29. Rb2 c5 30. Nc4 Qc7 31. Rxb8 Qxb8 32. Qc6 Qb1+ 33. Kh2 Qxd3 34.
Nxe5 Qb5 35. Qxb5 axb5 36. Nc6 Bc7+ 37. g3 b4 38. a6 b3 39. a7 b2 40. a8=Q b1=Q
41. Ne7 Bd8 42. Bxc5 Qc2 43. Qa1+ f6 44. Be3 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6 8.
e3 O-O 9. d4 Qe7 10. Be2 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Re1 Rfe8 13. Bb2 Na5 14. Bb5 c6 15.
Bf1 e4 16. Nd2 c5 17. c4 cxd4 18. exd4 Qh4 19. g3 Qg4 20. Bg2 f5 21. c5 Bf8 22.
Nc4 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 {An Archangel seems to be
a breath of fresh air after multiple Berlins and Marshalls.} 6. Nc3 $5 {
Something Vishy must have cooked up beforehand. A specialty of Dominguez, it
is very rare compared to 6.c3} b5 (6... O-O 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Re8 {recovers
the pawn, which makes castling a viable alternative to the move in the game})
7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nd5 (8. d3 h6 9. Nd5 {is much more common, seen in many of
Dominguez's games. Anand has his own idea, involving a pawn sacrifice.}) 8...
Nxe4 {Kramnik isn't one to refuse a challenge. Also, any other move lacks
justification} (8... h6 9. c3 {with the idea of a quick d4, looks dangerous}) (
8... Bb7 9. c3 {again might be an issue.}) 9. d3 Nf6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7
12. Re1 {After a more or less forced sequence we arrive at this position.
White clearly has compensation for the pawn: two bishops, pressure on e5 and
better development. Black must play accurately, but his position is still
solid and it is hard to crack any weakness. Sometimes, recovering e5 will not
be sufficient for an advantage.} h6 13. Bh4 (13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Bd5 Bb7 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. Bxb7 Rae8 {is completely fine for Black, even perhaps better for him
due to the superior piece placement!}) 13... Bb7 14. c3 Rfe8 15. d4 (15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. d4 Nf3+ 17. gxf3 Qd6 {gives Black an edge. The crippled pawns on the
kingside are worth more than the, for now, uncoordinated bishops.}) 15... e4
16. Nd2 Na5 17. Bc2 g5 18. Bg3 Nc4 {Releasing some of the pressure against e4
seems natural, though Black now has to suffer from the activation of some
important pieces.} (18... d5 19. h4 {gives White obvious counterplay. The
position is still terribly murky.}) 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. b3 Bd5 21. Be5 $6 {
Despite recovering the pawn, this move isn't precise.} (21. h4 $1 Qe6 22. hxg5
hxg5 23. Qd2 {puts real pressure on g5.}) (21. Bxc7 $5 {is also worth
considering, as the bishop will hide on a5 without problems.}) 21... d6 22.
Bxf6 Qxf6 23. bxc4 Bxc4 24. Rxe4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Re8 {Material is even, but
Black retains a nagging edge now that his rook controls the only open file and
his pieces are slightly better placed.} 26. Bd3 Qe6 27. Bxc4 Qxc4 28. Qb3 Qd3
29. h3 Kg7 30. Rd1 Qe2 31. Rf1 Re6 32. Qd5 Qd2 {The situation hasn't changed.
Anand has played very well to get to this position and continues holding on.}
33. Qc4 a5 34. Qxc7 $2 {But this is a mistake. Giving Black the outside passed
pawn proves catastrophic.} (34. a4 Re1 {looks dangerous, but after} 35. Rxe1
Qxe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxf2 37. Qxc7 {there isn't anything but a perpetual.}) 34... Qxa2
35. c4 Qd2 36. Qb6 a4 37. Qa7 Qb4 38. f4 Re1 $1 {The transition to the queen
endgame is perfectly timed. The black king is not easily caught in a perpetual
check.} 39. fxg5 Rxf1+ 40. Kxf1 hxg5 41. Kg1 Qxc4 (41... a3 {immediately was
winning.} 42. Kh2 Qb2 43. Qe7 Qd2 $1 {and White can't prevent the pawn from
advancing.}) 42. Kh2 Qb4 43. Qe7 Qd2 44. Qa7 Qf4+ 45. Kh1 Qc1+ 46. Kh2 a3 47.
Qa5 Qf4+ 48. Kh1 Qc1+ 49. Kh2 Qe3 50. Kh1 f6 $2 (50... Kg6 {made Kramnik's
life slightly easier. The point is that White is almost zugzwanged, as the
queen has to keep an eye on the kingside and the a-pawn. This is easy for
computers to see, but for humans it's a huge headache to calculate queen
endgames.} 51. Qa8 Qb3 52. Qg8+ Kf5 53. Qh7+ Ke6 {and the king escapes
successfully.}) 51. Qa4 (51. Qc7+ Kg6 52. Qc4 $1 {would have made Black's task
much, much harder.}) 51... Qc1+ 52. Kh2 Qf4+ 53. Kh1 Qe3 54. Kh2 Kf7 55. Kh1 (
55. Qa7+ Kg6 56. Qa8 Qb3 $1 {is winning. Black places the king on g7, the
queen on f7 and finally pushes a2.}) 55... Kg6 56. Qa8 (56. Qc4 $1 {is still
winning for Black, but much, much harder.}) 56... Kg7 57. Qb7+ Kg6 58. Qa8 (58.
Qd5 $1) 58... Qb3 {Now the pawn advances without problems.} 59. Qe4+ Kg7 60.
Qe7+ Qf7 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4
O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bc2 h6 14. Nf1 exd4 15.
cxd4 c5 16. d5 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ng3 Bd7 19. Be3 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. b4
Qa7 22. Qa1 Qc7 23. Bxh6 cxb4 24. Bxg7 Qxc2 25. Qxf6 Qxf2+ 26. Kh2 Bd8 27. Qxd6
Nh4 28. Nxh4 Bxh4 29. Nh5 Bxh3 30. Rg1 Bg5 31. Bf6 Bg4 32. Bxg5 Bxh5 33. Qh6
Rxe4 34. Qxh5 Qf5 35. Qh6 b3 36. Bf6 Qf4+ 37. Qxf4 Rxf4 38. d6 Rxf6 39. Rd1
Rh6+ 40. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. O-O c4 $5 {A relatively obscure idea
that has a lot of ambition behind it. Black goes for space at the cost of
relieving pressure against the d4-pawn.} 6. Be2 b5 7. b3 Bb7 8. Nc3 $6 {
A provocative reply from Vladimir.} (8. a4 a6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Ba3
O-O 12. Qc2 {Kuraica-Bareev, 2003, which ended in an upset win by the Bosnian
veteran.}) 8... b4 {Anish doesn't hesitate to go for a space grab.} ({
Rakhmanov-Vallejo Pons, 2013 saw a more subtle approach by Black:} 8... a6 9.
Ne5 (9. bxc4 dxc4 $1) 9... Qc7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. f4 Bd6 12. Bf3 Ne7 13. Rb1 {
and only now} b4 $1 {Here White missed his last chance to make a game out of
his dubious setup.} 14. Nxd5 $5 exd5 15. bxc4 a5 $1 (15... dxc4 16. Bxb7 Qxb7
17. Nxc4 Qc7 18. Nxd6+ Qxd6 19. Bxb4 Qc6 20. Qd3 Qe4 21. f5 {White isn't in
such a bad way here.}) 16. a3 O-O 17. c5 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Ne4 19. axb4 axb4 20.
Rxb4 {but Black is probably better here.}) 9. Na4 c3 10. Ne5 Bd6 $2 ({The
correct} 10... Nc6 11. a3 a5 12. Bb5 Qc7 {would practically compel White to
try the highly speculative} 13. e4 {because otherwise his Bc1 would have no
way out.} Nxe4 14. Qg4 h5 15. Qe2 Bd6 16. Be3 $15) 11. a3 ({Also,} 11. Bb5+ {
right away has its points.} Kf8 12. Nc5 Qb6 (12... Bxc5 {is depressing. After}
13. dxc5 Qa5 14. a4 Qc7 15. Qd4 {White has full control of the dark squares.})
13. Nxb7 Qxb7 14. Qd3 a6 15. Ba4 {How does Black develop here? It won't take
White long to prepare e3-e4.}) 11... a5 (11... O-O {would be a major
concession. White simply goes} 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. Ba3 a5 14. Nc5 Qc7 15. Bxb4
axb4 16. Rxa8 Bxa8 17. Qd3 Nc6 18. f4 {and he has all the play on the a-file
and against the weak b4-pawn. That's the problem with attempting to grab space:
it only works when we get to push his pieces back. Once the opponent finds his
way around the advancing pawns (Na4-c5 in this case), they become terribly
weak.}) 12. Bb5+ Kf8 ({The same story unfolds in the event of} 12... Nbd7 13.
Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. axb4 axb4 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. Qd4 O-O
19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Qxb4 $18) 13. Nc5 Qb6 14. Nxb7 Qxb7 15. Qe2 {The black king
is in more trouble than it seems, and, of course, the black rooks aren't
coordinated.} g6 {One of those "positional" moves that at times can meet with
a direct tactical refutation.} (15... h5 16. f3 h4 17. e4 Qb6 18. Kh1 Qxd4 19.
Bf4 {is quite dangerous for Black, yet, it seemed a better choice.}) 16. e4
Nxe4 (16... dxe4 17. Bh6+ Kg8 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. f3) (16... Kg7 17. Nxf7 $1 {
Perhaps, Anish missed that one.} Kxf7 18. e5 $18) 17. Bh6+ Ke7 (17... Kg8 18.
Ng4 Be7 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. f3 Nf6 22. Qe5 $18) 18. f3 $18 {
Black won't last long here.} Nd2 ({Some spectacular lines Anish Giri decided
to leave in the dark:} 18... Bxe5 19. fxe4 Bxd4+ 20. Kh1 dxe4 21. Rad1 e5 22.
Qc4) ({or} 18... Nf6 19. Rfe1 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Nfd7 21. axb4 axb4 22. Rxa8 Qxa8
23. Qf2 Qa5 24. Qh4+ Ke8 25. Qf6 Rg8 26. Bg5) 19. Rfe1 Kd8 20. Bf4 (20. Bf4 Kc7
21. axb4 axb4 22. Rxa8 Qxa8 23. Nxf7 Bxf4 24. Qxe6 Rc8 25. Qf6 $1) 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a5 8. Re1 h6
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. a4 Re8 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Nc4 Nb8 13. Bxd7 Nbxd7 14. Bd2 Nb6 15.
b3 c6 16. Rb1 Qc7 17. d4 Nxc4 18. bxc4 exd4 19. cxd4 Bb4 20. Qc2 c5 21. d5 Re7
22. Re3 Rae8 23. Rbe1 Qd8 24. R1e2 Nh5 25. g3 Bxd2 26. Qxd2 Qd7 27. e5 Qxh3 28.
exd6 Rxe3 29. Rxe3 Qd7 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Qxa5 Nf6 32. Qxc5 Qxa4 33. Qc8+ Kh7
34. Qf5+ Kg8 35. Ne5 Qb4 36. d7 Qd6 37. Qf3 b6 38. Kg2 h5 39. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D54"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. Bxf6
Bxf6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. g3 c6 11. Bh3 Bb7 12. Nge2 Re8 13. O-O Na6 14. Nf4 Qd6
15. Qf3 Rad8 16. Rfd1 Nc7 17. Bf5 g6 18. Bb1 Bg7 19. h4 Qf6 20. Kg2 c5 21. Nce2
Qe7 22. b3 Ba8 23. Kg1 c4 24. Kg2 b5 25. Rh1 Rd6 26. g4 b4 27. Ng3 Ne6 28. h5
Nxf4+ 29. exf4 Bxd4 30. hxg6 fxg6 31. Rce1 Qxe1 32. Rxe1 Rxe1 33. f5 Rf6 34. g5
hxg5 35. Qg4 Be5 36. fxg6 Bxg3 37. Qc8+ Rf8 38. Qd7 d4+ 39. f3 Bxf3+ 40. Kxg3
Rg1+ 41. Kh2 Rg2+ 42. Kh1 Rb2+ 43. Kg1 Rxb1+ 44. Kh2 Rh1+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 b5 11. f3 Qa5 12. Kb1 b4 13. Ne2 e5 14. Bf2 Be6
15. Nc1 Rb8 16. Qe2 Ra8 17. g4 Be7 18. h4 O-O 19. Bh3 Qc7 20. g5 Nh5 21. Bxe6
fxe6 22. Nd3 a5 23. gxh6 g6 24. Rhg1 Kh7 25. Be3 Rf7 26. f4 exf4 27. Qg4 Rg8
28. Nxf4 Nxf4 29. Bxf4 e5 30. Be3 Qc8 31. Qe2 Rgf8 32. b3 Rf3 33. Bg5 Bxg5 34.
hxg5 a4 35. Rgf1 Rxf1 36. Rxf1 Qg4 37. Qc4 Rxf1+ 38. Qxf1 Qxg5 39. bxa4 Qe3 40.
a5 Qc5 41. a6 Kxh6 42. Qh3+ Kg5 43. Qg3+ Kf6 44. Qh4+ Ke6 45. Qg5 Kd7 46. Qxg6
Kc6 47. Qg7 Kb6 48. Qb7+ Ka5 49. a4 bxa3 50. a7 a2+ 51. Ka1 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. c4 c6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. h3
Nbd7 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. O-O Qe7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 O-O 13. Bg5 Qd8 14. Re1 Qc7
15. Qf3 Bb4 16. Bc2 Qa5 17. h4 Rfe8 18. a3 Bf8 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. b4 a5 21. b5
cxb5 22. Nxb5 Rac8 23. Bd3 e5 24. c5 Qc6 25. Qh3 Rcd8 26. d5 Qxc5 27. Rc1 Qb6
28. Nc7 Bc5 29. Nxe8 Bxf2+ 30. Kh1 Rxe8 31. Rb1 Qa7 32. Rf1 e4 33. Bb5 Nh5 34.
Qxd7 Ng3+ 35. Kh2 Re5 36. Rfc1 Kh7 37. Rc8 Rxg5 38. Qe8 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Bd6 6. h3 Bh5 7. c4 Ne7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Qb3 Nd7 10. d4 Qb6 11. Rd1 Qxb3 12. axb3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 f5 14. e3 a6 15.
Bd2 Nf6 16. Be1 g5 17. Be2 h5 18. f3 g4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20. fxg4 fxg4 21. Kg2 Nf5
22. Bf2 Kg7 23. Rh1 Rh8 24. Bd3 Rxh1 25. Rxh1 Bb4 26. Ne2 Ne4 27. Nf4 Re8 28.
Rh5 Bd6 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Nxe6+ Kg6 31. Rg5+ Kh6 32. Rxf5 Rxe6 33. Rf7 Be7 34.
d5 cxd5 35. cxd5 Re5 36. d6 Bg5 37. Rxb7 Rd5 38. d7 Kg6 39. Kf1 Kf5 40. Ke2 Ke6
41. Rb4 Kf5 42. Rb7 Ke6 43. Ra7 Rxd7 44. Rxa6+ Rd6 45. Ra4 Rb6 46. Be1 Rxb3 47.
Bc3 Kf5 48. Ra5+ Kg6 49. Re5 Rb7 50. Rxe4 Kh5 51. b4 Rc7 52. Kd3 Rd7+ 53. Rd4
Rf7 54. Re4 Rf3 55. Be5 Rf1 56. b5 Rb1 57. Kc4 Bd8 58. Rd4 Bb6 59. Rd5 Rc1+ 60.
Kd3 Kg6 61. Bd4 Bxd4 62. Rxd4 Kf5 63. Rb4 Rd1+ 64. Ke2 Rd7 65. b6 Rb7 66. Kd3
1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O c5 8. c3
d5 9. h3 Nc6 10. Qe2 Re8 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. e4 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 e6 15. Rfe1
Qb6 16. Rab1 Rad8 17. Bh2 a5 18. a4 c4 19. Bc2 Ba6 20. Ne5 Nxe4 21. Nxc6 Qxc6
22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Bxe4 Qxa4 24. Ra1 Qb5 25. Bc7 Rc8 26. Rxa5 Qd7 27. Be5 Bxe5
28. Rxe5 Qc7 29. Qh5 Kg7 30. Bc2 Qb6 31. h4 Qxb2 32. hxg5 Qxc2 33. Qxh6+ Kg8
34. R1e4 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qd6 36. g6 Rc7 37. g7 f5 38. Qh8+ Kf7 39. Qxe8+ Kxg7 40.
Re3 Rc8 41. Qxe6 Qxe6 42. Rxe6 Bb5 43. R6e5 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. Bb2 Bg4 8.
Nbd2 Nf6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 O-O 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxe4 13. Bb2 Qh4 14. b5
Ne5 15. Bd5 Nc5 16. f4 Ned7 17. Qd4 Qf6 18. Qb4 Qf5 19. Bf3 Qxc2 20. Rac1 Qg6
21. f5 Qg5 22. Qd4 Rfe8 23. Rce1 Ne5 24. Be2 Qg3 25. Rd1 f6 26. Bc1 Kh8 27. Kh1
Rad8 28. Bh5 Rf8 29. Bf4 Qh4 30. Be2 g5 31. fxg6 Ne6 32. Qe3 Nxf4 33. Rxf4 Qg5
34. gxh7 Ng6 35. Re4 d5 36. Qxg5 fxg5 37. Rg4 Nf4 38. Bf3 Nxh3 39. Rd2 c6 40.
bxc6 bxc6 41. Kh2 Nf4 42. Rxg5 Rd6 43. Rb2 Rh6+ 44. Kg3 Ne6 45. Rg4 Rxh7 46.
Rc2 Rc7 47. Rc1 Rg8 48. Kf2 Rxg4 49. Bxg4 Ng5 50. Ke3 Kg7 51. Kd4 Kf6 52. Rf1+
Ke7 53. Rf5 Ne4 54. Ke5 Nd6 55. Rh5 Nf7+ 56. Kd4 Kd6 57. Bf3 c5+ 58. Ke3 Re7+
59. Kf4 Ne5 60. Rh6+ Re6 61. Rh7 Nxf3 62. Kxf3 c4 63. Rxa7 Kc5 64. Rc7+ Kd4 65.
g4 c3 66. g5 Kd3 67. Kf4 c2 68. Kf5 Re7 69. Rc5 d4 70. g6 Kd2 71. Kf6 Ra7 72.
g7 Rxg7 73. Kxg7 d3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Before this last round Kramnik was in last position with 2.5/6 and that too
in a tournament which he has won 10 times.} 1. Nf3 {Not surprisingly then, the
choice of opening seems to suggest playing more chess and less theory.} d5 2.
g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 Be7 6. h3 Bh5 7. c4 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gd1b3]
The idea is well known and seen in similar positions when the black bishop is
developed on f5.} ({A blitz game was played at the top level recently} 7. Nbd2
c5 8. e4 Nc6 9. Re1 dxe4 10. dxe4 O-O 11. e5 Nd7 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc4 Nb4 $36 {
1-0 Caruana,F (2808)-Carlsen,M (2832)/Paris 2017 (49)}) 7... c6 8. Qb3 Qc8 ({
The natural move would be} 8... Qb6 {but Black has to accept weak squares on
the queenside after} 9. Be3 Qxb3 10. axb3 a6 {[%csl Rb6] which should give
White a slight edge} 11. g4 Bg6 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Nc3 $14 {
0-1 Meier,G (2630)-Karjakin,S (2783)/chess.com INT 2017 (58)}) 9. g4 Bg6 10.
cxd5 cxd5 (10... Nxd5 $6 11. e4 Nf6 12. Ne5 $14) (10... exd5 11. Nh4 $14 {
[%cal Ge2e4,Gf2f4]}) 11. Bf4 Nc6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rac1 Qd7 ({A correspondence
game with a different move order went} 13... Nd7 14. Na4 Re8 15. Rfe1 Bd8 16.
Nd4 e5 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bg3 Qa6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ronat,O -Krebs,J/2014 (50)}) 14.
Ne5 ({An interesting positional sacrifice was suggested by the machines} 14. e4
$5 dxe4 15. dxe4 Nxe4 16. Rfd1 Qc8 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rd8 20.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qa4 $44) 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 h5 {A principled
move, targeting the weakened kingside.} (15... Bd6 $5 16. f4 $14 (16. Bxd6 Qxd6
17. e4 $5 (17. Qxb7 $4 Rfb8)) (16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13)) 16. g5 (16. gxh5 Nxh5 $15 {
[%csl Rh3]}) 16... Ne8 (16... Nh7 17. f4 $14) 17. f4 (17. h4 $5 f6 $1 18. gxf6
Bxf6) 17... Bc5+ {Forcing White to close the retreat path of his bishop.} ({
Black could have seriously considered} 17... f6 $5 18. gxf6 gxf6 19. Bd4 Ng7 {
[%cal Gg7f5,Gf5g3,Gf5e3,Gf5d4]} 20. Bf2 $13 {although Black has some
weaknesses, White has been pushed back a little.} (20. e4 $2 {[%csl Rd4]} dxe4
$17 {[%csl Rd4]}) (20. Kh1 Kh8 $132 (20... Nf5 21. Bf2))) 18. d4 (18. Kh1 $6
Be3 19. Rc2 Nd6 $15) 18... Bb6 {[%csl Re5]} 19. f5 $1 (19. Na4 Bf5 {is fine
for Black.} (19... f6 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. f5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 exf5 23. Bxd5+ $36)) (
19. Qa3 Bf5 {is also solid} (19... f6 20. f5)) 19... Bxf5 20. Rxf5 exf5 21.
Nxd5 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gg5g6,Gd5f4,Gd5f6,Gb3g3,Gg2a8] For the exchange, White
gets enough compensation in the form of a weakened black structure and dynamic
attacking chances with freedom and creativity for all his pieces.} Qe6 {
[%cal Ge6e5]} 22. Kh1 (22. g6 $4 Qxe5) (22. e3 $5) 22... Rd8 23. Qf3 ({There
was the very tempting and aesthetically pleasing} 23. g6 $5 {but Black has a
way to sort things out with the unnatural} Nf6 $1 {with no fear of the likely
compromise of pawn structure as long as the attack is neutralised.} (23... Qxg6
24. Ne7+ $18) (23... Nd6 24. Nf6+ gxf6 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. Bd5 $18) (23... fxg6
24. Rc8 $1 Nc7 (24... Rxc8 25. Ne7+ Kf7 26. Bd5 $18) (24... Qxc8 25. Nxb6+ $18)
25. Rxc7 Bxc7 26. Bxc7 $14) 24. Bxf6 (24. Nxf6+ gxf6 $19 {[%csl Re5]}) 24...
gxf6 $17) 23... g6 24. e3 {[%csl Rb6] Kramnik refuses to get distracted with
queenside material.} (24. Nxb6 {gets back a pawn, and may be a tiny edge but
Kramnik had his eyes set on the black king} axb6 (24... Qxb6 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26.
Bxb7 Nd6 27. Bc6 Ne4 28. Kg2 $14 {/=}) 25. Qxb7 Rd7 26. Qc6) (24. Nf4 $2 Qxa2
25. Nxh5 Bxd4 $19) 24... Kh7 $6 {Bluebaum misses his moment} ({From a
defensive perspective there was a clear plan for improvement of the bishop
that was biting on the d4-e3 granite with} 24... Rd7 $1 $132 {[%cal Gb6d8]} 25.
b3 (25. Rc8 Rxd5) 25... Bd8 26. h4 (26. Nf4 Qa6 $17) 26... Qa6 27. a4 Qd3 $17)
(24... Ng7 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Qxb7 $16) 25. Nf4 Qe7 ({Taking the pawn in the
corner would be dangerous} 25... Qxa2 $6 26. Qxb7 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Gb7h7]} Kg8
(26... Nd6 27. Qe7 Rfe8 28. Qf6 Rxe5 29. Qxe5 $16) 27. Rc6 $18 {[%cal Gc6g6]} (
27. Qe7)) 26. Qg3 (26. Qxb7 Qxb7 (26... Qxg5 27. Rc6 Kg8 28. Nxg6 fxg6 29. Bf4
$18) 27. Bxb7 Nd6 $11 {[%cal Gd6e4]}) (26. Nxh5 $2 Qxg5 $17) 26... Bc7 27. Rxc7
$1 {Fearless Kramnik sacrifices a second exchange, clearly indicating that the
bishop on e5 is more valuable for his attack than the rook on c1!} (27. Bf6 $2
Nxf6 28. gxf6 Qd7 29. Qg5 Bxf4 30. Qxf4 Rc8 $19) (27. Bxc7 $6 Nxc7 $17 28. Nxh5
gxh5 29. Qh4 Kg7 30. Qxh5 Rh8 $19) 27... Nxc7 28. Bf6 ({IF} 28. Qh4 {then after
} Kg8 {Black has a perpetual ready} (28... f6 29. gxf6 Qf7 $14) 29. Nxh5 gxh5
30. Bf6 (30. Qxh5 f6 $19) 30... Qxe3 31. Qxh5 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Qf4+ $11) 28... Qb4
(28... Qd7 29. Qh4 Ne8 (29... Kg8 30. Nxh5 Ne8 31. Nf4) 30. Nxh5 Kg8 31. Nf4
Nxf6 32. gxf6 Qd6 33. Bd5 $1 (33. Qg5 Rd7 34. Bd5 Rc8 35. Qxg6+ Kf8 36. Qxf5)
33... Qa6 (33... Rc8 34. Qg5 Rc1+ 35. Kh2 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Kh7 37. Bxf7 $1 $18) 34.
Qh6 Qxf6 35. Nh5 $1 gxh5 (35... Qh8 36. Qxg6+) 36. Qxf6 Rxd5 37. Qg5+ Kh7 38.
Qxh5+ Kg7 39. Qg5+ Kh7 40. Qe7 Kg7 41. Qxb7 $16) 29. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 (29... Ne8
$142 30. Bxd8 (30. Qh4 Kg8) 30... gxh5 31. Qf2 (31. Qf3 Ng7) 31... Ng7 32. Bf6
Rc8 $13) 30. g6+ (30. Qh4 Kg6 31. Bf3 Rh8 $19) (30. Qxc7 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Rc8 $19)
30... Kg8 (30... fxg6 31. Qxc7+ $18) 31. Qg5 $1 (31. gxf7+ Kxf7 32. Qg7+ Ke8
33. Qg6+ Kd7 $15) (31. g7 Rfe8 32. Qg5 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qxe3 $19) 31... h4 $4 {
A miscalculation in a difficult position, probably due to time pressure.} ({
The best defence was} 31... Nd5 $142 32. Bxd8 (32. gxf7+ Kxf7 33. Bxd8 Rxd8 34.
Qxd8 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Nxe3 36. Bxb7 (36. Qd7+ Kf6 37. Qd6+ $11) 36... Qf2+ 37. Kh1
Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Qf2+ $11) (32. Bxd5 Rxd5 33. Qxh5 (33. Qh6 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qf2+ $11)
33... Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Qf1+) 32... Qd6 33. gxf7+ Kxf7 34. Qxh5+ Kg8
35. Bh4 $1 {[%cal Gh5g5,Gh4g3,Gh1h2,Rd6h2]} (35. Bg5 Rc8 {[%cal Gc8c1,Gd6h2]}
36. Qd1) 35... Qe6 (35... Nxe3 36. Qg5+ $18 {[%csl Re3]}) (35... Rc8 36. Qg5+
Kh8 37. Bg3) 36. Bg3 Nxe3 (36... Rc8 37. Be5) 37. Qg5+ Kf7 38. Bf3 $36 {
[%cal Gf3h5]}) (31... Qe1+ 32. Kh2 $18) (31... Ne6 32. Qh6 fxg6 33. Qxg6+ $18)
32. Qh6 (32. Qxh4 $2 fxg6 33. Bxd8 Qxb2 $14) (32. Qh5 $2 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qg3+ 34.
Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Bf1 Qxe3+ 36. Kh1 Qe4+ 37. Bg2 Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qg3+ $11) 32... Qe1+
33. Kh2 Qg3+ 34. Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Bf1 Qg3+ 36. Kh1 Qf3+ 37. Bg2 Qd1+ 38. Kh2 {
An aggressive and delightful game by Kramnik to end the tournament!} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Dai, Changren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2427"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 c5 12. d5 Qc7 13. Bc2 c4 14. Nf1 a5 15. Ng3
Nc5 16. b3 cxb3 17. axb3 Bd7 18. Be3 Rfc8 19. Qd2 a4 20. bxa4 Nxa4 21. Bxa4
Rxa4 22. Rxa4 bxa4 23. Rc1 Qc4 24. Qc2 h5 25. Nd2 Qa6 26. c4 h4 27. Ne2 Nh5 28.
Ra1 Bd8 29. Nc3 Nf4 30. Ra2 Ra8 31. Qb1 Qc8 32. Qd1 Nd3 33. Nb5 Ra6 34. Qa1 Nc5
35. Qb1 Be7 36. Qa1 Bd8 37. Qb1 Be7 38. Qa1 Kh7 39. Bxc5 Qxc5 40. Rxa4 Rxa4 41.
Qxa4 Bg5 42. Nb3 Qc8 43. Kh2 Bf4+ 44. g3 Bxh3 45. Nxd6 hxg3+ 46. fxg3 Qg4 47.
Nf5 Qh5 48. gxf4 Bxf5+ 49. Kg3 Qg4+ 50. Kf2 Qxf4+ 51. Ke2 Qxe4+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Demchenko, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This is a typical modern day Kramnik game. Relatively fresh opening position,
new ideas found by the World Champion, incessant pressure thanks to one
powerful move after the other, and finally accurate conversion of the
advantage. His 2645 opponent is completely outplayed.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3.
b3 {The double fianchetto is getting quite mainstream these days with theory
developing around it.} Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 (5... d5 {is a completely
different setup, not one that KID players would go for.}) 6. d4 Nbd7 (6... c5 {
might be a much more interesting choice. There are possilibities of ...Qa5+
and in general Black has a fine position here.}) 7. O-O Re8 {Black is not
playing very actively, ...Re8 already doesn't seem so good.} (7... e5 {is
mainly played} 8. dxe5 Ng4 {[%cal Gg4e5] I have never really liked this move
as White gets a small but stable edge by normal means.} (8... Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5
10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Bxe5 $14) 9. c4 Ngxe5 10. Nc3 $14 {I feel that such
positions are always slightly better for White and very pleasant to play.}) 8.
a4 $5 {This move came as a surprise to me. I was expecting something like c4.
Kramnik's explanation can be that Black has done nothing in the centre, so
instead of revealing my cards, I would like to take more space on the
queenside with a4-a5 and so on.} Rb8 $6 {[%cal Gh1a8] Black wants to get away
from ideas like a5-a6 and issues on the long diagonal. However, all these
moves ...Re8 and ...Rb8 seem quite artificial.} (8... e5 {would have been a
normal continuation to Black's last move ...Re8.} 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. Qd2 (10. c4 {
Now this move doesn't make much sense as} a5 $1 {cements Black's superiority
on the dark squares.}) (10. a5 $5 Ndxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Ra2 {a4 becomes
useful in a weird way!}) 10... Ngxe5 11. Nc3 $11) 9. c4 e5 10. dxe5 Ng4 (10...
dxe5 $5 {A very interesting idea.} 11. Nxe5 Nc5 $1 {The pawn on b3 is quite
weak.} (11... Ng4 12. Nxd7 Bxb2 13. Ra2 $1 $16 {The rook on b8 is not exactly
very happy at this point.}) 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. b4 Na6 14. b5 (14. Bc3 Ng4 15.
Nxg4 Bxg4 16. b5 Bxe2 17. Re1 Nc5 $1 18. Rxe2 $2 Rd1+ 19. Bf1 Bxc3 $19) 14...
Nc5 15. Nf3 Nfe4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 $44 {I would rate this as very decent
compensation for Black. His knights are perched on great squares staring at
the weaknesses in White's position.}) 11. a5 {Kramnik gains more space on
queenside.} dxe5 12. h3 Nh6 (12... e4 {was interesting but White will gain the
advantage after} 13. Bxg7 exf3 14. exf3 Nxf2 15. Qd4 $1 Nd3 16. Nc3 (16. Bh6
$16) 16... N3c5 17. Bh6 Qf6 18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. Ra3 $16) 13. e4 {Kramnik sees
that the weakness of the d4-square is not going to be quite relevant here and
goes for e4, limiting the knight on h6.} f6 {[%cal Gh6f7]} 14. b4 Nf8 15. Nc3
Be6 (15... Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Be6 17. Nd5 Rbc8 (17... c6 18. Nc7 $16) 18. c5 $14)
16. Qe2 {[%cal Gf1d1] When you have more space, in general you should avoid
exchanges! Soon Black is going to struggle to find good squares for his pieces.
} Qc8 17. Kh2 Nf7 18. Rfd1 c6 19. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1e3,Ge3a7] The bishop will
stand well on e3. This is the speciality of these great players: they know
when and where to shift their pieces. The bishop on b2 was not doing much, so
Vlad gets it to e3.} ({If I was White I would have gone for} 19. Rac1 Bh6 20.
Rc2 Rd8 {Black seems to be doing alright here.}) 19... f5 {Understandably
Black tries to create some play on the kingside.} 20. Be3 b6 21. axb6 axb6 22.
Rac1 $1 {[%cal Gc1c8] Once again a little counter-intuitive. The rook was
already on an open file, so why bring it to c1? Well, the reason is that it
defends the knight against threats like ...f4 and also prepares Nd5 which,
surprisingly, is not easy to stop.} Qc7 (22... Qb7 23. b5 $1 {[%csl Gd5]} cxb5
{[%cal Gg2b7]} (23... c5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. Nxe5 $18) 24. exf5 Bxc4 25. Qb2 e4
26. Nd4 $16) 23. Nd5 $1 (23. b5 $5 $14 {was also interesting here.}) 23... cxd5
24. cxd5 Qe7 25. dxe6 Nxe6 {In such positions the margin of error is not very
huge. White has to play accurately, or else Black consolidates. For Kramnik,
these are just the kind of positions he likes.} 26. exf5 $1 {When you have the
bishop pair, you must open the position.} gxf5 27. Qb5 $1 {Kramnik is very
good at such positions. He calculates the tactics accurately and does not let
his initiative go.} f4 (27... e4 28. Nh4 f4 29. Nf5 Qg5 30. gxf4 Nxf4 31. Bxe4
$1 Rxe4 32. Rg1 $18) 28. gxf4 exf4 29. Rd7 {White's play just flows!} Qf6 30.
Bd2 {There are just three pawns on the board and materially White isn't ahead,
but there is just so much pressure. It's just impossible to dispute the
quality of White's pieces.} Rbc8 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Qxb6 {Winning a pawn. Now
this position might seem wild, but if you look carefully, there is absolutely
nothing that Black can do. White's pieces are perfectly posted and the exposed
nature of Black's king gives Kramnik a winning advantage.} Rc2 33. Qb7 Bf8 34.
Qe4 Qg6 35. Qd5 {[%cal Gd5g8]} Qf6 36. h4 $1 {[%cal Gg2h3,Gh3e6] Bringing the
last piece into the game with great effect. The bishop on h3 will break
Black's final resistance.} Bg7 37. Bh3 Nf8 38. Rb7 h6 39. Bg4 {[%cal Gg4h5]}
Rb2 40. Bh5 Ng6 41. Bxg6 Qxg6 42. Rb8+ Bf8 (42... Kh7 43. h5 Qf6 44. Qe4+ Qg6
45. Qxg6#) 43. Ne5 Rxd2 (43... Qg7 44. Nd7 $18) 44. Rxf8+ {Powerful play by
Kramnik. Demchenko was so dazed by this performance that in the next game when
he had the white pieces, he agreed to a draw in just 10 moves and was duly
eliminated from the World Cup 2017.} 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Enkhtuul, Altanulzii"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2327"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Bf2 Nc5 15.
Rab1 f5 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Be3 Qf8 18. Nb5 a4 19. b4 Ne6 20. Bd3 Rf7 21. Be4
Bxb5 22. cxb5 Nd8 23. Rbd1 Qe8 24. b6 Bf8 25. Rfe1 e6 26. Bf2 Qb5 27. Bd3 Qh5
28. Re4 Bh6 29. Qe2 d5 30. Re5 g5 31. h4 Rg7 32. Bf5 Qf7 33. Rxe6 Nc6 34. Rxc6
Qxf5 35. Rxh6 gxh4 36. Qe6+ Qxe6 37. Rxe6 h3 38. g3 Rf8 39. Rxd5 Rxf3 40. Re8+
Kf7 41. Re2 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kavutskiy, Konstantin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Bg2 c5 7. c4 Ne4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. e3 e5 10. Ne1 f5 11. d5 Nb8 12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Nc3 Bf5 14. g4 Qg5 15. h4
Qxg4+ 16. Qxg4 Bxg4 17. Nxe4 Be2 18. Nxd6 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 b6 20. Ke2 Nd7 21. Nd3
Rad8 22. Ne4 Rde8 23. Rg1 Nf6 24. Ng5 Nxd5 25. cxd5 e4 26. Nxc5 bxc5 27. Bxg7
Kxg7 28. Ne6+ Rxe6 29. dxe6 Kf6 30. Rg4 Ke5 31. Rf4 Re8 32. Rf7 h5 33. Rxa7
Kxe6 34. Ra6+ Kf5 35. Rc6 Kg4 36. Rxc5 Kxh4 37. a4 Kg4 38. a5 h4 39. Rc6 g5 40.
a6 h3 41. Kf1 Rd8 42. Kg1 Rd2 43. Rf6 Ra2 44. b4 Ra4 45. b5 Ra5 46. Rf8 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
O-O 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. O-O Nb6 11. e4 Bxa6 12. Re1 Nc4 13. Bf1 Nd7 14. Nd2 Nde5
15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bd3 Qb6 17. Rb1 Rfb8 18. Na4 Qb4 19. Kg2 Ne5 20. Bd2 Qd4 21.
Bc2 Nd3 22. Re3 Bh6 23. Rf3 Bxd2 24. Qxd2 Ne5 25. Qxd4 cxd4 26. Rb3 Bb5 27. a3
Be2 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. b4 Bf3+ 30. Kf1 Rc8 31. Bd1 Bxe4 32. Ra1 Nc4 33. Ke1
Bxd5 34. Be2 Be4 35. f3 Ne3 36. fxe4 Nc2+ 37. Kd2 Nxa1 38. Bd1 f5 39. exf5 gxf5
40. Nb6 Rb8 41. Nc4 Kf7 42. g4 Kf6 43. gxf5 Kxf5 44. Bf3 Kf4 45. Bd5 e5 46. Kd3
Rc8 47. a4 e4+ 48. Bxe4 Rxc4 49. Kxc4 Kxe4 50. a5 Nc2 51. b5 Na3+ 52. Kb4 Nxb5
53. Kxb5 d3 0-1

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sethuraman, SP."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 Be7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. Nbd2 b6 8. Ne5
Ba6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Bxd3 11. Nxd3 Be7 12. c4 Na6 13. Qe2 Nc5 14. Nxc5 Bxc5
15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Nf3 Rfd8 19. Qd3 a5 20. Rd2 h6 21.
a4 Rac8 22. Rc2 Qe6 23. Rfc1 g6 24. h3 Re8 25. Rd1 Red8 26. Rc3 Qf6 27. Rc2 Qe6
28. Qb5 Kg7 29. Rcd2 Rd6 30. Nd4 Qf6 31. Qe2 Rcd8 32. Rd3 R6d7 33. g3 Kg8 34.
h4 h5 35. Kg2 Kg7 36. Nb5 Qf5 37. Qf3 Qxf3+ 38. Kxf3 Kf6 39. Ke2 Ke6 40. Rc1
Ke7 41. Kf3 Ke6 42. b4 Bxb4 43. Rc6+ Ke7 44. Rxb6 Rc8 45. Nd4 Rd6 46. Rb7+ Kf8
47. Kg2 Rc1 48. Nf3 Kg7 49. Rd4 Rf6 50. Rxd5 Rc2 51. Rd1 Ra2 52. Rb8 Re6 53.
Rd7 Rf6 54. Rdd8 Re6 55. Rg8+ Kf6 56. Nd4 Rd6 57. Nf3 Rxa4 58. Rb7 Re6 59. Ng5
Re7 60. Rb6+ Ke5 61. Rd8 Bc5 62. Rc6 Ba7 63. f4+ Kf5 64. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.10.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nf3 Qb4+ 11. Kd1 Ne7 12. Qc2 c5 13. Bd3 Bg7 14. Re1 O-O
15. Qb3 Nc6 16. Bd2 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Kc2 Rad8 19. a3 d6 20. exd6 Rxd6 21.
Bc3 Na5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nd2 Rfd8 24. Re3 Bc8 25. Kc3 Bf5 26. Bxf5 Rxd2 27.
Be4 R8d4 28. b3 Rxf2 29. Rf3 Re2 30. Bd5 c6 31. Bxf7 Nb7 32. b4 Nd6 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 33rd"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2017.10.14"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2017.10.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Globus"]
[BlackTeam "Legacy Square Capital"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 Qe7 5. a3 Bd6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8.
N2f3 d5 9. cxd5 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. e3 c6 13. Rc1 Bb6 14. Bc4 Bg4
15. O-O Rd8 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Qb3 Rd7 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Rad8 20. Bb5 Rd6 21.
Bxc6 Rxc6 22. Rxc6 Qxc6 23. Rd1 Rc8 24. Ne5 Qe8 25. Nd7 Rc6 26. Nxb6 Rxb6 27.
Qc3 Qe4 28. Rd4 Qb1+ 29. Kh2 Rc6 30. Qb4 Rf6 31. f4 b6 32. Qd2 Rc6 33. Rd8+ Kh7
34. Qd5 Re6 35. f5 Re7 36. f6 gxf6 37. Qa8 Qe4 38. Rh8+ Kg6 39. Qg8+ Kf5 40.
Qh7+ Ke5 41. Qxh6 Ke6 42. Rd8 Qe5+ 43. Qf4 Qxf4+ 44. exf4 Kf5 45. Rd4 Re2 46.
Rb4 Kg6 47. Rb3 Rf2 48. Kg3 Rf1 49. Rd3 f5 50. Rd6+ f6 51. Rd2 Kh5 52. Rd5 Kg6
53. Rb5 Rd1 54. Kf2 Rd3 55. g3 Rd2+ 56. Ke3 Rh2 57. h4 Rg2 58. Kf3 Rd2 59. Rb3
Kh5 60. Ke3 Rd1 61. Rd3 Rb1 62. b3 Ra1 63. a4 Re1+ 64. Kd4 Re4+ 65. Kd5 Kg4 66.
Kc6 Rb4 67. Kb7 a5 68. Ka6 Kh5 69. Rd6 Rxb3 70. Rxf6 Rxg3 71. Rxf5+ Kxh4 72.
Kxb6 Rg8 73. Kxa5 Ra8+ 74. Kb5 Rb8+ 75. Kc6 Kg4 76. Rb5 Ra8 77. a5 Kxf4 78. Kb7
Rh8 79. a6 Rh7+ 80. Kb6 Rh6+ 81. Ka5 Rh7 82. Rc5 Ke4 83. Kb6 Kd4 84. Rc7 Rh1
85. a7 Rb1+ 86. Kc6 Ra1 87. Kb7 Rb1+ 88. Kc8 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 3. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. c4 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Na3 {[%emt 0:00:00] A good move to play for a
long technical battle!} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (7... c3) 8. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
c3 {[%emt 0:00:00] The approved method of gaining equality, but I think Black
might have to take the pawn on the next move to prove it.} (8... Qxd1 {was
tried recently, but it is more unpleasant for Black.} 9. Rxd1 Nfd7 10. Nxc4
Nxc5 11. Be3 $16 {Meier,G-Edouard,R Germany 2017}) 9. Nb5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Na6 {[%emt 0:01:46]} (9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 Bd7 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 {was a
previous Kramnik game: Kramnik,V-Topalov,V London 2016; here I think ...Qa5
and then ...Nbd7 offers Black reasonable play.} Qa5 $132 (12... Nbd7)) 10. Nxc3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:01:00][%cal Gg2a8,Gg7a1]} 11. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nfe4 {[%emt 0:10:18]} 12. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13.
Bd4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 14. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qxd4 {
[%emt 0:01:35]} 15. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:04:21]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:08][%csl Gd6]
Unbelievably, this had all been seen before, and from Wei Yi's next move, it
is clear that he had seen the precedent.} 16. Rac1 $146 {[%emt 0:03:03]} (16.
Rfc1 Rd8 17. Rc7 Kf8 18. Rac1 Ne8 19. R7c4 Nd6 20. Rc5 Bd7 $11 {Ding,L-Giri,A
Palma de Mallorca 2017, was equal and ultimately drawn.}) 16... Rd8 {[%emt 0:
10:01]} (16... e5 17. Nb3 Be6 {was now worthy of note, and while I might think
it's an equalising route, we will just have to wait for Kramnik to beat
another elite player to find out what he had in mind here!}) 17. f4 {[%emt 0:
03:19][%cal Gg1f2] This approach goes better with the rook on f1 than a1, as
White wants to bring it to d1 next.} Kf8 {[%emt 0:20:37]} 18. Kf2 {[%emt 0:05:
11]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:03:04]} 19. h3 {[%emt 0:08:32]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 20. e4 {
[%emt 0:19:50][%cal Ge4e5]} (20. Rc7 $5 {appeals to me, as I think the e4-e5
push gains in strength from there being no rooks on the board.}) 20... Rac8 {
[%emt 0:07:03]} (20... Nb5 $1 {was still objectively equal if a little
unpleasant over the board:} 21. Nxb5 (21. Rfd1 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Be6 $15) 21...
Bxb5 22. Rfd1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rc8 24. Rd2 f6 $11) 21. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:13:34]} (21.
e5 {may have been good, taking advantage of a moment when Black is not able to
reply with ...Nb5 and must worry about the b7-pawn.} Nf5 22. Ne2 Bb5 $1 {
This accurate move may be needed to hold the balance. There could follow} 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rc1 Rxc1 25. Nxc1 b6 26. Be4 {and Black should just be equal
with one or two more good moves.}) 21... Rxc8 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 22. Rd1 {
[%emt 0:00:31] The point seems to be that after ...Nb5 White now intends Ne2!,
a4, and Nc3.} Ke8 {[%emt 0:22:30]} (22... Nb5 23. Ne2 {[%cal Ga2a4,Ge2c3]}) 23.
e5 {[%emt 0:07:21]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:42][%cal Gc8c2]} 24. Nb3 {[%emt 0:03:29]} (
24. Nxf5 Rc2+ {[%csl Gg2]}) 24... Bc6 {[%emt 0:07:27]} (24... Rc2+ 25. Rd2
Rxd2+ 26. Nxd2 b6 {would have led to a similar ending to the last note.'} 27.
g4 Nd4 28. a3 $14) 25. Rc1 {[%emt 0:02:57] Now I think White has a little
something!} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 26. Nc5+ {[%emt 0:02:27]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:19]}
27. Nd3 {[%emt 0:07:15]} (27. Na6 $5 {is rather flashy for a move that is only
trying to inflict pawn weaknesses on the opponent, but Black seems to be fine
after the accurate} Nd4 $1 $11) 27... Kd7 {[%emt 0:01:43]} 28. g4 {[%emt 0:07:
53] Giving Black a major headache - his best move now requires a wrinkle to
make it playable.} Nd4 $6 {[%emt 0:08:05]} (28... Bxg2 29. Rxc8 (29. e6+ {
[%csl Gc8,Gd7]} fxe6 30. Ne5+ Kd8 31. Nf7+ {DF} Kd7 32. Rxc8 Kxc8 33. Kxg2 Nd6
34. Ng5 {looks slightly unpleasant for Black, though the machine notes that he
draws with the only move} e5 $1 35. fxe5 h6 $1 $11) 29... Kxc8 30. Kxg2 $14)
29. Rc4 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 30. f5 {[%emt 0:01:15]} gxf5 {
[%emt 0:02:45]} 31. gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Ng7 {[%emt 0:02:11]} (31... Nd8 $14 {
limited the damage by not allowing another isolated pawn, though the
co-ordination and space deficits are still there.}) 32. Bxc6+ {[%emt 0:02:55]}
bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (32... Rxc6 33. e6+ $1 Ke8 {[%cal Ge6f7]} (33... fxe6 34.
Ne5+) 34. exf7+ Kf8 (34... Kxf7 35. Ne5+) 35. Rxc6 bxc6 36. b4 Nxf5 37. Ne5 $16
Nd4 {DF} 38. a4 $18) 33. Nc5+ {[%emt 0:02:16]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. Rh4 {
[%emt 0:03:31]} (34. Rb4 Nxf5 35. Rb7+ Kd8 36. Rxa7 $16) 34... h5 {[%emt 0:02:
00]} (34... Nxf5 35. Rxh7 Rf8 36. h4 $16) (34... Rh8 {DF} 35. Rb4 Nxf5 36. Rb7+
Kc8 37. Rxa7 $18) 35. f6 {[%emt 0:00:44] Winning a pawn by force} exf6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 36. exf6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 37. Rxh5 {
[%emt 0:01:02]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 38. Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:
49]} 39. Rxf7+ {[%emt 0:01:27]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 40. Ne4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:00] Black has
played these last ten moves well, keeping active even at the cost of a pawn,
but unfortunately White's position is probably winning with best play.} 42.
Nc4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (42... Kd4 43. Nxa5) 43. Rh7 {
[%emt 0:03:25]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:10:07]} 44. Ke2 {[%emt 0:04:37]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:13:
06]} (44... Rb4 45. Rh6+) (44... a4 $142) 45. Rh6 {[%emt 0:06:04]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:05:24]} 46. h4 {[%emt 0:01:50]} a4 {[%emt 0:02:27]} 47. Kd3 {[%emt 0:
01:36]} c5 {[%emt 0:01:30]} (47... Rd8+ $16 {would have continued to put up
more active resistance}) 48. Ne3+ {[%emt 0:03:34]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 49. h5
$6 {[%emt 0:02:24]} (49. Rg6 $142 $1 $18 {forces Black's king back for
tactical reasons. The position can't be held anymore.}) 49... Rd8+ {[%emt 0:01:
08] In the game again! I suspect there was an element of time pressure here.}
50. Kc4 $6 {[%emt 0:02:05]} Ne4 $4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} (50... Rd2 $1 $11 {is a
sudden draw; the subtlety here is that while Black can't take on b2
immediately, he does have} 51. Kxc5 Ne4+ 52. Kc6 Kd4 $1 53. Nf5+ Ke5 {The
knight has no good way to avoid the attention of the black king, and ...Rxb2
is always on the cards.}) 51. Kb5 {[%emt 0:02:08] Now White picks up the
a-pawn and there should be no further drama.} Kd4 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 52. Nc4 $18
{[%emt 0:02:26]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 53. Nxa3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Nd6+ {[%emt 0:
01:47]} 54. Kc6 {[%emt 0:02:40]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 55. Nb5+ {[%emt 0:01:37]}
1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. c4 c6 {The eternal
problem for White: how to prove anything concrete in the symmetrical Gruenfeld?
} 7. Ne5 {By far not the main line, but not really new either. Besides, it has
been tried by Kramnik a couple of times before this game.} Be6 {Deviating from
his opponent's previous games with this line:} (7... Ne4 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3
dxc4 10. Nxc4 Be6 11. Qd3 {White's centre looks impressive so far but as so
many times in this opening Black's piece pressure should be enough to keep the
balance even.} Nd7 12. Rd1 Nb6 13. Na5 {White avoids exchanges in order to
give meaning to his space advantage.} Qd7 14. c4 {In view of the
recommendation on the next move, this may be premature.} Rad8 ({Now was a good
time for throwing the pawns into the fight with:} 14... c5 $11) 15. Be3 Qc7 $6
{Once again refraining from the thematic break. In Kramnik,V (2812)-So,W (2770)
Paris (rapid) 2016 (½-½, 56) White could have retained an advantage with} 16.
Rac1 $16 {getting out of the unpleasant pin and thus stabilising the centre.})
(7... Nbd7 8. Nc3 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ne4 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 cxd5 12. f4 Be6 13.
Be3 f6 14. Qb3 {White has managed to obtain some initiative, but will fail to
convert it into anything palpable.} fxe5 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5
Kh8 18. fxe5 Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1 e6 20. Rd3 Qc6 {Kramnik,V (2810)-Ding,L (2764)
Novi Sad 2016 (½-½, 37) and Black gradually neutralised White's initiative.})
8. cxd5 Bxd5 {Switching to the genuine Grьnfeld spirit, with piece pressure
against White's centre.} (8... cxd5 9. Nc3 {trasposes to a somewhat uusual
version of the Exchange variation. The bishop typically does not land on e6.}
Nc6 (9... Nfd7 $6 {Arkell,K (2450)-Fernandez,D (2450) Crawley e2e4 Gatwick op
10 2016 (9) 1/2} 10. Nxd5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. Bh6 Re8 13. Qb3 $36) (9...
Nbd7 10. Nd3 Nb6 11. Nc5 Qc8 12. Nxe6 Qxe6 13. Qd3 $14 {Pedersen,N (2417)
-Kristensen,K (2244) Ballerup 2009 (1-0, 40) White's bishop pair offers him
some advantage, probably something Kramnik would have been delighted to make
use of. Besides, the knight does not stand too well on b6.}) 10. Nxc6 bxc6 {
In fact this position has been reached in numerous games, but most of them via
a different move order (7.cxd5). But still it is not Black's main line,
meaning that for White reaching here would be a small success.}) 9. Nc3 {
Aiming for rapid development.} ({The main alternative is} 9. Bh3 {trying to
prove that the central bishop is exposed. It is interesting mentioning that
Kasparov had played this position with both colours!} Nfd7 ({With Black,
Kasparov tried} 9... c5 10. dxc5 Ne4 11. Nd3 Na6 12. Be3 Bc6 {Speelman,J (2645)
-Kasparov,G (2760) Reykjavik 1988 (½-½, 17)} 13. Na3 $16 {This game might
have inspired Kasparov to try the line with White many years later, but the
opening wasn't a big success for him that time either.}) 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nc3
Bc4 12. b3 Ba6 13. Bb2 e5 14. d5 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Nf6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 $11 {
Kasparov,G (2830)-Belzberg,S London 2003 (1-0, 28)}) 9... Bxg2 10. Kxg2 Nbd7 {
This not only prepares ...c6-c5 but also puts pressure on the central knight.
On the other hand, if Black does not find a favourable moment for playing ...
Nxe5 his knight will be hanging slightly.} ({The alternative is} 10... Na6 11.
Nf3 ({I do not understand this willing retreat from the centre especially that
the knight is not exposed to an exchange. The consolidating} 11. f4 {deserves
attention:} e6 12. e4 c5 13. Be3 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Ng4 {Otherwise White would
simply retain active play.} 15. Nxg4 Bxd4 16. e5 {with some chances to
endanger the enemy king.}) 11... c5 12. d5 b5 {Wen,Y (2611)-Xu,M (2305) Wuxi
2016 (1-0, 33) with excellent black counterplay.}) 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Rd1 Qxb3
$146 {This looks like a small concession as it clears the a-file for the white
rook and allows a later b3-b4, stabilising the queenside. But I have failed to
prove this move objectively wrong.} ({The main alternative I analysed is} 12...
Rad8 13. Nd3 Nd5 14. e4 (14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Ne5 $11) 14... Nc7 15. Be3 Qxb3
{Necessary already in order to prepare the counterplay in the centre.} 16. axb3
a6 17. b4 f5 $132) ({Previously only} 12... e6 {was tried.} 13. Bf4 ({
Apparently not the most effective.} 13. Nc4 Qa6 14. e4 {or}) (13. e4 c5 14.
Nxd7 Nxd7 15. d5 {may be more active.}) 13... Rfd8 ({Too mild. Black should
have used the fact that after} 13... Nxe5 {14.dxe5 Ng4 the e5-pawn is hanging,
while after} 14. Bxe5 Qxb3 15. axb3 Rfd8 {Black would have little to fear due
to the exchange of one knight.}) 14. Nc4 Qa6 15. a4 Nd5 16. Bg5 N7f6 17. e4
Nxc3 18. bxc3 $14 {Palachev,P (2370)-Bocharov,I (2534) Moscow 2018 (½-½, 64)}
) 13. axb3 Rfc8 ({I would find it more appropriate setting up pressure along
the d-file with} 13... Rfd8 {when White's slight delay in development may
count.} 14. Nc4 ({If} 14. f4 Nd5 {the immediate threat is ...Nxc3 followed by .
..Nxe5 winning a pawn while otherwise Blck may consider ...f7-f5.}) 14... Nf8 {
followed by ...Ne6. For instance:} 15. e4 Ne6 16. d5 cxd5 17. exd5 Nc7 18. d6
exd6 19. Nxd6 b6 {and White's initiative has reached a dead end.}) 14. f4 ({
I would consider preveting ...c6-c5 with} 14. b4 {for instance} Nf8 {[%cal
Gf6d5]} 15. e4 Rd8 16. Be3 Ne6 17. f4 $14 {But Kramnik probably wanted to gain
a tempo for his kingside initiative over this line, considering that ...c6-c5
would play into his hands.}) 14... c5 (14... Nf8 15. e4 Ne6 16. Be3 $14 {
is even better for White than in the line above; for instance} Rd8 17. Kf3 Nc7
18. g4) 15. Be3 cxd4 (15... b6 16. Kf3 $14) 16. Rxd4 $1 {The only way to
maintain the initiative.} (16. Bxd4 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Ng4 $11) 16... Nxe5 17. fxe5
Ne8 18. Rd7 Rc7 $2 ({Hard to say whether Svidler blundered by missing
Kramnik's reply or underestimated his chances after the natural} 18... Bxe5 19.
Rxe7 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Rxc3 21. Rxa7 Rxe3 22. Rxe3 Rxa7 23. Rxe8+ Kg7 24. Re7 Kf6
25. Rc7 {In principle White is better, but Black should draw without major
problems. The most accurate way would be} h5 {Before abandoning the pawn,
Black makes maximal kingside progress.} 26. h4 Ke6 27. b4 f6 28. b5 Kf5 29. b6
Ra3 30. Kh3 (30. Rxb7 Kg4 $11) 30... Re3 31. Rxb7 Rxe2 $11) 19. Rxa7 $1 $16 Rb8
(19... Rxa7 20. Rd8 Kf8 21. Bxa7 Rc6 (21... Bxe5 22. Bb8 Rc5 23. b4 $18) 22.
Bd4 $16) (19... Rxd7 20. Rxa8 Kf8 21. Nb5 $18 {Black is paralyzed and will
soon be in Zugzwang for if} Bxe5 22. Bh6+) 20. Rd5 b6 ({Another mysterious
move. Good or bad, Black should have gained some breathing space with} 20... f5
) 21. Nb5 Rxa7 22. Nxa7 Kf8 23. Rd7 Ra8 (23... Bxe5 24. Nc6 $18) 24. Bd4 (24.
Bd4 {Svidler probably had enough of it already. But since he is not
immediately losing, this reminds me of an old episode: when asking a friend of
mine why he resigned his game, he answered: "It was too dangerous to play on."
For the truth's sake, Svidler had virtually no chance to save the game:} f6 25.
Bxb6 fxe5 26. Bc5 Bf6 27. b4 Kf7 28. b5 Ke6 29. Rd1 Nd6 30. b6 Nb7 31. Nb5 Rd8
32. Nc7+ Kf7 (32... Kf5 33. Rxd8 Nxd8 34. g4+ Kxg4 35. Ne6 Nb7 36. e4 Kh5 37.
Be3 g5 38. Nc5 $18) 33. Rxd8 Nxd8 34. Kf3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. a4 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bg5 {When I
started playing 1...e5 some 30 years ago these lines with an early a2-a4 did
not exist at all. But one of the first things I learned was that with Black's
king still in the centre Bg5 is not recommendable, as after ...h7-h6 and ...
g7-g5 the knight sacrfice on g5 is not viable.} h6 8. Bh4 Ba7 9. Nbd2 Qe7 ({
Still preparing the kingside attack. But} 9... g5 10. Bg3 O-O ({If} 10... Nh5 {
White has} 11. Nxe5 Nxg3 12. Bxf7+ Ke7 13. Ng6+ Kxf7 14. Nxh8+ Qxh8 15. hxg3 {
White is not worse from material point of view but Black's king is exposed and
Black's main pride, the a7-bishop, will turn into a mere spectator after d3-d4.
True, 10...Qe7 would probably transpose, but abstractly it is better to keep
the inevitable ...g7-g5 in reserve.}) 11. O-O Nh7 12. h3 h5 {is playable, as
in Topalov,V (2760)-So,W (2794) London 2016 CBM 176 [Stohl,I] (0-1, 27)}) 10.
h3 ({A rare and mysterious move. Since the later bishop retreat to h2 will
prove a waste of time, it means Anand wanted to control g4. His plan for this
game was based on Qe2, so it is worth checking what could have happened after} 
10. Qe2 g5 ({The more solid} 10... Be6 {is entirely playable, but not
essential for the question raised above.} 11. b4 O-O 12. O-O Rfe8 13. Rfb1 Rab8
14. a5 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qe6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. b5 axb5 18. Rxb5 Nd8 19. Rab1 Ra8
20. g3 Qe6 21. Kg2 c6 22. R5b2 Bb8 23. Ra1 Bc7 {Najer,E (2707)-Aleksandrov,A 
(2580) Tbilisi 2017 (1-0, 51) and Black can be content with his position.}) 11.
Bg3 h5 $5 ({A romantic plan.} 11... g4 {is hardly a problem due to} 12. Bh4 $5)
(11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 {may be another reason, as the queen would look strange
on e2.}) 12. h4 (12. Nxg5 h4 {may explain why Anand needed the h2-square, but
even this is not entirely clear:} 13. Bxf7+ Kf8 14. O-O-O Kg7 15. Bb3 hxg3 16.
hxg3 Bd7 17. f4 {with reasonable play for the sacrificed piece.}) 12... g4 13.
Ng5 Rf8 14. f4 gxf3 15. gxf3 {This position does not look like a reason to
waste time and weaken the kingside with h2-h3, as White is more active.
Kramnik opined that his opponent had mixed up something in the opening. I
suppose this could be one of the moments he had in mind.}) (10. b4 Bd7 11. Rb1
g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 {Salem,A (2638)-Giri,A (2775) Geneva 2017 CBM 180 [Szabo,Kr] 
(0-1, 43)}) 10... g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Qe2 (12. Nxe5 $2 Nxg3 13. Bxf7+ Kd8 $1 14.
Ng6 {(wthout check!)} Qxf7 {winning the knight due to the threat ...Qxf2#.}) ({
The following game is an illustration about what could have happened had Anand
not played g2-g4 later.} 12. Bh2 Nf4 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. b4 Rg8 15. Rg1 Be6 16.
a5 Nd8 17. b5 axb5 18. Bxb5+ c6 19. Ba4 f5 $17 {Voigt,R (2381)-Karpatchev,A 
(2461) Leipzig 2004 (0-1, 36)}) (12. Nf1 Nf4 13. Rg1 {is awfully passive.} Be6
14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Ne3 O-O-O 16. b4 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. b5 e4 19. bxc6 exf3 20.
Qxf3 Rhf8 $17 {Berenyi,G (2230)-Timoshenko,G (2475) Budapest 1991 (0-1, 27)
with a huge attack.}) 12... Qf6 13. Bh2 ({On the previous move Black refrained
from opening the f-file, but now the exchange on g3 may be a real threat. For
instance if} 13. Kd1 Nxg3 14. fxg3 h5 15. Rf1 {Black is in time to regroup with
} Qg7) 13... Nf4 14. Bxf4 gxf4 15. g4 {Trying to stabilise the kingside. We
already know that playing with a backward pawn on g2 is passive.} Ne7 16. b4 {
Anand seems to have been convinced that Kramnik would castle long. But since
this did not happen, his queenside plan only creates weaknesses.} ({He should
have carried on his regrouping with} 16. Kd1 Ng6 17. Kc2 {One important point
is that} h5 {can be met with} 18. gxh5 $1 Rxh5 19. h4 Nxh4 $6 20. Rag1 $14 {
We can understand now why saving the tempo b2-b4 was useful.}) 16... Ng6 17.
Kd1 h5 18. g5 {Under the given circumstances it is Black already who benefits
from stabilising the kingside.} ({But} 18. gxh5 {does not work anymore:} Rxh5
19. h4 (19. Qf1 Bd7 20. Kc2 Ke7 $17 {followed by ...Rah8 i awfully passive for
White.}) 19... Nxh4 20. Kc2 Ke7 21. Rag1 Bd7 $17 {[%cal Ga8h8]}) 18... Qe7 19.
b5 (19. Kc2 $15 {was better, inviting Black to find a way of opening the
queenside.}) 19... Kf8 20. bxa6 {Continuing the global suicidal plan of
opening the queenside.} ({But by now Black can more or less force the opening
of the queenside anyway:} 20. d4 $5 Kg7 21. Kc2 c6 $5) 20... bxa6 21. d4 Kg7
22. d5 {An obvious positional concession, clearing the path for the bishop on
a7 and restricting his own bishop.} (22. Kc2 exd4 23. cxd4 a5 $36 {[%cal Gc7c6,
Gd6d5]}) 22... Bd7 23. Kc2 Rhb8 ({One more doubt about why did Anand play his
last move is raised by} 23... c6 $17 {opening the c-file.}) 24. Bxa6 {Trying
to build up a fortress on the light squares.} (24. h4 {[%cal Gh1b1]} Qe8 (24...
Bg4 $17 {[%csl Gh4]}) 25. a5 c6 $17) 24... Bxf2 25. Bb5 (25. Qxf2 Rxa6 {
retrieves the a-pawn soon, with a decisive attack along the newly opened files.
.}) 25... Be3 26. h4 (26. Nc4 Bxb5 27. axb5 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qd7 29. Nxe3 fxe3 30.
c4 Qxh3 {The h-pawn and the g6-knight (especially after ...Nf4) are very
annoying.}) (26. c4 Rc8 {followed by ...c7-c6 is even stronger than with the
pawn on c3.}) 26... Ra5 {Black has a pleasant choices on each move, but
Kramnik's play is logical and effective.} 27. c4 Rba8 28. Kb3 (28. Nb3 Bxb5 $5
(28... R5a7 29. a5 Bg4 {is also strong.}) 29. Nxa5 Bd7 30. Nb3 (30. Nc6 Bxc6
31. dxc6 Qe6 {followed by either ...Ne7xc6 or ...Ra6.}) 30... Bxa4 31. Kc3 Qd7
32. Rhb1 c6 $19 {[%csl Ga4,Rc3,Ge3]}) 28... Nf8 {[%cal Gf8d7,Gd7c5] The start
of the final and decisive regrouping.} 29. Rhc1 Bg4 30. Kc2 Bxd2 31. Kxd2 Nd7
32. Ra3 Nc5 33. Bc6 Rb8 34. Ke1 Qd8 $1 35. Qc2 Bxf3 36. Rxf3 Qc8 {After ...Qg4
White will soon collapse on both wings.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

{[%evp 0,81,38,30,22,22,21,9,17,21,21,15,-13,-13,-18,-38,-8,-5,-6,-12,12,1,-5,
-3,21,9,9,-19,5,1,-5,-4,35,32,16,-27,-27,-43,-10,-1,5,-3,14,-11,17,21,32,33,39,
65,146,78,110,110,146,90,86,31,29,0,49,24,50,40,42,0,5,5,92,107,130,140,99,56,
109,99,124,138,408,446,549,549,556,645]} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:
16]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:34]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:26] Opting, oddly enough, for a
similar strategy to the one Anand used against Matlakov in the first round,
despite that opening beginning with 3.Bb5. Here it seems like the immediate
idea is probably to prevent Black using a setup with ...d5.} h6 {[%emt 0:04:29]
} 7. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} (7... g5 {led to a draw in a
recent high-profile game.} 8. Bg3 d6 9. a4 a6 10. Qd2 Nh5 11. h4 Nxg3 12. fxg3
g4 13. Qxh6 gxf3 14. Qg6+ Kh8 15. Qh6+ Kg8 16. Qg6+ Kh8 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,
M-Karjakin,S Paris 2017}) 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:57]} (8...
Na5 $5 {is not a completely pointless gambit:} 9. Nxe5 Nxc4 10. Nexc4 (10. dxc4
Nxe4 $15) 10... d5 11. Ne3 dxe4 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxe4 Be7 $132 {With two
bishops for two knights and a pawn, Black has very reasonable counterplay,
analogous perhaps to the Gajewski line of the Ruy Lopez.}) 9. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:
53]} (9. a4 {was faced by Kramnik himself from the other side of the board
recently.} Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 (10... Nb8 $5 {could have been played immediately,
not giving White the needed clarity on what is happening on the h-file.} 11.
Nf1 (11. Nxe5 {is obvious, but following} Nxg3 12. Nxf7 Rxf7 13. hxg3 Qf8 $13 {
White will soon have nothing better than to enter a double-edged material
balance of two pawns plus rook against two bishops, which probably should
ultimately favour the bishops.}) 11... c6 12. Ne3 Nd7 $11 {Playing for ...Ndf6
and ...d5. White should probably castle short, but the moment he does that, he
will no longer ever use the h-file.}) 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14.
g4 (14. Bxa6 bxa6 15. d4 $14) 14... Nc7 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,M-Kramnik,V
Leuven 2017, Following a slightly complicated opening battle Black had
equalised.}) 9... Nh5 {[%emt 0:03:02]} (9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 $132 {is another
standard plan, and Black will probably continue with ...Be6, ...Nc6 and
consider ...d5.}) 10. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 11. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:09:14] Telegraphing a kingside attack rather
clearly, but this then prompts White's overreaction.} (11... Be6 12. Ne3 Nf6 {
was solid in Baramidze, D-Fressinet,L Germany 2009.}) 12. Ne3 {[%emt 0:03:57]}
Nf4 {[%emt 0:13:54]} 13. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:47]} (13. O-O {followed by g3 could
have been one way to go.} Ne7 14. d4 g5 15. g3 $132) 13... Ne7 {[%emt 0:03:19]}
14. g3 {[%emt 0:07:03]} Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 15. Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:29] Now we
can see what Kramnik is playing for: a sharp opposite-side castling position.}
c5 {[%emt 0:06:00]} 16. O-O-O {[%emt 0:10:22]} (16. Ng1 $11 {or something was
technically still legal, but who plays chess like this?}) 16... Be6 {[%emt 0:
03:06]} 17. d4 {[%emt 0:17:27]} (17. Kb1 $5 {is almost always useful
preparation, and that holds here too.} Rfc8 18. d4 cxd4 19. cxd4 $132) 17...
cxd4 {[%emt 0:17:53]} 18. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:03:50] Missing a
chance.} (18... Bxa2 $5 {is possible here according to the machines, and it
seems to get an edge! The critical line is} 19. b3 a5 20. Kb2 $6 a4 21. Kxa2 $2
axb3+ 22. Kxb3 d5 $19) 19. Kb1 {[%emt 0:08:54]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:08:45]} (19...
Rxc2 {was another noteworthy chance, though not obvious if you're not looking
for it. The point is the non-trivial} 20. Kxc2 $6 Qg6 $3 $17) 20. Rd2 {[%emt 0:
03:36]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 21. dxe5 {[%emt 0:12:33]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
22. Rhd1 {[%emt 0:00:25] Now everything is under control, and just like in
Anand-Matlakov from round 1, the position is just easier for White, even if
not actually better.} g6 {[%emt 0:07:13]} (22... b5 $5 {is a little bit faster.
}) 23. Rd6 {[%emt 0:09:28]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 24. Bb3 {[%emt 0:03:13]} Rf8
$2 {[%emt 0:12:04]} (24... Rxd6 25. Rxd6 h5 {survives according to the machine,
but White is definitely significantly better after even the simple} 26. a3 $36)
25. R1d3 $2 {[%emt 0:08:44]} ({If I had to guess I would say Black's last move
was based on using the f-file after} 25. Bxe6 {but neither order quite works:}
Rxd6 (25... fxe6 26. Rd8 $1 $16) 26. Bxh3 $1 $18 (26. Rxd6 fxe6 $14)) 25...
Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 26. Rd1 {[%emt 0:02:18]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 27. a3 {
[%emt 0:01:12] Missing the same idea again.} h5 {[%emt 0:05:04] It is
generally useful to avoid Ng4 motifs.} 28. Bxe6 {[%emt 0:04:15]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 29. Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nc8 $2 {[%emt 0:02:38]} (29... Qxf3 30. Qxf3
Rxf3 31. Rxe7 Rf7 {almost equalises, and so should be preferred.}) 30. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:09:50]} (30. Nh4 $16 {is another option, cuing up interesting Nd5
ideas.}) 30... Nxf2 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 31. Ncxe5 {[%emt 0:02:51] An alluring and
practically tricky option, but not objectively best.} (31. Rf1 $5 Rxc4 32. Rxf2
{leaves Black with bizarrely few options against Qe3-h6. The only move is} Rd4
$8 {but now if nothing else White acheives a large advantage with} 33. Nxd4
Qxf2 34. Qxf2 Rxf2 35. Nxe6 Rxh2 36. Rxb7 $16) 31... Nxd1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 32.
Qxd1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:01:47]} (32... Rb6 33. Qd2 g5 $11 {is the
machine defence.}) 33. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:52] This is now practically impossible
to defend, but the errors understandably continue from both sides.} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:00:42]} (33... Rb5 34. Rc7 {might look like a lethal battery, but
Black can execute the text move now:} Nb6 $14 {and Black has gained a tempo
over the text.}) 34. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:56]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 35. Rxa7 Rd8 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} 36. Qc3 {[%emt 0:02:15]} (36. Rf7 $3 $16) 36... Rc8 {[%emt 0:
00:30]} (36... Nd7 $3 $132) 37. Rc7 {No further accidents.} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:42]
} 38. Qc6 {[%emt 0:01:28]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:39]} (38... Rxe5 39. Nxe5 Qxe5 40.
Qxb6 Qxe4+ 41. Ka2 Qd5+ 42. Qb3 $16 {is basically over too.}) 39. Rf7 $1 {
Enough to force resignation even if this was a time scramble.} (39. Rf7 $1 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} Qxf7 40. Nxf7 Kxf7 41. Ng5+ {wins a rook with the next check.})
1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Ne5 $5 {Kramnik,V (2787)-Svidler,
P (2768) 80th Tata Steel GpA 2018 (4.3) 1-0 This rare move is in a way similar
to Kramnik's early knight move to e5 in} ({The main lines were Fischer's
favourite} 5. Bd3) ({and the Panov Attack.} 5. c4) 5... Nc6 ({Another game of
a World champion went} 5... e6 {Leaving the c8-bishop passive.} 6. Nd2 Nc6 7.
c3 Bd6 8. f4 {Starting an attack in the spirit of the Colle system.} g6 9. Qf3
Nh5 10. g4 Ng7 11. Qh3 h5 12. Bd3 Kf8 13. Ndf3 Kg8 14. Bd2 Bd7 15. O-O-O $36 {
Anand,V (2803)-Vallejo Pons,F (2684) Leon 2008 (1-0, 46) with consistent
initiative.}) 6. Bb5 Bd7 {In a way this is the most flexible move, parrying
the threat by developing a piece, but its drawbck is giving up the bishops'
pair.} (6... Qb6 7. c4 {offers White some initiative in the spirit of the 
(reversed) Ragozin system.}) (6... Qc7 {has been played only between lower
rated players, but looks sound enough. The point is that} 7. Bf4 {is not as
threatening as it looks:} e6 {[%cal Gf8d6]} 8. Nxc6 (8. Ng6 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxb5
10. Nxh8 {[%csl Rh8]} Qxb2 $5 $17) 8... Qxf4 9. Ne5+ Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qe4+ 11. Be2
Nxd7 12. O-O Bd6 {and Black does not have much to fear.}) 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8. c3 e6
9. O-O ({The following game features a slightly different move order:} 9. Nd2
Bd6 10. Nf3 O-O 11. O-O Qc7 12. Re1 a6 13. Bd3 Bf4 {The reason why Black is
interested in exchanging these bishops can be found in a line from the comment
to 12...e5 below.} 14. Bxf4 Qxf4 15. a4 g6 16. g3 Qc7 17. Kg2 Kg7 18. Qe2 Rfe8
19. h4 h5 20. b4 (20. Ne5 $14 {looks more natural.}) 20... Ne7 (20... Ng4 $5)
21. Rac1 Rac8 22. Ne5 a5 23. Bb5 Rf8 24. Qb2 b6 25. Ba6 Ra8 26. Bd3 $14 {
Rapport,R (2707)-Salgado Lopez,I (2644) Riadh 2017 (1-0, 52) with some slight
pressure.}) 9... Bd6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Re1 (11. Nf3 Qc7 (11... Ne4 $5) 12. Re1 {
would transpose to the game above.}) 11... a6 ({The plan of exchanging bishops
is available after other white knight moves, too, of course:} 11... Qc7 12. Nf1
Bf4 13. Bxf4 Qxf4 14. Qd2 (14. Nd2 {planning Qe2, Nf3, Bd3 looks more active.})
14... Qxd2 15. Nxd2 Rfc8 16. Bd3 {½-½ Antipov,M (2584)-Mchedlishvili,M (2604)
Izmir 2016}) 12. Bd3 e5 {Caruana decides on switching to a French Isolani
structure.} ({The main alternative is starting the minority attack, typical
for the Carlsbad structure (even if in reversed form as here):} 12... b5 {
but White's kingside initiative is a bit more effective:} 13. Nf3 b4 (13... Qc7
{does not manage exchanging the dangerous bishop in time:} 14. Bg5 Nd7 15. Qc2
h6 {This weakening is more important than it may look at fist sight, as it
allows White to start an effective attack.} 16. Be3 Nf6 17. h3 Rfc8 18. Qe2 Qb7
19. g4 $1 b4 20. g5 hxg5 21. Bxg5 bxc3 22. bxc3 Na5 23. Bxf6 gxf6 {Safarli,E 
(2639)-Esipenko,A (2564) Riadh 2017 (1-0, 49)} 24. Nh4 $1 Rxc3 $140 25. Qg4+
Kf8 26. Qh5 $18 {planning Nf5 with a decisive attack.}) 14. Bg5 bxc3 (14... Be7
15. Ne5 Qb7 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. cxb4 $16) {Puccini,J (2073)-Le,M (1927) Al Ain
2013 (½-½, 29)} 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. bxc3 $14) 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nf3 Nfg4 $6
$146 {Kramnik rightly considered this "a strange move".} (14... Rfe8 {is more
natural, but since it was played only between low rated players it is too
early to draw any conclusion.} 15. Bg5 Qg4 16. Nxe5 (16. Bxf6 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3
Qxf3 18. gxf3 gxf6) 16... Qxg5 17. Nf3 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Qf4 {Massironi,M (2193)
-Rorato,G (2039) Venice 2006 (½-½, 66)}) ({Exchanging the knight for any of
White's minor pieces offer White pleasant play against the Isolani.} 14...
Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Rfe8 16. Be3 $14) (14... Nxd3 15. Qxd3 h6 16. Be3 $14) 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 {Caruana must have thought the knight was active on this square but as
will be clear soon it is rather exposed.} 16. Bc2 Rfe8 (16... Bc7 17. Bf4 {
is likely to transpose to the game.}) (16... Qc6 17. Bf4 Nc4 18. Bxd6 Nxd6 (
18... Qxd6 19. b3 Na3 20. Be4 Rad8 21. Bf3 $14) 19. Qd4 $14) 17. Bf4 Bc7 18. g3
$3 {The most difficult move in the game. White prepares for winning a pawn
with Bxh7+ by avoiding back rank problems.} ({Immediately carrying out this
operation would offer Black reasonable compensation:} 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxh7+
Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rxe5 Qb5 $44) ({The purpose of the last move is clear,
but the natural question is why not} 18. h3 {? The answer is that} Nc4 {
works better than in the similar line below. What is really remarkable with
Kramnik's last move is that Black cannot parry the initial threat under
favourable circumstances.}) 18... Rad8 {Practically turning 18.g3 into a gain
of time as Black will soon have to play ...Rd8-e8.} (18... g6 {weakens f6,
which becomes relevant after} 19. Bb3 Rad8 20. Bg5 {Black has to launch the
desperate attack with} Qh3 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 {when White calms down the position
to his favour with} 22. Rxe5 Bxe5 23. Bxd5 Qd7 24. c4 Bxb2 25. Rb1 Bg7 26. a4 {
and the b-pawn will soon be lost.}) (18... h6 {weakens g6, and also leads to
the loss of the d-pawn:} 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Qd3 g6 21. Bb3 Rad8 22. Rad1 $16 d4
$2 23. Qxg6+) ({Or if} 18... Nc4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Bxc7 Qxc7 21. Qxd5 Nxb2 22.
Rb1 {we can notice the difference with respect to the similar line with 18.h3:
there is no back rank mating danger.} Qxc3 23. Qb3 Re1+ 24. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 25. Kg2
Qe5 26. Qxb7 g6 27. Bb3 Qf6 {Black has defended with only moves but loses a
pawn anyway:} 28. Bxf7+ Qxf7 29. Qxb2 {With reasonable winning chances.}) 19.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Rxe5 Rxe5 ({Due to the move g2-g3,
White can meet} 22... Qb5 {with} 23. Rae1 Rxe5 24. Rxe5 {for instance:} Qxb2
25. Re7 Rf8 26. Qxd5 Qxc3 27. Rxb7 $16) 23. Qxe5 Re8 24. Qd4 Qb5 25. b3 Re2 {
Black has achieved some activity but White will temporarily return the pawn to
launch a new wave of initiative.} 26. h4 b6 (26... Re4 27. Qd1 $5) 27. Rd1 Rxa2
28. Re1 {White has returned the pawn but has gained the control over the open
file. It is Black's king now who experiences problems.} Qc6 29. Re5 Qf6 30. Qe3
Ra1+ 31. Kg2 Ra5 32. h5 d4 33. cxd4 $1 ({The rook ending resulting after} 33.
Re8+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ Qf5 35. Qxd4 Qd5+ 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. g4 Rc5 38. Re3 a5 {
offers Black reasonable drawing chances.}) 33... Rxe5 34. Qxe5 Qd8 35. d5 {
White is well centralised and his d-pawn is dangerous. Besides, Black's
kingside is under pressure. His queenside pawns are too slow to generate
adequate counterplay so White should win with a bit of technique.} a5 36. d6
Qd7 37. Qe7 Qc6+ 38. Kg1 Qc1+ 39. Kh2 Qc5 40. Qe8+ Kh7 41. Qe4+ g6 (41... Kg8
42. d7 Qxh5+ 43. Kg2 Qd1 44. Qe8+ Kh7 45. d8=Q) 42. hxg6+ Kg7 $5 (42... fxg6
43. Qe7+ Kg8 44. Qe8+ Kg7 45. Qd7+ Kh6 46. Kg1 Qd5 47. Qe7 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qf3 49.
Qe3+) 43. Qd3 Qxf2+ 44. Kh1 Qf6 (44... Qe1+ 45. Kg2 Qe8 46. d7 Qd8 47. Qd4+
Kxg6 (47... f6 48. Qg4 $18 Qe7 49. Qd1 Qd8 50. Qh5 $18) (47... Kg8 48. Qd5 $18)
48. Qg4+ {[%cal Gg4h4]}) 45. d7 Qd8 46. Qc3+ $1 (46. gxf7 Kxf7 47. Qd6 b5 $5 {
offers Black counterplay.}) 46... Kxg6 47. Qc6+ (47. Qc8 {also wins:} Qe7 48.
d8=Q Qe1+ 49. Kh2 Qe2+ 50. Kh3 Qf1+ 51. Kh4 Qh1+ 52. Qh3 $18) 47... Kh5 (47...
f6 48. Qc8 Qe7 49. Qe8+) (47... Kg7 48. Qc8 Qf6 49. d8=Q Qf1+ 50. Kh2 Qf2+ 51.
Kh3 Qf1+ 52. Kh4 Qh1+ 53. Kg5 Qh6+ 54. Kg4 $18) 48. Qf3+ Kh6 (48... Kg6 49.
Qg4+ {[%cal Gg4h4]}) 49. Qxf7 Qh8 50. Kg2 Qa8+ 51. Kh2 Qh8 52. Qe8 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 5. Nge2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (5. Nf3 {looks a bit
inconsistent, but may be White's best attempt at trying to use every wrinkle
in the position.} d5 6. Nxe5 (6. d3 d4 7. Ne2 Nbd7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 {is just a
standard King's Indian Attack}) 6... dxe4 7. d3 $5 Bxf2+ 8. Kxf2 Qd4+ 9. Kf1 $5
({After} 9. Be3 Qxe5 10. h3 (10. Bf4 $11 {is just a repetition}) 10... exd3 11.
Qxd3 O-O 12. Rhe1 $44 {White has full compensation for the missing material.})
9... Qxe5 10. Bf4 Qd4 11. Nxe4 O-O $132) 5... d5 {[%emt 0:02:34]} 6. exd5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. d4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} 8. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:02:57]} 9. O-O {[%emt 0:00:12]} Bg4
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 10. Nde2 {[%emt 0:00:07] A standard-looking move, unleashing
some kind of pressure against the d5-pawn, but here the pawn is free to
advance, which was what White should have tried to avoid.} (10. Qd3 Bxd4 11.
Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qc5 d4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Re8 $11 {at least gives White the
bishop pair in exchange for Black's dynamism.}) 10... Qc8 {[%emt 0:01:13]
Perceptively played.} ({After the immediate} 10... d4 {there is a slight
problem with} 11. h3 $1 (11. Na4 Qe8 12. Nxc5 Bxe2 13. Qe1 Nc6 $44) 11... Bxh3
12. Bxh3 dxc3 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Nxc3 Nc6 15. Bf4 $14 {Here Kramnik would have
risked losing the exact same type of game which he won yesterday.}) 11. Bg5 {
[%emt 0:01:05] On this move and indeed the next few Adhiban plays extremely
well.} (11. Be3 $6 d4 $5 12. Bxd4 Rd8 13. Qd3 Nc6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 $11 {is
unpleasant for White, but playable if he jumps through a few more hoops.})
11... d4 {[%emt 0:04:58]} 12. Na4 {[%emt 0:11:04]} Be7 {[%emt 0:02:30]} 13. Qd3
{[%emt 0:06:14]} h6 {[%emt 0:05:18]} 14. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:10:58]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 15. Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} (15. Nxd4 $6 Rd8 16. Qb3 $1 $11 {clings to
equality tactically, but this is hard to calculate.}) 15... Nc6 {[%emt 0:15:38]
} (15... Nd7 $11 {was marginally more accurate.}) 16. Nd5 {[%emt 0:11:14]} Be5
{[%emt 0:06:08]} 17. Qb5 {[%emt 0:12:13]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:06:33]} 18. Nc5 {
[%emt 0:02:51]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:16:48]} 19. Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:05] Suddenly the
bishop pair is gone and Black should think about equality.} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:17]
} (19... Bh3 {should have been almost an impulse for a Catalan player like
Vladimir Kramnik!}) 20. b4 $14 {[%emt 0:12:23]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:06:22]} 21. Rfe1 {
[%emt 0:04:00]} Qf5 {[%emt 0:08:48]} 22. Nc7 {[%emt 0:05:12]} Rxe1+ {[%emt 0:
02:44]} 23. Rxe1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:06:28]} (23... Rc8 {prevents
White's strong next move because} 24. Ne8 Qxc5 25. bxc5 Nb4 $132 {gives Black
too much play.}) 24. Ne8 $1 {[%emt 0:05:53]} (24. Re8+ Rxe8 25. Nxe8 Kg8 26.
Nd6 Qxc5 27. bxc5 $14 {is also good for White, but a bit less convincing.})
24... Qxc5 {[%emt 0:02:14]} 25. bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Be6 {[%emt 0:04:48]} 26.
Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 27. a3 {[%emt 0:04:54] The first
hesitation.} (27. Rb1 Bxa2 28. Rxb7 Rxb7 29. Nxb7 $16 {would have left Black
in a lot of trouble.}) 27... Rc7 {[%emt 0:01:56]} 28. Nb5 {[%emt 0:04:39]} Rc8
{[%emt 0:00:56]} 29. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30. f4 {[%emt 0:
01:37]} g6 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 31. Nb5 {[%emt 0:00:05] The second hesitation,
seemingly looking for another move repetition.} Rd7 {[%emt 0:02:41]} 32. Nd6 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Na5 {[%emt 0:02:35] But Kramnik is mentally tough enough to
not take it, even though his position is far from being better.} 33. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:04:20]} (33. Nxb7 Rxb7 34. Bxb7 Nxb7 35. c6 Nd6 {might have occupied a
fair bit of White's time, and while the position isn't technically winning as
such, Black certainly faces more challenges after} 36. Rd1 $14 {because he
will be unable to hold the d-pawn.}) 33... Rc7 {[%emt 0:01:13]} 34. Rb5 {
[%emt 0:01:48]} b6 $11 {[%emt 0:01:00] Just like that, the advantage is gone.}
35. Rxa5 $2 {[%emt 0:00:48] Imaginative, but not correct.} ({It was a good
time for} 35. cxb6 axb6 36. Rb2 Nc4 37. Nxc4 Rxc4 38. Be4 f5 39. Bd3 (39. Rxb6
fxe4 40. Rxe6 e3 $36) 39... Rc6 40. Rb4 Rd6 $11) 35... bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:16]}
36. c6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:58] The point is that between this move
and ...Re7, Black is able to both discourage Nb5 ideas and hold off the White
king.} 37. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} (37. a4 Re7 38. Nb5 axb5 39. axb5 a4 $19) 37...
Re7 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 38. a4 {[%emt 0:04:52]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 39. Ne4 {
[%emt 0:00:36]} (39. Nb5 axb5 40. axb5 a4 41. b6 Bc8 42. b7 Bxb7 43. cxb7 Re8
44. Bc6 Rb8 45. Bxa4 Rxb7 $19) 39... Kf8 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 40. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:02:18]} (40... Bf5 {was marginally faster.}) 41. Be4 {
[%emt 0:12:53]} h5 {[%emt 0:08:35]} 42. h4 {[%emt 0:04:45]} f6 {[%emt 0:09:40]
Asking for a move from White.} 43. Bxg6 {[%emt 0:08:55]} (43. Bd3 Rc7 44. Be4
Ke7 45. Nc4 f5 46. Bg2 Bd1 $19) 43... Re2+ {[%emt 0:01:37]} 44. Kf1 {[%emt 0:
00:14]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 45. Nb7 {[%emt 0:06:33]} Rxc6 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 46.
Nxa5 {[%emt 0:02:01]} Rc3 $19 {[%emt 0:01:10] The front c-pawn being dead, the
game is now over. A curious feature of this tournament, first in variations
and now in an actual game, seems to be nearly-trapped White knights on a5.} 47.
Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rc4 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 48. Bd3 {[%emt 0:01:35]} Rxa4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 49. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:33]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 50. Ke1 {[%emt 0:
06:46]} Be6 {[%emt 0:02:28]} 51. Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Ra1+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 52.
Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 53. Kf3 {[%emt 0:01:52]} a4 {[%emt 0:
00:29]} 54. Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 55. Kxd4 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1
Qc7 9. e5 Nd7 10. Qe2 b5 11. Nf1 Bb7 12. Bf4 Rfc8 13. Ne3 Qd8 14. h4 h6 15. c3
b4 16. c4 Nb6 17. Rad1 Rc7 18. Ng4 Qf8 19. Qe3 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. Qe2 Rd8
22. b3 a5 23. Nh2 Kh8 24. Qh5 Qg8 25. Ng4 Bf8 26. c5 Nd7 27. Nh2 Nxc5 28. Qe2
Ba6 29. Nf3 Qh7 30. Bf1 Ne4 31. Rc1 Rc3 32. Nxd4 Bc5 33. Qe3 Rxc1 34. Qxc1 Nc3
35. Be3 Bxd3 36. Nxe6 fxe6 37. Bxc5 Bxf1 38. Kxf1 d4 39. Bd6 Qf5 40. Kg2 Rc8
41. Qd2 d3 42. Re3 Ne4 43. Qxd3 Qxf2+ 44. Kh3 Rc3 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c3 c6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Re1
c5 9. a4 cxd4 10. cxd4 a5 11. Nb1 Nb8 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Ne5 Bf5 14. Bg5 Nb4 15.
Rc1 Ne4 16. Be3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc6 18. Qb3 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Be4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21.
e6 Qc8 22. Bh6 f5 23. Bxf8 Qxf8 24. Qxb7 Ne5 25. Qd5 Ng4 26. h3 Nf6 27. Qe5 Qh6
28. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. g3 Nbd7 5. d3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
e5 9. d4 Qc7 10. a4 b6 11. d5 a6 12. Nbd2 Bh6 13. Nc4 Bxc1 14. Qxc1 Kg7 15. Nh4
h6 16. Ne3 Rh8 17. f4 Rb8 18. c4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qc3 Re8 21. b3 bxc4 22.
Nxc4 Rb4 23. Nf3 Qb8 24. fxe5 Nxe5 25. Nfxe5 Rxb3 26. Qd2 dxe5 27. Rf1 Rf8 28.
d6 Qb4 29. Qxb4 cxb4 30. Nxe5 Be6 31. Nc6 Rb2 32. Nd4 Rd2 33. Nxe6+ fxe6 34.
Ra7+ Kg8 35. Bh3 Rxd6 36. e5 Rb6 37. exf6 b3 38. Rg7+ Kh8 39. Rxg6 b2 40. Rxh6+
Kg8 41. Rb1 Rfb8 42. Rxb2 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. Nc3 Nc7 10. Na4 b5 11. Nxc5 Bxc5 12. Rc1 Qd6 13. Qc2 Na6 14. d4 Ba3 15.
Ng5 g6 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. Qxc6 Rb8 19. Qd6 Qxd6 20. Nxd6 Nb4 21. a3
Nd5 22. e4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
Nge2 Re8 9. Qc2 h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 11. g4 Nf8 12. h3 b5 13. Rg1 Ne6 14. f4 Bxf4
15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. exf4 Nxd4 17. Qd3 Nxe2 18. Nxe2 Qa5+ 19. Qd2 Qxd2+ 20. Kxd2
Nxh7 21. Rac1 Bd7 22. Nd4 Re4 23. Nxc6 Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Rxf4 25. Rc5 Rf3 26. Rc3
Rxc3 27. bxc3 Ng5 28. Bxg5 hxg5 29. Rf1 f6 30. Rf5 Rd8 31. Kd3 Kg8 32. Kd4 Kf7
33. Kc5 Rc8+ 34. Kb4 Rc4+ 35. Kxb5 Rxc3 36. a4 Ke6 37. Ka6 Rxh3 38. a5 Ra3 39.
Rf1 d4 40. Re1+ Kd6 41. Re8 d3 42. Rg8 Ke5 43. Rxg7 d2 44. Rd7 Ra2 45. Kb5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Qf3 Be7 10. Qg3 O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bf4 Bh4 13. Qf3 Bg5 14. Na4 Qf6
15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Bxa6 Rb8 19. b3 Nd6 20. Bd3 f5 21.
exd5 cxd5 22. a4 Ne4 23. Rfe1 e5 24. a5 Qf6 25. a6 Nc3 26. a7 Ra8 27. Ra6 Qe7
28. Bxf5 Qc7 29. Be6+ Kh8 30. Qxf8+ Rxf8 31. a8=Q Qc5 32. Qxf8+ Qxf8 33. Rc6
1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
Re1 Be6 9. Nbd2 Bd6 10. Ne4 h6 11. b4 a6 12. a4 Re8 13. Qb3 Nf6 14. Bxe6 Rxe6
15. Be3 Ne7 16. Rad1 Ng6 17. h3 Qd7 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. bxc5 b5 20. cxb6 cxb6 21.
d4 exd4 22. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Qc6 24. Qxb6 Qxa4 25. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The Candidates 2018 was the most anticipated event of the year. Before the
tournament began, all of us got to know a big secret - Anish Giri was working
with Vladimir Kramnik as his second! The combination seemed deadly and we were
all looking forward to some highly theoretical play by Kramnik aided by Giri.
But it turns out the big Vlad had some other ideas.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 {
In the Live Database you find that this move comes at the ninth position in
terms of popularity! Kramnik just wanted a fresh position without too much
theory!} 3. b3 $5 c5 (3... Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. g3 {is quite a normal way to play.
} (5. e3 $5 {is also possible.})) 4. dxc5 {Kramnik doesn't really care about
his centre.} Qa5+ 5. Nbd2 Qxc5 6. Bb2 {One grandmaster encounter which reached
this very position was Boris Grachev against Boris Chaltalbashev in July 2017.}
Bg7 7. e3 {White has the simple plan of placing his bishop on e2, 0-0 and then
c4. One might argue that the knight on d2 is misplaced in such a structure,
but that is the price you have to pay in order to get an original position.} (
7. g3 {might be more ambitious, but simply fails to} Ng4 $1 $19) 7... O-O 8. c4
b6 (8... d5 9. a3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 {The queen on c5 is a tad uncomfortable here.})
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 d6 {We have transposed into a normal looking
position. I really like Kramnik's next move.} 12. Nb1 $1 {The knight was
misplaced on d2. On c3 it would be perfectly placed eyeing not only the d5
square, but also the one on b5.But can such an undeveloping move be any good.
As you can see, Black also spent nearly three tempi to get his queen from
d8-a5-c5-c7.} Nbd7 13. Nc3 Rac8 14. Rc2 {Another typical manoeuvre. White
would like to place his queen on a1 and connect the rooks. With the queen on
a1, moves like Nd5 gain in power.} (14. Nd5 {looks like a normal move, but
fails to} Bxd5 $1 15. cxd5 Qb7 {It's not so easy to defend the d5-pawn.} 16.
Bb5 Nb8 $1 (16... Nc5 17. b4 $16) 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e4 a6 19. Bd3 Rxc1 20. Qxc1
Rc8 $15) 14... Qb8 15. Qa1 a6 16. Rd2 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 {White's position looks
more harmonious to my eyes, but perhaps it is just a subjective opinion. Black
has a perfectly fine Hedgehog and should not be worse. The tough part for both
the sides is to pick a plan in the position. Black's idea looks easier to find
with ...b5. What should White really be doing here? Nd5? Well, Kramnik shows
the way.} Ba8 {Grischuk is getting ready for ...b5.} (17... Bc6 $5 18. Ng5 (18.
Nd5 b5 $13) 18... b5 $11) 18. Ng5 $5 {An amazing concept by Kramnik. First he
improved the position of his knight from d2 by bringing it to b1-c3. And now
he moves his f3 knight to g5. His plan is to bring it to h3 and then to f4.
Can White have so much time in the position to execute his plan? As it turns
out Kramnik's knight moves did confuse Grischuk in a big way.} (18. Nd5 b5 $5 (
18... Bxd5 19. cxd5 b5 $13) 19. cxb5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Nxd5 21. Bxg7 e6 $15 {
It seems as if White should have compensation here, but nothing more than
equality.}) 18... Rc5 (18... b5 $5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 (20. Bxb5 Rc5 $1 21.
Bxd7 Rxg5 22. f4 Rxg2+ 23. Rxg2 Nxd7 $1 $17 (23... Bxg2 24. Bxe8 Ba8 25. Ba4
Qb7 $40)) 20... Rc5 $1 $17 {[%cal Gc5b5,Gc5g5]}) 19. Nh3 b5 $1 {Grischuk gets
his break in.} 20. Nf4 bxc4 21. Bxc4 {Look at White's control over the
d5-square!} Rg5 $6 {Grischuk gets too ambitious.} (21... Ne5 $1 {was much
better.} 22. Be2 (22. Bxa6 Bxg2 $1 $17) (22. Bf1 Qb7 {The idea is to give ...
Nf3+.} 23. Nfd5 (23. Ncd5 Ne4 24. Rd4 Nxf2 25. Kxf2 e6 $15 {with some insane
complications.}) 23... e6 $1 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6 25. e4 (25. Rxd6 Nf3+ $19) 25...
Rxc3 26. Bxc3 Qxe4 $36) 22... a5 23. Ncd5 Bxd5 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Rxd5 Rc2 26.
R5d2 Nf3+ 27. Bxf3 Bxb2 28. Qb1 Rxd2 29. Rxd2 Bf6 $11) 22. Ncd5 {The triumph
of White's strategy. He controls the d5-square four times!} Ne5 (22... Nxd5 23.
Bxd5 (23. Bxg7 Nxf4 $19) 23... Bxb2 (23... Bxd5 24. Bxg7 $16) 24. Qxb2 Nf6 25.
Bxa8 Qxa8 {This position should be roughly around even, although I have a
feeling that White can still try.} 26. Rxd6 $5 exd6 27. Qxf6 $44) 23. Be2 Ne4
$6 {This move makes the position further complicated with all the knights
facing off against each other in centre, but these complications are in
White's favour. On the other hand, it is not so easy to suggest an alternative
for Black in this position.} (23... Qc8 {Trying to get the queen into the kill
zone doesn't work.} 24. h4 Rf5 25. Rc1 $16) (23... Nxd5 24. Nxd5 e6 25. f4 $1
$16 {Perhaps this is what Grischuk had missed.} (25. Nf4 $6 Nf3+ 26. Bxf3 Bxb2
27. Qxb2 Bxf3 $17)) 24. Rd4 Nc5 (24... Nf6 25. Nxf6+ Bxf6 26. Nd5 Nd7 (26...
Bxd5 27. Rxd5 $16) 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. f3 $16) 25. h4 $1 {The rook which had
gone to g5 to attack White's kingside, is now almost trapped.} Rf5 26. e4 (26.
g4 {is also possible. But with a bishop on a8, you are not always comfortable
making this move.} Rxf4 27. exf4 $16) 26... Rxf4 27. Nxf4 Nxe4 {Initially it
all seems very complicated. The knights in the centre are very strong. The
bishops on the long diagonal seem threatening. But Kramnik has the material.
And the trick in such postions is to slow down and think about the various
possibilities carefully. If you do that, you can see that Black's initiative
can be slowly but surely extinguished without you getting burnt.} 28. Nd5 $1 {
The knight on e4 is hanging.} Nc5 29. Rb4 Qa7 30. Ne3 a5 31. Rb5 Ne6 32. Rxe5
$1 {Kramnik doesn't have to be asked twice! If he can give back material to
gain a long term positional advantage, he will do it without blinking.} (32.
Bc3 $16 {also seems fine.}) 32... dxe5 33. Bxe5 Qc5 34. Bxg7 Nxg7 {So what do
we have here? The material is even, but White has co-ordinated his forces much
better. He has the extra outside passer and all of his pieces are well placed.
Kramnik converts this position well.} 35. Qd4 (35. Qc1 $14 {also seemed like a
nice move.}) 35... Qxd4 36. Rxd4 Bc6 37. Rd2 Rb8 38. Rc2 Be8 39. Rc7 Kf8 40.
Ra7 {Black's pieces really do not know what they are doing here!} a4 41. bxa4 {
A pawn is a pawn!} Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Rb4 (42... Rb2 43. Bc4 Rxf2 44. a5 $16 Nf5 45.
Nxf5 Rxf5 46. a6 Ra5 47. Rc7 $18) 43. a5 Rxh4+ 44. Kg1 Ra4 45. Bc4 Bc6 (45...
Nf5 46. Bb3 Rd4 47. Nxf5 $18) 46. Rc7 Be8 47. a6 Nh5 48. Nd5 {A high class,
top level struggle where the weight was put more on the middlegame than on the
opening. We can say that Kramnik's play was highly imaginative and his
handling of the knights was excellent. The same cannot be sai about Grischuk
though. When he played ambitiously, taking the rook to g5, it got trapped on
the side of the board.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {A surprise on the very first move. I suspected that in this tournament
overwhelmingly closed openings would be played against me. And least of all
did I expect 1.e4 in my game against Aronian. Überraschung bereits im ersten
Zug. Ich vermutete, dass man in diesem Turnier gegen mich überwiegend
geschlossene Eröffnungen spielen würde. Und am wenigsten habe ich 1.e4 in
meiner Partie gegen Aronian erwartet.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {In our
earlier encounters with 1.e4 played by Levon we continued into the main line
of the Berlin Defence, but without much success – all these games ended as
draws. In unseren früheren Begegnungen mit 1.e4 von Levon ging es weiter ins
Hauptabspiel der Berliner Variante, aber ohne großen Erfolg – alle diese
Partien endeten unentschieden.} Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 {I do not know for what
reasons Levon selected this variation. It is all the more difficult to
understand because he never again played 1.e4 in this tournament. He certainly
had his reasons for this, but his decision seemed somewhat strange to me. On
the other hand, if it had been justified it would have been called correct,
far-sighted, etc.  Ich weiß nicht, aus welchen Gründen Levon diese Variante
auswählte. Das ist umso schwieriger zu verstehen, weil er in diesem Turner 1.
e4 nicht mehr spielte. Bestimmt hatte er seine Gründe dafür, aber seine
Entscheidung kommt mir ziemlich seltsam vor. Andererseits, falls sie sich
gerechtfertigt hätte, würde man sie richtig, weitsichtig usw. nennen.} 6. O-O
{Such a treatment of the opening has always seemed dubious to me. Even after 3.
..a6 the exchange on c6 is not considered dangerous for Black - and in the
variation from our game White is playing free of any compulsion... It is clear
to me that this line is very prevalent in practice and contains some
subtleties, but I will never be able to believe that by playing like this
White can lay claim to an opening advantage. Naturally in today's theory many
variations have been analysed all the way to a draw, so that one feels the
desire to deviate at some point and simply "play chess", but in concrete terms
here White has, in my opinion, absolutely no preconditions for even a minimal
advantage and with my classical chess education I cannot take this variation
seriously. For that reason, moreover, I have also lost some games in this line;
on the other hand, not a few of them ended in a win for me. Solche
Eröffnungsbehandlung schien mir immer fraglich zu sein. Sogar nach 3...a6
gilt der Tausch auf c6 als ungefährlich für Schwarz – und in der Variante
aus unserer Partie spielt Weiß so ganz ohne Zwang... Mir ist klar, dass
dieses Abspiel in der Praxis sehr verbreitet ist und einige Feinheiten
beinhaltet, aber ich werde nie glauben können, dass Weiß bei dieser
Spielweise einen Eröffnungsvorteil für sich beanspruchen kann. Natürlich
sind in der heutigen Theorie viele Varianten bis zum Remis ausanalysiert, so
dass man den Wunsch verspürt, irgendwo abzuweichen und nur "Schach zu
spielen", aber konkret hat Weiß hier m.E. gar keine Voraussetzungen für nur
einen minimalen Vorteil und ich mit meiner klassischen Schachausbildung kann
diese Variante nicht ernstnehmen. Deswegen habe ich übrigens in diesem
Abspiel auch einige Partien verloren, andererseits endeten nicht wenige mit
meinem Gewinn.} Qe7 {There are various possibilities for Black here, but I
have often played and analysed such positions and come to the conclusion that
this queen move is very interesting. If White delays h2-h3, then Black also
holds back with the move Nf6-d7 and first develops his bishop. For example: 7.
Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nc4 Nd7 – in my opinion this is an ideal setup for Black,
in which he has hardly any problems.  Es gibt hier für Schwarz verschiedene
Möglichkeiten, aber ich habe solche Stellungen oft gespielt und analysiert
und kam dabei zu dem Schluss, dass dieser Damenzug sehr interessant ist. Wenn
Weiß h2-h3 zurückhält, dann hält Schwarz den Zug Nf6-d7 auch noch zurück
und entwickelt zuerst seinen Läufer. Zum Beispiel: 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nc4
Nd7 – m. E. ist es für den Nachziehenden eine ideale Aufstellung, bei der
er gar keine Probleme hat.} 7. h3 {I analysed this variation 10 years ago,
then 7, then a few years ago – and each time something new revealed itself
to me. Of course Black can simply castle – that is not really linked to any
danger and should suffice for equality. But at some point I hit on the idea of
punishing White for the move h2-h3 and started to analyse 7...h6 with the idea
of attacking with g5-g4. For his part, White then begins with c3, d4 to play
in the centre; I found no advantage for him, and sharp and complicated
positions appear on the board.  Ich analysierte diese Variante vor zehn, dann
vor sieben, dann vor ein paar Jahren – und jedes Mal öffnete sich für mich
etwas neues. Selbstverständlich kann Schwarz einfach rochieren – das ist
mit keiner wirklichen Gefahr verbunden und sollte zum Ausgleich reichen. Aber
irgendwann kam ich auf die Idee, den Weißen für den Zug h2-h3 zu bestrafen,
und habe angefangen, 7...h6 mit der Idee des Angriffs g5-g4 zu analysieren.
Weiß beginnt seinerseits dann, mittels c3, d4 in der Mitte zu spielen; ich
habe für ihn keinen Vorteil gefunden, wobei scharfe und komplizierte
Stellungen aufs Brett kommen.} {Not that I would be dissatisfied with that,
but when I cam back to this variation a few years ago, Nicht, dass ich damit
unzufrieden wäre, aber als ich vor ein paar Jahren zu dieser Variante wieder
zurückkehrte, hat sich etwa als fünfter Computerzug...} Rg8 $1 {...had
appeared as something like the fifth computer move (today's engines award it
first or second place in their list of priorities). I thought about this and
understood that although this continuation looks absurd at first glance, it
makes perfect sense: Black will save a tempo. On further investigation it
became clear to me that it is simply the "refutation" of White's whole system.
After g7-g5 this pawn must not be taken under any circumstances, because Black
then quickly obtains a mating attack. But even if White allows the opposing
g-pawn to survive, Black pre-empts White with his threats – White's play in
the centre is too late. I cannot say whether at that time I went into the
position very deeply: Black was standing so well everywhere that I could not
believe that I would ever meet the line in practice, though if I did – then
in any case it is wonderful to get such a position. I did not go through the
relevant variations in my preparation for the game against Aronian (as I said,
I certainly wasn't expecting him to play 1.e4) and had almost nothing ready
after 7...Rg8. Moreover, when I re-opened my earlier notes after the game I
established that I had not written much at all about it.  ...blicken lassen 
(die heutigen Engines geben ihm in ihrer Prioritätenliste den ersten oder den
zweiten Platz). Ich habe mir darüber Gedanken gemacht und verstanden, dass
obwohl diese Fortsetzung auf den ersten Blick absurd aussieht, sie durchaus
sinnvoll ist: Schwarz will ein Tempo sparen. Bei der weiteren Untersuchung ist
mir klar geworden, dass es einfach die "Widerlegung" des ganzen weißen
Systems ist. Nach g7-g5 darf man diesen Bauern unter keinen Umständen nehmen,
weil Schwarz dann schnell einen Mattangriff erhält. Aber auch wenn Weiß den
gegnerischen g-Bauern am Leben lässt, kommt Schwarz mit seinen Drohungen dem
Anziehenden zuvor – das weiße Spiel in der Mitte geschieht zu spät. Ich
kann nicht sagen, dass ich mich zu jener Zeit in diese Stellung sehr vertiefte:
überall stand Schwarz so gut, dass ich nicht glauben konnte, diesem Abspiel
in der Praxis irgendwann zu begegnen, wenn aber doch – dann ist es in jedem
Fall wunderbar, so eine Stellung zu bekommen. Die entsprechenden Varianten
wiederholte ich bei meiner Vorbereitung zur Partie gegen Aronian nicht (wie
gesagt, ich erwartete von ihm überhaupt kein 1.e4) und hatte nach 7...Rg8
fast nichts parat. Übrigens, als ich nach der Partie meine früheren Notizen
wieder öffnete, habe ich festgestellt, dass ich dazu gar nicht viel
aufschrieb.} 8. Kh1 {I could still remember that this is the best and
practically the only move. If White does not play it he immediately gets a
worse position. Levon took this in no way obvious decision very quickly. So
far I have not yet talked to him on this subject, so I do not know if he had
previously had a look at this variation, but could not believe the power of 7..
.Rg8, or whether he did not want to show that he was not prepared for this
line. Daran, dass dies der beste und praktisch der einzige Zug ist, konnte ich
mich noch gut erinnern. Macht ihn Weiß nicht, bekommt er sofort eine
schlechtere Stellung. Levon traf diese keinesfalls offensichtliche
Entscheidung sehr schnell. Ich habe ihn bis jetzt auf dieses Thema nicht
angesprochen, deswegen weiß ich nicht, ob er sich diese Variante früher mal
anschaute, aber an die Kraft von 7...Rg8 nicht glauben konnte, oder ob er
nicht zeigen wollte, dass er auf dieses Abspiel nicht vorbereitet war.} Nh5 $5
({At the board I could still remember that I had previously analysed Ich
konnte mich am Brett noch daran erinnern, dass ich hier früher} 8... h6 {
here. After the game I established that I had then even somewhat preferred it
over 8...Nh5. A modern computer shows the following variation: analysierte.
Nach der Partie habe ich festgestellt, dass ich ihm damals sogar etwas den
Vorzug gegenüber 8...Nh5 gab. Der moderne Computer zeigt folgende Variante:}
9. Nbd2 g5 10. Nc4 g4 11. Nfxe5 h5 {(a cold blooded attack) (kaltblütiger
Angriff)} 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 gxh3 {and White is still hanging on, the
evaluation is approximately "=/+". But I preferred the knight move which
appeared to be ambitious and principled. From this point on my knowledge was
clearly at an end, from then on I was acting "independently". Fortunately
there is no need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that if ...Nh5 was played,
the a future g5-g4 is being planned. Play after this was not very complicated.
und Weiß hält sich gerade noch, die Einschätzung ist etwa "=/+". Der
Springerzug gefiel mir aber besser, er schien ambitiös und prinzipiell zu
sein. Ab diesem Punkt waren meine Kenntnisse eindeutig zu Ende, weiter agierte
ich "selbständig". Zum Glück muss man kein Sherlock Holmes sein, um darauf
zu kommen, dass wenn ...Nh5 gezogen wurde, anschließend g5-g4 geplant ist.
Das weitere Spiel war nicht sehr kompliziert.}) 9. c3 $6 {The most natural but
unfortunate reaction. Die natürlichste, aber unglückliche Reaktion.} ({
The computer recommends Der Computer empfiehlt} 9. Nh2 {, but I do not like
this panicky continuation. Black replies , aber diese panische Fortsetzung
gefällt mir nicht. Schwarz antwortet} g6 {and prepares to castle long; his
position is simply one to dream about. und bereitet die lange Rochade vor,
seine Stellung ist einfach traumhaft.}) ({Here, in my view, Meines Erachtens
ist hier} 9. Nc3 {is the best move. As I later discovered, precisely this move
was taken into account as the main continuation in my earlier notes. The play
which follows is similar to the way the game went, but it is much better for
White to have a knight on c3 rather than a pawn: der beste Zug. Wie ich
später entdeckt habe, wurde gerade dieser Zug in meinen früheren Notizen als
Hauptfortsetzung erachtet. Das danach folgende Spiel ist analog dem Ablauf der
Partie, aber es ist für Weiß viel besser, auf c3 einen Springer anstatt
eines Bauern zu haben:} g5 10. Nxe5 g4 11. d4 Bd6 12. g3 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 {
Here White may not have the resource Qd4 available to him, but on the other
hand his knight is already developed. After the further moves Zwar steht dem
Anziehenden hier die Ressource Qd4 nicht zur Verfügung, aber andererseits ist
sein Springer bereits entwickelt. Nach den weiteren Zügen} 14. h4 Bd7 {
the position is still more or less level, but playing it with Black is
considerably more pleasant: he will castle long and have the initiative –
White's king and light squares are weak. ist die Stellung noch mehr oder
weniger ausgeglichen, aber es ist wesentlich angenehmer, sie mit Schwarz zu
spielen: er wird lang rochieren und Initiative besitzen – der König und die
weißen Felder des Anziehenden sind schwach.}) 9... g5 10. Nxe5 ({After Auf} 
10. d4 {the move ist} exd4 ({During the game the continuation Während der
Partie schien mir auch die Fortsetzung} 10... g4 $5 11. hxg4 Bxg4 12. dxc5 Qf6
{with a subsequent activation of further reserves appeared to me to be
interesting and I took the decision to think more seriously about it if 10.d4
were actually played. Of course, the computer first thinks that "White is a
piece up", but then it begins to be less and less optimistic. I let it
calculate until it had evaluated the position as level, then I stopped the
analysis of this line. Probably 10...exd4 is stronger, but I cannot exclude
the fact that Black also has a great game after 10...g4. mit nachfolgender
Aktivierung weiterer Reserven interessant zu sein, und ich traf die
Entscheidung, darüber ernsthafter nachzudenken, falls 10.d4 tatsächlich
kommt. Der Computer meint zuerst natürlich, dass "Weiß eine Mehrfigur hat",
aber dann beginnt er immer weniger optimistisch zu sein. Ich ließ ihn solange
rechnen, bis er die Stellung als ausgeglichen eingeschätzt hatte, dann brach
ich die Analyse dieses Abspiels ab. Wahrscheinlich ist 10...exd4 doch stärker,
aber ich kann nicht ausschließen, dass Schwarz auch nach 10...g4 ein tolles
Spiel hat.}) 11. cxd4 Bb6 {(a wonderful place for the bishop) is the simplest.
Moreover, the computer can find nothing better than (ein wunderbarer Platz
für den Läufer) am einfachsten. Weiter findet der Computer nichts Besseres
als} 12. Nh2 Nf6 13. e5 Nd5 {It is irrelevant how great Black's advantage is
here – it is absolutely clear that White has lost the opening duel. Es ist
nebensächlich, wie groß hier der schwarze Vorteil ist – es ist absolut
klar, dass Weiß das Eröffnungsduell verloren hat.}) 10... g4 11. d4 {This is
obviously the only move, Offensichtlich ist dies der einzige Zug,} ({It is
even somewhat embarrassing for me to point out the variation es ist mir sogar
etwas peinlich, auf die Variante} 11. hxg4 Qh4+ 12. Kg1 Ng3 {with mate on h1.
mit Matt auf h1 hinzuweisen.}) 11... Bd6 12. g3 {Once more, the only
continuation according to the computer. Wieder die einzige Fortsetzung laut
dem Computer.} Bxe5 {I think it would not be really appropriate to criticise
this move. I took in the facts that I was facing no threats, but from a human
point of view it seems somewhat strange to be dealing with development when it
is possible to recover the material and be able to remain with an excellent
position. Es wäre, denke ich, nicht wirklich angebracht, diesen Zug zu tadeln.
Ich habe registriert, dass mir gar nichts droht, aber aus menschlicher Sicht
scheint es etwas seltsam zu sein, sich mit der Entwicklung zu beschäftigen,
wenn man das Material zurückerobern und mit einer ausgezeichneten Stellung
verbleiben kann.} ({In reality, after In Wirklichkeit aber beginnt der
Computer sich nach} 12... Be6 $1 {the computer begins to be very worried for
White. In the event of große Sorgen um Weiß zu machen. Im Falle von} 13. hxg4
$2 Bxe5 {White will soon be mated. Otherwise Black plays 0-0-0 and obtains a
powerful attack in return for the pawn. wird der Anziehende bald mattgesetzt,
ansonsten spielt Schwarz 0-0-0 und erhält für den Bauern einen gewaltigen
Angriff.}) 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. Qd4 {The most logical continuation. Die
logischste Fortsetzung.} ({There is still the possibility of Es gibt noch die
Möglichkeit} 14. Kh2 {but it looks rather eccentric. aber sie sieht etwas
abwegig aus.}) ({And if Und falls} 14. h4 {then dann} Be6 {– the threat is
the capture on g3, when – es droht das Nehmen auf g3, wobei} 15. Kh2 {
can at least be met with zumindest mittels} Qxe4 {winning a pawn. mit
Bauerngewinn beantwortet werden kann.}) 14... Qe7 $5 {The decision, which is
characteristic of my play in Berlin. In this case the plan brought me success;
in a few other encounters it did not work, and in consequence I sometimes lost
half a point, sometime the whole point. Be that as it may, this game turned
out to be rather beautiful, which partially compensates for my losses. Die
Entscheidung, die für mein Spiel in Berlin charakteristisch ist. In diesem
Fall brachte mir diese Spielweise Erfolg; in ein paar anderen Kämpfen hatte
sie nicht funktioniert, wodurch ich mal einen halben, mal den ganzen Punkt
verlor. Wie dem auch sei, diese Partie ist ziemlich schön geworden, was meine
Einbuße zum Teil kompensiert.} ({My seconds wondered why I did not steer the
struggle into an endgame with an extra pawn: Meine Sekundanten wunderten sich,
dass ich den Kampf nicht ins Endspiel mit einem Mehrbauern überleitete:} 14...
Qxd4 15. cxd4 gxh3 16. Kh2 Be6 {Of course, I had also planned specifically
this liquidation a few moves before. Black gets in f7-f5, White exchanges on
f5, plays Nc3, Be3 and reacts to ...Nf6 with f2-f3. Of course Black has an
advantage but his win is still a long way away and in view of the bishops of
opposite colours White has chances of a draw.  During the game I got into a
"reckless mood" and after the moves ...Rg8 and ...Nh5 I felt it a pity to go
into an endgame. I noticed that after the retreat of the queen to e7 Black had
good chances of gradually developing a dangerous attack. To put it like this:
after the exchange of queens Black's advantage is objectively greater but
after 14...Qe7 it is harder for White to play. If Black is lucky, the game can
"win itself". That is what actually happened – my opponent did not manage to
find the best defence. Natürlich habe ich gerade diese Abwicklung vor ein
paar Zügen auch geplant. Schwarz setzt f7-f5 durch, der Anziehende tauscht
auf f5, spielt Nc3, Be3 und reagiert auf ...Nf6 mit f2-f3. Selbstverständlich
hat Schwarz Vorteil, aber sein Gewinn ist noch weit entfernt und wegen der
ungleichen Läufer hat Weiß Chancen auf Remis.  Im Lauf der Partie bin ich in
eine "Leichtsinnsstimmung" gekommen, und nach den Zügen ...Rg8 und ...Nh5 war
es mir bereits zu schade, ins Endspiel zu gehen. Ich habe bemerkt, dass
Schwarz nach dem Rückzug der Dame nach e7 über gute Chancen verfügt,
allmählich einen gefährlichen Angriff zu entwickeln. Sagen wir so: nach dem
Damentausch ist der Vorteil von Schwarz objektiv gesehen größer, aber nach
14...Qe7 ist es für Weiß schwieriger zu spielen. Wenn der Nachziehende
Glück hat, kann sich die Partie "von selbst" gewinnen. Eigentlich war es dann
auch so – meinem Gegner ist es nicht gelungen, sich optimal zu verteidigen.})
15. h4 {As good as forced. If Black were to get in ...gxh3, he would then not
only have a file for the attack but also have obtained an extra pawn. So gut
wie erzwungen. Wenn Schwarz zu ...gxh3 käme, hätte er dann nicht nur eine
Linie für den Angriff, sondern auch noch einen Mehrbauern bekommen.} c5 {
The idea behind this move is to transfer the bishop to c6, to castle and to
start the attack with f7-f5. The knight does not look best placed on h5, but
in the event of play on the light squares it will not be possible for White to
hold on to the pawn on e4, whilst the white king is very weak. I was of the
opinion that Black has very good prospects here.  Die Idee dieses Zuges
besteht darin, den Läufer nach c6 zu überführen, zu rochieren und mittels
f7-f5 den Angriff zu starten. Der Springer sieht auf h5 noch nicht optimal aus,
aber im Falle eines Spiels auf den weißen Feldern wird es dem Anziehenden
nicht möglich sein, den Bauern auf e4 zu behalten, während der weiße König
sehr schwach ist. Ich war der Meinung, dass Schwarz hier sehr gute
Perspektiven hat.} 16. Qc4 $2 {This is practically speaking the decisive
mistake. Das ist praktisch der entscheidende Fehler.} (16. Qd5 {would fail to
würde an} Nf6 {. scheitern,}) ({but during the game I had seen that aber noch
während der Partie hatte ich gesehen, dass} 16. Qd3 Bd7 17. c4 {is ok. It is
probably the only defensive idea here: plant the knight on d5 so that it
fulfils the role of a barrier along the long diagonal even if after geht.
Wahrscheinlich ist es die einzige Verteidigungsidee hier: den Springer auf d5
einpflanzen, so dass er die Rolle einer Barriere auf der großen Diagonale
spielt, auch wenn Schwarz nach} O-O-O 18. Nc3 Rge8 19. Re1 Bc6 20. Nd5 {
Black has without any doubt a wonderful position. zweifelsohne absolut klasse
steht.} {At the board I thought that Am Brett dachte ich, dass} Bxd5 ({I did,
e.g., consider Ich habe z.B.} 20... Qe5 {, but with precise moves the computer
can to some extent hang on: in Betracht gezogen, aber der Computer kann sich
mit genauen Zügen einigermaßen halten:} 21. Kg2 {because weil} f5 {is met
with mit} (21... b6) (21... Rd7) 22. Bg5 {, it suggests for Black to instead
simply improve his position with 21...b6 or 21...Rd7. Black is better, But
White's position is capable of being defended – thus we can understand the
evaluation of 0.5-0.6. beantwortet wird, schlägt er dem Nachziehenden vor,
stattdessen seine Position einfach mittels 21...b6 oder 21...Rd7 zu verbessern.
Schwarz steht besser, aber die weiße Lage ist verteidigungsfähig – so ist
die Einschätzung 0,5-0,6 zu verstehen.}) 21. cxd5 Nf6 22. Bg5 Nxe4 $5 {
was strong, but the computer starts to demonstrate some wonderful balancing
acts: stark ist, aber der Computer beginnt, Wunder der Equilibristik zu
demonstrieren:} 23. Kg1 $1 f6 24. Bf4 {with various tactical resources which
allow White to save the game. mit verschiedenen taktischen Ressourcen, die dem
Anziehenden erlauben, die Partie zu retten.} ({not nicht} 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25.
Rxe4 Qf5 26. Rae1 h5 {and after the fall of the d5-pawn White is losing. und
nach dem Fall des Bauern d5 steht Weiß auf Verlust.})) {I suppose that Levon
did not particularly like all that and he found another, in itself very
cunning, defensive option. He is planning Bg5, because Black will not now have
the reply f7-f6. Ich vermute, dass Levon das alles nicht besonders gefiel, und
er hat eine andere, an sich recht listige Verteidigungsoption gefunden. Er
plant Bg5, weil Schwarz nun die Antwort f7-f6 nicht haben wird.} 16... Be6 17.
Qb5+ c6 18. Qa4 {And now Black deprives his bishop of the c6-square, so that
it cannot get on to the long diagonal. In addition Black cannot castle because
then the a7-pawn is hanging. As I understand things, that was Aronian's idea
and it would not be a bad one if the specific details did not reduce it to
nothing.. Und jetzt nahm Schwarz seinem Läufer das Feld c6, so dass er auf
die große Diagonale nicht kommt. Außerdem kann der Nachziehende nicht
rochieren, weil dann der Bauer a7 hängt. Wie ich verstehe, darin bestand
Aronians Idee, und sie wäre gar nicht schlecht, wenn die konkreten Details
sie nicht zunichtemachen würden.} ({18.Qa4 could be regarded as the final
mistake, but 18.Qa4 könnte man als den letzten Fehler betrachten, aber} 18.
Qe2 f5 19. Bg5 Rxg5 20. hxg5 f4 {would not help either – that would only be
a slightly better version of what happened in the game. würde auch nicht
helfen – das wäre nur eine etwas bessere Version davor, was später in der
Partie passierte.}) ({The computer recommends Der Computer empfiehlt} 18. Qd3 {
, but firstly, that does not fit in with White's last two moves and secondly
his situation would have remained terrible even then: , aber erstens passt das
mit den zwei letzten Zügen des Anziehenden nicht zusammen und zweitens wäre
seine Lage auch dann schrecklich geblieben:} Rd8 19. Qe3 (19. Qe2 f5) 19... Bc4
20. Rg1 (20. Re1 Rd3 21. Qh6 Qe5) 20... Rg6 21. Qe1 Bd3 {and White has major
strategic, tactical and soon material problems. However, he would not lose
immediately. und Weiß hat große strategische, taktische und bald auch
materielle Probleme. Jedoch würde er dabei nicht sofort verlieren.}) 18... f5
$1 {This is a typical idea, but Levon overlooked it or did not notice in time
its tactical justification – 19.exf5 Nxg3+!.  While he was thinking about
his next move, I wondered what I would do in his place and suddenly I
understood that White's position was absolutely hopeless. I was even amazed at
how bad everything was for him. The computer also recognises that – if it is
allowed some time, it gives roughly "-4" here. It was clear to me that the
business was all over, but in a situation in which all ways appear to lead to
Rome, it is also possible to make the wrong choice. So I used a lot of time
for the rest of the game in order to check over several times even the
simplest variations and not to do anything stupid – I have previously had
sufficient negative experiences in this area. But fundamentally after f5-f4
Black's attack develops on its own. Das ist eine typische Idee, aber Levon hat
sie übersehen oder ihre taktische Begründung – 19.exf5 Nxg3+! – nicht
rechtzeitig bemerkt.  Während er sich seinen nächsten Zug überlegte, habe
ich mich gefragt, was ich an seiner Stelle unternehmen würde, und plötzlich
habe ich verstanden, dass Weiß absolut hoffnungslos steht. Ich habe mich
sogar gewundert, wie schlecht das alles für ihn ist. Der Computer begreift
das auch – wenn man ihm etwas Zeit gibt, schreibt er hier etwa "-4". Mir war
klar, dass die Sache eigentlich gelaufen war, aber in einer Situation, in der
alle Wege nach Rom zu führen scheinen, kann man auch eine falsche Wahl
treffen. Deshalb habe ich für den Rest Partie viel Zeit verbraucht, um die
einfachsten Varianten mehrmals zu überprüfen und keine Dummheit zu machen
– negative Erfahrungen in diesem Sinne habe ich früher ausreichend
gesammelt. Aber im Grunde genommen entwickelt sich der schwarze Angriff nach
f5-f4 von selbst.} 19. Bg5 (19. exf5 Nxg3+ $1 20. fxg3 Bd5+ 21. Kg1 Qe2 22. Rf2
Qe1+ {with mate. mit Matt.}) 19... Rxg5 {This move can hardly be considered a
sacrifice.  Als ein Opfer darf man diesen Zug kaum betrachten.} 20. hxg5 f4 {
White has no counterplay and is simply mated. Weiß hat kein Gegenspiel und
wird einfach mattgesetzt.} 21. Qd1 Rd8 {Of course 21...fxg3 also wins.
Natürlich gewinnt auch 21...fxg3.} 22. Qc1 fxg3 23. Na3 Rd3 $1 {I suppose
that there were simpler ways, but I decided to bring the rook closer to the
main theatre of action. It later turned out that this is the computer's first
continuation.  Ich vermutete, dass es einfachere Wege gab, aber entschloss
mich, den Turm dem Hauptschauplatz näher zu bringen. Es hat sich später
herausgestellt, dass es die erste Fortsetzung des Computers ist.} 24. Rd1 Bd5
$1 {The only way to duff up such a position is by letting oneself be lulled to
sleep by the plethora of available options. So eine Stellung kann man nur dann
kaputtmachen, wenn man sich von der Menge der zur Verfügung stehenden
Möglichkeiten einlullen lässt.} ({It was clear to me that after Mir war klar,
dass Schwarz nach} 24... Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 gxf2 {Black has an absolutely won
position.  On the other hand, some of the variations arising after 24...Bd5
were so beautiful that I felt the urge to finish the game in style. And so at
this point I spent my time above all not on uncomplicated calculations but on
an inner battle with myself: "That is beautiful! / But why do you need to play
it? Be a professional, take on d1 and f2 and win the game." In the end the
artist had the upper hand. eine absolut gewonnene Position hat.  Andererseits
waren einige nach 24...Bd5 entstehenden Varianten so schön, dass ich die Lust
verspürte, die Partie stilvoll zu beenden. Und so verbrauchte ich an dieser
Stelle meine Zeit in erster Linie nicht für unkomplizierte Rechenarbeit,
sondern für den inneren Kampf mit mir selbst: "Das ist doch schön!/Aber wozu
brauchst du das? Sei ein Profi, nimm auf d1 und f2 und gewinne die Partie." Im
Endeffekt bekam der Künstler die Oberhand.}) 25. f3 ({When looking at the
variation Beim Anschauen der Variante} 25. exd5 Qe4+ 26. Kg1 gxf2+ {for
safety's sake I calculated it out to mate, which was not particularly
difficult. rechnete ich sicherheitshalber bis zum Matt, was nicht besonders
schwierig war.}) 25... gxf3 26. exd5 ({I had been hoping for Ich hatte auf} 26.
Rxd3 {: gehofft:} Qxe4 $1 {of course I wanted to take with the queen, although
26...Bxe4 would also be more than sufficient: natürlich wollte ich mit der
Dame nehmen, obwohl 26...Bxe4 auch mehr als ausreichen würde:} 27. Re3 f2+ 28.
Rxe4+ Bxe4# {, but that would have been somewhat too masochistic of Levon.  In
the final position Black is down by a queen and an exchange. I found it a pity
that the knight is still there on h5. It was even more impressive without it.
When I discovered this variation I could no longer resist the wish to play 24..
.Bd5. , aber das wäre von Levon etwas zu masochistisch gewesen.  In der
Endposition hat Schwarz eine Dame und eine Qualität weniger. Ich fand es
schade, dass der Springer h5 noch vorhanden ist, ohne ihn wäre es noch
beeindruckender. Als ich diese Variante entdeckte, konnte ich dem Wunsch, 24...
Bd5 zu spielen, nicht mehr widerstehen.}) 26... Qe2 {This too I checked over
some five times – in the end the queen is really pinned. Auch das habe ich
etwa fünf Mal überprüft – schließlich wird die Dame doch gefesselt.} 27.
Re1 ({Or Oder} 27. Qc2 g2+ 28. Kh2 g1=Q+ 29. Kxg1 f2+ 30. Kh2 {and here the
simplest is und am einfachsten ist hier} Rh3+ $1 31. Kxh3 Qf3+ 32. Kh4 Qg3+ 33.
Kxh5 Qh3# {Again very beautiful. Wieder sehr schön.}) 27... g2+ {White
resigned. Weiß gab auf.} (27... g2+ 28. Kh2 ({After Nach} 28. Kg1 {the number
of black queens increases. erhöht sich die Anzahl der schwarzen Damen:} f2+
29. Kxg2 (29. Kh2 g1=Q+ 30. Rxg1 f1=Q+) 29... f1=Q# {a rare mating pattern.
Taking on e1 would also be mate, but I would have chosen the double check.
eine seltene Mattkonstruktion; das Nehmen auf e1 wäre auch Matt, aber ich
hätte das Doppelschach gewählt.}) 28... g1=Q+ 29. Kxg1 f2+ 30. Kh1 Rh3+ 31.
Kg2 f1=Q# {This game pleased both experts and spectators. All in all it is not
complicated, but impressive and the plan with ...Rg8 is rather "fresh" and
unexpected. It brought me aesthetic enjoyment, though all that glitters is not
gold: the game I won against Levon with White is more interesting and more
complex, so that I rate it higher from the point of view of the art of chess.
But I understand that the struggle we have just analysed looks very
spectacular and thus is not really such a usual occurrence in supertournaments
- that is why it attracted so much attention. Experten und Zuschauern hat
diese Partie gefallen. Sie ist im großen und Ganzen nicht kompliziert, aber
effektvoll, und das Konzept mit ...Rg8 ist ziemlich "frisch" und unerwartet.
Mir brachte sie einen ästhetischen Genuss, obwohl nicht alles Gold ist, was
glänzt: die Partie, die ich gegen Levon mit Weiß gewann, ist interessanter
und komplexer, so dass ich sie aus der Sicht der Schachkunst höher
einschätze. Aber ich verstehe, dass der von uns gerade analysierter Kampf
sehr spektakulär aussieht und somit für die Superturniere nicht gerade
gewöhnlich ist - daher so viel Aufsehen.}) 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Recently the Italian has been successfully
employed by Kramnik on the highest level. In particular, Carlsen, Anand and
Radjabov were defeated in great style.} Bc5 4. Nc3 {This time Vladimir takes
the game into relatively unexplored territory.} Nf6 5. d3 a6 {This natural
move is only Black's 4th choice according to statisctics. It is always vital
to secure the bishop's retreat.} ({All} 5... d6) (5... O-O) ({and} 5... h6 {
are equally good.}) 6. Nd5 Nxd5 {The centralised knight should be liquidated
sooner or later.} ({Black can also afford to waste another tempo for
prophylaxis:} 6... h6 7. O-O (7. Be3 d6 8. c3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Ne7
11. Bb3 O-O 12. O-O Ng6 $11 {Nikitenko,M - Kovalev,V Minsk 2015}) 7... d6 8. c3
O-O 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Na5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $11 {Fedoseev,V - Mamedyarov,S
Sochi RUS 2017}) 7. Bxd5 {White reasonably prefers not to lock in the
light-squared bishop} (7. exd5 Nd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. c3 Bc5 10. O-O O-O {is
absolutely fine for Black.}) 7... d6 $146 {This innovation doesn't change the
assessment of position - it's equal.} ({The previously played} 7... O-O {
might lead to sharper play:} 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Be3 (9. h4 d6 10. Qd2 Bg4 $132 {
Benda,H - Kilgus,G Austria 2007}) 9... d6 10. O-O Kh8 11. c3 f5 $132) 8. Be3 {
This move is aimed at opening up the f-file.} (8. c3 Qf6 9. O-O Ba7 10. h3 h6
11. Be3 O-O 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 $11) 8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 O-O 10. O-O Nb8 $1 {Levon
manages to find an excellent plan - the knight is heading to f6, where it
would neutralise White's pressure along the f-file.} ({Less precise was} 10...
Ne7 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. Qe1 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qg3 $14 {and the Ng6 is
misplaced.}) 11. b4 {Quite a risky decision - now White's pawn structure is
getting somewhat shaky.} ({I guess, Vladimir rejected the most natural} 11. Qe1
{in view of} Nd7 12. a3 (12. Qg3 $6 c6 13. Bb3 Nc5 14. Rf2 a5 $15) 12... Nf6
13. Ba2 Be6 $11 {Now, when Black's knight is comfortably placed on f6, Black
has nothing to worry about.}) 11... Nd7 12. Qd2 (12. Qe1 c6 13. Bb3 a5 14. a3
Nf6 15. Qg3 b5 $11) 12... c6 13. Bb3 a5 $1 14. a3 {Now it is Black to decide
when to open up the a-file.} Nf6 15. h3 h6 16. Rab1 {A slight concession.} b5
$5 {This ambitious move keeps the positiion tense.} (16... Re8 17. Qf2 axb4 18.
axb4 Be6 $11) 17. Qc3 {The idea behing this somewhat awkward move is provoking
17...Qb6, after that the typical sac on f6 would be on the cards.} ({After} 17.
Rf2 Re8 18. Rbf1 axb4 19. axb4 Be6 20. Bxe6 Rxe6 $15 {White's kingside attack
is questionable, whereas Black has taken control over the open a-file.}) ({
Objectively, Vladimir should have simplified matters by means of} 17. a4 bxa4
18. Bxa4 Qc7 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Bb3 $11 {but such a decision wouldn't suit his
aggressive mood!}) 17... Bd7 {Levon isn't in a hurry. Indeed, the Qc3 is
misplaced anyway.} ({However, a more energetic move was} 17... Qb6 $1 18. Qe1
Be6 19. Nh4 a4 $1 20. Bxe6 fxe6 $15 {and the failure of White's approach is
obvious.}) 18. Rf2 $6 {Vladimir's brave play in the event made the Candidates
tournament much more attractive. However, this time it could have backfired.} (
{More to the point was} 18. Qe1 axb4 19. axb4 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Ra1 $11 {
maintaining the balance.}) 18... Qb6 19. Re1 {A sad necessity - there is no
better way of protecting the Pe3.} Rfe8 20. Nh4 c5 $6 {After losing few games
in the previous rounds, Levon feels like he has nothing to lose.} ({A safer
way was} 20... a4 $1 21. Ba2 Be6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Ref1 Kh7 24. Nf5 d5 $15 {
eliminating any danger and claiming superiority in the centre.}) 21. Ref1 $1 {
This move is connected with a pawn sacrifice.} ({Black's king would be safe in
the event of} 21. Rxf6 gxf6 22. Qd2 Kg7 23. Bd5 Ra7 24. Rf1 Qd8 $15 {though
converting the material advantage into a full point isn't an easy task here.})
21... cxb4 22. Qe1 {Now all White's forces are focused on attacking the
opponent's king.} ({Of course, not} 22. axb4 $2 a4 23. Ba2 Qxe3 $19) 22... d5 {
The play is extremely sharp now!} (22... a4 $5 {deserved serious attention} 23.
Rxf6 $1 ({Only not} 23. Ba2 $2 d5 $1 {and now White is in troubles:} 24. axb4 (
24. Rxf6 gxf6 25. Bxd5 bxa3 $19) 24... dxe4 25. c4 Be6 26. c5 Qd8 $17) 23...
axb3 24. Qg3 $1 ({The timid} 24. Rxf7 $2 {runs into} Qd8 $1 25. Qg3 Qg5 26.
Qxg5 hxg5 27. Rxd7 Rf8 $1 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Ng6+ Kg8 $19 {, and Black will
promote one of his q-side pawns.}) 24... Rf8 25. cxb3 bxa3 26. Rxh6 {and the
game should end in a draw:} a2 27. Ra1 Qc5 28. Rh5 Qc3 29. Rg5 Qxa1+ 30. Kh2
Qe1 31. Rxg7+ Kh8 32. Qg5 Qxh4 33. Qxh4+ Kxg7 34. Qg5+ $11) 23. axb4 dxe4 24.
bxa5 Rxa5 25. Ng6 $5 {Vladimir is continuing to complicate matters.} ({The
immediate} 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26. dxe4 Kf8 {would offer White sufficient
compensation for an exchange, but not more than that.}) 25... Be6 {Levon is
playing with fire!} (25... Ra6 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Qg3 {looks extremely scary
for a human eye, though the cool-blooded} Qd6 $1 28. dxe4 Kg7 29. Nh4+ Kf8 $13
{hardly gives White anything special.}) ({Another possible way of handling the
posiution would be} 25... exd3 $5 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Qg3 Ra7 $1 28. cxd3 f5 29.
Nxe5+ Kf8 $13) 26. Nxe5 ({It looks like} 26. Rxf6 $1 {would pose Black the
major practical problems:} gxf6 27. Qg3 {Now it would be very difficult for
Levon to find} b4 $1 ({The more natural} 27... exd3 28. Rxf6 d2 {runs into} 29.
Nh4+ Kf8 30. Nf5 d1=Q+ 31. Kh2 Re7 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Bxe6 Qxe6 34. Rxe6 Rxe6 35.
Qg8+ Kd7 36. Qxf7+ Kd8 37. Qxe6 $36 {and Black is in serious danger}) 28. Bxe6
Rxe6 29. Nf4+ (29. Nxe5+ Kh7 30. Nc4 Rg5 31. Qxg5 hxg5 32. Nxb6 Rxb6 $11) 29...
Kf8 30. Nxe6+ Qxe6 31. Qh4 Ra6 32. Qxe4 Qd6 $11 {and a draw seems the most
probable result.}) 26... exd3 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Rxf6 {The best practical try.}
(28. Qg3+ Kf8 29. Ng6+ Kg7 30. Nf4+ Kh8 31. Nxe6 Rxe6 32. Bxe6 Qxe6 33. cxd3 b4
$11) 28... d2 $1 {This move is aimed at depriving the Qe1 of the g3-spot.} (
28... dxc2 $2 {would yield White a decisive attack:} 29. Bxc2 Kg7 30. Qf2 $18)
29. Qg3+ ({Of course, not} 29. Qxd2 $2 Ra1+ 30. Kf2 Qa5 $1 31. Qxa5 Rxa5 $17)
29... Kf8 30. Rf1 {The d2-passer is very strong now.} Ra7 31. Ng6+ Kg7 32. Nf4+
Kh8 33. Nh5 f6 {After this move White has no risk at all.} ({The situation
would be double-edged in the event of} 33... Bg4 $5 34. Qxg4 Qxe3+ 35. Kh1 Rg8
36. Qh4 Ra6 $132) 34. Nxf6 Rf8 ({There was the equally good} 34... Rd8 35. Bxe6
(35. Qf4 {Or} Bf5 $1 36. Qxf5 d1=Q 37. Qf4 Kg7 38. Qg3+ Kh8 39. Qf4 $11) 35...
d1=Q 36. Qf4 Rh7 37. Nxh7 Qxe6 38. Nf6 Qxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Qc4+ 40. Qxc4 bxc4 $11 {
with a drawish endgame.}) 35. Qf4 Rh7 {The only, but sufficient defence!} 36.
Qe5 Qc7 $4 {Alas, Levon doesn't manage to withstand the time pressure...} ({
After} 36... Rg7 {this spectacular encounter should end in a draw. For
instance,} 37. Bxe6 Rg5 38. Nh5+ Rxe5 39. Rxf8+ Kh7 40. Rf7+ Kh8 (40... Kg6 $2
41. Rg7+ Kxh5 42. Bf7+ Kh4 43. Rg4#) 41. Rf8+ $11) 37. Ne8+ $1 {A very
dramatic end!} (37. Ne8+ Qxe5 38. Rxf8+ Bg8 39. Rxg8#) 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bf6 12. Qd2 Nf4 13. gxf4 Qxd2 14. Nxd2
Bxb2 15. Rab1 Bf6 16. Rbc1 Rd8 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Rc7 Kf8 19. Rfc1 Rb8 20. e3 h6
21. Bf3 a5 22. Kg2 g5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. h3 f5 25. Nc5 b6 26. Na4 Bd6 27. Rh7
Kg8 28. Ra7 Be5 29. Rc6 Rd6 30. Rxd6 Bxd6 31. Nc3 b5 32. Rxa5 b4 33. Nb5 Bc5
34. Nd4 Bxd4 35. exd4 Kf7 36. Ra7+ Kf6 37. Rc7 Ba6 38. d5 Bb7 39. d6 Bxf3+ 40.
Kxf3 Rd8 41. Rb7 Rxd6 42. Rxb4 e5 43. a4 e4+ 44. Ke2 Ke5 45. a5 f4 46. Ra4 f3+
47. Ke1 Rc6 48. a6 Rc1+ 49. Kd2 Rf1 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. h3
Bd7 9. Re1 a4 10. Nf1 Ne7 11. Bxd7 Nxd7 12. d4 Bb6 13. Ng3 Re8 14. Bg5 Nf8 15.
Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Neg6 18. Qc2 Ne6 19. Rad1 Nef4 20. Nf3 Qf6 21.
Re3 Qe6 22. c4 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 Nf4+ 24. Kg1 Qxh3 25. Ne1 Qg4 26. Ng2 g5 27. Rd2
f5 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Nxg2 30. Kxg2 f4 31. Re2 fxg3 32. Kxg3 Re5 33. Rd5
Rae8 34. f3 Kg7 35. b3 axb3 36. axb3 h5 37. Ra2 Kf6 38. b4 Rxd5 39. cxd5 Ke5
40. b5 b6 41. Ra7 Rc8 42. Ra4 Rf8 43. Ra7 Rc8 44. Ra4 Rh8 45. Rc4 Rh7 46. Ra4
h4+ 47. Kg4 h3 48. Ra1 Rh4+ 49. Kg3 h2 50. Rh1 Rh8 51. Kg4 Kd4 52. Kxg5 Ke3 53.
f4 Kxe4 54. f5 Kf3 55. f6 Kg2 56. Rc1 h1=Q 57. Rxh1 Rxh1 58. Kf5 Kf3 59. f7 Rh8
0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5
O-O 9. Rd1 Nxc5 10. Nf3 Bd7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Be2 Nfe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxe4
dxe4 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Qxe4 Qb4+ 17. Kf1 Rfd8 18. b3 Nf6 19. Qc2 Rxd1+ 20. Qxd1
Qa5 21. Bf3 Rd8 22. Qb1 Rd2 23. g3 g5 24. h3 Rxa2 25. Kg2 Qd2 26. Rf1 b6 27.
Qc1 a5 28. c5 bxc5 29. Qxc5 Kg7 30. Qc1 Nd7 31. Qxd2 Rxd2 32. Rd1 Rxd1 33. Bxd1
Nc5 34. Bc2 e5 35. f4 exf4 36. exf4 gxf4 37. gxf4 Ne6 38. Kg3 Kf6 39. Kg4 Nd4
40. Bd1 Kg6 41. Kh4 Nf5+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. a3 d5 5. Bb5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Qd6 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8.
Qxe4 Bd7 9. d3 O-O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Qe2 Qg6 12. Be3 Bd6 13. Nd2 a6 14. Ba4 f5
15. f3 h5 16. Kh1 h4 17. h3 Nd4 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Qd1 Ne6 20. Nc4 Qf6 21. c3
Kc8 22. b4 Rd8 23. Qb3 Be7 24. b5 Nc5 25. Bxc5 Bxc5 26. bxa6 Qxa6 27. Nxe5 Rhe8
28. d4 Bd6 29. f4 Re7 30. a4 Rde8 31. Qb5 g5 32. Ng6 Qxb5 33. Nxe7+ Rxe7 34.
axb5 Bxf4 35. Rae1 Rf7 36. Re6 Kd7 37. d5 b6 38. c4 Rf8 39. Ra1 Bd6 40. Kg1 g4
41. Rf1 g3 42. Rf3 f4 43. Rh6 Ra8 44. Rf1 Ra2 45. Rf6 Be5 46. Rf5 Kd6 47. Re1
Bd4+ 48. Kh1 Be3 49. Rf6+ Kc5 50. Rc6+ Kd4 51. Rd1+ Kc3 52. Rf6 Kxc4 53. d6
cxd6 54. Rf5 d5 55. Rb1 d4 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Bd2 O-O 6. e3 Re8 7. Be2 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Nb6 10. a3 Bf8 11. b4 Bf5 12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Rfd1 Rad8 14. Ne4 Nd5 15.
b5 Nb8 16. a4 c6 17. Qb2 Qc7 18. Rac1 a5 19. Ng3 Bg4 20. b6 Qe7 21. Bxa5 Nd7
22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Ra8 24. Be1 Qa3 25. Qxa3 Bxa3 26. Bxd5 Bxc1 27. Bc4 Bxe3
28. fxe3 Nxb6 29. a5 Nxc4 30. dxc4 Red8 31. Rb1 Rd3 32. Kf2 Rd7 33. Ne4 Ra7 34.
Nc5 Re7 35. a6 b5 36. cxb5 cxb5 37. Rxb5 Ra8 38. Rb7 Ree8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 d6 ({The traditional main
lines are} 5... O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 ({or} 7. Ne1 Bxc3 8. dxc3) 7... Bxc3 8.
bxc3 {but the English Opening is not flexible from White's point of view only.
Black can also experiment in many ways!}) 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Bxc3 {Black has
waited with this and the next move until White has exposed his d-pawn to the
exchange.} ({Against the flexible} 7... h6 8. Na4 {has been White's main
choice at top level in a couple of recent games..} (8. Nd5 Bc5 9. e3 {
transposes to a tabyia from the 5.Nd5 line.}) (8. Bd2 {is solid but not very
active. Black's most logical continuation is} a5 {as played in a few games.})
8... a5 9. b3 Qe7 (9... Re8 10. Bb2 Bf5 11. e3 {Svidler,P (2757)-Nakamura,H 
(2790) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Sagar Shah/CB Website] (½-½, 30)}) 10. Bb2 Bc5
11. e3 {Aronian,L (2786)-Topalov,V (2780) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Mekhitarian,K] 
(½-½, 58)}) 8. bxc3 e4 {The only consequent continuation.} ({If} 8... h6 {
White can consolidate his centre with} 9. e4 {[%cal Gf3e1,Ge1c2,Gc2e3,Gf2f4]
Black's position remains playable, of course, but White's play is preferable.}
Be6 10. Ne1 Nd7 11. Nc2 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Ne3 Bg6 14. Ba3 Kh8 15. Rb1 Rb8
16. Kh1 Nb6 17. Rb2 Qe8 18. c5 $36 {Zvjaginsev,V (2659)-Artemiev,V (2524)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2013 (1-0, 45)}) 9. Nd4 exd3 ({If} 9... Ne5 {White retains
some initiative by provoking radical structural changes:} 10. dxe4 ({Actually} 
10. f4 exf3 11. exf3 $5 $146 {is also promising, even though it is frustrating
that White is basically a tempo down with respect to the line with ...Ne5
after the exchange on d3.} c5 12. Nc2 Re8 13. Ne3 $14 {[%cal Gg3g4,Gd3d4]})
10... Nxc4 11. Qb3) 10. exd3 Nxd4 {The standard reaction in this type of
position. Optically this exchange strengthens White's centre (which would be
absolutely true if he could play d4-d5) but Black will block the double pawns
with ...d6-d5, leaving the final evaluation under some shadow.} (10... Bd7 {
is passive and Black would probably have to take on d4 at some later point
anyway.} 11. Rb1 Rb8 12. h3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 b5 14. Bd2 bxc4 15. dxc4 Bf5 16. Rb3
$14 {Arkhipov,S (2440)-Ilincic,Z (2480) Kecskemet 1990 (½-½, 38)}) (10... Ne5
11. f4 {Now there is no more ...exf3 in the way and this gains space without
waste of time.} Ng6 12. Rb1 c5 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. f5 Ne5 15. Ne3 b6 16. g4 Bb7 17.
Bxb7 Rxb7 18. g5 Ne8 19. h4 $16 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2718)-Savchenko,B (2580)
Sochi 2012 (1-0, 32)}) 11. cxd4 d5 (11... c6 {may be a bit more flexible, as
Bg5 does not make sense before Black has exposed his d-pawn. But it also
offers White a tempo to switch to some other plan.} 12. h3 ({Since in the
lines below I mention Bf4 a couple of times, I would also consider the untested
} 12. Bf4 $5 $14 {as Black cannot really avoid ...d6-d5 in the long run.})
12... Be6 ({This exposes the bishop a bit too early. After} 12... d5 {I would
consider} 13. Bf4 Be6 14. Rc1 $14 {[%cal Gf4e5,Gg3g4]}) 13. g4 d5 14. c5 b6 15.
f4 $1 $14 {Uhlmann,W (2495)-Liebert,H (2395) Germany 1992 (½-½, 55)}) 12. Bg5
{A logical move from the perspective of the fight for the centre. But its
drawback is that it forces matters at an early stage, with the risk of
offering White only the more pleasant side of a draw.} ({Once again the more
neutral} 12. Bf4 {comes into consideration.}) 12... c6 $146 (12... h6 {loses a
pawn without clear compensation.} 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. cxd5 {White's central
pawns are tripled, but Black's problem is that his c7-pawn is vulnerable.} Bd7
(14... Qxd4 15. Rc1 $14 {wins the c-pawn soon.}) 15. Qb3 Rab8 16. Rac1 Qd6 17.
Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Qc4 Bd7 20. Qc5 {[%csl Ga7]} (20. Qxc7 $2 Rc8 $15
{[%cal Rc7f4] wins the queen as if} 21. Qxd6 $2 Rxc1+ 22. Bf1 Bh3 $19) 20... b6
(20... Qa6 21. Qxc7 Rc8 22. Qf4 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 Qxd3 24. h3 Qxd4 25. Qc7 $16 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 21. Qxd6 cxd6 22. Rc7 $14 {Malich,B-Hecht,H Skopje 1972 (½-½,
74)}) 13. cxd5 cxd5 {Black has a pawn majority while White does not. But White
is better developed and exerts pressure on d5. Besides, White has the
e5-square for his pieces, while e4 is unavailable for the black pieces. In
principle White's chances are slightly better but in case of simplifications
the tables could turn.} 14. Qb3 (14. Qf3 $5 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 {
Optically this looks pleasant for White as Black's kingside structure is in
ruins. But Kramnik must have thought this to be irrelevant without queens on
board. And yet, White retains some pressure.} 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. Rc3 Rfd8 19. Re1
$14) 14... b6 {Preparing ...Be6.} (14... h6 15. Bf4 $5 (15. Bxf6 Qxf6 {[%csl
Gd4][%cal Gf8d8]}) 15... Bf5 16. Be5 $14 {[%cal Gh2h3,Gg3g4,Gf2f4]}) 15. Rae1 {
Kramnik chose precisely this rook, in order to maintain the possibility of
f4-f5.} ({Another possible plan was} 15. Rac1 h6 16. Bf4 $14 {and apart from
Be5 White can plan the intrusion to c7.}) 15... h6 {With hindsight, a correct
move, but not the only one.} (15... Be6 $5 16. f4 Qd7 17. Re5 Bf5 18. Bxf6 gxf6
19. Rxd5 Qe6 $44) 16. Bxf6 (16. Bf4 {makes less sense as Black is in time to
defend against the intrusion along the c-file} Be6) 16... Qxf6 17. Re5 Be6 {
Black's position out of the opening is entirely satisfactory.} 18. f4 {Kramnik
must have planned f4-f5 before taking on d5, but if so he probably overlooked
that this would not avoid the exchange of bishops. The way the game went the
last move is just a weakening of the second rank.} ({But the immediate capture
} 18. Bxd5 {does not seem too annoying, either:} Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rac8 20. Rfe1
Rfd8 21. Qe4 Rc2 22. Rf5 Qd6 {and White's extra pawn is not too relevant
despite White's optical domination} 23. Qe7 $5 Rc7 $1) 18... Rac8 19. Rfe1 ({If
} 19. f5 Bd7 20. Bxd5 {Black has} Bc6 $11 {with similar play as in the game.
One important detail is that after} 21. Be4 {Black has} Rfd8 {[%csl Gd4] and
White's position is not as solid as it may seem.}) 19... Rc7 $5 {[%cal Gf8c8]
Defending the seventh rank and clearing the c8-square for the king's rook or
bishop.} 20. Bxd5 (20. f5 Bc8 21. Bxd5 Bxf5) 20... Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rc2 22. Re8 {
The crucial moment. White seems to have some initiative but his weak second
rank restricts his possibilities. Black has to parry Rxf8+ followed by Qa8+
mating soon.} Rc8 $2 {Possibly overlooking the next move.} (22... g6 $44 {
or even}) (22... g5 $5 $44 {would have offered approximately equal chances.})
23. Qd7 $1 $16 {Suddenly Black faces the danger of landing in a very
unpleasant, possibly lost, ending. He can only choose whether it would be a
rook ending or a queen ending or a middlegame with an exposed king. In all the
cases White's double pawns would be strong.} Rd8 $6 (23... Ra8 $6 24. Rxa8 Rxa8
25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Qxe8+ Kh7 27. Qe5 Qg6 {Otherwise White would simply push his
d4-pawn.} 28. Qe4 Kg8 29. Qxg6 $1 {Not an easy decision to take over the board.
Usually, an extra pawn offers a decisive advantage in pawn endings with many
pawns, but here White's pawns are doubled and Black has an outside majority.
But as we will see White's space advantage will incline the balance to his
favour.} fxg6 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. d5 Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Ke4 $5 {Probably the most
precise, anticipating ...g6-g5.} b5 (33... g5 34. Kf5 $1 {Targeting g7.} gxf4
35. gxf4 b5 36. Kg6 a5 37. Kxg7 {and White wins by just one tempo.} b4 38. f5
a4 39. f6 b3 40. axb3 axb3 41. f7 b2 42. f8=Q+) 34. h4 $1 {Blocking the
kingside and putting Black into zugzwang soon.} a5 35. Kd4 h5 (35... b4 36. Kc4
$18) 36. a3 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Kc4 b3 39. Kxb3 Kxd5 40. Kc3 $18) ({The best
chance for survival might have been} 23... Rcxe8 24. Rxe8 g5 (24... Rxe8 25.
Qxe8+ {transposes above.}) (24... g6 25. Kf2 Kg7 26. Ke3 $18) 25. Re4 $5 $16 {
with attacking chances.}) 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Re7 Qc8 26. Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Kf2 $18 {
The strength of the double pawns consists of the fact that one could advance
to promotion while the other one would protect the king from checks.} Kf8 (
27... a6 28. Ra7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3 Kf8 (29... Rxa2 30. Ra8+ Kh7 31. d5 {promotes.})
30. d5 Rxa2 31. d6 Ke8 32. Re7+ Kd8 (32... Kf8 33. Re4 $1 {makes the pawn
unstoppable.}) 33. Rxf7 g6 34. h4 b5 35. h5 gxh5 36. f5 $18 {Black's connected
pawns are too slow.}) 28. Rxa7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3 Rxh2 30. d5 g5 (30... Ke8 31. d6
Rg2 32. Kf3 Rd2 33. Ke4 Rg2 34. Kd5 Rxg3 35. Kc6 $18) 31. f5 f6 32. d6 Ke8 33.
Kd4 h5 34. Kd5 b5 35. Ke6 Re2+ 36. Kxf6 h4 37. Re7+ $1 {The most convincing.} (
37. Re7+ Rxe7 38. dxe7 hxg3 39. Ke6 g2 40. f6 g1=Q 41. f7#) ({But there was
nothing wrong with} 37. gxh4 gxh4 38. Rh7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.26"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Beradze, Irakli"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Ganguly, Surya Sekhar "]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia II"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{The only top player missing from the show after the first two rounds was big
Vlad and now he finally decided to join in by playing a spectacular game.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 {A very
well-known setup which is popular because of its solidity. Like most of the
closed openings there are great move order subtleties and it is well known how
Kramnik pays attention to the tiny detail of move orders in every opening.} O-O
8. Bb2 {If White can get Bb2-d3 setup without allowing e5 then that is ideal.
Normally Black is happy with b6-Bb7 setup but that is mainly when White has
committed his bishop to e2 and not d3.} (8. Be2 b6 {now this is fine as the
white bishop is placed on e2}) 8... Qe7 {A move order finesse. Black remains
flexible for both e5 and b6 plans and for now just waits to see where White
will develop his light-squared bishop to.} (8... b6 {would be a concession and
White gets his ideal setup without having to allow e5}) (8... e5 {is another
way to solve problems but this leads to a totally different kind of position.})
9. Bd3 (9. Be2 {is more popular} b6 {will get to the normal setup with Be2
lines}) 9... Re8 $1 {Now that the bishop is placed on d3 Black immediately
prepares e5. The main difference of having the bishop on d3 is that after e5
White will not have time to take on d5 as Black has the threat of e4.} 10. Ne2
$6 {Until now White was blitzing out his moves and now after 22 minutes of
thought he comes up with a desperate attempt to stop e5... which happens
anyway.} (10. O-O e5 {is the whole point of this move order. No time for cd5
and Black gets a comfortable position.}) (10. O-O-O {was played by Shirov once.
Here the game gets very wild but Black is generally doing totally fine.}) (10.
Rd1 $5 {So that after the mass exchange on e5 Black is not able to take with
queen as the h2-pawn isn't hanging anymore as compared to 10. 0-0. Here also
there are many ways for Black to proceed. h6 and dc4 are two of them.}) 10...
e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Bxe5 Qxe5 {Black has got a very comfortable
position out of the opening. Just some minute inaccuracies follow and Kramnik
shows the precise way to exploit the same.} 14. O-O $6 {Surprisingly this
'most' obvious move is a mistake!} (14. Rd1 {As 0-0 is met tactically it would
have been better to start with Rd1 first.} Qg5 15. O-O Bg4 {practically
Black's position is easier to play but he is not better yet as compared to the
game}) 14... Ng4 $1 {Kramnik doesn't miss his chance. The problem is there is
no concrete way to stop Black's threat without allowing him further activity.}
15. Nf4 {Here Black had two strong options and Kramnik chose the one which
will pose maximum practical problems.} (15. Bxh7+ {Gets three pawns for the
piece but Black's pieces are way too active.} Kh8 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18.
Qxg6 Rg8 {Now if White doesn't exchange queens then Black can generate a heavy
attack with his pieces on the kingside.} 19. Qh5+ Qxh5 20. Nxh5 dxc4 21. bxc4
Ne5 $17) (15. Ng3 h5 $1 {White doesn't get any time to consolidate} 16. Rfe1 h4
17. Nf1 h3 $36) 15... g5 (15... d4 $5 16. h3 dxe3 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. hxg4 Qxf4
19. Bf5 (19. Bd3 Bxg4 $17) 19... e2 20. Rfe1 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qd4 22. Rac1 (22.
Qxf7 Qxg4 $19) 22... Kg8 23. Rc2 Re5 24. Qf3 Rae8 25. g5 {Black keeps up the
pressure but its still a long way before the game is won.}) 16. h3 (16. Bxh7+
Kh8 17. h3 Nf6 $19) 16... gxf4 17. exf4 Qxf4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Rfe1 (19. cxd5
cxd5 20. Qc1 Qf6 {Black remains a healthy pawn up.}) 19... h5 (19... d4 $1 $19
{This looked more precise.}) 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Qc5 Re5 $1 22. Qc3 $6 (22. Rxe5
Qxe5 23. Rf1 Kg7 {Not a good position as White. Things get even worse when one
is playing against Kramnik.}) 22... Rg5 $1 {Suddenly once again the white king
comes into danger. Black is a pawn up and he is attacking too.} 23. Bf1 d4 24.
Qc1 Qf6 {Now that Black's attack is strong it makes sense to avoid the
exchange of queens.} 25. Re4 d3 $1 26. Qe3 (26. Bxd3 Bf3) 26... Rd5 27. Rb1 d2
28. Qg3 Qg6 29. Bd3 Bf5 {A very clean game by Kramnik.} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.28"]
[Round "5.16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Martinez Alcantara, Jose Eduardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Peru"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O d5 8. a3
Be7 9. b4 c5 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. Rb1 Qc8 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Qc2 Nf6 14. dxc5 Na6
15. Bb2 Nxc5 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Bxh7+ Kg7 18. Rfc1 f5 19. Bxf5 exf5 20. Nd4 Be4
21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Qe2 Rh8 23. Rb5 a6 24. Qb2 Kg8 25. Rb6 Nd3 26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27.
Qd2 Rc1+ 28. Qxc1 Nxc1 29. Rxa6 Rh5 30. Ra8+ Bf8 31. a4 Nd3 32. g4 Rc5 33. Kg2
Rc4 34. a5 Nf4+ 35. Kg3 Ne6 36. Nxe6 fxe6 37. g5 Kf7 38. h4 Bd6+ 39. Kg4 Rc1
40. a6 Ra1 41. Ra7+ Be7 42. Kh5 Ke8 43. Kh6 Bf8+ 44. Kg6 Be7 45. Ra8+ Bd8 46.
h5 Ra5 47. Rxd8+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.01"]
[Round "7.10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Roganovic, Milos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2527"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Ne7 9. c4 Ng6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Bf5 12. h4 a6 13. h5 Nf4 14. Nc3 Be7 15.
Be3 Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 Bxd3 17. h6 O-O 18. Rd1 a5 19. Qb5 e4 20. hxg7 Re8 21. Rxd3
exd3 22. c5 Bg5 23. Qxd3 h6 24. Ne4 dxc5 25. Kf1 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Bxe3 27. fxe3
Ra6 28. Rh5 Rg6 29. Kg1 Kxg7 30. Rf5 b5 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. e4 c4 33. Qf4 Qd7 34.
a3 Qa7+ 35. Kh2 b4 36. e5 Qd7 37. e6 fxe6 38. Rf8+ Kg7 39. Ra8 Kh7 40. Qd4 Qd6+
41. Kh1 e5 42. Qxc4 bxa3 43. bxa3 Qxa3 44. Qc7+ Rg7 45. Qc2+ Rg6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.02"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2602"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 f5 13. g3 Bxh4 14. gxh4
Nf6 15. Rg1 Ke7 16. Bh3 Rae8 17. Nf4 Kd6 18. Kd2 Re7 19. a4 a5 20. Ra3 Rhe8 21.
Rb3 Kc7 22. Rc1 Kd6 23. Bg2 Nh5 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Rb6+ Kd7 26. Bf1 Kd8 27. Bb5
Re4 28. Rxb7 Nf6 29. b4 f4 30. bxa5 fxe3+ 31. fxe3 Rxh4 32. Bxe8 Rxh2+ 33. Kc3
Ne4+ 34. Kb3 Nd2+ 35. Kb4 Nc4 36. Bb5 Rb2+ 37. Kc5 Nxa5 38. Rd7+ Kc8 39. Kxd5+
Kb8 40. Rd8+ Kb7 41. Kd6 Kb6 42. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.04"]
[Round "10.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5
dxc5 9. Qc2 Nc6 10. Bc4 Na5 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Qb6 13. e4 Rfd8 14. Rfe1 g5 15.
e5 gxh4 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Ne4 Bd5 18. Bf1 Kg7 19. Qc1 Nc6 20. Qf4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4
Rd6 22. Bc4 Rg8 23. Qf4 Qd8 24. Qg4+ Kf8 25. Qh5 Rg6 26. Bb3 Qd7 27. h3 Bxc3
28. bxc3 Qxh3 29. Ng5 Qxc3 30. Nxf7 Rdf6 31. Rad1 c4 32. Re3 Qb2 33. Re2 Qc3
34. Bc2 Kxf7 35. Rde1 Qd4 36. Bxg6+ Rxg6 37. Re4 Qf6 38. Qd5+ Kg7 39. Re6 Qg5
40. Rxg6+ Qxg6 41. Qxc4 Qf6 42. Qg4+ Qg5 43. Re4 a5 44. a4 Kh7 45. Qxh4 Qd5 46.
Qg4 Qf7 47. Qd7 Qg6 48. f3 Qg5 49. Qd3 Kh8 50. Qc3+ e5 51. Rg4 Qd8 52. Qb3 h5
53. Re4 Qe7 54. Qe3 Qf6 55. f4 exf4 56. Rxf4 Qg6 57. Kh2 Kh7 58. Qc5 Qe8 59.
Qf5+ Kg8 60. Qg5+ Kh7 61. Rh4 Qg6 62. Rxh5+ Kg7 63. Qxg6+ 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fenil, Shah"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2411"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nbd2 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. Re1 e5 8. c3
h6 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Nf3 Qe7 12. Bc4 b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Qc2 Rfd8
15. h3 a6 16. b4 Kh7 17. Ba3 Qe8 18. b5 axb5 19. axb5 Rd7 20. Nd2 Qd8 21. Nf1
Bf8 22. Bxf8 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qxf8 24. Ng3 h5 25. Ra7 h4 26. Rxb7 hxg3 27. Ra7 Qc5
0-1

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dragnev, Valentin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2508"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 e5 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bg4 9. Na3 Nd4 10. Rd3 Bd6 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. Ncxe5 Ne2+ 13. Kf1 Nxc1 14.
Rxc1 Be6 15. b3 O-O 16. Re3 Rfd8 17. Nd3 c4 18. Nf4 Bd7 19. e5 Ng4 20. Re2 cxb3
21. axb3 Bc6 22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Nxe5 24. Bxb7 Rab8 25. Bg2 Rb5 26. Rce1 Ba5
27. Bd5 Bxe1 28. Rxe5 Bc3 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxb5 Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Rd2 32. Nd3 Rxc2
33. Rc5 Ke6 34. Rc6+ Kd7 35. Rc4 Kd6 36. Nc5 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2639"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 c6 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. O-O-O Nxg3 11. hxg3 g4 12. Nh4 Nb6 13. e4 Be6 14. e5 Nc4
15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Nf5 Qa5 17. Kb1 O-O-O 18. Ne3 Bb4 19. Ne2 b5 20. Nf4 c3 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rd3 cxb2 23. Qxc6+ Kb8 24. Qxe6 Rc8 25. Qb3 Rc7 26. Qxb2 Bc3 27.
Qb3 Rhc8 28. Rhd1 b4 29. e6 Rb7 30. d5 Bf6 31. Nxg4 Bg7 32. d6 Rc3 33. d7 Rxb3+
34. Rxb3 Qd8 35. e7 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2636"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 Be7 7. O-O d6 8. h3
h6 9. Be3 a6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bf8 14. Qc2 Nxe4
15. Nxe4 Bf5 16. Nfd2 d5 17. Qxc6 dxe4 18. Rfc1 Ra7 19. d5 Bd7 20. Qc4 Rb7 21.
Qxa6 Rxb2 22. Qa7 Bb5 23. Qxc7 Qxd5 24. Nc4 Rb4 25. Nb6 Qe6 26. a4 Bd6 27. Qb7
Be2 28. Qd7 Qe5 29. Qxe8+ Qxe8 30. Rc8 Qxc8 31. Nxc8 Bf8 32. a5 Ba6 33. Nb6 Rb5
34. Rd1 Bb4 35. Rd8+ Kh7 36. Rd7 Bxa5 37. Ra7 Bxb6 38. Rxa6 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Bxe3
40. fxe3 Rb3 41. Ra7 Kg6 42. Kg3 Rxe3+ 43. Kf4 Re2 44. g4 h5 45. Ra5 hxg4 46.
hxg4 f6 47. Ra1 Rf2+ 48. Ke3 Rb2 49. Ra7 Rg2 50. Kf4 Rg1 51. Rb7 e3 52. Rb2 Re1
53. Kf3 Kh6 54. Rh2+ Kg5 55. Rh5+ Kg6 56. Ra5 e2 57. Ra4 Rg1 58. Kxe2 Kg5 59.
Kf3 Kh4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 e5 6. Qe1 {Kings Indian with
colors reversed.} Be7 7. e4 d4 $5 {Give Jorden credit for entering a full
fight against his still formidable opponent.} (7... dxe4 8. dxe4 Be6 {would be
easier to play for both sides.}) 8. a4 {Now Black needs to be able to figurte
out which system of many he can choose benefits the least from that extra
tempo.} O-O ({A Petrosian treatment, anyone?} 8... Bg4 9. h3 Bh5) 9. Na3 Ne8
10. Nc4 Qc7 11. b3 b6 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Qe2 f6 14. Nh4 Nd6 15. f4 Rae8 (15...
Nxc4 16. bxc4 exf4 17. gxf4 Rae8 18. Kh1 Nb4 19. f5 {with the same idea, Ng6
as in the game.}) 16. f5 Bd7 17. Ng6 Rf7 18. Qh5 Bd8 19. g4 Ne7 {[#]} 20. Rf3 (
{Computers sho the ridiculous} 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Nh8 $3 {whixh forces Black to
lose the exchange, otherwise} Rff8 22. Rf3 Kxh8 23. Rh3 Kg8 24. Qxh7+ Kf7 25.
Qh5+ Kg8 26. Bf3 {steamrolls him.}) 20... Nxg6 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Qxg6 Nxc4 23.
bxc4 Qc8 24. Rg3 Be6 25. Rf1 Qd7 26. Bf3 Qxa4 27. Bd1 Qd7 28. Rh3 Kf8 29. Rh7
Ke7 30. Rxg7 Rxg7 31. Qxg7+ Kd6 32. Qxd7+ Bxd7 {A very complex ending has been
reached. For a while both players did well enough to keep it within the bounds
of equality.} 33. Kg2 a5 34. h4 a4 35. Bc1 Be7 36. Kg3 Ra8 37. Ba3 Rg8 38. Be2
Bd8 39. h5 Be8 40. Kh3 Rh8 41. Bc1 Be7 42. Bd2 Bd7 43. Kg3 Ra8 44. Rb1 {[#]} b5
{An interesting winning attempt.} (44... Kc7 $11) 45. cxb5 a3 46. b6 a2 47. Ra1
Kc6 48. g5 $1 {excellent from Vlad. Finally he gets to activate his LSB} fxg5
49. Bg4 Be8 $2 {A little too much.} (49... Bxg4 50. Kxg4 Kxb6 51. h6 Bf6 52.
Bxg5 Bh8 53. Kf5 Ra7 54. Kg6 Kb5 55. Bd2 {boils down to a draw, as neither
side can queen their pawn.}) 50. Be6 $1 $18 Kxb6 51. Kg4 c4 52. h6 cxd3 53.
cxd3 Bb5 54. Rxa2 Rxa2 55. Bxa2 Bxd3 56. Kf5 Bf8 57. h7 Bg7 58. Bxg5 Bc2 59.
Bd5 {Last preparation before the king march.} d3 60. Kg6 Bh8 61. Kf7 Kc5 62.
Kg8 Bf6 63. Bxf6 d2 64. h8=Q d1=Q 65. Kf7 Bd3 66. Qh2 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Svidler,P"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the penultimate round of the tournament - in terms of
results, an easy frontrunner for the worst tournament of Vladimir Kramnik's
life. He lost half of the first ten games, with no wins - all the while
completely determined to not allow himself back to the comfort zone of playing
'correct chess'. We've seen this from him before, but this time around, it
utterly failed to work. Knowing what we know now, it's much easier to
understand what he was trying to do, but watching (and commenting on) it live
was a very weird and jarring experience - a player I greatly admired
throughout my career seemingly losing his way. As a slight uptick in his
fortunes, he won in Rd 11, and in the game you have before you, he was playing
an opponent perhaps uniquely suited for him - Vladimir Fedoseev is also a
player who tries his damnedest to stir things up in every game he plays.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 {In most other cases, this
would be very bad news - the Re1 Anti Berlin is perhaps the driest of all the
trendiest openings. However, you could trust these two not to keep it buttoned
up for very long.} 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re2 $5 {
This move has been briefly made famous by Magnus playing it vs Karjakin in
their WC match - and then, somewhat surprisingly, it stayed silent for much of
2017, with no real traction among the top players. However, it is currently
enjoying a bit of a revival - MVL played it in the World R&B in 2017, and
Karjakin himself, Vitiugov, Navara, and Fedoseev himself employed it in 2018 -
with very good results.} Nc4 {The move chosen by Kramnik is also very sensible.
Black uses the fact that the c4 square is available temporarily to make sure
White doesn't have the d4-d5 options available to him, and establishes the
typical symmetry in the center. The knight will go to b6, and from there can
be rerouted to a number of posts.} (10... Nf5 11. d5 d6 12. Nd2 Bg5 13. c3 Bd7
14. Ne4 Bxc1 15. Rxc1 Nh4 16. Qd2 Ng6 {was seen in Vachier Lagrave-Wang Hao,
Riadh 2017}) ({But the main move remains} 10... b6 11. Re1 {, and now Black
chooses between and} Bb7 (11... Re8 12. Bf4 Rxe1 13. Qxe1 Qe7 14. Nc3 Bb7 15.
Qd2 $5 (15. Qxe7 Bxe7 16. a4 a6 {as in Carlsen,M (2857)-Karjakin,S (2769) New
York 2016 should be fine for Black, although Magnus was close to winning later
in the game}) 15... Ne4 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Bxc7 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Bxd4 19. c3 Rc8
20. Bf4 Bf6 21. a4 d5 22. Be3 {, and White was a bit better in Navara-Sargsyan,
Batumi 2018}) 12. Bf4 (12. c3 Bg5 13. Na3 Bxc1 14. Qxc1 Qh4 {, and Black was
very comfortable in Karjakin-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 12... Ne4 {, which looks
the most natural. White scored 2.5/3 in the recent games, but I feel it's not
entirely to do with the results of the opening:} 13. Nd2 (13. c3 Bg5 14. Qc1
Bxf4 15. Qxf4 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6 17. f3 {- White eventually won in
Vitiugov-Ragger, Germany 2018, but Black has to be completely fine here}) (13.
Be3 Re8 14. Nd2 d6 15. Bd3 Qd7 16. Nf1 c5 $11 {Fedoseev,V (2724)-Karjakin,S 
(2763) Moscow 2018}) 13... Re8 14. c3 d6 15. Bb5 Re7 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. d5 Bf5
18. Bc6 Rb8 19. Qa4 a5 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rxe7 Bxc6 22. Qxc6 Bxe7 23. Re1 $14 {
1-0 (36) Fedoseev,V (2719)-Vokhidov,S (2480) St Petersburg 2018}) 11. b3 Nb6
12. c3 (12. a4 {is well met by} Nd5 $1 (12... d5 13. a5 Nd7 14. c3 Be7 15. Ba3
Bxa3 16. Nxa3 Nf6 17. f3 {is also not horrible, but you can make an argument
this is about as much as you can hope for in this line:}) 13. Re1 d6 $11) (12.
Nc3 d5 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Qd2 Bf5 16. Re1 Qd7 $11) 12... d5 13. Re1
{It feels a bit sad to spend this tempo if White will have to take on e8 next,
but the rook just doesn't belong on e2.} Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. a4 Be6 (15...
Bf5 {was also perfectly fine. However, there is not a lot to be said about
this position is things go according to 'norm'. White generally develops the
c1 bishop to f4, the knight goes to d2 and f3, and the only open file provides
for further simplifications. However, doing things quietly wasn't high on the
list of priorities for this game.}) 16. Na3 {This doesn't create any lasting
harm, but objectively I do believe something along the lines of} (16. Bf4 Qd7
17. Nd2 Nc8 18. Nf3 Nd6 {, and things are very level, was a wiser choice.})
16... Nc8 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Bd3 (18. Nb5 Bd8 {achieves nothing, and White
changes tack.}) 18... c6 19. Nc2 Ne7 20. Qd2 (20. Ne3 {would be a logical
follow up, but it allows} c5 {, and Black is instantly fine}) 20... Bf5 {
I think it's possible to take some stock here. Black has achieved the exact
thing he aims to in these positions - he either trades the light squared
bishops, or forces White to give up the b1-h7 diagonal - and he will have the 
(slightly) better of the remaining bishops. White is still fine, but you can
see the outlines of how Black will be playing for a win later,.} 21. Nb4 {
Swinging this knight over to d3 seems sensible, but resolving the issue of the
f4 bishop should probably take precedence. It's notable that the computer
begins suggesting to move it all the way to a3, for instance:} (21. Bxf5 Qxf5
22. g3 $5 {preemptively safeguarding the kingside from the jumps of the g6
knight} (22. Re1 {(or} Ng6 23. Bd6 h5 24. g3 h4 25. Ba3 h3 26. Ne3) 22... Ng6
23. Bd6 Rd8 24. Ba3 Bg5 25. Qe2 {, and with the bishop out of the way, White
can fight for the control over the e file - or trade along it.}) 21... Ng6 22.
Bg3 ({Sadly, trading all the bishops off is not an options anymore:} 22. Bg5 $2
a5 $1 23. Bxf6 axb4 24. Bg5 bxc3 25. Qxc3 Bxd3 26. Qxd3 Qg4 {and Black is
significantly better.}) 22... Re8 23. a5 h5 24. h3 h4 25. Bh2 {Another five
moves, and Black has assumed control, but the big issue remains - the
structure is so symmetrical, and the material so limited, that it's hard to
make any significant progress.} Bxd3 ({An interesting little turning point. It
makes definite sense to start with} 25... a6 {, and there will be lines where
the a5 pawn will cause White issues, but it also locks the queenside
completely. After} 26. Bxf5 (26. Re1 $2 {would be a mistake:} Rxe1+ 27. Qxe1
Bd8 $1 {, and White's in trouble} 28. Bxf5 Qxf5 29. Qe8+ Kh7 30. Qxd8 Qb1#)
26... Qxf5 27. Nd3 {White will never have any real active ideas - the knight
on d3 needs to watch for the incursions via the f4 square, and won't really
reach c5 - but there is no way to make inroads, and White should hold
comfortably.}) 26. Nxd3 (26. Qxd3 Bg5 {is not an improvement.}) 26... Qf5 27.
a6 {And Fedoseev bites. This move has obvious merits - in endgames the fixed
pawn on a7 and ideas of Bb8 will be important sources of counterplay - but it
also gives Black new ideas, c6-c5 in particular.} ({After} 27. Qd1 Bg5 28. Ra2
{Black would still struggle to come up with a plan.}) 27... b6 28. Bd6 ({
You can understand why Fedoseev didn't want to wait passively, but the
inclusion of a6 and b6 gave him an option of going for forced lines:} 28. Re1
Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 {would still hold:} Qc8 (29... Qb1 30. Bb8 Qa1 31. Qe2 b5 32.
Kh2 {- a typical idea here, White is more interested in activating his pieces
than in keeping immediate material balance} Qxa6 33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Qxf7 Qa2 35.
Nf3 {, and White is fine now that all of his pieces are in play.}) 30. Qe2 b5
31. Nf3 Qxa6 32. Qe8+ Kh7 33. Be5 Qb7 34. b4 {, and once again the piece
activity easily compensates for the loss of the a pawn.}) 28... Bg5 29. Qd1 Qe4
{Black is fully extended, but he's still struggling to make inroads. However,
with time trouble encroaching, White starts to go astray.} 30. Ra2 {A logical
move, but also one that creates a temporary issue with the back rank.} Qe6 $1 {
A very unpleasant move to be facing in time trouble.} 31. Bc7 $2 ({It was easy
to see that} 31. Bh2 {is bad because it allows} c5 $1) ({However, steeling
yourself to play} 31. Qg4 $1 {is not easy. It would have held, though: after
the queen trade the bishop on d6 becomes very good, and} Qxd6 32. Qxg5 Re4 33.
Ra1 $1 {is also fine - White is in time to start fighting for the e-file, and
force more trades.}) 31... c5 $1 {Now White is in real trouble. The bishop on
c7 is badly misplaced, and White is struggling to re-establish coordination.
The immediate threat is 32...Bf6, and the White center will start crumbling.
You also need to watch out for c4 ideas.} 32. Qg4 (32. dxc5 bxc5 33. Nxc5 Qc6 {
loses on the spot.}) 32... Qe7 33. dxc5 ({Perhaps White hoped to play} 33. Bd6
{here, but it runs into} Qxd6 34. Qxg5 c4 $1 35. bxc4 dxc4 36. Qb5 Qe6 $1 37.
Nb4 Nf4 {, and White is under severe pressure on the abandoned kingside.})
33... bxc5 34. Ba5 {This natural move ought to have lost the game quite
quickly, but even after the best} (34. Ra1 $1 Bd2 $1 35. Ba5 $8 Ne5 36. Qf5
Nxd3 37. Qxd3 Bf4 $1 38. Rf1 Qe6 {White is in a lot of pain:} 39. b4 c4 40. Qd4
Bb8 41. Qxh4 Qxa6 {, and the bishop on a5 is a sorry sight.}) 34... Ne5 35.
Nxe5 (35. Qd1 Nxd3 36. Qxd3 Qe1+ 37. Qf1 Bf6 $1 {is hardly an improvement -
the bishop is once again totally out of play, and Black should win comfortably}
38. Ra1 Qe4) 35... Qxe5 36. Ra1 Re6 {Very natural and strong - cutting the d7
square from the queen, improving the rook position, hitting the a6 pawn. But
mainly it's impossible to suggest a move for White.} 37. Rd1 (37. Bc7 Qxc3 $1 {
is hopeless.}) 37... Bd2 $2 {But in severe mutual time trouble, Kramnik goes
for a pretty move which gives White new hope. After the quiet} (37... Be7 $1 {
, creating the unstoppable threat of Bd6, White would be hard pressed to get
to the time control alive.}) 38. Qxh4 Rxa6 (38... Rf6 39. Bc7 $1 {this typical
idea, distracting the queen so that the bishop on d2 can be taken, saves White
here:} Qe2 40. Qg4 $1 Qxf2+ 41. Kh2 $11) 39. g3 $2 {Zeitnot mistakes continue.
Fedoseev decides he needs more breathing space for his king, using the fact
that Qd8+ indirectly protects the bishop on a5. But there is no time for that.
He needed to bring the bishop back into play asap: after} (39. Qd8+ $1 Kh7 40.
Bc7 Qe4 (40... Qe2 {is well met by} 41. Qh4+ Rh6 42. Qg4 $1 Qxg4 43. hxg4 Bxc3
44. Rxd5 $11) 41. Kh2 $1 {(once again recreating the threat of Rxd2)} Qe2 42.
Rg1 Qxf2 43. Qxd5 {White will hold.}) 39... f6 $2 {A very logical move - but a
wrong one. However, it's hard to criticize that decision since the way to
refute it is almost impossible to find on move 40, under severe pressure.} ({
Instead,} 39... Rf6 $1 {would have won on the spot - it turns out that g3 is a
fatal weakness, since the threat of Qe2 is now much much stronger.} 40. Bc7 (
40. Qg4 Be1 $1 {is a variation on the same theme}) 40... Qe2 41. Rf1 Bxc3 {
, and Black will win easily}) 40. Bc7 $2 {This looks very logical, but turns
out to lose by force - and Kramnik won't make any more mistakes. White needed
to play} (40. Qa4 $1 {- but a move like that, voluntarily pinning your own
queen, is extremely difficult to even consider. However, it turns out that
Black can't really improve here:} Qe2 (40... Re6 41. Qg4 {, and White is
suddenly fairly well coordinated}) (40... c4 41. Qd7 $1 (41. Qb5 Re6 42. bxc4
Be3 {is much riskier}) 41... Kh7 (41... cxb3 $2 42. Qc8+) (41... Rxa5 42. Qd8+)
42. Bc7 {, and once again the White pieces start to play together.}) 41. Qg4 $1
{, and the queen triumphantly returns to its best outpost, with equality.})
40... Qxc7 $1 {Seems strange at first - allowing the bishop trade that White
begged for - but the remaining two heavy pieces are enough to create a winning
mating attack.} 41. Rxd2 Ra1+ 42. Kg2 Qe5 $1 {With this move, it becomes
obvious White's pieces are too poorly placed to prevent the incursion along
the 1st rank.} 43. Qf4 $8 (43. Qg4 Qe1 44. Qc8+ Kh7 45. Qf5+ g6 $1 46. Qd7+ Kh6
{is NOT a perpetual}) 43... Qe1 44. Kf3 Qh1+ 45. Kg4 Re1 $1 {This, and the
next move, are the only winning moves Black has - but they're very logical.
The deadly threat of Re4 forces White to make further concessions.} 46. Qd6 ({
We will see the position after} 46. f3 Re5 {later.}) 46... Qe4+ {Black had an
immediate win here:} (46... Re5 $1 47. f4 d4 $3 48. Qd7 (48. cxd4 Re3 {[%emt 0:
00:09] is mate in 9 - the point of including d4 was to deny White the saving
49.Qxd5+ here}) (48. fxe5 Qe4+ 49. Kh5 Qf5+ 50. Kh4 Qg5#) 48... Qe4 {and the
king will get hunted down. But the text move spoils nothing.}) 47. Qf4 Qh1 48.
f3 {A somewhat curious decision not to repeat in a bad position - perhaps
Fedoseev had seen the Re5 f4 d4 line by that point? However, this is also very
bad.} Re5 $1 49. h4 a5 {This move, while perfectly fine, will force Black to
make a couple of precise decisions. Instead, he could have chosen} (49... Qb1
$1 {, which leads to an almost zugzwang position - White has no constructive
ideas at all, and Black will have a choice of winning by going after the king,
or picking up on b3 at his leisure}) 50. Rd3 $1 {Now the threat of Qd2 demands
attention, but Kramnik is more than equal to the task:} Kf7 $1 51. Qd2 (51. Re3
{loses to two very different things: a brute force approach - 51...g5! - wins
the rook, while} Qc1 $1 52. Rxe5 Qxf4+ 53. Kxf4 fxe5+ 54. Kxe5 c4 $1 55. bxc4
a4 $1 {creates an unstoppable passer}) 51... Kg6 $1 {Locking the king on g4
even further.} 52. Re3 $8 (52. Rxd5 f5+ 53. Kf4 Re4+ 54. fxe4 Qxe4#) 52... Rg5+
$1 53. Kf4 (53. hxg5 Qh5+ 54. Kf4 Qxg5#) 53... Rf5+ 54. Kg4 Rg5+ 55. Kf4 Qh3 $1
{After gaining some time, Kramnik goes in for the kill} 56. g4 Qxh4 57. Qc2+
Kf7 58. Re2 g6 (58... Qh3 $1 {, creating an unstoppable threat of Rxg4, was
cuter:} 59. Qb1 (59. Ke3 Rxg4) 59... Rxg4+ $1 60. fxg4 g5+ 61. Kf5 Qh7# {
But Kramnik's move is just as winning.}) 59. Qd1 Re5 60. Rxe5 Qh2+ ({Or} 60...
fxe5+ 61. Ke3 (61. Kxe5 Qf6+ $1 62. Kxd5 Qd8+) 61... d4+ 62. Ke4 Qf2 {, and
White is helpless.}) 61. Ke3 Qxe5+ 62. Kd3 {This endgame has to be winning for
Black if he plays slowly - but the ex-World Champion had a concrete idea when
aiming for it:} d4 $1 {The final blow - creating more threats before White has
time to consolidate} 63. Qd2 {Loses quite simply, but keeping the queens on
didn't give any hope either:} (63. Kc2 dxc3 64. Qd7+ Kf8 65. Qd8+ Kg7 66. Qd7+
Kh6 $19) 63... dxc3 64. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 65. Kxc3 Ke6 66. Kc4 Kd6 {As is often the
case, the side with an extra pawn wins the pawn endgame.} 67. f4 (67. Kb5 Kd5
68. Kxa5 c4 {requires no explanation.}) 67... Kc6 68. f5 gxf5 69. gxf5 Kd6 {
And once again. White resigned. A typical Kramnik game in many respects - a
solid opening, followed by subtly outplaying his opponent from a seemingly
very even position. After the horror show of the first ten rounds of Wijk 2019,
the two wins in a row brought back the memories of Vladimir's best chess.
However, Round 13 did not continue the trend - with White against Shankland,
he pressed very hard, got into trouble, then saved the game by very
resourceful defence, only to throw it all away by declining an obvious draw in
a position he must have known he had no hopes of ever winning. Covering it
live, we were completely flummoxed - why would he do that to himself? And then,
a few days after the event was over, we got our answer. Wijk aan Zee was to be
Kramnik's final classical tournament. Knowing he decided to retire before the
tournament even started, it's much easier to understand the 'all-in' approach
he stuck to throughout the event, even if watching it live was at times
difficult. The announcement also means that, unless he decided to reverse this
decision, the game you've just played thru is the last ever classical victory
Kramnik will produce - a great pity, since the chess world is much the richer
with Kramnik playing well (or, if we're honest, simply playing). It's been a
privilege to watch him play, and sometimes play alongside him - and I'm still
struggling to imagine the chess world without VK in it.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. O-O a6 6. Qc2 c5 7. Ne5 Ra7 8. a4
b6 9. Na3 Bb7 10. Naxc4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Be7 12. b3 O-O 13. Bb2 Nd5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.11"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. e3 e6 4. c4 Bd6 5. Bd3 f5 6. O-O Nf6 7. b3 O-O 8. Ba3 b6
9. Bxd6 Qxd6 10. Nc3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. Rac1 Rac8
15. Qb2 Rce8 16. b4 b5 17. a4 bxa4 18. Qa2 Nb6 19. Rc5 Qh6 20. Bxe4 fxe4 21.
Ne5 Ba6 22. Rxc6 Re6 23. Rc5 Kh8 24. b5 Bb7 25. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d5 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Re8 8.
O-O e5 9. Rc1 c6 10. h3 e4 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. c4 Qa5 13. a3 dxc4 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Bxc4 Bf5 16. g4 Bd7 17. f3 Bg5 18. Rc3 exf3 19. Qxf3 Kh8 20. Ne4 Rxe4 21. Qxe4
Re8 22. Qf3 f5 23. gxf5 Bxf5 24. Ng4 Nd7 25. Qg3 Qd8 26. Be2 Bxg4 27. Bxg4 Nf6
28. Rd3 Ne4 29. Qf3 h5 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxh5+ Kg8 32. Qg6+ Kh8 33. Rf7 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. d4 Bb4 4. e4 Bb7 5. f3 f5 6. exf5 Nh6 7. Bf4 Nxf5 8. Nge2
O-O 9. Qd3 Nc6 10. d5 Nce7 11. dxe6 dxe6 12. O-O-O Ng6 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. Rxd8
Rxd8 15. Bxc7 Rc8 16. Bg3 e5 17. Bf2 Ba6 18. a3 Bf8 19. Ng3 Nd4 20. Nge4 Nf4
21. Kb1 Bxc4 22. Bxc4+ Rxc4 23. g3 Nd3 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Nd5 Ne5 26. Nd2 Rc5
27. Nf4 d3 28. Rd1 Rc6 29. h4 b5 30. Ne4 Rc4 31. Nd2 Ra4 32. Nb3 b4 33. Nxd3
Nxd3 34. Rxd3 bxa3 35. Rd8 Rb4 36. Ka2 axb2 37. Kxb2 Rb7 38. Kc2 Kf7 39. Nd4
Be7 40. Ra8 Bc5 41. Nc6 Rc7 42. Ne5+ Ke6 43. f4 Bd4+ 44. Kd3 Bxe5 45. fxe5 Kxe5
46. Ke3 Kf5 47. Kf3 Rc3+ 48. Kf2 Ra3 49. Rg8 g6 50. Rc8 Kg4 51. Rc4+ Kh3 52.
Rc7 h5 53. Rg7 Rxg3 54. Rxa7 Kxh4 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. b4 d6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 Ne7
9. O-O Re8 10. Nc3 Nf5 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. dxe4 Ne7 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15.
Nd2 Nd8 16. Nb3 Ne6 17. Rd2 b6 18. a4 Bb7 19. a5 Rab8 20. Rad1 h5 21. c5 dxc5
22. bxc5 bxa5 23. Rd7 Qh4 24. c6 Bxc6 25. Qxc6 Rxb3 26. g3 Qf6 27. Bxe5 Qxe5
28. R7d5 Reb8 29. Rxe5 Bxe5 30. Bc4 R3b6 31. Qa4 Rb4 32. Qa2 Re8 33. Qxa5 Rxc4
34. Qxe5 Ng7 35. Qa5 Rcxe4 36. Qxc7 R4e7 37. Rd7 Rxd7 38. Qxd7 Re6 39. Qxa7 f5
40. Kg2 g5 41. Qd7 g4 42. Kf1 Kh7 43. Ke2 Kg6 44. Kf1 Re4 45. Kg2 Re6 46. h4
Re4 47. Kf1 Re6 48. Qd8 Re4 49. Qg5+ Kf7 50. Ke2 Re8 51. Kd3 Re6 52. Qf4 Re4
53. Qg5 Re6 54. Kc4 Re8 55. Kd5 Re6 56. Qxg7+ Kxg7 57. Kxe6 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nd2 Bf5 5. b3 e6 6. Bb2 Nbd7 7. e3 a5 8. Ne2 a4
9. O-O Be7 10. c4 O-O 11. Re1 h6 12. bxa4 Nb6 13. Nc3 dxc4 14. e4 Bh7 15. Rb1
c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Nxc4 Nxb2 19. Rxb2 e5 20. Rxb7 Qc8 21. Rb5
Bd4 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Qa6 24. Ra5 Qf6 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Nxe5 Bc3 27. Nd7
Qd8 28. Rc1 Bd4 29. d6 Rc8 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Qd2 Qc4 32. Ne5 Bxe5 33. d7 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. d3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Nh4 Bg6 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. e4 N5b6 11. d4 O-O 12. Nc3 c6 13. e5 Nd5 14. h4 Qa5
15. Qf3 Rfd8 16. Rd1 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nb6 18. Rd3 Rd7 19. h5 gxh5 20. Qxh5 g6 21.
Qg4 Kg7 22. Be4 Rh8 23. Rf3 Bd8 24. Kg2 Nd5 25. c4 Ne7 26. Bg5 Ng8 27. d5 Bxg5
28. Qxg5 cxd5 29. cxd5 Qd8 30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31. dxe6+ Kxe6 32. Qxg6+ Kxe5 33.
Qf5+ Kd6 34. Rd1+ Ke7 35. Qe5+ Kf8 36. Rxd7 Qxd7 37. Qxh8 Qe6 38. Bxb7 Qxa2 39.
Qe5 Ne7 40. Qf6+ Ke8 41. Qa6 Qxa6 42. Bxa6 Nd5 43. Kf3 Nb4 44. Bb5+ Ke7 45. Ke4
a5 46. f4 Kd6 47. g4 Nd5 48. Bc4 Nb6 49. Ba2 a4 50. g5 a3 51. g6 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 b6 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. e3 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. bxc4 Nc6 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qe2 Nb4 14. Bb1 Bxf3
15. gxf3 Nh5 16. a3 Bd6 17. f4 Qh4 18. f3 Nxf4 19. Qd2 Nbd3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Huzman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2567"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Bxc4
Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Ne4 10. Ke2 Nxc5 11. Nbd2 a6 12. Rac1 b5 13. Bd3 Nxd3 14. Kxd3 a5
15. Ke2 Na6 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Rxc6 Nb4 19. Rc7 Nd5 20. Rc6 a4 21.
Bd4 Rfb8 22. g3 Nb4 23. Rc7 Bf8 24. Ra1 f6 25. f4 Ra6 26. e4 Bd6 27. Rd7 Nc2
28. Ba7 Rxa7 29. Rxa7 Nxa1 30. bxa4 bxa4 31. Rxa4 Nc2 32. Nc4 Bc5 33. Ra6 Nd4+
34. Kd3 Rd8 35. Kc3 Nb5+ 36. Kc2 Rc8 37. Kd3 Rd8+ 38. Kc2 Nd6 39. Nd2 Bb4 40.
Nf3 Nxe4 41. Rxe6 Rc8+ 42. Kb2 Bc3+ 43. Kb1 Nd2+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Donchenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Be6 7. Qc2 Be7 8. b4
a6 9. Bb2 f6 10. Be2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Qe8 12. O-O Qg6 13. Rfe1 Rad8 14. Rac1 Kh8
15. Ne4 Bc8 16. Ng3 Qh6 17. Qb1 Bd6 18. Rc4 f5 19. Bf1 f4 20. exf4 Nxf4 21.
Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qf6 24. Qe1 Nxd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Rxc7 Qd8
27. Rc1 Rxa3 28. h3 Rd3 29. Ne4 Rd4 30. Ng5 Qf6 31. Rxc8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Chigaev, Maksim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. a4 a6 7. c3 h6 8. a5 O-O
9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Ne7 11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. Qe1 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qg3 Qe8 15.
b4 Rd8 16. c4 Nh5 17. Qh3 Nf6 18. Qg3 Nh7 19. h3 Rf6 20. Nh2 Ngf8 21. Rxf6 Nxf6
22. Rf1 Qg6 23. Qh4 Rd7 24. Ndf3 Rf7 25. Qe1 Qh5 26. Qg3 Qg6 27. Qh4 Rd7 28.
Rc1 Qe8 29. Ng4 Nxg4 30. Qxg4 Nh7 31. c5 Nf6 32. Qg3 Kh7 33. c6 bxc6 34. Rxc6
Qa8 35. Rc4 Qe8 36. Qh4 Kg8 37. Qg3 d5 38. exd5 exd5 39. Rc1 e4 40. Ne5 Nh5 41.
Qg4 Qxe5 42. Qxd7 exd3 43. Qxc7 Qxc7 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alonso Rosell, Alvar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. d3 d6 8. a3
Rb8 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 h5 11. Ne4 b6 12. N2c3 O-O 13. O-O f6 14. Nd5 cxb4 15.
axb4 b5 16. Nec3 a6 17. Ra1 bxc4 18. dxc4 Nxb4 19. Nxb4 Rxb4 20. Rxa6 Rxc4 21.
Rxd6 Qc8 22. Nb5 Bf7 23. Ba3 Nf5 24. Rd7 Re8 25. Rxf7 Kxf7 26. Bd5+ Re6 27. Qb3
Rcc6 28. Na7 Rb6 29. Qxb6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 d6 5. O-O Nbd7 6. b3 g6 7. Bb2 Bg7 8. c4
O-O 9. Qe2 b6 10. Rd1 Bb7 11. Nc3 a6 12. h3 Qe7 13. a4 d5 14. a5 bxa5 15. Rxa5
Rfc8 16. Rda1 Qd8 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Bxa6 Bxa6 19. Rxa6 Rab8 20. Nb5 Ne4 21. Na7
cxd4 22. Nxd4 Ndc5 23. Nxc8 Nxa6 24. Nc6 Qc7 25. N8e7+ Kf8 26. Bxg7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. a4 O-O 7. h3 Be6 8. Re1
Bxc4 9. dxc4 Qd7 10. Bg5 Ne8 11. Nc3 Bb4 12. Qd3 Kh8 13. Re2 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 f5
15. exf5 Qxf5 16. Qd3 Qxd3 17. cxd3 Rxf3 18. gxf3 Nd4 19. Re3 h6 20. Bh4 g5 21.
Bg3 Ng7 22. Kg2 Rf8 23. Re4 Nge6 24. c5 Nxc5 25. Rxe5 dxe5 26. Bxe5+ Kg8 27. b4
Nxf3 28. Bxc7 Nxd3 29. Ra3 Nh4+ 30. Kg1 Nxf2 31. Re3 Nf5 32. Rc3 Ne4 33. Rc4
Rc8 34. b5 Ned6 35. Rc5 Kf7 36. a5 Ke6 37. b6 axb6 38. axb6 Ra8 39. Rc3 Ra2 40.
Rd3 Ra4 41. Kg2 Ne4 42. Rd8 Nh4+ 43. Kf1 Ra2 44. Re8+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 Nge7 7. Ba3 d6 8. Nge2
b6 9. d4 Bb7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 Qb8 12. Rad1 Rd8 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5 Na5 15.
Bb2 Qc7 16. Ne4 Nf5 17. Bxg7 Nxg7 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. e4 Ba6 20. Qh6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Petrosyan, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2
h6 9. Bh4 Re8 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. h3 Nf8 12. O-O-O a5 13. g4 b5 14. g5 Nh5 15.
Rdg1 b4 16. Na4 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. Ng3 Bxg3 19. Bxg3 hxg5 20. Qe2 Nxg3 21.
Rxg3 Ra7 22. Rhg1 Ne6 23. Qf3 Qf6 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. h4 Kf8 26. Kd2 Ke7 27. Nc5
gxh4 28. Rg4 Nxc5 29. dxc5 Rh8 30. Rh1 Rb7 31. Rhxh4 Rxh4 32. Rxh4 Rb5 33. Rh8
Rxc5 34. Ra8 f5 35. b3 f4 36. exf4 Ke6 37. Kd3 Kf5 38. Kd4 Rc1 39. Rxa5 Kxf4
40. Ra7 f5 41. Rf7 Rc2 42. Rf6 Rxa2 43. Kd3 Rxf2 44. Rxc6 Rb2 45. Kd4 Rd2+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Socko, Bartosz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. b4 d6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2 a6
9. O-O Be6 10. Nc3 Qc8 11. Ng5 Bd7 12. Rc1 h6 13. Nge4 Nxe4 14. dxe4 Bh3 15.
Nd5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Kh7 17. b5 Nd4 18. b6 c6 19. Nc7 Rb8 20. f4 c5 21. f5 gxf5
22. exf5 Qd7 23. f6 Bh8 24. Qd3+ Kg8 25. Nd5 Rfe8 26. Bxd4 exd4 27. Rf4 Re5 28.
Rcf1 Rbe8 29. R1f2 R8e6 30. Qf3 Rg5 31. h4 Rg6 32. Ne7+ Rxe7 33. fxe7 Qxe7 34.
Rxf7 Qe5 35. Rxb7 Bg7 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. b7 d5 38. Rc8 Rb6 39. b8=Q Rxb8 40. Qd3+
1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Bc4 c6 6. Nxe5 d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8.
Nf3 Qe7+ 9. Be2 Nxf3+ 10. gxf3 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. d4 Bf5 13. Be3 O-O 14. c3
Rac8 15. Qb3 Rfd8 16. h4 Qe6 17. h5 Rc6 18. Qd1 b5 19. a3 a6 20. Bd3 Re8 21.
Qc2 Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Qf6 23. Rh3 Bf4 24. Kd2 Rce6 25. Re1 h6 26. Kc2 Qe7 27. Kd2
Qg5 28. Re2 Qg2 29. Rh4 Bxe3+ 30. fxe3 Qxf3 31. Rhh2 Re4 32. b3 f5 33. a4 f4
34. Kc2 Rxe3 35. Rxe3 Rxe3 36. Qd2 Qe4+ 37. Kb2 f3 38. Ka3 Re2 39. Rxe2 fxe2
40. Qe1 Qf3 41. Qh4 Qf1 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "164"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 Bb4 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd2 N5f6 8.
Rc1 O-O 9. g3 b6 10. Bg2 Bb7 11. O-O c5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qe7 14. dxc5 Nxc5
15. Bb4 Rac8 16. Qc2 a5 17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. Qb3 Rfc8 19. Rxc5 Qxc5 20. Rd1 Bd5
21. Qd3 Qc2 22. Ne1 Qxb2 23. e4 Bc6 24. Qa6 Rf8 25. Qc4 Ba8 26. a4 Qb4 27. Qxb4
axb4 28. Rd4 b3 29. Rb4 g5 30. Rxb3 Bxe4 31. Rxb6 Ra8 32. Rb5 h6 33. a5 Bxg2
34. Kxg2 Nd5 35. Nf3 Nc3 36. Rc5 Ne4 37. Re5 Nd6 38. h4 gxh4 39. Nxh4 Nc4 40.
Re4 Nxa5 41. Ra4 Ra7 42. Nf3 Nc6 43. Rg4+ Kh7 44. Rc4 Ne7 45. Ne5 Nf5 46. Rb4
Rc7 47. Rc4 Rxc4 48. Nxc4 Kg7 49. Kf3 Ne7 50. Kg4 f6 51. Nd6 Kg6 52. Kf4 Nd5+
53. Kf3 f5 54. g4 fxg4+ 55. Kxg4 e5 56. Nc4 Nf6+ 57. Kg3 Kf5 58. f3 Ke6 59. Ne3
Nd5 60. Ng4 h5 61. Nf2 Kf5 62. Ne4 Nf6 63. Nd6+ Ke6 64. Nc4 Kd5 65. Ne3+ Kd4
66. Nf5+ Kd3 67. Kh4 Ke2 68. Kg5 Nd5 69. Nh4 Nf4 70. Kf5 Kf2 71. Kxe5 Kg3 72.
Kf5 Nh3 73. Ng6 Kxf3 74. Ne5+ Kg3 75. Ke4 Ng5+ 76. Ke3 h4 77. Nd3 h3 78. Nf2 h2
79. Nh1+ Kg2 80. Ke2 Ne4 81. Ke1 Ng3 82. Nf2 Kf3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4 e6 4. a3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. c4 O-O 8. O-O d6
9. d4 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Qe7 11. d5 e5 12. Nd2 h5 13. Nb3 Ng4 14. h3 Nh6 15. a4 h4
16. e4 a5 17. bxa5 bxa5 18. Nb5 Rfc8 19. Qd2 Nc5 20. Nxa5 Ba6 21. Nc6 Qe8 22.
Qg5 f6 23. Qe3 Nf7 24. a5 Bh6 25. f4 Kg7 26. Qf3 exf4 27. gxf4 Rab8 28. Nxb8
Rxb8 29. Nxc7 Qc8 30. Nb5 Bxb5 31. cxb5 Rxb5 32. Qc3 Qd8 33. a6 Rb8 34. a7 Ra8
35. Kh1 g5 36. e5 fxe5 37. fxe5 Nxe5 38. Qf3 Qe7 39. Bxe5+ Qxe5 40. Qf7+ Kh8
41. Rab1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b3 d6 4. Bb2 e5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. d3 Nc6
9. Nc3 h6 10. a3 Be6 11. b4 cxb4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Ba3 a5 14. Rb1 d5 15. Bxb4
axb4 16. Rxb4 dxc4 17. dxc4 Qa5 18. Qb3 Nd7 19. Rb5 Qa3 20. Qxa3 Rxa3 21. Nd5
Ra2 22. e3 Rc2 23. Rxb7 Rxc4 24. Nd2 Rc2 25. Ne4 Bxd5 26. Rxd7 Be6 27. Rd6 Rb8
28. h4 Bf8 29. Rxe6 fxe6 30. Rd1 Rc7 31. Ra1 Kf7 32. Ra5 Rd8 33. Bh3 Bg7 34.
Ra6 Re7 35. Nd6+ Kf8 36. Kg2 Rb8 37. Ne4 Kg8 38. Bxe6+ Kh7 39. Bd5 Rd7 40. Be6
Rc7 41. Nd6 Rf8 42. Ne4 Rb8 43. g4 Rb4 44. h5 gxh5 45. Bf5+ Kg8 46. gxh5 Kf7
47. Bg6+ Ke7 48. Ng3 Kd7 49. Nf5 Kc8 50. Ra8+ Kb7 51. Rg8 Bf6 52. Nxh6 Rh4 53.
Nf5 Rg4+ 54. Kf3 Rg5 55. Nd6+ Kc6 56. Ne4 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2638"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c3 c6 4. Bf4 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Nbd2 Bf5 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. g4 Be4 10. g5 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Ne8 12. h4 e5 13. Bg3 Nd6 14. Bg4 Re8 15.
Qf3 Nb6 16. O-O-O Nbc4 17. Nxc4 Nxc4 18. Qe2 a5 19. Qc2 a4 20. Be2 b5 21. dxe5
Bxe5 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. a3 Qe7 24. Kb1 Re8 25. Bd3 Nd6 26. Rh3 c5 27. Rdh1 b4
28. cxb4 cxb4 29. Qxa4 bxa3 30. Qxa3 Rb8 31. h5 Nc4 32. Qxe7 Rxe7 33. Bxc4 dxc4
34. hxg6 fxg6 35. Kc2 Reb7 36. Kc3 Rc8 37. Rh4 Rb3+ 38. Kc2 Rb5 39. Rg4 Rcb8
40. Rb1 Rf8 41. Rxc4 Rxf2+ 42. Kc3 Rxg5 43. b4 Rf3 44. Re4 Rb5 45. Kc4 Rb6 46.
b5 Rf5 47. Re7 h5 48. Rc7 h4 49. Rc6 Rxc6+ 50. bxc6 Kg7 51. c7 Rf2 52. Kd3 Rf8
53. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 Nge7 7. Ba3 b6 8. Nge2
O-O 9. O-O Bb7 10. d4 d6 11. Qd2 Na5 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 Ba6 14. Bb2 Bxe2 15.
Nxe2 Nf5 16. e4 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Ng7 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Rfe1 Rfe8 20. f4 Rad8 21.
Nc3 Qf6 22. e5 dxe5 23. Ne4 Qf5 24. fxe5 Rxe5 25. Rf1 Qxe4 26. Bxe4 Rxe4 27.
Qf6 Rd7 28. Rde1 Ne8 29. Qf3 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Nd6 31. Qf6 Nab7 32. h4 h5 33. g4
hxg4 34. h5 Kh7 35. Kg2 Nf5 36. hxg6+ fxg6 37. Rh1+ Kg8 38. Rh8# 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Qb6 7. Nb3 Bf5 8.
Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. a4 a6 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. a5 Qb5 14. Qxb5 axb5
15. Nd3 Nd7 16. a6 bxa6 17. Rxa6 f6 18. Re1 Kf7 19. h4 b4 20. Re2 Rhe8 21. g3
Bf8 22. Bd2 Ncb8 23. Ra7 Rxc2 24. Kf1 Rec8 25. Nbc5 Bxc5 26. Nxc5 R2xc5 27.
dxc5 Ke7 28. Bxb4 Nc6 29. Rb7 e5 30. Ba3 Ke6 31. b4 d4 32. b5 Na5 33. Ra7 Nc4
34. c6 Ndb6 35. Bc5 Nd5 36. Rc2 Nc3 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nge2 Nf8 9. Qc2 Ne6 10. Bh4 g6 11. f3 O-O 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Kh1 Rc8
15. Bf2 c5 16. Qd2 Qd7 17. a3 Rfd8 18. Bb1 Qe8 19. Rfe1 Qf8 20. Ng3 Qh6 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. Nce2 Bf8 23. Qa5 Rd7 24. e4 Bd6 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Be4 Rcd8 27.
Qb5 Bb8 28. Qb3 Ng5 29. Nc3 Nxe4 30. Ncxe4 Nf4 31. Rxd7 Rxd7 32. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qc2 Nd7 8. h4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Nc3 Bd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rad1 O-O 14. h5 Qc7
15. Nd4 Na4 16. Be2 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Qxc3 18. Qe4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc6 20. Qe5 Bd5
21. a4 Qc7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. e4 Bc6 24. Rb1 e5 25. Rdb4 Rd8 26. Bb5 a5 27. Rc4
Rd4 28. Rc5 Bxe4 29. Rxc7 Bxb1 30. Rxb7 Bc2 31. Re7 e4 32. Re8+ Kh7 33. Rf8 Bb3
34. Kh2 g5 35. hxg6+ Kxg6 36. Rg8+ Kf6 37. Rh8 Bxa4 38. Bxa4 Kg7 39. Ra8 Rxa4
40. Kg3 Ra2 41. Ra6 a4 42. Kf4 Rxf2+ 43. Kxe4 Rxg2 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2
a6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b5 11. Nd1 b4 12. c4 dxc4 13. d5 exd5 14. Qxd5 Bb7 15.
Qxc4 Nb6 16. Qc2 Nd5 17. Bd3 Nxe3 18. Nxe3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rae1 g6 21.
Kh1 Rad8 22. Bc4 Bh4 23. Re2 Be4 24. Qb3 Bb7 25. f5 Kh8 26. Bxf7 Qxe5 27. Bc4
Qd6 28. Qc2 Bg5 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. h3 Bxe3 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Rxe3 gxf5 33. Qe2 Be4
34. Qf2 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Qd6+ 36. Rg3 h6 37. Be2 Rd2 38. Kh1 Rxe2 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nf6 7. Be2 Bc5 8.
Be3 Bb6 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Rc1 h6 12. a3 Be6 13. Na4 Qd6 14. Nc5 Bc8 15.
b4 a6 16. Qc2 Nh5 17. Rfd1 Qf6 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Qg5 21. Bxh5
Qxh5 22. f3 a5 23. Qf2 axb4 24. axb4 Qg6 25. Kh1 c6 26. g4 Ra3 27. Ra1 Rxa1 28.
Bxa1 f6 29. Kg2 Bc7 30. Bc3 h5 31. Qh4 b6 32. Nd3 Qf7 33. Qxh5 Qxh5 34. gxh5
Kh7 35. Nf2 Kh6 36. Ng4+ Kh7 37. Bxf6 Be6 38. Bc3 c5 39. bxc5 bxc5 40. h6 Bxg4
41. hxg4 Kxh6 42. Bxg7+ Kg6 43. Bc3 Rb8 44. e5 Rb3 45. Rc1 c4 46. f4 Bb6 47. e6
Be3 48. f5+ Kg5 49. Rc2 Kxg4 50. f6 Bg5 51. e7 Rb8 52. Re2 Re8 53. f7 Rxe7 54.
f8=Q Rxe2+ 55. Kf1 Rc2 56. Qc8+ Kh4 57. Qxc4+ Kh5 58. Qd3 Rc1+ 59. Ke2 Kh6 60.
Qh3+ Kg6 61. Kd3 Rd1+ 62. Ke4 Rd6 63. Qf5+ Kh5 64. Be5 Ra6 65. Qh7+ Kg4 66.
Qf5+ Kh5 67. Bd4 Ra2 68. Be3 Ra4+ 69. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bg4 9. h3 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Rfd8 12. Be3 Nd7 13. Nd5 Rac8 14. c3
e6 15. Nf4 Nb6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Nc4 19. Bc1 Bh6 20. Be2
Nd6 21. f3 e5 22. Nd3 Bxc1 23. Nxc1 f5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. Kf2 Kf7 26. Nb3 b6 27.
Nd2 Ne7 28. f4 exf4 29. gxf4 Nd5 30. Kf3 Ke6 31. Bd1 Kf6 32. Bb3 Ne7 33. Nf1
Ne4 34. Bc2 Nc5 35. Ne3 c6 36. Nc4 Nb7 37. Ne5 c5 38. Nd7+ Kg7 39. a3 Nd6 40.
Ne5 Ng6 41. Nc6 a5 42. Bd3 Kf6 43. b4 cxb4 44. cxb4 axb4 45. Nxb4 Ne7 46. Ke3
Ke6 47. Kd4 Nb7 48. Nd5 Nc6+ 49. Kc4 Nd6+ 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 Ne7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. h4 h6 7. h5 g5 8. f4 gxf4
9. gxf4 Nbc6 10. fxe5 Nxe5 11. Bf4 d5 12. cxd5 c6 13. Qd2 Ng4 14. Bf3 Kh7 15.
d6 Nd5 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Nxd5 Be6 18. Nc7 Rc8 19. Nf3 Qf6 20. d4 Bf5 21. Be5
Qd8 22. Qf4 Bd7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Rg1 Kh7 25. Rxg4 Bxg4 26. Qxg4 Qxd6 27. Qf5+
Kg7 28. Nd5 Rfd8 29. Nf4 Qf6 30. Qxf6+ Kxf6 31. Kd2 Rg8 32. Rf1 Rcd8 33. e4 Ke7
34. Nd5+ Kf8 35. Ne5 Rg2+ 36. Kc3 Rc8+ 37. Kb3 Rg3+ 38. Kb4 Rg7 39. Rf6 Rh7 40.
a4 Rc2 41. b3 Ke8 42. Rd6 Re2 43. Rd7 Rg7 44. Nf6+ Kf8 45. Kc5 Rf2 46. Neg4
Rg5+ 47. Kd6 Kg7 48. Nxf2 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Final"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.14"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2020.05.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. c3 Nge7 7. e4 O-O 8. b4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Be6 11. Bb2 Rfd8 12. Nbd2 f6 13. Bf1 Nc8 14. a3 Nb6
15. Rab1 a5 16. Rdc1 Bh6 17. Rc2 Rd7 18. Bc1 Rad8 19. Kg2 Kg7 20. Be2 axb4 21.
axb4 Ra8 22. Nb3 Bxb3 23. Bxh6+ Kxh6 24. Rxb3 Nd8 25. Rbb2 Ne6 26. Ra2 Rdd8 27.
Nd2 c5 28. Bg4 Nc7 29. bxc5 Na4 30. Nb3 Nb5 31. Rd2 Nbxc3 32. f3 Nxa2 33. Rxa2
Nc3 34. Rc2 Nd1 35. Rc1 Ra3 36. Be6 Ra2+ 37. Kg1 Re2 38. Bd5 Re1+ 39. Kg2 Ne3+
40. Kf2 Rxc1 41. Kxe3 Rxd5 42. exd5 Rc3+ 43. Kd2 Rxb3 44. d6 Ra3 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.21"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bb4 8. e3
b5 9. a4 c6 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O Qb6 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. Ne4 Nxe5 15.
a5 Qc7 16. a6 Bc8 17. Bg3 O-O 18. b3 f5 19. Qb2 fxe4 20. Bxe5 c3 21. Bxc3 Bd6
22. h3 b4 23. Bd2 Bh2+ 24. Kh1 Be5 25. Qc2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 Qe5 27. Rf1 c5 28. Bc1
Qd6 29. Qc4 Bd7 30. Rd1 Qc6 31. Kg1 Rad8 32. Bb2 Bc8 33. Ra1 Rd2 34. Bc1 Rd5
35. Ra2 Qd6 36. Rc2 Bxa6 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Kasimdzhanov,R"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,126,80,26,67,25,37,38,70,49,55,2,8,8,55,-7,57,36,49,29,2,15,15,31,45,
37,38,37,44,26,45,20,47,20,54,16,24,11,13,20,14,22,24,17,34,2,4,-3,-10,2,3,2,
-24,-36,-36,-36,-27,-45,-45,-30,-31,-38,-10,-14,-14,-27,-67,-47,-35,-113,-144,
-209,-81,-2,-2,-17,-17,-17,-17,-17,0,-21,-22,-114,-26,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-12,-49,
0,16,0,20,7,20,20,33,50,8,8,54,0,-238,-318,0,0,0,0,0,-71,-81,-157,-157,-157,80,
0,0,0,0,0,114,-762,-802] To understand just how extraordinary the game is
you're about to see, bear in mind it was played at 15+10 time control :)} 1. e4
e6 {A rare guest in Kramnik's games.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5
6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2 a6 9. Bd3 b5 10. a3 c4 {This leads to an almost
new position, though the structure is almost as old as chess itself.} (10...
O-O 11. O-O f5 {1-0 (48) Cheparinov,I (2711)-Bluebaum,M (2620) Germany 2019})
11. Be2 Nb6 12. O-O Bd7 {The conflict has already been well-defined. Black is
very strong on the queenside, White will try to get f5 and get to the black
king.} 13. Bd1 $5 {Interesing approach. It looks like White wants to play Ne2,
c3, Bc2, but in fact it's trickier than that.} (13. g4 h5 14. gxh5 Rxh5 {
doesn't feel clear.}) (13. Nd1 a5 14. c3 b4 {is the reason Vishy leaves his
knight on c3 for now.}) 13... g6 (13... Qc7 {looks natural too, but probably
doesn't change too much.}) 14. h3 {Some sort of waiting game, but also a
useful move of course.} (14. Ne2 a5) 14... Qc7 15. Bf2 $5 {And this is,
amazingly, some sort of zugzwang :) Kramnik finds a useful move though.} h6 $1
(15... O-O-O 16. b3 Kb7 17. Be2 {[%cal Gf1b1,Gc3d1,Gd1e3] White is the
favorite to get to Black's king first here.}) 16. Ne2 {Vishy changes his plan
after seeing the pawn on h6.} (16. Kh2 O-O-O 17. b3 (17. Ne2 Kb7) 17... Rdg8
18. Be2 g5 {was the point behind h6, gaining a tempo on counterplay, with a
huge fight.}) 16... a5 $1 {Of course.} 17. c3 O-O-O 18. Bh4 Bxh4 19. Nxh4 Kb7
20. Nf3 Ra8 21. Bc2 Qd8 {The advance ...b4 still needs some work.} (21... b4
22. axb4 axb4 23. cxb4) 22. g4 {Not without dangers potentially, but Vishy
probably felt he can't do without f5 in a long run.} (22. Nh2 h5 (22... Qe7 23.
Ng4 h5 24. Nf6 b4 25. axb4 axb4 26. b3 $13) 23. Nf3 Qe7 24. Ng5 Rhb8 {[%cal
Gd7e8,Gb7c7,Gb5b4] A nice square for the knight, but feels slow.}) 22... Qe7 (
22... h5 {Black should't start a fight where his opponent is stronger.} 23. Ng5
(23. Kg2 Qe7) 23... Qe7 (23... hxg4 24. Nxf7 Qh4 25. Nxh8 Rxh8 26. Qe3 $16) 24.
f5 gxf5 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Bxf5 Raf8 27. h4 f6 28. exf6 Rxf6 29. Bxd7 Nxd7 30.
Ng3 $16) 23. Ng3 (23. Kh2 h5) (23. Rae1 b4 24. f5 b3 (24... gxf5 25. gxf5) 25.
f6 (25. Bb1 Rag8) 25... Qf8 26. Bd1 Na7) 23... b4 24. axb4 axb4 {Kramnik
played his breakthrough first and somewhere around here Vishy loses some ground
} 25. Rxa8 (25. Kg2 b3 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Bb1) ({or} 25. h4 Na5 26. h5 Nb3 {
both lead to a perfect mess}) 25... Rxa8 26. f5 gxf5 27. gxf5 (27. Qxh6 fxg4
28. hxg4 Ra2) 27... Ra2 28. Qc1 bxc3 (28... exf5 $5 {would be interesting, but
also deprive us of all the beauty to come.} 29. Bxf5 (29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5
bxc3 31. bxc3 Qa3) 29... Be6 30. Qxh6 Rxb2 31. Ng5 Nd8 {and it feels easier to
play black here}) 29. bxc3 Qa3 30. Bb1 $2 {This, surprisingly, is a mistake,
but it wouldn't be obvious even in a classical game, let alone at the
breathtaking speed the two giants were playing.} (30. Qxa3 Rxa3 31. Ne2 exf5 {
It's White who still needs to be accurate here.}) 30... Qxc1 $2 {A rare case
when Kramnik doesn't evaluate the queen exchange correctly. After} (30... Rb2
$1 31. f6 Na4 32. Ne2 Na7 {Black is substantially better, aided by his more
active queen and a safer king.}) 31. Rxc1 Rb2 (31... Ra3 {also makes sense.})
32. f6 Na4 {A massively complex ending.} 33. Bh7 {Something tells me it's a
trap.} ({Interesting would be} 33. Bg6 $5 Be8 34. Bh5 {The bishop is well
placed here.} Kc7 35. Nh2 Nxc3 36. Rxc3 Nxd4 {and we went from complex to
complex, with a very tough fight ahead.}) 33... Na5 $2 {That's exactly what
Vishy probably had played Bh7 for.} (33... Be8 34. Kf1 Na7 35. Ne2 Nb5 36. h4
Kc7 37. h5 {and maybe it's better to play White here, cause a bit amazingly
Black ran out of ideas.}) 34. Bg6 $1 {Oh boy, here we go.} Nb3 35. Re1 $1 {
In anticipation of what follows.} Be8 36. Nf5 $3 {The point of it all. Now
pretty much everyone realized Black is in trouble, and Kramnik had to find a
way to hang in there.} fxg6 {Black had other defences, but Kramnik didn't have
all the time in the world, of course.} (36... Nxc3 $5 37. Nd6+ Kc6 38. Nxe8 Nc1
$3 {The point of Black's counterplay.} 39. Bh7 $3 {An amazingly difficult
solution.} (39. Rxc1 Ne2+ 40. Kf1 Nxc1 41. Nd6 $1 Ne2 (41... fxg6 42. f7 Rb8
43. Ne8) 42. Bxf7 (42. Nxf7 Nf4 43. Bh7 Nxh3) 42... Nf4 43. Be8+ Kb6 44. f7 Ng6
{remains very difficult for both.}) (39. Bxf7 N1e2+ 40. Kf2 Nxd4+ 41. Kg3 (41.
Ke3 Nc2+ 42. Kf4 Nxe1 43. Nxe1 Re2 44. Bxe6 Rxe1 45. f7 Rf1+ 46. Ke3 Ne4 47.
Nf6 Nxf6 48. Ke2 $3 Nh7 49. Kxf1) 41... Ne4+ 42. Rxe4 Nf5+ 43. Kf4 dxe4 44.
Bxe6 exf3 45. Kxf5 Rc2 46. f7 f2 47. Kg6 f1=Q 48. Nf6 {with a royal mess, and
the reason White needs his bishop to control c2, e4, and f5!}) 39... N1e2+ 40.
Kf2 Nxd4+ 41. Ke3 Nxf3 {There's nothing better now.} 42. Kxf3 {and White is
doing well here, but I assure you, it wouldn't be obvious during the game to
you, or me, or Anand, or anyone :)} d4 (42... Nb5 43. Bg8 Nd4+ 44. Kf4 c3 45.
Bxf7 Re2 46. Ra1 Re4+ 47. Kg3 Rxe5 48. Bg6) 43. Nd6 d3 44. Nxc4 d2 45. Nxd2
Rxd2 46. Bg8) (36... exf5 37. e6 $18) (36... Kc6 37. Nd6 Kd7 {Another cunning
try.} 38. Bxf7 Bxf7 39. Nxf7 Nxc3 40. Nh8 $3 {There are many lines here, but
only this seems to win.} (40. Nd6 Nc1 41. Rxc1 Ne2+ 42. Kf1 Nxc1 43. f7 Rb8)
40... Nc1 41. Rxc1 (41. f7 N1e2+ $11) 41... Ne2+ 42. Kf1 Nxc1 43. f7 Rb8 (43...
Ke7 44. Nh4 Rb8 45. N4g6+ Kd7 46. f8=Q Rxf8+ 47. Nxf8+ Ke7 48. Nfg6+ Ke8 49.
Nf4 $18) 44. Ng6 {and White wins}) 37. Nd6+ Kc7 38. Nxe8+ Kd7 39. Nd6 g5 $1 {
[%cal Gf6f7,Gf3h4,Gh4g6] Controlling h4 is vital.} 40. Nf5 $3 {I've never seen
this before. After 36.Nf5!! white knight dances all the way back, and again
it's brilliant, and correct, and important!} Ke8 (40... exf5 41. e6+ {White's
pawns queen here.}) 41. Nxh6 Nxc3 {Both players, as well as thousands watching
live, knew it must be winning for White here, but with minutes ticking away,
it was also unlikely to be easy. Black gets counterplay against white king.}
42. Nxg5 Nxd4 43. f7+ Ke7 44. Ra1 {Very natural.} (44. Rf1 $1 {An almost
impossible task, under the circumstances.} Nce2+ (44... Rb8 45. Nh7 $18) 45.
Kf2 {and all the checks are of no avail:} Nc6 (45... Nc3+ 46. Ke3) 46. Ke1 $18
Rb1+ 47. Kxe2 Rxf1 48. Kxf1 Nxe5 49. Ke2 d4 50. Kd1 Nd7 51. h4 {and White wins,
slowly but surely.}) 44... Nce2+ 45. Kf2 Nf4+ 46. Kg3 $2 {most natural, but} (
46. Kf1 $3 {was strong, to keep the king safe from checks.} Nc6 (46... Ng6 47.
Ng8+ Kd7 (47... Kf8 48. Ra8+ Kg7 49. Ne7 $1 {is a very cute point.}) 48. Ra7+
Kd8 49. Ne7 Nf8 50. Ra8+ Kxe7 51. Re8+ Kd7 52. Rxf8 $18) 47. Ng8+ Kf8 48. Nf6
Kg7 49. f8=Q+ $3 {Such a rare theme.} Kxf8 50. Ra8+ Rb8 $1 (50... Nb8 51. Ra7 {
is actually mate.}) 51. Nd7+ Ke7 52. Nxb8 Nxe5 {and whilst my computer assures
me White is clearly winning here, I must confess it still looks messy to me!})
46... Ng6 47. Ra7+ Kd8 48. Ra8+ Kc7 49. Rg8 Ne2+ $1 {Kramnik reinforces his
defences with this vital check, and now it's Vishy who has to fight for his
life. There was't much time left for subtleties...} 50. Kf2 (50. Kf3 {would be
better.} Nxe5+ 51. Ke3 Nxf7 52. Nhxf7 c3 53. Ne5 c2 54. Nd3 Rb3 55. Kxe2 Rxd3
56. Nxe6+ Kd6 57. Rc8 $11) 50... Nef4+ 51. Ke3 c3 52. Nxe6+ $2 (52. Rxg6 Nxg6
53. Nxe6+ Kd7 54. Nf4 {was still okay, but by now they were both blitzing...}
d4+ 55. Ke4 c2 56. e6+ Kc7 57. Nd3 Rb3 (57... Kd6 $5) 58. Kf5 Rxd3 59. Kxg6
c1=Q 60. f8=Q {and the white king being safe, draw is no longer difficult.})
52... Nxe6 53. Rxg6 d4+ 54. Ke4 Re2+ $2 (54... c2 55. Rxe6 c1=Q 56. f8=Q {
Kramnik correctly felt this should be checkmate, but hesitated to go for it
with no time to figure it out with accuracy.} Qe3+ 57. Kd5 Rb5+ 58. Kc4 Qb3+
59. Kxd4 Qa4+ $1 {is the most convincing way, but far from easy.}) 55. Kf3 $1
Re3+ 56. Kg4 Nf8 (56... c2 57. Rxe6 c1=Q 58. Re7+ Kb6 59. f8=Q Qg1+ 60. Kh4
Qg3+ 61. Kh5 $18) 57. Rg8 Nd7 (57... c2 58. Rxf8 c1=Q 59. Rc8+ $11) 58. Nf5 $3
{This move again! I don't know if there's ever been a game in history of games,
where the same knight landed three times on the same square, and it was always
the best move by far, and twice a sacrifice!!} c2 {there's no win} (58... Re4+
59. Kf3 c2 60. Rg1 d3 61. Kxe4 d2 62. e6 d1=Q 63. exd7 {White's pawns are too
strong here.} Qxg1 64. d8=Q+ Kxd8 65. f8=Q+ Kc7 $11) (58... Rxe5 59. Nxd4 Re4+
60. Kf3 Rxd4 61. Ke2 c2 62. Rg1 $11) 59. Nxe3 c1=Q (59... dxe3 60. e6 c1=Q 61.
exd7 $11) 60. Nd5+ Kb7 61. e6 {A fascinating position.} Qd1+ 62. Kg5 Qd2+ $2 {
With seconds left, Kramnik gets unlucky choosing the square to check from.} (
62... Qg1+ 63. Kf5 (63. Kh6 Qc1+ 64. Rg5 Qc6) 63... Qb1+ 64. Kg5 $11) 63. Kg6
$2 {A truly unfortunate moment for Vishy. The knight was still around to crown
his carrer with} (63. Nf4 $1 Nc5 64. Rg6 $1 {and Vishy would have won this})
63... Qg2+ {and Black picks up the full house. White resigned, but in a way
the result seems irrelevant here. An incredible creative achievement by both
players, this game will be the one to remember for years to come.} 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.23"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. d3 Nc6 8. Bf4
d4 9. Na4 Nd7 10. a3 e5 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 Rb8 13. b4 Qe7 14. bxc5 f5 15. e3
dxe3 16. Bxe3 f4 17. Bd2 g5 18. Re1 g4 19. Nh4 f3 20. Bf1 Qf7 21. Be3 Nf6 22.
Nc3 Rd8 23. Nb5 Bf8 24. Qc1 a6 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. cxd6 Rxd6 27. d4 Nxd4 28. Bxd4
exd4 29. Qf4 Qc7 30. c5 Rc6 31. Bc4+ Kf8 32. Re5 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.24"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qc2 h6 8.
Bh4 Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bxe4 Bxh4 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Nxh4
Qxh4 15. Bd3 Qe7 16. Rab1 a5 17. Na4 Kg8 18. Rfc1 Qd6 19. a3 g6 20. h3 Kg7 21.
Qc3 h5 22. Ra1 Qf6 23. b4 axb4 24. axb4 Qg5 25. Kf1 Nf6 26. Qc2 Qh4 27. Nb6
Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Bxh3 29. gxh3 Qxh3+ 30. Ke1 Qh1+ 31. Bf1 h4 32. Ke2 Ng4 33. Re1
h3 34. Qc1 Qh2 35. Kd3 Nxf2+ 36. Kc3 Qc7 37. Na4 h2 38. Bg2 Qg3 39. Bh1 Nxh1
40. Rxh1 Rxe3+ 41. Kc2 Re2+ 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 Bb4 8.
Be2 Bd7 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Ba4 11. Qb1 Bc6 12. Nd2 Na4 13. Qc2 b5 14. Rad1
Qe7 15. Rfe1 O-O 16. f3 h6 17. Qc1 a5 18. Nf1 Rfd8 19. Ng3 Be8 20. d5 Nd7 21.
Bf1 Ndc5 22. e5 Rxd5 23. Nf5 exf5 24. Rxd5 Ne6 25. Bf2 Bc6 26. Rd2 f4 27. Rdd1
Qg5 28. Kh1 Qf5 29. h3 Re8 30. Rd2 Qg5 31. Qc2 Qe7 32. Qc1 Rd8 33. Rxd8+ Qxd8
34. Kh2 Qe7 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4
Be7 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. Nd2 Nf8 12. O-O Nh5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rae1 Ne6
15. f4 Nf6 16. Nf3 c5 17. Qf2 Bd7 18. Ne5 Bc6 19. Bf5 Rad8 20. g4 Ne4 21. Nxe4
dxe4 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Bxe4 Qd6 24. f5 Ng5 25. Bg2 Rb8 26. Qf4 Qe7 27. b3 cxd4
28. f6 Qb4 29. fxg7 dxe3 30. h4 e2 31. Qxb4 Rxb4 32. Rf2 Ne6 33. Rexe2 Rxg4 34.
Kh2 Rxh4+ 35. Kg3 Rh5 36. Bxc6 Rc8 37. Bd7 Rc3+ 38. Kg2 Rg5+ 39. Kf1 Nd4 40.
Re4 Nf3 41. Bg4 Ne5 42. Bf5 Rc1+ 43. Re1 Rxe1+ 44. Kxe1 Kxg7 45. b4 h5 46. b5
Rg3 47. a4 Nf3+ 48. Kf1 Rg1+ 49. Ke2 Nd4+ 50. Ke3 Nb3 51. Bc2 Na5 52. Rf5 Rg3+
53. Kd4 h4 54. Rh5 Rg4+ 55. Kd5 Rc4 56. Be4 Rxa4 57. Rxh4 f5 58. Rf4 fxe4 59.
Rxe4 Rxe4 60. Kxe4 Kf6 61. Kd5 Ke7 62. Kc5 Kd7 63. b6 a6 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Qc8 8. Nc3
Bb4 9. Bd2 d6 10. d5 Nbd7 11. e4 Nc5 12. Qc2 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. cxd5 Bxd2
15. Nxd2 a5 16. Nf3 Re8 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Qd8 19. d6 cxd6 20. Bxa8 dxe5 21.
Bc6 Re7 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Bg2 g6 24. Qd2 Kg7 25. Qd8 e4 26. Qxc7 Rxc7 27. f3 Nd3
28. Re2 exf3 29. Bxf3 Nc1 30. Re5 Nxa2 31. Rb5 Nd7 32. Rbd5 Nc5 33. Rd6 Nb4 34.
Rxb6 Ncd3 35. Rd2 Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Ne1+ 37. Kf2 Ned3+ 38. Ke3 Re1+ 39. Kd4 Ne5 40.
Be2 f6 41. Rb7+ Kh6 42. Kc5 Rh1 43. Bb5 Rc1+ 44. Kb6 a4 45. Ka5 Nbc6+ 46. Kb6
Rb1 47. Kc5 Na5 48. Ra7 Nb3+ 49. Kb4 Nxd2 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 e5 7. e3 Nxc3 8.
Bxc3 Bd6 9. Bc4 Qe7 10. h4 h6 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. d3 O-O-O 13. O-O-O g5 14. Kb1 Kb8
15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Nd2 f5 17. g4 f4 18. Rxh8 Rxh8 19. Ne4 Bxg4 20. Rg1 Bf5 21.
Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxg5 Bc8 23. Kb2 Rh2 24. exf4 Nd4 25. Qd2 exf4 26. Rd5 Qf8 27. b4
b6 28. bxc5 bxc5 29. Bxd4 cxd4 30. Rb5+ Bb7 31. Bd5 Rh7 32. Qb4 Qc8 33. Rxb7+
Rxb7 34. Qxb7+ Qxb7+ 35. Bxb7 Kxb7 36. Kb3 Kb6 37. Kc4 Ka5 38. Kxd4 Kb4 39. Ke4
a5 40. d4 a4 41. d5 Ka3 42. d6 Kxa2 43. d7 a3 44. d8=Q Kb2 45. Qd4+ Kb1 46.
Qd3+ Kb2 47. Qd2+ Kb1 48. Qd1+ Kb2 49. Qe2+ Kb1 50. Kxf4 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.27"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Qa5 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8.
a3 Nc6 9. e3 h5 10. Be2 h4 11. O-O f5 12. b4 Qe5 13. Rc1 Rg8 14. c5 Bh6 15. Bf3
f4 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 h3 19. Rfe1 Kd8 20. Ne4 Kc7 21. Nd6 f6
22. a4 Rb8 23. b5 axb5 24. axb5 cxb5 25. Ra1 Bf8 26. Ne8+ Kd8 27. Nxf6 Rg6 28.
Ng4 Bg7 29. Ne5 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 b4 31. g3 fxg3 32. hxg3 b3 33. Rb1 Rf6 34. Be4
h2+ 35. Kg2 Rh6 36. Kh1 Rb4 37. d5 b2 38. f3 Rc4 39. Bd3 Rc3 40. Bf1 Rxf3 41.
Bg2 Rf2 42. Re3 Rxg2 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leiva Rodriguez, Jeammarco Giuseppe"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2391"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. Qc2
a5 9. b3 Na6 10. Bb2 h6 11. Rfd1 c5 12. Ne5 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Rc8 14. Qb2 Qe7 15.
a3 Bc5 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Ndf3 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Nc5 20. Rab1 Rfd8 21.
Qg4 Nc3 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Rb2 Qf6 24. Qd4 Nb5 25. Qd2 Rd8 26. Qc1 Nxa3 27. b4
Nd7 28. Rb3 Nxe5 29. Nxe5 Qxe5 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kobo, Ori"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2449"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c5 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. d4 Nf6 7. Qe2 e6 8.
Rd1 cxd4 9. exd4 Bd6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Ne8 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Rd3
f6 15. exf6 Qxf6 16. Bg3 Nd4 17. Rxd4 Qxd4 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 19. Rd1 Qf6 20. Qxd5
Qf7 21. Qxf7 Rxf7 22. f3 Nf6 23. Nb5 a6 24. Nd6 Rd7 25. Re1 Kg8 26. c4 Kf8 27.
c5 Ne8 28. Nc4 Re7 29. Rd1 Re2 30. Nb6 Ra7 31. Bb8 Rxb2 32. Bxa7 Rxa2 33. Bb8
Rc2 34. Rd8 Kf7 35. Bd6 Nf6 36. Nd7 Nd5 37. Ne5+ Ke6 38. Re8+ 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2441"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 cxd4 4. exd4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8.
Re1 b6 9. a4 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. c3 Rc8 12. h3 Re8 13. Bh2 Bh6 14. Bc4 e6 15.
Bd3 Ne7 16. Nc4 Rc6 17. Ne3 a6 18. Qe2 Qc8 19. Bg3 Bg7 20. Nc4 Nf5 21. Bf4 Qd8
22. Bh2 Bf8 23. Rad1 h6 24. Qd2 Rc8 25. Qe2 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ne3 b4 28. Bb5
Re7 29. Ng4 Bg7 30. c4 Nxg4 31. hxg4 Bxf3 32. gxf3 Nxd4 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. Rd1
Qb6 35. Kg2 e5 36. Bg3 Qb7 37. Kh2 g5 38. b3 Kg7 39. Rd2 Ra8 40. Qd3 Ra3 41.
Re2 Bc5 42. Kg2 Qc8 43. Re4 Ra2 44. Re2 Rxe2 45. Qxe2 Qa8 46. Qd3 e4 47. fxe4
Qxe4+ 48. Qxe4 Rxe4 49. Kf3 Re1 50. Kg2 Kf6 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vokhidov, Shamsiddin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. c4 Nc6 4. Bb2 e5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O Nge7 8. d3
O-O 9. Nc3 h6 10. Nd2 Be6 11. a3 Rc8 12. b4 Qd7 13. Nd5 Kh7 14. e3 Bh3 15. Ne4
Nxd5 16. Bxh3 Qxh3 17. cxd5 Ne7 18. Nxd6 Rcd8 19. bxc5 Nxd5 20. Qf3 e4 21. dxe4
Bxb2 22. exd5 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 b6 24. Nb7 Rde8 25. c6 Re5 26. d6 Qc8 27. d7 Qc7
28. Rd1 Rf5 29. Qe4 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "He, Anthony B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2337"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. h4 h5 8. O-O
c5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. d3 Nc6 11. Be3 Bd7 12. Ng5 Qe5 13. Rb1 Bg4 14. Re1 Rac8 15.
Qa4 a6 16. Qe4 Qd6 17. Qd5 Qc7 18. Qxc5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 Qxc5 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21.
Bxb7 Rc2 22. Bf3 Bxb2 23. a4 f6 24. Bxg4 fxg5 25. Be6+ Kg7 26. Bb3 Rd2 27. Rbd1
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 gxh4 29. gxh4 Bf6 30. Bc4 Bxh4 31. f3 a5 32. Rb1 Bf6 33. Rb7 Rc8
34. e3 g5 35. Kf2 Rc5 36. Ra7 g4 37. fxg4 hxg4 38. Kg3 Rg5 39. d4 Kg6 40. Bd3+
Kf7 41. Bb5 Kg6 42. Rxa5 e5 43. Bd3+ Kg7 44. Ra7+ Kh8 45. Ra8+ Kg7 46. Ra7+ Kh8
47. d5 e4 48. Bxe4 Be5+ 49. Kh4 Bf6 50. Rf7 Rg6+ 51. Kh5 Rg5+ 52. Kh6 g3 53.
Rxf6 g2 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huzman, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c3 O-O 6. a4 Nfd7 7. h4 Nf6 8. a5
Bf5 9. Nbd2 c6 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Qb3 e5 12. e3 Bd3 13. Bb2 Ng4 14. Bh3 h5 15. c4
dxc4 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nde5 19. Qe2 Re8 20. O-O a6 21. Bg2
Qe7 22. Bc3 Nf6 23. Nb3 Ned7 24. Rac1 Ne4 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rc4 Ndf6 27. Qb2
Qe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Rd1 Rae8 30. Rdd4 R5e6 31. Bxe4 Nxe4 32. Nc5 Nxc5 33.
bxc5 R8e7 34. Kg2 Re5 35. Rd3 f5 36. Kf3 Kf7 37. Ke2 Kg7 38. Rd8 Kf7 39. Kd3
Kg7 40. Kc3 Kf7 41. Kb4 Re4 42. Rcd4 Rxd4+ 43. exd4 Re2 44. Kc3 Rxf2 45. Rd7+
Kf6 46. Rxb7 Rf3+ 47. Kc4 Rxg3 48. Rb6 f4 49. d5 f3 50. Rxc6+ Kf7 51. Rc7+ Kf6
52. Kd3 f2+ 53. Ke2 Rf3 54. Kf1 g5 55. Rc8 Kg7 56. d6 g4 57. d7 g3 58. Rg8+
Kxg8 59. d8=Q+ Kh7 60. Qd7+ Kg6 61. Qc6+ Rf6 62. Qe4+ Kg7 63. c6 1-0