[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[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 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 {Kramnik's choice in the first game of
the match surprised everyone. Nowadays it is practically impossible to fight
for a real advantage in the Exchange Variation. Even if White achieves a
slight plus, a strong player with Black holds the position without major
effort.} cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Qb3 Bb4 9. Bb5 O-O ({White's
only hope in this system is to force on his opponent a weak pawn on c6. The
following variation is an example how Black can end up in a worse position:} 
9... Qa5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Bc7 $1 Qxc7 13. Qxb4 {White plays Na4
and Rac1 next and Black will have to suffer under positional pressure.}) 10.
Bxc6 (10. O-O Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Rc8 $11) 10... Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Rc8 ({After} 11...
bxc6 12. O-O $14 {White achieves his goal} ({but not} 12. Qxc6 Qa5+ 13. Qc3
Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 Rfc8 15. Rc1 Ne4 $11)) 12. Ne5 {It seems that White will
finally force Black to take with the pawn on c6, but Anand's answer shows that
Black can avoid that.} Ng4 {The most precise, even if the alternatives 12...
bxc6 and 12...Ne4 are playable as well. Black's move doesn't make any
positional concessions.} 13. Nxg4 Bxg4 14. Qb4 ({Taking the other pawn is
weaker, since it leaves the b2-pawn without protection:} 14. Qc5 Rxc6 15. Qxa7
Rc2 16. O-O (16. Qxb7 $2 Qa5+ 17. b4 Re2+ 18. Kf1 Qa3 $19) 16... Be2 $1 (16...
Rxb2 17. Rab1 {loses the b7-pawn without any compensation}) 17. Rfc1 Rxb2 18.
Rab1 Rxb1 19. Rxb1 b5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Vera,R (2537)-Morovic Fernandez,I (2556)/
Havana 2002 (22)}) 14... Rxc6 15. Qxb7 $146 {White must take the pawn,
otherwise his entire opening concept is senseless. Curiously, 16.Qxb7 is a new
move. Difficult to say whether Kramnik really hoped to win the resulting
endgame, or whether he just wanted a "smooth" start of the match. The future
course of events showed that in any case his strategy was mistaken: Anand made
an easy draw in this game, while the match became much tougher for Kramnik
than expected.} (15. O-O Qb6 16. Qd2 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. f3 h5 19. Rxc6 Rxc6
20. Re1 Qa6 21. e4 dxe4 22. fxe4 Bg6 23. b3 {1/2-1/2 Nussbaecher,A (2120)
-Seibold,T (2105)/Bayern 2002}) 15... Qc8 16. Qxc8 (16. Qb3 $2 Qa6 $1 (16...
Rc1+ {is a mistake in view of} 17. Kd2 {with advantage}) 17. f3 Bf5 $17 {
[%csl Re1]}) 16... Rfxc8 17. O-O {The control over the c-file together with
the opposite-coloured bishops make White's task to convert the extra pawn
practically impossible.} a5 18. f3 Bf5 19. Rfe1 Bg6 20. b3 (20. e4 dxe4 21.
fxe4 Rc2 22. b3 f6 ({or even} 22... Rd8 23. d5 f6 24. dxe6 Re8)) 20... f6 21.
e4 (21. Rad1 Rc2 $11) 21... dxe4 22. fxe4 Rd8 23. Rad1 Rc2 24. e5 (24. d5 e5
25. Rd2 Rdc8 $11) (24. a4 Rc3 $11) 24... fxe5 25. Bxe5 Rxa2 $11 26. Ra1 Rxa1
27. Rxa1 Rd5 28. Rc1 Rd7 29. Rc5 Ra7 30. Rc7 Rxc7 31. Bxc7 Bc2 32. Bxa5 Bxb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[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 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
dxc5 f5 9. Qc2 Nd7 {A rare continuation.} (9... f4 {is the most common}) (9...
O-O) (9... Qa5) (9... Qh4+) (9... Qf6 {have been seen in practice, too.}) 10.
e4 fxe4 11. fxe4 N5f6 12. c6 {It is useful to spoil Black's pawn structure.}
bxc6 13. Nf3 Qa5 {[%cal Yc8a6] It Black neglects White's bishops, they can
become formidable like in the following game:} (13... Qc7 14. Bd3 O-O 15. O-O
Ng4 16. h3 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 18. Bxf1 Qxe5 19. Be3 Nf6 20. Bd3 c5 21. Rf1 Bd7
22. Bf4 Qh5 23. Bd6 Bc6 24. e5 Nd7 25. Qf2 $16 {1-0 Portisch,L-Kluger,G/
Budapest 1962/MCL (54)}) 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 $6 Ng4 15. Bg1 O-O 16. h3 Nge5 17.
Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Bh2 Qc5 (18... Qg5 $1 $36) 19. Qd2 e5 20. Bg1 Rxf1+ $5 21. Kxf1
Ba6+ 22. Ke1 Qe7 23. Qe3 Nb6 $44 {1/2 Moehring,G-Neukirch,D/Annaberg-Buchholz
1965/EXT 1999 (28)}) 14... Ba6 (14... O-O $5 15. Bd3 $6 (15. Be2 $142 Nc5 $140
16. c4 Qc7 17. e5) 15... Ba6 16. c4 Qc7 17. Bc3 Ng4 (17... Nc5 $15) 18. e5
Ndxe5 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 $15 {Gilman-Lepsenui/corr 1966}) 15. c4 (15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16.
c4 O-O $11) 15... Qc5 (15... Qc7 16. Bb4 $1 {preventing ...Nc5}) 16. Bd3 Ng4
17. Bb4 Qe3+ 18. Qe2 {After the queen exchange Black's attack loses its
strength. Mutual weaknesses and control of the dark squares will now be
crucial.} O-O-O 19. Qxe3 (19. Be7 $143 Qb6 $1 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 $36 {[%csl Re1] S.
Shipov}) 19... Nxe3 20. Kf2 Ng4+ 21. Kg3 Ndf6 $6 (21... Nde5 $6 22. Be2 h5 23.
h3 h4+ (23... Nxf3 24. gxf3 Ne5 25. Kf4 $1 $14) 24. Nxh4 Nf6 {-game}) (21...
Nge5 $5 22. Be2 Bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Rhc1 Nde5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Rc5 Rd3+ 27.
Kh4 $1 Ng6+ 28. Kg5 Kb7 29. Rb1 {S.Shipov} Rc8 $1 30. Rc3 Rd2 $132) 22. Bb1 $1
{[%cal Re4e5] Black probably underestimated this move.} h5 (22... Ne3 23. Ne5
$16) 23. h3 (23. e5 $2 h4+ $1 24. Kf4 g5+ $1 25. Nxg5 Rd4+ $40 {S.Shipov})
23... h4+ {Black must give up this pawn to prevent collapse.} (23... Ne3 24.
Ne5 $16) 24. Nxh4 Ne5 25. Nf3 $1 {"You are welcome to recapture on c4", White
says, "but then beware of my bishop pair and rooks attacking your weaknesses!"}
Nh5+ 26. Kf2 Nxf3 (26... Nxc4 27. Rc1 (27. Ba2 Nf4 28. Rhd1 $5 $16) 27... Nf4
28. Ba2 $1 Nd3+ 29. Kg3 Nxc1 30. Rxc1 Ne3 31. Ne5 $16) 27. Kxf3 e5 28. Rc1 $6 (
{Less greedy} 28. Bc2 {was more appropriate, e.g.} Rh6 (28... Bxc4 29. Rhd1 $16
{S.Shipov}) 29. Rhd1 Rf6+ 30. Ke3 Nf4 31. Rxd8+ Kxd8 32. Rg1 Rg6 33. g4 Nxh3
34. Rh1 Nf4 (34... Ng5 35. Rh8+ Kc7 36. Bd3) 35. Bc3 Rg5 36. c5 {and White's
bishop pair guarantees him a clear advantage.}) 28... Nf4 $132 29. Ra2 Nd3 30.
Rc3 Nf4 31. Bc2 (31. Rf2 $5 {was a better contribution to the harmony of
White's arrangement but the position was still far from clear after} Rh6 $1 {
The rest was much worse:} (31... Rd1 32. Bc2 {S.Shipov}) (31... Rd4 32. Kg3 {
[%cal Yg3h2,Yc3g3]} Rxc4 (32... Rhd8 33. Be7 R8d7 34. Bg5) 33. Kh2 $1 $16 Rd8 {
[%cal Yd8d1]} 34. Bc2 $1 $16) 32. h4 $5 (32. Kg3 Rd1 33. Bc2 Rh1 $1 {
preventing Kg3-h2}) (32. Be7 Rd7 33. Bg5 {doesn't work due to} Nxh3 $1 34. Bxh6
Nxf2) 32... Ne6 $1 33. Ke3 (33. Kg3 Rdh8) 33... Rg6 {with strong counterplay.})
31... Ne6 (31... Rh6 $5 {[%csl Rf3] (S.Shipov) was good here, too:} 32. Be7 Rd7
33. Bg5 Rg6 34. h4 Rf7 35. Kg4 Ne2 36. Rf3 Rxf3 37. gxf3 Bxc4 {[%cal Rc4e6]}
38. Bb3 $1 Bxb3 39. Rxe2 $14) ({but probably even simpler was} 31... Rd4 32.
Bc5 (32. Bb3 Ne6 {[%cal Re6g5]}) (32. Ra1 Rd2) 32... Rxc4 33. Rxc4 Bxc4 34. Rb2
Rd8 35. Bxa7 Rd2 36. Be3 Re2 {with sufficient counterchances.}) 32. Kg3 {
The king quickly runs to h2!} Rd4 (32... Rh6 33. Kh2 c5 34. Ba5 Rd4 $44 {
, containing White's bishops, was probably more accurate}) ({After the text
move} 32... Rd4 {Black's compensation for the extra pawn is hardly sufficient,
e.g.} 33. c5 Nf4 34. Re3 $16 {but the position remains quite complicated and
not so easy to play under time pressure. Therefore Vishy Anand accepted
Vladimir Kramnik's draw offer.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D49"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[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 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 $5 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2 (14.
Be4 Bb7 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxd4 Rg8 $132) 14... Bb7 $5 15. Bxb5 $1 Bd6 $5 16.
Rd1 (16. Nxd4 $5 Qxd4 (16... Rg8 17. g3 $1 {is the computer improvement on the
above-mentioned game.}) 17. Rd1 Bxh2+ $1 (17... Qc5 $2 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Rac1 Qb8
20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. Qb5+ Ke7 22. Rxd6 $1 {wins immediately.}) 18. Kxh2 Qh4+ 19.
Kg1 Bxg2 $1 20. Bxd7+ Ke7 21. Kxg2 Rhg8+ {usually black just mates in such
scenarios, here black has to find a perpetual.} 22. Kf3 Qh5+ 23. Ke3 Qc5+ 24.
Kd2 Rad8 $1 25. Rf1 (25. Qf1 Rxd7+ 26. Ke1 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 Qh5+ 28. Ke1 Qh2)
25... Rxd7+ 26. Ke1 Rc8 $1 27. Qe3 Qa5+ 28. Bd2 Rxd2 29. Qxd2 Qe5+ 30. Qe2 Qa5+
$11) 16... Rg8 17. g3 $1 Rg4 $1 18. Bf4 (18. Nd2 Ke7 $3 19. Bxd7 (19. Qxg4 Qxb5
{is just bad for white.}) 19... Rag8 $1 20. Bb5 (20. Qb5 Qc7 {just intensifies
the pressure against g3.}) 20... d3 $5 {The most solid.} 21. Qxd3 Rxg3+ 22.
hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kf1 Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Qd4 $1 25. Nc4 Bb4 26. a3 Bg2+ $1 27. Kxg2
Qg4+ {forcing perpetual.}) 18... Bxf4 19. Nxd4 $5 (19. Rxd4 {is also very
complicated.}) 19... h5 (19... Rg6 $5 20. a4 $5 {Maybe this cool computer-move
is what Kramnik was planning on?} (20. Bxd7+ $6 Kxd7 21. Nxe6+ Bd6 $1 22. Nf4
Rg5) (20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8 22. Bd3 Be5 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. Qc4 Ke8 25. Rh7
Bd4 $1 26. Rxb7 Bxf2+ 27. Kf1 Qxb7 28. Qxe6+ Kf8 29. Qxf6+ Kg8 30. Qxg6+ Kh8
31. Qf6+ Kg8 32. Qg5+ Kh8 33. Qe5+ Kh7 34. Kxf2 Rf8+ 35. Kg1 Qb6+ 36. Kg2 Rf2+
37. Kh3 Qh6+ 38. Kg4 Qg6+ {with perpetual.})) 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8 22.
Qd3 Rg7 $5 (22... Bc8 $2 23. Rh7 $18) (22... f5 $2 23. Qc3 $18) (22... Bxg3 $5
{This seems to be just a forced draw} 23. hxg3 h4 $1 24. Rd6 (24. Kf1 $2 hxg3
25. fxg3 Rg5 $1 {wins for black.}) 24... Qc5 25. b4 Qe5 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Qxd8+
Kg7 28. Qe7+ Kh6 29. Qf8+ Rg7 30. Qh8+ Rh7 31. Qf8+ {with a perpetual.}) 23.
Rxg7 Kxg7 24. gxf4 Rd8 $1 (24... Kh6 25. a4 Rg8+ 26. Kf1 Bg2+ (26... Rg2 27.
Qd2 Rxh2 28. Ra3 $14) 27. Ke2 $16) 25. Qe2 (25. Qc4 $2 Rd4 $19) (25. Qb3 $5 Kh6
26. a4 (26. Kf1 $2 Bd5 27. Bc4 Bxc4+ 28. Qxc4 Rd2 {and f2 collapses.}) 26...
Rg8+ 27. Kf1 Rg2 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. fxe3 Rxh2 $11) 25... Kh6 26. Kf1 Rg8 27. a4
$1 (27. f5 $2 Bg2+ $1 28. Ke1 Bc6 $1 29. Qd2+ Kh7 30. Bxc6 Qxc6 31. Ke2 Qb5+
32. Kf3 Rg4 33. Re1 Qc6+ 34. Ke2 Qc4+ 35. Kf3 (35. Kd1 Rd4 36. fxe6 Rxd2+ 37.
Kxd2 Qb4+ 38. Kd1 Qd4+ $19) 35... Rd4 $19) 27... Bg2+ 28. Ke1 Bh3 $1 (28... Bc6
{is enough for a draw.}) 29. Ra3 $2 (29. Rd1 $1 Bf5 $5 {An amazing move. White
is ok, but would you be able to calmly play Qf1 or h3?} (29... Rg1+ 30. Kd2 Rg2
31. Qe3 $1 (31. Ke1 $2 Bg4 $1 32. Qf1 Rxh2 {and whites position collapses.})
31... Rxf2+ 32. Be2 Rxe2+ $5 (32... Qa5+ 33. Kc1 Qc7+ 34. Kb1 Bf5+ 35. Bd3 $1
Bxd3+ 36. Qxd3 {also fails short.}) 33. Qxe2 Bg4 34. Qd3 Qxb2+ 35. Qc2 Qd4+ 36.
Kc1 Bxd1 37. Qxd1 $11) (29... Bg4 $2 30. Qe3 $1 Qxe3+ 31. fxe3 Bxd1 32. Kxd1)
30. Qe3 $2 Rg1+ 31. Bf1 Qa6 $1) 29... Rg1+ 30. Kd2 Qd4+ 31. Kc2 Bg4 $2 {
Despite being 75 minutes ahead on the clock, by now I had caught up. I wanted
to provoke f3} (31... Bf5+ $1 32. Rd3 $1 (32. Kb3 Rc1 $1 33. a5 (33. Ra2 Bc2+
$1 34. Qxc2 Rxc2 35. Kxc2 Qxf2+ 36. Kb3 Qe3+ 37. Kc2 Qxf4 38. a5 Qxh2+ $19)
33... Qd5+ $1 {This move wins, but there are a lot of incredibly difficult
moves in the winning line.} (33... Rc2 $6 34. Qxc2 $1 Bxc2+ 35. Kxc2 Qc5+ 36.
Kb1 Qxb5 37. a6 Qd5 38. a7 Qa8 39. Ka1 $1 Qh1+ (39... Kg6 40. b4 $1) 40. Ka2
Qd5+ $11) (33... e5 $6 34. Ra4 $1 {I had come upto here in my calculations and
didnt see a way forward} Be6+ (34... Qc5 $1 35. Bc4 Bc2+ 36. Qxc2 Rxc2 37. Kxc2
Qxf2+ {But this is a good version for white compared to earlier lines.}) 35.
Bc4 {Oddly enough black dosent have a win:} Bg4 36. f3 Bf5 {Followed by Rd1
seem to secure counterplay for a draw.}) 34. Bc4 (34. Ka4 Bc2+ 35. Kb4 (35. b3
Bxb3+ 36. Rxb3 Qd4+ 37. Rb4 Qa1+ $19) 35... Qd6+ 36. Kc4 Bd1+ $19) (34. Kb4
Qc5+ 35. Ka4 (35. Kb3 Bc2+ 36. Ka2 Qd5+ 37. Bc4 Qh1 38. Qxc2 Rxc2 $19) 35...
Bc2+ 36. b3 Bxb3+) 34... Qb7+ 35. Ka4 (35. Bb5 Bc2+ 36. Ka2 Qh1 {mates.}) 35...
Rc2 $3 {This quite move is the point} 36. Ba6 Qd7+ 37. Qb5 Rc4+ 38. Kb3 Qd3+
39. Ka2 Qb1+ 40. Kb3 Rc2 41. Ra2 $8 Be4 $3 42. Bb7 Qd1 43. Ka3 Bxb7 44. Qxb7
Rc4 45. b3 Qd6+ 46. Kb2 Qd2+ 47. Ka3 Qxa5+ 48. Kb2 Qc3+ 49. Ka3 Rc5 $19 {
and finally all white resistance is broken.}) (32. Bd3 Rg2 $5 (32... Bg4 $5 33.
f3 $8 Bh3 {transposes to the game.}) 33. Bxf5 Rxf2 34. Bd3 Rxe2+ 35. Bxe2 Qe4+
36. Bd3 Qxf4 37. a5 Qxh2+ 38. Kb1 h4 39. a6 Qg1+ 40. Ka2 Qa7 $19 {and despite
the mess, blacks pawns should prevail.}) 32... Rg4 $5 {This could be best} (
32... Ra1 $6 {is preferred by the computers, but:} 33. Qe3 Bxd3+ 34. Qxd3 Qxf2+
35. Qd2 {is the usual story, black cant swap queens due to whites passed pawns.
}) 33. Kb3 Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Qxf2 {keeps winning chances for black.}) 32. f3 $2 {
Returning the favour.} (32. Rd3 $1 {was a golden opportunity, as black has
nothing more than:} Bf5 33. Kb3 Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Qxf2 (34... Qxf4 35. Qe3 {
as usual cant be allowed.}) 35. Qd8 $1 {securing a perpetual.}) 32... Bf5+ 33.
Bd3 Bh3 $6 {Played instantly since this was my reason for provoking f3, but
there was a stronger move:} (33... Bxd3+ $1 {this wins the house instantly.}
34. Rxd3 (34. Qxd3 Rg2+) 34... Qc4+) 34. a5 (34. Qe4 Rg2+ 35. Kd1 Qg1+ 36. Qe1
Qxh2 $1 $19 {and Rg1 cant be stopped, winning instantly.}) (34. Qd2 Rg2 35. Be2
Bf5+ 36. Kc1 Qg1+ 37. Qd1 Qxh2 38. Kd2 {Here many moves win, but I will give
the comp line because its funny} h4 $1 39. a5 Qxf4+ 40. Kc3 h3 41. a6 h2 42. a7
Rxe2 43. Qxe2 h1=Q 44. a8=Q Qc7+ $1 {This wins, but also the only move which
doesnt lose!} 45. Kb4 Qb6+ 46. Ka4 Qh4+ $1 $19) 34... Rg2 35. a6 Rxe2+ 36. Bxe2
Bf5+ 37. Kb3 (37. Bd3 Bxd3+ 38. Rxd3 Qc4+) (37. Kc1 Qxf4+ 38. Kd1 Qd4+ 39. Kc1
Qe5 $1 $19) 37... Qe3+ 38. Ka2 Qxe2 39. a7 Qc4+ 40. Ka1 Qf1+ 41. Ka2 Bb1+ (
41... Bb1+ 42. Kb3 Qxf3+ {is simple enough.}) 0-1

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[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. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 {In the late '70s, Korchnoi
frequently resorted to this "rare" variation. He managed to put Karpov under
serious pressure during their match in Baguio 1978 and even won a crucial game
towards the end of the match. Nowadays, this has become White's main weapon
against the Queen's Gambit Declined, at least in top level events.} O-O 6. e3
Nbd7 ({Kramnik had played several games with} 6... c5 {, two of them against
Anand himself.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 (8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 {Leko,P 
(2741)-Kramnik,V (2770)/Brissago 2004/CBM 103/[Lukacs] (1-0, 69). This must
have been a very painful defeat, in an "almost" drawn ending.}) 8... Nc6 9. Rc1
{1/2 Kramnik,V (2809)-Anand,V (2752)/Leon 2002/CBM 090/[Dautov] (33)} (9. Qc2 {
1/2 Anand,V (2752)-Kramnik,V (2809)/Leon 2002/CBM 090/[Dautov] (48)})) 7. a3 {
A generally useful move, inviting Black to capture on c4.} ({Another important
line is} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O ({With the bishop on d3
already,} 10. dxc5 Nxc5 {is less appealing already.}) 10... c4 11. Bc2 b5 {
with a very complicated position, offering chances for both sides.} 12. e4 Nb6
13. Re1 (13. Qe2 {Kempinski,R (2619)-Ogaard,L (2379)/Saint Vincent 2005/CBM
110/[Konikowski] (1-0, 23)}) 13... Be6 14. Qb1 Kh8 15. Be5 Bf6 $1 16. Bxf6 Qxf6
17. e5 Qh6 18. Re3 $132 {Kortschnoj,V (2659)-Lputian,S (2605)/Wijk aan Zee
2000/CBM 075/[Kortschnoj] (0-1, 47)}) 7... c5 {I have the feeling that part of
the initial spirit of the Queen's Gambit has been lost. Our forefathers tried
to maintain the tension in the centre for as long as possible, making a lot of
useful moves in the meanwhile.} ({Even in the '60s, there was some theoretical
dispute after} 7... c6 8. h3 {Not the only move, of course.} (8. Rc1) (8. Qc2)
8... a6 9. c5 b6 10. b4 a5 ({In a recent game, Black chose a much simpler plan
and obtained full success, true, against a much weaker opponent.} 10... bxc5
11. bxc5 Ne4 12. Rc1 Qa5 13. Bd3 Nxc3 14. Qd2 f6 15. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16. Rxc3 e5 $1
$19 {Simeonidis,I (2268)-Shneider,A (2543)/Corfu 2007/CBM 120 ext (0-1, 18)})
11. Bd3 (11. b5 {Larsen,B} Bb7 $15) 11... Ba6 12. b5 $1 (12. O-O Qc8 13. Qc2
Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Qb7 15. Rfb1 axb4 {1/2 Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Palma de Mallorca 1968/
MCD}) (12. Bxa6 $2 {Larsen,B} Rxa6 13. b5 cxb5 14. c6 Qc8) 12... cxb5 (12...
Bb7 {simply loses a tempo over Larsen's comment.} 13. cxb6 Qxb6 14. O-O c5 15.
Na4 Qa7 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Be5 $14 {Portisch,L-Hartoch,R/
Amsterdam 1969/MCL (1-0, 89)}) 13. c6 {Now, Black will have to sacrifice
either an exchange or the queen, with unclear compensation.} Rc8 ({Maybe} 13...
Qc8 14. Nxb5 Qxc6 15. Rc1 Bxb5 16. Rxc6 Bxc6 $44 {is slightly better.}) 14.
Bxb5 Rxc6 $5 (14... Bxb5 15. c7 $1 $14) 15. Bxc6 Qc8 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. O-O Bxc6
$14) 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 {To me, this does not look like a
reason not to play the Bf4 line. White has a comfortable form of the isolani
and, at least for the time being, play is rather one-sided. True, in practice
Black has lost relatively rarely and Kramnik himself had held this position
against none other than Kasparov.} 11. Be5 {Otherwise, the bishop may well
remain out of play and White may risk losing control of the d4-square.} Bf5 {
Not a very frequent move. Before starting the fight for the d4-square, Black
makes a natural developing move. Its concrete meaning will become clear later.}
({Kramnik did not seem keen to repeat the line he had employed in a blitz game
at the highest thinkable level.} 11... Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qd4 Qxd4 14. Nxd4
Bd7 15. f3 Rfc8 (15... Rac8 {is less acurate because after} 16. Kd2 {
Zvjaginsev,V (2664)-Lputian,S (2638)/Poikovsky 2003/CBM 095/[Dautov] (1-0, 35)}
Ne6 17. Nf5 $14 {Black cannot play ...Kf8.}) 16. Kd2 Ne6 17. Nxe6 $5 ({A
better chance for an advantage than} 17. Bd3 Nxd4 18. exd4 $11 {Kasparov,G 
(2838)-Kramnik,V (2802)/Moscow 2001/CBM 087/[Dautov] (1/2, 24)}) 17... Bxe6 18.
Bd3 Kf8 19. g4 h6 20. h4 Ke7 21. g5 Rh8 22. Kc3 $14 {Zvjaginsev,V-Vescovi,G/
Poikovsky 2003 (1/2, 29)}) 12. Be2 Bf6 13. Bxf6 {The most logical continuation.
In this case, White does not get anything by maintaining the tension.} (13. O-O
Be4 $6 ({It looks more natural to drive the enemy knight away from the
d4-square with} 13... Bxe5 14. Nxe5 Qd6 {, winning time for the development at
the same time.}) 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qd4 Qd6 16. Nd2 Rfd8 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qxd6
Rxd6 19. Rfd1 Rad8 20. Rxd6 Rxd6 21. Rc1 $14 {Tregubov,P (2609)-Goloshchapov,A
(2563)/Germany 2008/CBM 123 (1-0, 60)}) 13... Qxf6 14. Nd4 ({The bishop proves
useful on f5 in case of} 14. Qd4 Qc6 15. Rd1 $2 Bc2 $1 {[%cal Gc5b3] and Black
wins an exchange.}) (14. Qxd5 Qxb2 15. O-O Rac8 {is entirely acceptable for
Black.}) 14... Ne6 $146 {At first sight, this looks like a risky novelty.
Black immediately puts the enemy knight under pressure, without preserving his
bishop from exchange.} ({Previously} 14... Be4 15. Rc1 Ne6 {had been played
and Black did not face problems achieving a draw.} 16. f3 Bg6 17. O-O Rac8 18.
Qd2 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. exd4 Bc2 21. Kf2 Rc7 {1/2 Flumbort,A (2516)
-Goloshchapov,A (2555)/Germany 2007/CBM 123. Kramnik must have found a reason
to deviate from this game, since his move really implies a high degree of
responsibility.}) 15. Nxf5 (15. Nxe6 fxe6 $1 $36 {[%cal Ga8d8,Ge6e5,Gd5d4]})
15... Qxf5 16. O-O Rfd8 {The opening has come to an end and time has come to
draw the first conclusions. Black's position looks very harmonious and his
piece activity seems to compensate for the relatively weak d5-pawn. Botvinnik
once wrote that if you have pawn weaknesses, you should keep at least one
knight on board. However, the central break ...d4 will not be easy to carry
out and the bishop's pressure will prove slightly more disturbing that Kramnik
may have expected.} 17. Bg4 Qe5 18. Qb3 (18. Bxe6 fxe6 (18... Qxe6 {would lead
to a typical isolani position without minor pieces, where Black is in great
danger. One should study Karpov's games in order to get a full picture,
especially Kortschnoj,V (2695)-Karpov,A (2700)/Merano m/9 1981/MainBase/[Hecht]
(0-1, 43), where White had the isolani.}) 19. Qb3 {and the safer position of
the white king is compensated for by Black's possibility of creating a passed
pawn in the centre.}) 18... Nc5 ({Kramnik did not feel prepared to embark on
such a sharp line as} 18... d4 19. Qxb7 (19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qxe6 fxe6 21. exd4
Rxd4 22. Rfd1 Rad8 23. Rxd4 Rxd4 $11) 19... d3 {, where Black has to prove
still that his far advanced pawn is strong enough to compensate for the
material deficit.}) 19. Qb5 b6 {The knight enjoys some stability now, because
b4 can be met by ...Ne4, with further occupation of the c3-square. However,
the pressure against the d4-square has been somewhat released.} 20. Rfd1 ({
In many of his games, Karpov placed the queen's rook on d1 in such positions.
Here, after} 20. Rad1 Rd6 21. Rd4 a6 {White can play the flexible} 22. Qe2)
20... Rd6 21. Rd4 (21. Rac1 {seems like a more logical complement of the
previous move. After} Rad8 22. b4 Ne4 (22... Ne6 23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. Rc7 $16) 23.
Rd4 {White has better chances to maintain the tension for a longer time.})
21... a6 $1 22. Qb4 {Because of the exposed position of the a1-rook, the queen
has to retreat to this square, preventing a further b4, which increases the
stability of the knight on c5.} (22. Qe2 Nb3 $17) 22... h5 23. Bh3 ({If Anand
had foreseen Kramnik's plan, he may have preferred} 23. Be2 {However, after}
Rad8 {followed by ...a5 and ...Ne6, Blacks position looks entirely viable.})
23... Rad8 24. g3 g5 $5 {Black decides to win space on the kingside massively,
making the white king feel a bit insecure.} 25. Rad1 {Curiously, this strong
concentration of forces around the d4-square does not prevent the thematic
pawn break, because the bishop does not participate.} ({The only way to
maintain the structure intact would have been} 25. Re1 g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. Rdd1
{, when ...d4 is impossible because of exd4, with a double attack against the
queen. However, after a neutral move such as} Kg7 {White would have problems
increasing his pressure, partly because his rooks are bound to stay on d1 and
e1.}) 25... g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. R4d3 d4 $11 {The position simplifies now. The
theoretical superiority of the bishop over the knight is compensated for by
Black's advantage in space and his stability on the dark squares.} 28. exd4
Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D49"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[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 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 ({Apart from inviting
Black into the Meran with the text-move, Kramnik equally often played also} 6.
Qc2 Bd6 {Here he preferred positional follow-ups (7.Bd3, 7.b3), his most
recent try was} 7. e4 ({Kramnik never played the ultra-sharp} 7. g4 {, but he
had to face it lately:} Nxg4 8. Rg1 Nxh2 9. Nxh2 Bxh2 10. Rxg7 Nf8 11. Rg2 Bd6
12. e4 Ng6 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. O-O-O dxe4 16. Nxe4 f5 17. Nd2 c5 18.
dxc5 Bd7 19. b4 O-O-O 20. Rg3 e5 21. Rd3 $13 Be6 $2 22. Ra3 a6 23. c6 $1 bxc6
24. c5 Qg5 25. Rxa6 Kd7 26. Bc4 $18 {->,Morozevich,A (2788)-Kramnik,V (2788)/
Tal mem Moscow/2008/}) 7... Nxe4 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Qxe4 c5 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7
Qa5+ 12. Ke2 $5 Kxe7 13. g3 cxd4 (13... Rd8 $5) 14. Bg2 Nf6 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16.
Qf4 Bd7 17. Ne5 Rac8 $5 {/\} (17... Ba4 18. b3 Rd2+ 19. Kf1 $5 (19. Qxd2 Qxe5+
20. Qe3 Qb2+ 21. Qd2 {1/2,Laznicka,V (2594)-Atalik,S (2564)/Polanica Zdroj/
2007/}) 19... Qc3 20. Re1 Be8 21. Bxb7 Rad8 22. Kg2 $14 {Atalik}) (17... Be8
18. Rhd1 Qb6 (18... Kf8 $5 19. Bxb7 Rab8 20. Rxd8 Qxd8 $1 21. Rd1 Qb6 $1 22.
Bc6 $5 (22. Ng6+ hxg6 23. Qxb8 Ne4 $1 24. Rd8 Qxf2+ 25. Kd1 Qf1+ 26. Kc2 Qxc4+
27. Kb1 Qf1+ $11) 22... Qxb2+ 23. Kf1 $44 {[%csl Gc4] o^c4 is a line,
mentioned by Kramnik.}) 19. b3 Rac8 $5 (19... Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8 Qxd8
22. Bxb7 Qa5 23. Qe3 Qxa2+ 24. Kf1 Qa5 25. Bf3 $16 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Gelfand,B
(2733)/Dortmund/2007/}) 20. Rac1 h6 21. Qe3 Qxe3+ 22. Kxe3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rc7
24. f4 Nd7 25. Nf3 h5 26. Nd4 a6 27. a4 g6 28. a5 Nb8 $1 29. Rc1 Nc6 $14 {
/=,Ramesh,R (2470)-Savchenko,S (2571)/Benasque/2007/}) 18. Rhd1 Ba4 19. b3 Rc5
$11 {Krasenkow}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 {Already the choice of
Rubinstein's older move in Game 3 must have been the first surprise for
Kramnik, as Anand avoided it in his earlier practice.} ({Recently he tried
Zvjaginsev's} 8... Bd6 {with success:} 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bb7 11. Bb2 a6 12. Ne4
Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bc2 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Ng5 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 Kh8 18. g3 h6
19. Bxf6 hxg5 20. Bb2 Rac8 21. Rc1 Rfd8 22. Rfd1 Bf3 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. a3 b4
25. a4 f5 26. Kf1 f4 27. Be4 $2 (27. gxf4 gxf4 28. exf4 Rd2 29. Bg6 $132) 27...
Bxe4 28. Rxc5 Rd1+ 29. Ke2 Rb1 $17 {/-+,Carlsen,M (2690)-Anand,V (2779)/
Morelia/Linares/2007/}) ({However, his main choice always used to be} 8... Bb7
{and now:} {His last game in this line against Kramnik went} 9. a3 (9. O-O a6
10. e4 c5 11. d5 c4 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Nd4 Nc5 15. Be3 e5 16. Nf5 (
16. Nf3 Be7 17. Ng5 O-O $1 18. Bxc5 Bxc5 19. Ne6 Qb6 $44) 16... g6 $5 $146 (
16... Ncxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Qg4 $5 Nf6 19. Qh3 $44) 17. Nh6 Bg7 18. Qf3 Ne6
19. Qh3 Bc8 20. Qh4 $6 (20. Qg3 $5 $13) 20... Qe7 21. Rfe1 Nd5 $1 22. Qxe7+
Nxe7 23. Nd5 Bb7 24. Ng4 Nd4 25. Bd1 Nxd5 26. exd5 O-O-O 27. Bg5 Rxd5 $17 {
1/2 Morozevich,A (2758)-Anand,V (2792)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120 (61)}) 9... Bd6
({Anand in his practice adopted also the more usual} 9... b4 {-for more
details see Carlsen-Aronian, Bilbao 2008 (CBM 126).}) 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 a6 (
11... a5 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. h3 Re8 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Rad1
Rad8 18. Ne2 Bd6 19. Nd4 Nh5 20. Rfe1 Nf4 21. Bf1 Ne6 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 23. f4 f6
24. Qb3 Qf7 25. Bb6 a4 26. Qa2 Rd7 27. Be2 g6 28. e5 $1 $16 {Kramnik,V (2785)
-Anand,V (2801)/Moscow exh/2007/ Although this was only a rapid "advanced
chess" game and Anand later against Gelfand successfully played the stronger
main move, preparing for Bonn he probably nevertheless felt this line would
better suit his opponent.}) 12. b4 a5 13. Rb1 axb4 14. axb4 Qe7 15. e4 e5 16.
dxe5 (16. Ne2 $5 Bxb4 17. Ng3 g6 18. dxe5 Ng4 19. Bg5 Qc5 20. e6 Nde5 21. Nxe5
Nxe5 22. Bf6 Qxc2 23. Bxc2 Bd6 24. Bb3 $36 {Svidler,P (2746)-Karjakin,S (2732)/
Baku/2008/}) 16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Ne2 Qe6 19. f4 Ra2 20. Qd1 Ba1 $1 21.
e5 c5 $3 22. exf6 Bd4+ 23. Rf2 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qd5 25. Bb2 Qxg2+ 26. Ke1 c4 $19
{Gelfand,B (2737)-Anand,V (2799)/Nice blindfold rpd/2008/}) 9. e4 c5 10. e5 ({
The second main branch} 10. d5 {is often directly connected with the 8...Bb7
line, e.g.,} c4 11. Bc2 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. O-O Bb7 ({However, this
move-order forces White to reckon with other alternatives as well:} 13... Bd6 {
and especially}) (13... Bc5 $5)) 10... cxd4 11. Nxb5 ({The gambit} 11. Ne4 Nd5
12. O-O $44 {is in itself quite rare and Anand could be almost sure this
wouldn't occur in Bonn.}) 11... axb5 {An important crossroads, where Black has
two alternative options:} ({The least played is} 11... Ng4 {, but even here
White doesn't seem to have a clear road to an undisputed advantage:} 12. Qa4
Bb7 13. Nbxd4 Qb6 14. O-O Bc5 15. h3 Bxf3 16. hxg4 Bd5 17. Nf3 (17. Nb3 O-O $1
18. Qxd7 Bxb3 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Qd3+ Kg8 21. Qxb3 Qxb3 22. axb3 Rfb8 $44 {
leads to an _|_, which Black should easily hold despite the material deficit.})
17... Qb7 18. Qf4 O-O 19. g5 Rfd8 $1 $44 {[%cal Yd7f8,Yf8g6] /\Nf8-g6} 20. Be3
Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Nxe5 24. Be4 Rab8 25. b3 f5 26. gxf6
$11 {1/2,Moiseenko,A (2632)-Hoffmann,M (2477)/Bad Wiessee/2006/}) (11... Nxe5 {
occurs about as often, as the text-move, here Black also holds his own:} 12.
Nxe5 axb5 13. Bxb5+ ({An old, but inncuous try is} 13. Qf3 Bb4+ 14. Ke2 Rb8 15.
Qg3 Qd6 16. Nf3 Qxg3 17. hxg3 Bd6 18. Nxd4 Bd7 19. Bd2 Be5 20. Bf4 Bxf4 21.
gxf4 Ke7 22. Rac1 Rhc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 $11 {Ragozin,V-Botvinnik,M/Moscow/1946/})
({After} 13. O-O Qd5 14. Qe2 Ba6 15. Bg5 Be7 16. f4 O-O 17. Rf3 Bb7 18. Rg3 {
the best is} Rxa2 $5 19. Rxa2 Qxa2 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd7 Be7 22. Nxf8 (22.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 23. Rxg7+ $11) 22... Bxf8 23. h4 Qa1+ 24. Kh2 Qc1 25. Qe5 Qxb2 26.
h5 Qb4 27. Bxb5 Bd5 28. Bd3 Qe7 29. Kh3 Qc5 30. Kh2 Qe7 31. Be4 Bxe4 32. Qxe4
Qc5 $11 {Sasikiran,K (2536)-Abdulla,A (2367)/BCF-ch Scarborough/1999/}) 13...
Bd7 14. Nxd7 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qxb5 16. Nxf8 Rxf8 17. a4 (17. b3 Kd7 $5 $13) 17...
Qc4 18. b3 Qd3 19. Qf3 Qe4+ $1 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. b4 Ke7 22. f3 (22. Ke2 e5 (
22... Rfc8 23. Rhc1 Rxc1 24. Bxc1 Nc3+ 25. Kd3 Nxa4 26. Kxd4 Rd8+ 27. Kc4 $14 {
/=,Kruppa,Y (2561)-Vysochin,S (2494)/Kiev/2000/}) 23. Rhc1 Nxd2 24. Kxd2 Rfb8
25. Rc4 Ke6 $132 {1/2,Dias,S (2470)-Czukor,J (2450)/corr/2003/}) 22... Nc3 23.
Bxc3 dxc3 24. Ke2 Rfd8 25. Rhd1 c2 26. Rdc1 (26. Rxd8 Rxa4 $1 27. Rc8 Rxa1 28.
Rxc2 Rb1 $11) 26... Rd4 27. Rxc2 Rxb4 $11 {Kramnik,V (2751)-Kasparov,G (2812)/
Wijk aan Zee/1999/ However, Anand was not interested how Kramnik intended to
improve on this game - instead he wanted to present some new ideas of his own!}
) 12. exf6 gxf6 (12... Qb6 {is the move, played already in Botvinnik's times:}
13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. O-O Nc5 $6 (14... Bb7 $142 15. Re1 O-O $14) 15. Bf4 Bb7 16.
Re1 Rd8 $2 ({Safer is simplification with} 16... Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3
$14 {, but this doesn't fully solve Black's problems with his vulnerable K,
characteristic for the whole 12..Qb6 line.}) 17. Rc1 Rd5 18. Be5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5
Rxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 f6 22. Qg3 $1 fxe5 23. Qg7 Rf8 24. Rc7 $18 {
Botvinnik,M-Euwe,M/WCh Den Haag/Moscow/1948/ With the text move Black a.o.
prepares a relatively safe haven for his K in the [+] on e7 - we can follow
this motif in many games with this line, including this one.}) 13. O-O (13.
Nxd4 $143 Qb6 14. Be3 Bb4+ 15. Kf1 Bc5 16. Bxb5 e5 $1 17. Bxd7+ Bxd7 $44 18.
Qf3 Qa6+ 19. Ne2 Rg8 (19... Be7 $1 {[%cal Yh8g8,Yd7c6,Yf6f5] /\Rg8, Bc6,f5|^}
20. Kg1 Bc6 21. Qh5 Rg8 22. Ng3 Qd3 23. Rd1 Qg6 24. Qxg6 fxg6 $15 {Chernin})
20. Bxc5 Bc6 21. Qf5 $1 (21. Qh5 $2 Bxg2+ 22. Ke1 Bxh1 23. Qxh7 O-O-O 24. Rc1
Kb8 25. Qxf7 Bd5 26. Qh5 Qd3 27. Qh4 Bc4 {0-1,Alterman,B (2585)-Chernin,A 
(2615)/Groningen/1993/}) 21... Bxg2+ 22. Ke1 Bxh1 23. Rd1 $1 Qe6 (23... Qc6 24.
Qxh7 Qxc5 25. Qxg8+ Ke7 26. Qg4 $13) 24. Qxh7 Qg4 25. Qd3 Bc6 26. Qd6 Qe6 27.
Qc7 Rc8 28. Qa7 Ra8 $10 {Chernin}) 13... Qb6 14. Qe2 {White for the time being
ignores the Pd4 and proceeds to activate his pieces first.} ({Too soft is} 14.
Be4 Bb7 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxd4 Rg8 17. f3 Ne5 18. Qe2 Bc5 19. Be3 Rd8 (19...
Qb6 20. Nc2 Ke7 $11) 20. Rad1 Nc4 21. Bf2 Qb6 22. b3 Bxd4 23. bxc4 bxc4 24. Rc1
Bxf2+ 25. Rxf2 Rg5 26. Qxc4 Rgd5 $11 {Kamsky,G (2695)-Kramnik,V (2710)/Linares/
1994/}) 14... Bb7 $1 {Anand demonstrated this idea already in game 3. Although
this position arose in earlier games, it was mainly via the different
move-order 12...Qb6 13.0-0 Bb7!? 14.Qe2 gxf6, so the World Champion deserves
full credit for the text-move. The alternatives are:} (14... Ba6 {is somewhat
weaker due to} 15. a4 $5 (15. Rd1 $44 {is also unpleasant}) 15... Nc5 16. axb5
Bb7 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. Nxd4 $1 Qd6 19. b6 $1 Nxd3 ({Po} 19... Qxd4 $2 20. Bb5+
Ke7 21. Be3 Qd5 22. f3 $18 {->}) 20. Qxd3 Qxb6 21. Be3 Qb7 22. f3 Be7 23. Rc1
$1 (23. Bh6 Bf8 24. Nf5 Qd5 25. Qxd5 Bxd5 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 27. Ne3 Bc6 28. Rc1 Bd7
29. Rc7 Ke7 30. Rb7 Rc8 31. b3 Kd8 32. Ng4 Ke7 33. Nxf6 Kxf6 34. Rxd7 Rc3 $44 {
<=>,Bareev,E (2675)-Karjakin,S (2658)/WCht Beersheba/2005/}) 23... O-O 24. Nc6
$36 {+/-}) ({Less clear is the situation after} 14... b4 15. Rd1 Bc5 16. Bf4 h5
$5 (16... Bb7 17. Be4 Ba6 18. Qd2 Rd8 19. Rac1 e5 20. Bh6 $44 {Here Lutz give
the unforced, but pretty line} Qe6 21. Re1 Rg8 22. Nxd4 $5 Bxd4 23. Rc6 Qxa2
24. Qxd4 $1 exd4 25. Bd5+ Ne5 26. Bxa2 $16) 17. Rac1 Rg8 18. Nh4 (18. Nd2 Bb7
19. Be4 f5 20. Nc4 Bxe4 21. Nxb6 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 d3 23. Rxd3 Rxf2+ $44 {De Jong,
J (2237)-Delemarre,J (2464)/Leeuwarden/2004/ promises Black at least a draw.})
({Also unclear is} 18. Bg3 Rxa2 19. Nxd4 h4 20. Bxh4 Bb7 21. Nf3 Rxb2 22. Qxb2
Bxf3 23. Bf1 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 Rg4 25. Bg3 $13) 18... Rg4 (18... Rxa2 $5) 19. Bg3
Ba6 20. Nf3 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Rxa2 22. Qh7 Rxb2 23. Qxh5 Rxg3 24. hxg3 b3 $13 {
Dreev,A (2657)-Pavasovic,D (2597)/CRO-chT Sibenik/2008/ Although Black went on
to lose the game, at this moment he can harldy be worse.}) 15. Bxb5 ({The
first practical reaction of the chess world to Game 3 came already one day
earlier, than Game 5 was played. After} 15. Bf4 {(allegedly recommended by
Mikhalchishin)} Bc6 16. Rfc1 Nc5 {White played the ambitious} 17. Bg3 ({
A risky attempt to achieve more than} 17. Nxd4 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Rd8 19. Be3 Bc5
20. Qc2 Bxd4 21. Bxd4 Rxd4 22. Qxc6+ Qxc6 23. Rxc6 O-O $11) 17... Rd8 18. Rc2
Qb7 19. Re1 Rg8 20. Nh4 Rg5 21. f3 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Rc5 23. Rce2 Qd7 $15 {
Moiseenko,A (2678)-Colovic,A (2458)/ECC Kallithea/2008/ Although White won,
this is definitely no refutation of the whole line.}) 15... Rg8 $5 $146 {
[%mdl 8] Anand is the first to deviate from Game 3 and present Kramnik with a
new surprise instead of} (15... Bd6 {Kramnik's choice was the natural} 16. Rd1
({The direct} 16. Nxd4 $2 {runs into} Rg8 $1 (16... Qxd4 $6 17. Rd1 Bxh2+ 18.
Kxh2 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 Bxg2 20. Bxd7+ Ke7 21. Kxg2 Rhg8+ 22. Kf3 Qh5+ 23. Ke3 Qc5+ {
can lead to a perpetual, even after the fighting} 24. Kd2 Rad8 25. Qf1 Rxd7+
26. Ke1 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 Rd8+ 28. Bd2 Qb4 29. Qe2 Qxb2 30. Rc1 Qxa2 $11 {a draw
is the most plausible result.}) 17. Nf3 Ke7 18. Bxd7 (18. a4 $2 Ne5 19. Ne1
Rxg2+ $19) 18... Qc5 $1 {[%cal Rg8g2,Rd6h2,Yd5h5] /\Rg2,Bh2,Qh5} (18... Ba6 19.
Qc2 $13 {would be a relief for White, the exchange is not interesting at this
point.}) 19. Rd1 (19. Bg5 Rxg5 $1 20. Nxg5 Qxg5 21. f4 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Kxd7 $19)
19... Bxh2+ $5 (19... Qh5 20. Rxd6 $5 $132 {/\} Bxf3 $2 21. Rxe6+ Kxd7 22. Rd6+
$1 Kxd6 23. Bf4+ $40) 20. Kf1 (20. Nxh2 Rxg2+ 21. Kf1 Rxh2 $19) 20... Ba6 21.
Rd3 Qf5 22. Ne1 Rad8 $17) (16. a4 $5 {is a possible alternative, protecting
the Bb5 improves White's chances in the coming tactical skirmish.}) 16... Rg8
17. g3 (17. Rxd4 $2 Rxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Qxd4 $17 {->}) (17. a4 $5) 17... Rg4 $1 $146
(17... Bc5 $2 18. b4 $1 Bxb4 19. Nxd4 Bd5 20. Rb1 Qc5 21. Be3 Rxa2 22. Qd3 Ra3
23. Qxh7 Rf8 24. Nxe6 {1-0,D'Israel,D (2259)-Gerbelli Neto,E (2234)/Americana/
2000/}) 18. Bf4 (18. Bxd7+ $6 Kxd7 19. Ne5+ fxe5 20. Qxg4 Qc6 21. f3 Qxf3 $17 {
[%csl Gd4,Ge5,Ge6,Gf7] [+]}) (18. Nd2 Ke7 $1 19. Bxd7 (19. Qxg4 Qxb5 $36) 19...
Rag8 20. Bb5 (20. Qb5 Qc7 21. Nc4 Qxd7 (21... Bxg3 $2 22. hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kf1
Rg1+ 24. Ke2 {leads nowhere for Black.}) 22. Nxd6 Kxd6 $11 {/=/+}) 20... d3 21.
Qxd3 Rxg3+ 22. hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kf1 Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Qd4 $44) 18... Bxf4 (18... Ke7
$2 19. Bxd6+ Qxd6 20. Nxd4 $1 $18 {/\} Rxd4 21. Rxd4 Qxd4 22. Rd1) 19. Nxd4 {
At this moment Anand was an hour(!) up on the clock, but now he had his first
long think...} ({After} 19. Rxd4 {Shipov recommended} Kf8 $5 (19... Bxf3 $6 20.
Qxf3 Qxd4 21. Rd1 $1 $16) (19... O-O-O 20. Rad1 Bd5 21. Bc4 $1 Bb7 $5 $14) 20.
Bxd7 Rd8 21. Rad1 Rxd7 22. Rxd7 Bxg3 23. hxg3 Rxg3+ 24. Kh2 Bxf3 25. Qe3 Rg2+
26. Kh3 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Rxb2 $11) 19... h5 $5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8 22. Qd3
Rg7 $1 ({Black wants more, than an equal _|_ after} 22... Bxg3 23. hxg3 h4 24.
Qd6+ $5 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Bd5 $11) 23. Rxg7 Kxg7 24. gxf4 Rd8 $44 {Kramnik,V (2772)
-Anand,V (2783)/WCh Bonn (3)/2008/}) 16. Bf4 {Kramnik still played this move
quite fast.} ({After} 16. Rd1 {Black can transpose into Game 3, but he also has
} Ra5 $5 (16... O-O-O 17. Bf4 $14 {is not ideal. We have already indicated
Black's K feels safer in the [+].}) 17. Bxd7+ (17. a4 Rxb5 $1 18. axb5 Ne5 $44
{|^}) 17... Kxd7 18. Rxd4+ Qxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxg2 20. Qd2 Bh3+ 21. Kh1 Bg2+ $11)
16... Bd6 17. Bg3 f5 {Anand continues to harass the Bg3. Here his preparation
once again proved to be deeper, than his opponent's - now Kramnik thought for
about 45 minutes.} ({A serious positional error is} 17... Bxg3 $2 18. hxg3 $36
{[%csl Re8,Gg1] , as here the Kg1 is far safer, than it's counterpart}) 18.
Rfc1 $5 {An interesting fighting reaction.} (18. Rfd1 $6 f4 19. Bh4 {allows}
Ra5 $1 $36 {/\} 20. a4 Rxb5 21. axb5 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Rxg2+ 23. Kf1 Rxh2 24. Nf3
Rh1+ 25. Kg2 Rxh4 $17 {->}) (18. Nxd4 f4 (18... Rxg3 19. hxg3 Qxd4 20. Rfd1 Qb6
21. Rd2 Ba6 $13 {/= is risky, bur perhaps also possible.}) 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20.
Qxe6+ Kf8 21. Qf5+ Kg7 22. Bd3 Qc6 $5 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Qf5+ $11 {leads to a
perpetual.}) ({Other moves, deserving attention, are} 18. a4 {, or}) (18. Ne5
$5 d3 $5 (18... Bxe5 19. Qxe5 f6 20. Qe2 $14 {/\} f4 $2 21. Qh5+) 19. Bxd7+ (
19. Qxd3 Bxe5 20. Bxd7+ Kf8 $15) 19... Ke7 20. Qe1 (20. Nxd3 $6 Bxg3 21. hxg3
Rxg3 {->}) 20... Bxe5 21. Qxe5 Kxd7 $132) 18... f4 19. Bh4 Be7 {The bishop's
role on d6 is over, so it returns to free the e7-sqaure for Black's K.} ({
Takticku pointu 18.tahu bieleho ukazuje variant The tactical points of White's
18-th move are:} 19... Ra5 $6 20. a4 Rxb5 $2 21. axb5 (21. Qxb5 $5 $16) {/\}
21... Ne5 22. Nxe5 Rxg2+ 23. Kf1 Rxh2 24. Ra8+ $1 Bxa8 25. Rc8+ $18) ({, or} 
19... Bd5 20. Rc2 Qb7 21. Rac1 $36 {[%cal Yb5c6] /\Bc6} Bxf3 $2 22. Qxf3 Qxf3
23. Rc8+ $18) 20. a4 Bxh4 21. Nxh4 Ke7 $1 {[%csl Ge7][%cal Yg8g2] The possible
threat Rg2 again enters the equation.} 22. Ra3 {White boosts his >>, but on
the other hand disconnects his rooks and Black can turn his attention to the
<-> c.} ({Rybka pleads for the radical} 22. g3 $5 $13 {/+/= This weakens the
long <->, but removing the P from g2 enables White to actively use his N in
the near future.}) 22... Rac8 {[%cal Gc8c1]} 23. Rxc8 {Another debatable
decision.} ({With all R on the board after} 23. Rd1 {, the <->c would not play
such an important role.}) 23... Rxc8 24. Ra1 Qc5 25. Qg4 (25. Qd2 Qd6 (25... f3
$5 26. Nxf3 Bxf3 27. gxf3 Qd5 $44) 26. Rd1 (26. b4 Ne5 $36 {is at least
unclear, White's o^ still don't play a major role.}) 26... Ne5 27. Kf1 (27.
Qxf4 $4 Nf3+ $19) 27... f3 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Qh6+ Ke7 $11) 25... Qe5 {Black
intuitively keeps his Q closer to his K.} ({Another interesting alternative is
} 25... Qc2 $5 {[%csl Gd4] to support the o^d4} 26. Bxd7 (26. Qxf4 d3 $44 {
and it's already reasonable to bail out with} 27. Nf5+ exf5 28. Re1+ Kf8 (28...
Kd8 29. Qxf5 Bc6 30. Bxd3 $44 {/+/=}) 29. Bxd7 d2 30. Qh6+ Kg8 31. Qg5+ $11)
26... Kxd7 27. Qxf4 Ke8 $44 {/\} 28. Qxd4 $2 Rc4 $1 $19 {[%csl Rh4] and Black
wins the stray Nh4}) 26. Nf3 Qf6 {[%cal Yd7e5] /\Ne5 This move is also
connected with a hidden trap.} 27. Re1 (27. Nxd4 $2 Qxd4 28. Rd1 Nf6 29. Rxd4
Nxg4 30. Rd7+ Kf6 31. Rxb7 Rc1+ 32. Bf1 Ne3 $1 $19 {Suprisingly enough, this
motif occurs later in the game!}) ({Harmless is} 27. Bxd7 Kxd7 28. Nxd4 Ke7 29.
Rd1 Rc4 $11 {Kramnik still wants more and keeps the tension.}) 27... Rc5 $5 {
Black insists on Ne5.} (27... Rc2 28. b4 (28. Rd1 Rxb2 29. Nxd4 Qg6 30. Qxg6
hxg6 31. Nxe6 Rxb5 32. axb5 Kxe6 $11 {is drawish}) 28... Rc3 {-27...Rc5!?} (
28... Rb2 $6 29. Rc1 $1 Rxb4 30. Ne1 $36 {/\Rc7})) 28. b4 Rc3 {[%cal Rb7f3,
Yd7e5] /\Bf3,Ne5} 29. Nxd4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Black's forces already exert
unpleasant pressure, but the text-move is an unforced and decisive tactical
miscalculation.} (29. Bxd7 Kxd7 30. Nd2 Qg6 $15) (29. Nd2 $5 $13 {still leads
to a murky position and the outcome of the game remains open.}) 29... Qxd4 30.
Rd1 Nf6 31. Rxd4 Nxg4 32. Rd7+ Kf6 33. Rxb7 Rc1+ 34. Bf1 Ne3 $1 $19 35. fxe3 (
35. h3 Rxf1+ 36. Kh2 Rxf2 $19) 35... fxe3 (35... fxe3 {[%cal Re3e2] /\e2} 36.
Rc7 $8 Rxc7 37. g3 Rc1 38. Kg2 Rc2+ 39. Kf3 Rf2+ $19 {a Black remains a whole
R up.}) 0-1

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[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 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 {This
invention of Oleg Romanishin first saw the light of day fifteen years ago.
Since then this variation has been adopted by many top players including Anand
and Kramnik.} 7. Qb3 {This move leads to more complicated play.} (7. Qxf5 exf5
{Black's pawn structure is somewhat spoiled. However, the pawn on f5 prevents
from White the advance e2-e4. Practice has shown that it's very difficult for
White to achieve anything reliable. Here are a few relevant examples from the
practice of both players:} 8. a3 Be7 (8... Bd6 9. Nb5 (9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. e3 c6
11. Bd3 h6 12. Bh4 g6 13. Nd2 Be7 14. f3 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxh4+ 16. g3 Bxg3+ 17.
hxg3 cxd5 18. Rc1 Kd8 19. e4 fxe4 20. fxe4 dxe4 21. Nxe4 $44 {1-0 Kasparov,G 
(2815)-Kramnik,V (2780)/Moscow 1998/CBM 067 ext (41)}) 9... Be6 10. e3 Nc6 11.
Bd2 Ne4 12. Bd3 a6 13. Nxd6+ cxd6 14. Ke2 Kd7 15. Rhc1 Rhc8 16. Be1 Ne7 17. Ng1
b5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Bh4 Nfd5 20. Bxe7 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2790)-Anand,V (2770)/
Frankfurt 1998/CBM 065 ext}) 9. Bf4 (9. Bg5 Be6 10. e3 c6 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. O-O
h6 13. Bh4 a5 14. Rac1 O-O 15. Ne2 g5 16. Bg3 Ne4 17. Nc3 Nxc3 18. Rxc3 Nf6 19.
Rcc1 Rfd8 20. Rfd1 Rac8 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2812)-Kramnik,V (2751)/Linares
1999/CBM 070}) 9... c6 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Bc4 Nb6 12. Ba2 Nfd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bxd5 cxd5 15. Rc1 f6 16. Kd2 Bd7 17. Rc7 g5 18. Bg3 Bc6 19. Rc1 Kd8 20. R1xc6
bxc6 21. Rxc6 Kd7 22. Ra6 Rhc8 $15 {0-1 Topalov,V (2757)-Anand,V (2786)/Monte
Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext (45)}) 7... Nc6 8. Bd2 O-O 9. h3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A
sensible novelty. Black's queen does not have many squares available,
therefore the idea of g2-g4 is quite annoying for him. From the psychological
point of view this was another unpleasant surprise for Kramnik. In an already
critical match situation he had to face another fresh opening idea from
Anand's team.} (9. e3 Rd8 10. Be2 e5 11. Nxe5 Be6 12. g4 Qxe5 13. dxe5 Bxb3 14.
exf6 Be6 15. f4 gxf6 16. O-O-O Kg7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2735)-Anand,V 
(2725)/Monte Carlo 1996/CBM 052 ext (76)}) 9... b6 $1 {The best reply. It is
logical to develop the light-squared bishop to the long diagonal.} (9... Rd8
10. g4 Qa5 (10... Qg6 $6 {is too awkward to be true. The queen might be in
real danger.}) 11. e3 e5 12. Bc4 exd4 13. Bxf7+ Kh8 (13... Kf8 14. exd4 Nxd4
15. Nxd4 Rxd4 16. O-O-O $16) 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Rxd4 16. O-O-O $16) (9...
e5 $2 10. g4 Qg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qxb4 $16) (9... Bd7 10. g4 Qa5 11. a3 (11.
Rc1 $6 Qb6 {[%csl Rd4]} 12. e3 Na5 13. Qd1 Bc6 $132) 11... Nd5 12. Rc1 Bd6 (
12... Be7 13. e4 Qb6 14. Qc2 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 {Black's queen on b6 looks horrible.
}) 13. Ne4 Qb6 14. Qxb6 Nxb6 15. Bg2 $14) (9... h5 {is actually possible to
prevent g2-g4. However, after} 10. e3 {White can get a superior version of the
above-mentioned game Ivanchuk-Anand. The inclusion of the moves h2-h3 and ...
h7-h5 clearly favours White.}) 10. g4 Qa5 11. Rc1 (11. Bg2 $6 Ba6 $1 (11... e5
$2 12. dxe5 Be6 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxa8 Rxa8 16. O-O-O $16) 12. O-O
Rad8 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Qb5 15. Qxb5 Bxb5 16. Rfe1 Ne4 $11) 11... Bb7 (11...
Ba6 $2 12. a3 Be7 13. Qa2 $1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb2b4] and the threat b2-b4 is
simply unanswerable.}) 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qd5 {Now it's time for White to
swap queens, otherwise he will have troubles along the a8-h1 diagonal.} 14.
Qxd5 Nxd5 {Not an easy choice for Kramnik. Both recaptures have their
advantages and downsides.} (14... exd5 15. Bd2 (15. Nd2 Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17.
e3 Rfd8 {[%cal Gc6e7,Ge7d5] +/=/=}) 15... Ne4 16. Bf4 Rac8 17. e3 (17. b4 a5 $1
18. b5 Nd8 $11 {[%cal Gd8e6]} 19. Rxc7 $2 Ne6 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 $17 {[%cal Gc8c2,
Gc8c3]}) 17... Na5 18. b4 Nc4 $1 $11) 15. Bd2 $1 {White should keep his pair
of bishops.} Nf6 {[%cal Gc6d4]} (15... f5 {to my mind, creates no counterplay,
but weaknesses in Black's camp.}) 16. Rg1 {Moving the rook away from the
dangerous diagonal. White has lost his right to castle; however, it does not
have real significance without queens on the board.} Rac8 17. Bg2 Ne7 18. Bb4
c5 $2 {This nervous push from Kramnik does not work. Black does not have
enough resources for such active play.} (18... Rfe8 {would have been
acceptable.} 19. Bxe7 (19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Rxg2 Ned5 21. Bd2 Ne4 22. Nc6 a5 23. f3
Nxd2 24. Kxd2 Ne7 {keeping a slightly worse but defendable position.}) 19...
Rxe7 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Rxg2 c5 $1 22. dxc5 (22. b4 Nd7 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. dxc5
bxc5 $11) 22... Rec7 23. c6 Ne4 {[%cal Gf7f6]} 24. g5 Nxg5 25. Rxg5 f6 26. Rg4
fxe5 27. Rgc4 Kf7 $11) 19. dxc5 Rfd8 (19... bxc5 20. Bxc5 Ne4 21. b4 Nxc5 22.
bxc5 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Rc7 24. Kd2 Rfc8 25. Rc3 Rxc5 26. Rxc5 Rxc5 27. Rb1 $16) 20.
Ne5 Bxg2 21. Rxg2 bxc5 (21... a5 22. Bd2 Rd5 (22... Ne4 23. cxb6 Nxd2 24. Rxc8
Nxc8 25. b7 Ne7 26. Rg3 {and Black is now forced to play} Rb8 {and get a
hopeless endgame with a pawn down.}) 23. Nd3 bxc5 24. Rc4 Nc6 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26.
Nxc5 Nd4 27. Nd3 $16) 22. Rxc5 Ne4 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nd3 $16 Nd5 25. Bd2 (25.
Kd1 {looks more natural but, probably it makes no real difference compared to
the move in the text.}) 25... Rc2 26. Bc1 {Black's activity is only temporary.
Very soon his rook and knights will be driven away and the extra pawn will
tell.} f5 (26... Nc5 27. Kd1 Nxd3 28. exd3 $16) 27. Kd1 Rc8 28. f3 Nd6 {
[%csl Re3][%cal Gd6c4]} 29. Ke1 $1 a5 30. e3 e5 $6 ({After the solid} 30... a4
{Anand's task would have been much more difficult.}) 31. gxf5 e4 (31... Nxf5
32. e4 Nh4 33. Rg4 Nxf3+ 34. Kf2 Nf6 35. Kxf3 Nxg4 36. hxg4 $18) 32. fxe4 Nxe4
33. Bd2 a4 34. Nf2 Nd6 35. Rg4 {Finally White's dreaming rook joins the action.
} Nc4 (35... Nxf5 36. Nd1 (36. e4 $6 Re8 37. Rg5 g6 {and Black is still alive.}
) 36... Nb6 37. Rb4 Rc6 {would have been more stubborn, though, objectively
Black is lost.}) 36. e4 $1 {White does not have to worry about his Pb2, his
central pawns are storming forward with decisive effect.} Nf6 37. Rg3 Nxb2 38.
e5 Nd5 39. f6 Kf7 (39... g6 40. e6 Nxf6 41. Bc3 $18 {[%csl Rb2,Rf6]}) 40. Ne4
Nc4 41. fxg7 (41. Rxg7+ Ke6 42. Ng5+ Kf5 43. f7 {[%csl Gf7][%cal Gg5h7,Gg7g8]
won a bit quicker.}) 41... Kg8 42. Rd3 Ndb6 43. Bh6 Nxe5 44. Nf6+ Kf7 45. Rc3
Rxc3 46. g8=Q+ Kxf6 47. Bg7+ {Excellent technique by the World Champion!} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[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"]

{The situation before the 7th game was disastrous for Kramnik: in the first
half of the match he lost three games and the other three ended in draws. The
most interesting thing is to watch how Anand plays without any intention to
make a quick draw (which in such a match situation would bring him closer to
the final victory).} 1. d4 {Marin} d5 2. c4 c6 {In the first half of the match
Kramnik preferred the Nimzo Indian.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Marin: 'Even with an
advantage of 3 points, it would be slightly premature to start playing for a
draw by exchanging on d5.'} dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 ({Marin: Over the past years,
there has been a lot of pressure on Black in the line starting with} 6. Ne5 {
However, in his previous match, Kramnik solved his opening successfully with
the rare line} e6 7. f3 c5 $5 8. e4 Bg6 {Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743)/
Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1/2, 31)}) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9.
Qe2 Bg6 {This system was Kramnik's main weapon two years ago in the previous
World Championship match against Veselin Topalov.} 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5 12.
e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 ({In the event of} 14... Bg6 15. Ng5 Re8 {
White can use the position of his knight g5 in order to make progress on the
other side:} 16. Bxg6 (16. f4 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 f5 18. Be3 Nf8 19. Kh1 Be7 (19...
Rc8 20. g4 $1 Qd7 21. Rg1 Be7 22. Nf3 $5 Rc4 23. Rg2 $40 {0-1 Topalov,V (2813)
-Kramnik,V (2743)/Elista 2006(63)}) 20. Nf3 Rc8 21. h3 (21. Rg1 Qc7 22. Rac1
Qd7 $11) 21... Qc7 22. Rfc1 Qd7 23. Rg1 Qc7 24. Rgc1 Qd7 25. Qb3 {1/2-1/2
Jakovenko,D (2671)-Rublevsky,S (2688)/Moscow 2006}) 16... fxg6 17. a5 $1 $11 {
/+/=} Bxa5 {then the concrete variations starting with} 18. Qf3 {are in
White's favour.}) 15. Ne1 ({Still} 15. Ng5 {remains an option, although now
Black is not forced to retreat the bishop yet and instead can continue} Nf8 (
15... Bg6 {would transpose to 14...Bg6 15.Ng5 Re8})) 15... Bg6 {Kramnik
deviates from his playoff rapid game versus Topalov.} (15... Rc8 16. f4 ({
A critical variation is} 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qh3 g6 18. g4 {and it is not so
simple for Black to maintain the balance.}) 16... Bxe1 17. Rxe1 Bg6 18. Bf1 Rc2
19. b3 Qa5 20. Bb5 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743)/Elista 2006 (47).
with approximate equality.}) 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Nd3 Qb6 {Marin: 'Finally, a new
move. Kramnik may have thought that his knight should not be weaker than the
enemy bishop, because the white central pawns are blocked on dark squares.
However, the further course of the game proves that he underestimated the
difficulties awaiting Black.'} ({Marin: The slightly passive looking bishop
retreat} 17... Be7 {Marin: 'led to an uneventful draw after'} 18. Bd2 (18. a5
$5) 18... Rc8 19. Rfc1 Nb8 20. Rxc8 (20. b4 $5) 20... Qxc8 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. b3
b6 23. Bb4 Bxb4 24. Nxb4 a5 25. Na2 Rc8 26. Rc3 Nc6 {1/2-1/2 Banusz,T (2389)
-Erdos,V (2454)/Budapest 2004}) 18. Nxb4 Qxb4 19. b3 {White is marginally
better thanks to his space advantage. But Black has no weaknesses and his only
problem later will be to gain some space for his king.} Rac8 20. Ba3 {Marin:
'The pressure exerted by the bishop from d6 will not be easy to neutralize.'}
Qc3 $6 {Marin: 'Since Capablanca, it has been known that the tandem queen +
knight tends to be stronger than a queen and a bishop. Apart from this
abstract statement, there is a concrete reason to criticize Black's last move.
The relative weakness of the white queenside pawns can be taken advantage of
only with the help of the queen!'} (20... Qb6 $6 21. Rfc1 $5 (21. Rac1 Nb8 22.
Bc5 Qa6 $11 {[%cal Gc8c7]}) 21... Rxc1+ (21... Nb8 22. Bc5 Qa6 23. b4 $14) 22.
Rxc1 Nb8 23. Bc5 Qa6 24. Bd6 Nc6 25. h4 $14) (20... Qa5 $1 21. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 22.
Qxc1 (22. Rxc1 b5 $1 {Here is where the queen proves useful.} 23. Bd6 bxa4 24.
bxa4 Nb6 $132) 22... Nb8 23. Bd6 Nc6 24. Qb2 Rc8 25. Rc1 a6 26. h3 Na7 {
and Black has little to fear.}) 21. Rac1 Qxe3 {Here Kramnik offered a draw,
which, after about 10 minutes thought, Anand declined. Indeed, Black must
still defend accurately before complete equality is achieved.} 22. fxe3 $14 {
Marin: 'Now, Black has no possibilities of successfully fighting for the only
open file.'} f6 {Until the end of the game Kramnik will defend very precisely.
He starts with bringing his king to g6.  Marin: 'The only constructive plan.'}
(22... Nb8 23. Bd6 Rc6 (23... Nc6 24. Rc3 Na5 25. Rfc1 $14) 24. Rxc6 Nxc6 25.
b4 a6 26. Rc1 $14) 23. Bd6 ({After} 23. exf6 {both 23...gxf6 (followed by the
further advance of the f- and g-pawns) and 23...Nxf6 (taking control over
square e4) would have equalized.}) 23... g5 {Otherwise White plays 24.h4.} 24.
h3 Kf7 25. Kf2 Kg6 (25... Nb8 26. Bxb8 (26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Bxb8 Rxb8 28. Rc1 $14
) 26... Rxb8 27. Rc7+ Re7 28. Rfc1 Rbe8 29. Kf3 Kg6 30. g4 $14) 26. Ke2 {
Black has solved the problem of his king, but he still must do something on
the queenside. White's plan is Kd3 and e4-e4, opening the position, after
which the domination of the bishop against the knight will become decisive.}
fxe5 $5 {Marin: 'An important decision. Black is in no immediate danger yet,
but his position certainly looks passive. We have to give credit to Kramnik's
strategic feeling that warned him to force matters before it was too late.  '}
27. dxe5 b6 {Forces Anand's next move, since White cannot allow 28...Nc5.} 28.
b4 $1 Rc4 $5 {Finally the black rook got an available square on the c-file and
Kramnik immediately uses it. On the other hand he didn't have much choice,
since on the next move this would not have been possible anymore (White
intended 29.Kd3).  Marin: 'This is the point behind Black's plan. He is ready
to give up a pawn in order to provoke general simplifications and obtain a
fortress. '} 29. Rxc4 {Unfortunately for White, he must exchange rooks.} (29.
Kd3 $2 Rec8 $132) 29... dxc4 30. Rc1 Rc8 {Black's idea is clear: in order to
win the c4-pawn Anand will have to exchange the second pair of rooks, after
which he won't be able to penetrate into Black's position (after all, his
doubled e-pawns are far from beautiful).} 31. g4 ({Since ...Kf5 was not a big
threat yet (due to the check on f1), White could have considered} 31. Kd2 {
in order to blockade the c-pawn with the king and then try to penetrate with
the rook somehow or put Black in zugzwang (K on c3, R on f1). But Black always
have some counterplay ideas, sometimes even by advancing the g-pawn himself. A
possible variation is} a6 (31... g4 32. hxg4 c3+ {seems premature because of}
33. Kc2 $1 (33. Rxc3 Rxc3 34. Kxc3 Kg5 35. Kc4 a6 $13)) 32. Kc3 b5 {[%cal
Gd7b6]} 33. a5 Kf5 34. Rf1+ Ke4 35. Rf7 Nxe5 $132) 31... a5 $1 {Marin: 'A
radical way to clear up matters on the queenside.'} ({The main alternative was
} 31... a6 {[%cal Gb6b5]} 32. b5 axb5 33. axb5 c3 {but here, too} 34. Kd1 {
looks unpleasant (compare with a further comment). Black may try} Nf6 $5 35.
exf6 Rd8 36. fxg7 Rxd6+ 37. Kc2 Kxg7 38. Kxc3 $14) 32. b5 (32. bxa5 bxa5 33.
Rb1 c3 (33... Nc5 34. Bxc5 Rxc5 35. Rb5 Rd5 $11) 34. Kd3 Nc5+ 35. Bxc5 Rxc5 36.
Rc1 (36. Rb5 Rc4 $1) 36... Rd5+ 37. Ke4 (37. Kxc3 Rc5+ 38. Kd2 Rxc1 39. Kxc1
Kf7 40. Kc2 Ke7 41. Kc3 Kd7 42. Kd4 Kc6 43. Kc4 Kb6 $11) 37... Rc5 38. Kd4 Rd5+
39. Kc4 Rxe5 40. Rxc3 Kf6 $11) 32... c3 $1 {Marin: 'An essential move. The
pawn is doomed anyway, but it is essential that Black exchanges ALL the pieces,
otherwise the fortress would not resist.'} ({In the event of the "neutral"} 
32... Kf7 $2 {White would obtain excellent winning chances with} 33. Kd2 Kg6
34. e4 {(This move will prove useful at at least two moments)} Kf7 35. Kc3 Kg6
(35... Nc5 36. Rf1+ Kg6 37. Bxc5 Rxc5 38. Rd1 Rxe5 39. Rd4 $1 {This is the
first moment when the pawn is better placed on e4 than on e3. White threatens
Rxc4 followed by Kd4, trapping the rook.} Rc5 40. Rd6 $18) 36. Kd4 Kf7 37. Rxc4
Rxc4+ 38. Kxc4 Ke8 39. Kd4 Kf7 40. Ba3 Kg6 41. Bc1 {And now, the pawn does not
interfere with the bishop's action on two wings.} Nc5 42. Be3 Nd7 (42... Nxa4
43. Kc4 Nb2+ 44. Kb3 Nd3 45. Bxb6 $18) 43. Kc3 $22 Kh6 44. h4 $18) 33. Rc2 Kf7
34. Kd3 {Marin: 'Practically agreeing to a draw.'} ({A last attempt to play
for a win would be} 34. Rc1 $5 {[%cal Ge2d1,Gd1c2]} Ke8 $1 {We will see that
the king is needed in the centre.} (34... Rc4 35. Kd3 Rxa4 36. Rxc3 $16) 35.
Kd1 Rc4 36. Kc2 Rxa4 37. Kxc3 Kd8 38. Kd3 Ra2 39. Rc7 Nc5+ $1 {This active
move is enabled by the king's presence on d8. Otherwise, White would simply
take on c5.} 40. Kc3 Ne4+) 34... Nc5+ $1 {Without the minor pieces things are
even simpler.} 35. Bxc5 Rxc5 36. Rxc3 Rxc3+ 37. Kxc3 {The only way to try
something for White is to come with the king to the kingside and play h3-h4.
But this brings no further progress either, since Black can simply not react
at all and after h4xg5 blockade it with ...g7-g6. White's king has no way to
attack the black pawns and the draw was agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[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"]

{Vladimir Kramnik was three points down so this game was actually his last
chance to come back in the match.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5.
e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxf6 Bxb5 $5 $146 {
[%mdl 8] A very unusual move order.} (10... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 gxf6 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7
13. O-O a6 {leads to a well-known theoretical line}) (10... gxf6 $143 11. O-O
Bxb5 $6 12. Ncxb5 $1 Nc6 (12... a6 13. a3 $1 Be7 14. b4) (12... Na6 13. Qf3 Be7
14. e5 Qb6 15. exf6 Bc5 16. Rfd1 $16 {1-0 Vaganian,R (2590)-Portisch,L (2512)/
Bazna 2007/CBM 118 ext (22)}) 13. a3 Be7 (13... Nxd4 14. axb4 Qxb5 15. Qxd4 {
[%csl Gd4,Re8] Die Qd4 ist aktiv und der schwarze König steht angreifbar in
der Mitte.} Ke7 16. Ra5 Qd7 17. Qe3 b6 18. Rh5 $36 {1-0 Eljanov,P (2639)
-Sargissian,G (2611)/Merida 2005/CBM 109/[Ribli] (30)}) 14. Rc1 Rg8 15. Nxc6
bxc6 16. Nd6+ $36 {1/2 Beliavsky,A (2650)-Georgiev,K (2658)/Bled 2002/EXT 2003
(134)}) 11. Ndxb5 (11. Nb3 $5 {S.Shipov} Qb6 12. Bxg7 Rg8 13. Bd4 Bxc3+ 14.
Bxc3 (14. bxc3 Qc6) 14... Nc6 $44 {[%csl Re1]}) 11... gxf6 12. O-O Nc6 13. a3
Bxc3 14. Nxc3 $11 {Quite a simple position has arisen. Black's double pawns
are not a sufficient reason for White to claim any advantage here.} Rg8 (14...
O-O $5 $11) 15. f4 Rd8 16. Qe1 (16. Qe2 $5 Qc5+ 17. Kh1 Nd4 $11 18. Qf2 $140
Nb3) 16... Qb6+ 17. Rf2 Rd3 $6 (17... Kd7 {[%cal Yd7c8] A.Korotylev} 18. Rc1
Kc8 19. Na4 Qd4 20. Nc5 Kb8 21. b4 $36) (17... Nd4 $5 18. Kh1 Nb3 19. Rd1 Rxd1
20. Nxd1 Ke7 $11 {S.Shipov}) (17... h5 $5 {[%cal Yh5h4,Yh4h3]}) 18. Qe2 Qd4 19.
Re1 (19. Nb5 $1 Qe3 (19... Qd8 20. e5) 20. Qxe3 Rxe3 21. Rd1 {[%csl Re3][%cal
Rb5c3]} Rb3 22. Nc3 $36 Ke7 $140 23. Rd3 {[%cal Rc3d5]}) 19... a6 $6 (19... Ke7
$5 20. Nb5 Qc4 $11 {A.Korotylev}) (19... Kf8 $5 {S.Shipov} 20. g3 $5 (20. Nb5
Qd8 21. e5 fxe5 22. fxe5 Rd5 $1) 20... Kg7 21. e5) 20. Kh1 (20. Nd5 $5 exd5 21.
exd5+ Kd7 22. dxc6+ Kxc6 23. g3 $14 {(now Black's double pawns are isolated)})
20... Kf8 21. Ref1 Rg6 {This rook risks to find itself out of play.} (21... Kg7
$5 22. f5 exf5 $5 (22... Kh8 $5 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Rxf6 $140 Rd2) 23. Rxf5 Rd2
$132) 22. g3 $1 {[%csl Rg6]} (22. f5 exf5 23. exf5 (23. Rxf5 $4 Rd2) 23... Rg4
$11) 22... Kg7 (22... Rh6 23. Rd1 $1) (22... f5 $5 23. e5 (23. exf5 exf5 $11)
23... Kg7 $11) 23. Rd1 $5 {White wants to regain the d-file.} Rxd1+ 24. Nxd1
Kh8 25. Nc3 (25. Qc2 {[%cal Yf2d2] looks more accurate. Fortunately for Black,
he has enough time to consolidate his position:} Rg8 26. Rd2 Qb6 27. Qc3 (27.
Rd7 Rd8 $1 28. Rxf7 $4 Kg8 29. Rxf6 Qd4) 27... Kg7 28. Ne3 Rd8 29. Nc4 Qc7 $11
{(A.Korotylev). White probably saw this variation and decided to try something
else.}) 25... Rg8 26. Kg2 Rd8 {Black has kept control of the d-file and
White's kingside threats are only enough for a draw.} 27. Qh5 Kg7 28. Qg4+ Kh8
29. Qh5 Kg7 30. Qg4+ Kh8 31. Qh4 Kg7 32. e5 (32. f5 $5 Qe5 33. Qg4+ Kf8 34. Qh5
Kg7 35. Rf4 Rd2+ 36. Kh3 Rxb2 37. Nd1 Rb3 (37... Ra2 $143 38. Nf2 exf5 39. Rxf5
Qb2 40. Qg4+ Kf8 41. Qh4 $36) 38. Ne3 {S.Shipov} (38. Kg2 $2 exf5 39. Rh4 Kf8)
38... Qxf4 $1 39. gxf4 Rxe3+ 40. Kg2 Rxe4 $11) 32... f5 (32... fxe5 33. Qg5+
Kh8 34. f5 $36 {S.Shipov}) 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34. Qg5+ (34. h4 Qe3 {[%cal Yd8d3]} 35.
Qg5+ Kf8) 34... Kh8 35. Qf6+ (35. h4 $6 Qe3 36. h5 Rd2 $1 37. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 38.
Kf1 Qc1+ 39. Ke2 Qxb2+ 40. Kd3 Qb6 41. h6 Qd8+) 35... Kg8 36. Re2 Qc4 37. Qg5+
(37. h4 Rd3 {[%cal Rd3c3]} 38. Rf2 Qc5 $11) 37... Kh8 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. Qg5+ Kh8
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[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 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 ({The whole match situation had become
much worse for Kramnik since the 4th game where he preferred the more solid
Queen's Gambit by playing} 4... Be7 {. This time, he simply could not afford
to play for just equality with Black.}) 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {Despite his
advantage on the score table, Anand does not shy away from complications,
probably aiming to maintain the initiative in the match.} dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3
b5 9. Be2 Bb7 {Both players are well-versed in the subtleties of this modern
tabyia, having played it with reversed colours, too!} 10. Qc2 $5 {A relatively
rare move.} ({The main stream of theory goes} 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7
(12. Nxf7 $5 {(Topalov's sensational novelty, experimented with successfully
against none other than Kramnik!)} Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Qb6 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16.
Bg4 h5 $5 $146 (16... Raf8 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 2008/CBM 122/
[Krasenkow] (1-0, 44)}) 17. Bxh5 Raf8 18. Qg4 Bh6 19. h4 $44 {Shirov,A (2740)
-Karjakin,S (2732)/Foros 2008/CBM 125/[Krasenkow] (1/2, 36)}) 12... Nxd7 13.
Bd6 a6 {Recently, both opponents had had this position with opposite colours
compared to their match game.} 14. Re1 {Radjabov,T (2735)-Anand,V (2799)/Wijk
aan Zee 2008/CBM 122/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 85)} (14. a4 {Kramnik,V (2799)-Aronian,
L (2739)/Wijk aan Zee 2008/CBM 122/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 110)})) 10... Nbd7 11. Rd1
{White is in no hurry to get castled and prefers to strengthen the pressure in
the centre. The queen's rook obviously is useful in the centre, but even the
other rook may be activated with an eventual h4.} ({In the event of the hurried
} 11. O-O {Black has obtained good results with} Nh5 {, which is enabled by
the fact that without a rook on d1} 12. d5 {is not that strong.} ({Or,
similarly,} 12. a4 a6 13. d5 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Bg7 {Lugovoi,A (2500)-Sakaev,K 
(2600)/St Petersburg 1996/CBM 056/[Lutz] (1/2, 37)}) 12... Nxg3 13. fxg3 Bg7
14. dxe6 fxe6 15. e5 O-O 16. Rad1 Qe7 17. Qg6 c5 18. Ne4 Rxf3 19. Rxf3 Nxe5 $17
{Grabuzova,T (2340)-Korneev,O (2560)/Linares 1998/CBM 062 ext (0-1, 43)}) 11...
Bb4 {An important decision. Black creates some indirect pressure on the
e4-pawn (and somewhat inhibits d5) by undermining the c3-knight. An even more
important aspect is that he prepares the e7-square for his queen. In other
games, Her Majesty has preferred the b6-square.} (11... Qb6 12. O-O Nh5 $6 {
Prematurely weakening the control over the centre.} ({For} 12... Be7 {see below
}) 13. d5 Nxg3 14. hxg3 O-O-O (14... Bg7 15. a4 a6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. e5 O-O-O
18. Qg6 Rhg8 19. Qxe6 Qc7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ne4 $36) 15. b3 {We shall see this
move more than once. White enlarges the horizons of his light-squared bishop
and of his queen and makes the black queenside majority less threatening.} cxb3
16. axb3 a6 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. e5 Bb4 19. Ne4 Qc7 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. exd6 Qb6 22.
b4 $44 {Chernin,A (2620)-Pavasovic,D (2495)/Feldbach 1997/EXT 98 (1-0, 44).
White has the safer king's position, more active pieces and a more compact
structure. Quite enough to compensate for the minimal material deficit.}) (
11... Be7 12. O-O Qb6 ({The queen is somewhat out of play after} 12... Qa5 {
, leaving the kingside slightly weakened.} 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Rf8 15. f4 Nd7
16. Bg7 Rg8 17. Bxh6 b4 {This weakening move is more or less necessary in
order to establish some connection between the queen and the kingside. However,
in Amigues,E (2391)-Godena,M (2530)/Marseille 2007/CBM 116 ext (0-1, 31) White
could have retained an advantage with the simple} 18. Nb1 $1 $16 {[%csl Gc4]})
13. b3 ({White can also play simpler with} 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 O-O 15. h4 $44
) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {This move drives the queen away from the kingside,
where she is supposed to sustain the attack.} (14. axb3 $5) 14... a6 15. Ne5
O-O 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. e5 Rad8 18. Bf3 {White decides to keep the queenside
under pressure, but, being a pawn down on that side, his chances of success
are questionable.} b4 19. Na4 Qb5 20. Qc2 c5 $15 {Sargissian,G (2630)
-Anastasian,A (2574)/Yerevan 2005/CBM 107 (0-1, 42)}) (11... Nh5 {has not been
tried yet, but} 12. d5 Nxg3 13. hxg3 $36 {seems to offer White strong
initiative.}) 12. Ne5 Qe7 $146 {A novelty. Kramnik plays the least committal
move, refraining from clarifying the situation in the centre and keeping open
the possibility of castling on either side.} (12... Rg8 $6 {is illogical, as
it fails to contribute to the development and gives up the right to castle
short.} 13. O-O Qe7 14. a4 a6 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. d5 $40 {Van Wely,L (2643)-Dao
Thien Hai (2555)/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001/[Lutz] (1-0, 26). In fact, in his
notes to this game, Lutz had recommended Kramnik's move as a possible
improvement for Black, so that "novelty" may not be an entirely accurate
description of 12...Qe7.}) (12... Nxe5 {offers White additional possibilities.}
13. dxe5 ({After} 13. Bxe5 {, Black should not castle because of 14.h4, but}
Qe7 {is likely to transpose to the game.}) 13... Nd7 14. h4 Qe7 (14... Rf8 $5 {
[%csl Rf7][%cal Ge2h5,Gh1h7]} 15. hxg5 hxg5) 15. hxg5 Qxg5 16. Kf1 Be7 17. Rh3
Qg7 18. f4 O-O-O 19. Bf2 $44 {Necesany,Z (2410)-Bucker,J (2482)/ICCF Email
2001/Corr 2004 (0-1, 34)}) (12... O-O $6 13. h4 $1 $36 {[%csl Gh1]}) 13. O-O (
13. h4 {would be strongly met by} O-O-O {when White would remain with problems
finding a safe place for his king.}) 13... Nxe5 (13... O-O-O $6 {looks too
risky now that White has not lost a tempo with the self-weakening move h4.} 14.
a4 a6 (14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Bxc3 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. axb5 cxb5 18. Bxc4 $1 $16)
15. Nxd7 Rxd7 (15... Nxd7 16. axb5 axb5 17. d5 $40 {White has strong threats.
For instance, Black has no time to launch a counterattack with} h5 $2 {because
of} 18. dxc6 Bxc6 19. Nxb5 $1 Bxb5 20. Bxc4 $18) 16. Be5 Rg8 17. axb5 axb5 18.
b3 cxb3 19. Qxb3 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 (20. Bxf6 Qb4 $5) 20... Nxe4 21. Qc2 {[%cal
Gc2e4,Ge2b5]} Nd6 22. Rfe1 $5 $40 {[%cal Gd4d5,Ge2g4] Despite his two extra
pawns, Black finds himself under strong pressure.}) 14. Bxe5 (14. dxe5 Nd7 15.
a4 h5 $5 $132) 14... O-O {After a wait-and-see game, both players have
eventually castled short. White has to find a way to build up an attack before
Black opens the centre with ...c5.} 15. Bxf6 {After this exchange, White will
practically be fighting for equality. Anand may have thought that the tempo
lost by the enemy queen would offer him attacking chances, but in the game
things will prove to be less simple than that. However, it is not easy to
suggest a more constructive plan.} (15. f4 $6 Nd7 $1 {leaves the bishop
terribly misplaced.}) (15. b3 {looks logical, because it aims to make the
d3-square available for the bishop, in view of a further exchange on f6
followed by e5, Bd3, Ne4, etc. However, it leads to unclear consequences.} cxb3
16. Qxb3 ({White has to put the bishop under some pressure, because} 16. axb3 {
would allow} Nd7 17. Bg3 e5 $132) 16... Nd7 (16... a5 $6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. e5
$40 {[%cal Ge2d3,Gc3e4,Gf2f4]}) 17. Bg3 {[%cal Gf2f4,Ge4e5]} Nf6 {(/\=)} 18. e5
$5 Bxc3 $8 (18... Nd5 $2 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. f4 $40) 19. exf6 Qb4 $13 {White
obviously has compensation for the missing pawn, because of his huge advantage
in space on the kingside, but it is not easy to suggest a clear-cut
continuation of the attack. The problem is that avoiding the queen exchange
would lose the d4- and possibly the f6-pawn.}) 15... Qxf6 16. f4 $5 (16. e5 Qf5
17. Ne4 Be7 {[%cal Gc6c5] looks relatively safe for Black, because Bd3 is not
available and the queen feels more or less OK on f5.}) 16... Qg7 (16... gxf4
17. e5 Qf5 18. Qxf5 exf5 19. Rxf4 $36) 17. e5 (17. f5 Rad8 18. e5 f6 $5 $132 {
The weakness of the dark squares in White's camp will soon be felt.}) 17... c5
$1 $132 {Although White is better developed, he faces serious problems
maintaining his stability in the centre.} (17... f5 $6 18. exf6 Qxf6 {would
unnecessarily weaken the kingside, leaving White with more than one way to
develop his initiative.}) 18. Nxb5 cxd4 19. Qxc4 a5 20. Kh1 $5 {A
multi-purpose move. The king evacuates the dangerous g1-a7 diagonal and clears
the g1-square for the rook, hoping for a sequence such as ...gxf4, Bf3 Bxf3,
gxf3! followed by Rg1 with an attack.} Rac8 21. Qxd4 {White is a pawn up now,
but the e5-pawn is as good as lost and Black's bishops are very active.} gxf4 (
21... Bc5 $5 {[%csl Gg1] may have been a better try, to retain a small
advantage.} 22. Qa4 (22. Qd2 $6 gxf4 23. Bf3 Be3 $1 24. Qe2 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Qxe5
$17) 22... gxf4 23. Bf3 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Qxe5 25. Qxf4 (25. Rxf4 Rfd8 26. Rff1
Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Qxb2 $15) 25... Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Rfd8 $15 {The bishop is more
active than the knight and the f- and e-pawns may soon become dangerous.}) 22.
Bf3 Ba6 (22... Bxf3 $2 23. gxf3 $16 {[%cal Gd4f4,Gf1g1]}) 23. a4 $6 {Anand was
getting short of time by now and started playing simple moves.} (23. Qb6 $5
Bxb5 24. Qxb5 Rc5 25. Qa4 Rxe5 26. a3 Bc5 27. Qxf4 $11 {We have reached the
same type of position as in the game, but White is not a pawn down anymore.})
23... Rc5 24. Qxf4 Rxe5 25. b3 Bxb5 26. axb5 Rxb5 $15 {/-/+ Black's chances
for success depend very much on his possibility of advancing the f- and
e-pawns. With queens on board, this is not easy, of course.} 27. Be4 Bc3 {
Kramnik was not left with too much time either. He seems to have considered
that with opposite coloured bishops on board he should play for an attack with
queens, but this plan will prove not realistic.} ({From the point of view of
my previous comment,} 27... Qg5 {[%cal Gg5f4,Gf7f5] deserves serious attention.
}) 28. Bc2 Be5 29. Qf2 (29. Qf3 $5) 29... Bb8 {[%cal Gb5h5] Not a very happy
regrouping. If the bishop does not help to deliver mate, it will just be
passive and exposed.} 30. Qf3 {[%csl Rh5]} Rc5 31. Bd3 Rc3 32. g3 Kh8 (32...
Rxb3 $2 33. Bh7+ $1 $14) 33. Qb7 {It appears that White is better regrouped
now and Black's progress is far from easy.} f5 {This is not such a good moment
to start advancing the pawns, because they will be submitted to strong
pressure.} 34. Qb6 $1 {[%csl Re6,Rf5]} (34. Qxg7+ $6 Kxg7 $17 {[%cal Gg7f6] is
precisely what Black would be dreaming of.}) 34... Qe5 35. Qb7 ({Anand misses
a forced way out of troubles with} 35. Bxf5 $1 exf5 (35... Rxf5 36. Rxf5 {
[%csl Rb8]} exf5 37. Qxh6+ Kg8 38. Qg5+ $18 {[%cal Gd1d8]}) 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37.
Qg6+ Qg7 38. Qe6+ Qf7 (38... Kh8 39. Rxf5) 39. Qxf7+ Rxf7 40. Rd8+ Rf8 41.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 42. Rxf5+ Kg7 43. Rxa5 $11 {and Black will probably not even get
the R+B vs R ending.}) 35... Qc7 $6 {With the king far from the central pawns,
the exchange of queens helps White to reach a safe zone.} (35... Rg8 $5 {
[%csl Rg3] would have kept White under pressure.}) 36. Qxc7 Bxc7 37. Bc4 Re8 (
37... a4 38. Rd7 $132) ({Black does not seem to be well regrouped for} 37... e5
38. Rd7 Bb6 $5 (38... Bd8 39. Bd3 {leaves the black king somewhat exposed, for
instance} f4 40. gxf4 exf4 {The capture with the rook is not possible because
of the hanging bishop on d8.} 41. Rh7+ Kg8 42. Rg1+ Bg5 43. Rxh6 $11) 39. Rd6
Be3 40. Ra6 {Black will lose his extra pawn, while the exposed position of his
king makes it difficult to capitalize on the better structure.}) 38. Rd7 a4 39.
Rxc7 axb3 40. Rf2 Rb8 41. Rb2 $11 h5 (41... Rc2 42. Rxc2 bxc2 43. Bxe6 Rb1+ 44.
Kg2 c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Rxc1 46. Bxf5 $11) 42. Kg2 h4 43. Rc6 hxg3 44. hxg3 Rg8 45.
Rxe6 Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[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 "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[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"]

{In order to better understand what happened over the board, you need to know
the situation before this game took place: it was the 11th game in the WCh
match. Anand was leading 6-4 and needed only a draw to retain his WCh title. 
Um die Ereignisse am Brett besser zu begreifen, muss man die Ausgangssituation
vor dieser Partie wissen: es ist die elfte Partie des WM-Matches gewesen,
Anand führte mit 6-4 und brauchte nur ein Remis, um seinen Weltmeister-Titel
zu verteidigen.} 1. e4 $1 {An exclamation mark for the well-timed change in
opening - until this point in the match, Anand had played only 1.d4. The game
move has two advantages at the same time: firstly the effect of surprise, and
secondly in recent years Kramnik has rarely replied to 1.e4 with anything but
the Petroff. Ausrufezeichen fuer den rechtzeitigen Wechsel der Eröffnung - bis
jetzt hatte Anand im Match nur 1.d4 gezogen. Der Partiezug hat gleich zwei
Vorteile: erstens Überraschungseffekt und zweitens hat Kramnik gegen 1.e4 in
letzten Jahren selten etwas außer Russisch gespielt.} c5 $1 {Of course there
can be no question of a Petroff. If you have to play for a win, there is no
better choice than the Sicilian.  Von Russischer Partie kann natürlich keine
Rede sein. Wenn man auf Gewinn spielen muss, gibt es keine bessere Wahl als
Sizilianisch.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Kramnik decides on
the Najdorf Variation. On one hand, the decision is the correct one - it is
one of the sharpest variations in modern theory and offers Black good
counter-chances. On the other, it is perhaps a little ambitious when facing
Anand, who plays the Najdorf himself and certainly knows all about it. I would
rather have considered the Ragozin or the Dragon variations.  Kramnik
entscheidet sich für die Najdorf-Variante. Einerseits ist die Entscheidung
richtig - es ist eine der schärfsten Varianten in der modernen Theorie und
bietet Schwarz gute Konterchancen. Auf der anderen Seite, gegen Anand, der
selbst Najdorf spielt und mit Sicherheit darüber alles weiß, war es vielleicht
ein wenig übertrieben. Ich würde eher Ragozin oder die Drachen-Variante in
Betracht ziehen.} 6. Bg5 ({Nowadays Heute gilt} 6. Be3 {is considered to be
the main move, but the variations which arise after it are sharp and
complicated - exactly what Kramnik was aiming for in this final game and what
Anand wanted to avoid. als Hauptzug, doch die Varianten, die danach entstehen,
sind scharf und kompliziert - genau das, was Kramnik in dieser letzten Partie
anstrebte und Anand vermeiden wollte.}) 6... e6 7. f4 Qc7 $1 {The correct
decision! After 7....Qb6 there are far too many forced drawing variations,
whereas after 7....b5 and 7....Nbd7 White too can play relatively without risk.
Richtige Entscheidung! Nach 7....Qb6 gibt es viel zu viele forcierte
Remisabwicklungen, während nach 7....b5 und 7....Nbd7 Weiß ebenfalls relativ
risikofrei aufspielen kann.} (7... Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 ({Nor does Auch} 8... Nc6 {
achieve a playable position: bringt keine spielbare Stellung aufs Brett:} 9.
O-O-O Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 Be7 12. Na4 Bd7 13. Nb6 $14 {Kramnik -
Svidler (Wijk aan Zee, 2004)}) 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 {White has various ways to
play for a win, but we have to assume that in this specific match situation
Anand would bank on safety first and choose the long drawish variation. Weiß
hat unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten, auf Gewinn zu spielen, aber es ist zu
vermuten, dass in dieser spezifischen Matchsituation Anand auf Nummer sicher
gehen würde und die lange remisliche Variante wählen würde.} Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6
12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Qxa2 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Be2 O-O
18. O-O Ra7 19. Rf3 Kh8 20. Rg3 Rd7 21. Qh6 Rf7 22. Qh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Qa5 24.
Kf1 Qd8 25. Qxf7 Qxd1+ 26. Kf2 Qxc2+ 27. Kf3 Qd1+ 28. Kf2 Qc2+ 29. Ke3 Bc5+ 30.
Nxc5 Qxc5+ 31. Kd2 Qf2+ 32. Kc3 Qd4+ 33. Kc2 Qf2+ 34. Kc3 {Vallejo Pons -
Kasparov (Moscow, 2004). This long variation is almost forced; if Black tries
to deviate, he risks getting into a losing position. Of course, Kramnik would
not have wanted such a development. Diese lange Variante ist fast forciert,
will Schwarz ausweichen, so riskiert er, in eine verlorene Stellung
hineinzukommen. Solch eine Entwicklung wäre natürlich für Kramnik unerwünscht.}
) (7... b5 8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2 Qxg5 12. O-O {Leko -
Ivanchuk (Monaco, 2001). It is clear that White has a very strong initiative
thanks to his lead in development. Es ist offensichtlich, dass Weiß dank
seines Entwicklungsvorsprungs eine sehr starke Initiative hat.}) (7... Nbd7 8.
Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. Rhe1 $14 {This is one of the main
positions in the 6.Bg5-Najdorf. As you can see, White's central position is
very solid. Das ist eine der Hauptstellungen im 6.Bg5-Najdorf. Wie man sieht,
steht Weiß sehr solide im Zentrum.}) 8. Bxf6 (8. Qf3 b5 9. O-O-O (9. Bxf6 gxf6
10. e5 (10. O-O-O b4 11. Nce2 Bb7 (11... h5 12. Ng3 h4 13. Nh5 Nd7 14. g4 Bb7
15. Bg2 O-O-O 16. Kb1 Nc5 17. Rhe1 Be7 18. Qh3 Kb8 19. f5 e5 20. Nb3 a5 21.
Qxh4 a4 22. Nc1 a3 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Qc3 26. Nd3 d5 27. Qf2
dxe4 28. Qb6+ Ka8 29. Qa6+ Kb8 30. Qb6+ Ka8 31. Qa6+ {1/2-1/2 Stellwagen,D 
(2621)-Hillarp Persson,T (2491)/Malmo SWE 2008/The Week in Chess 704}) 12. Qh5
Qc5 13. e5 Bc8 14. Ng3 f5 15. Ngxf5 exf5 16. e6 Bxe6 17. Nxe6 Qe3+ 18. Kb1 Qxe6
19. Bb5+ Kd8 20. Rhe1 Qf6 21. Qf3 Ra7 22. Qf2 Rb7 23. Ba4 Bg7 24. c3 bxc3 25.
Bb3 Nd7 26. Re2 Re8 27. Rc2 Rc7 28. Qf3 Re4 29. g4 Qe7 30. gxf5 Re1 31. Rxe1
Qxe1+ 32. Rc1 Qxc1+ {0-1 Nepomniachtchi,I (2613)-Khismatullin,D (2566)/
Krasnoyarsk RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 670}) 10... Bb7 11. Qh5 b4 $1 $132) 9...
b4 10. Nce2 Nbd7 11. g4 (11. e5 $4 Bb7 $19) 11... Bb7 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Ng3 Rc8
14. Bd3 g6 15. h4 Bg7 16. h5 Nd7 $132 {Naiditsch - Vachier Lagrave (Moscow,
2006). Black reached a playable position with counter-chances. Schwarz
erreichte eine spielbare Stellung mit Konterchancen.}) 8... gxf6 {Now White
has a whole host of options. To be honest, I don't like the move in the game.
White may well exert immediate pressure on the e6-pawn, but in return Black
gets the e5-square for his pieces. I would prefer the traditional 9.Qd2.  Nun
hat Weiß eine Menge an Möglichkeiten. Mir gefällt der Partiezug ehrlich gesagt
nicht. Zwar übt Weiß sofortigen Druck gegen den Bauern e6 aus, doch dafür
bekommt Schwarz das Feld e5 für seine Figuren. Ich würde das traditionelle 9.
Qd2 vorziehen.} 9. f5 (9. Qh5 $6 {lets Black easily achieve good play. lässt
Schwarz leicht zu gutem Spiel kommen.} Qc5 10. Qxc5 dxc5 11. Nb3 Bd6 12. g3 Ke7
13. Bg2 Ra7 14. O-O-O Rd8 15. a4 b6 16. Nd2 Rad7 17. Nc4 Bc7 $132 {Kamsky -
Svidler (Baku, 2008)}) (9. Qd2 Nc6 (9... b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 {The development of
the bishop to b7 has a major disadvantage - the e6-square is weakend. Die
Entwicklung des Läufers nach b7 hat einen großen Nachteil - der Punkt e6 wird
geschwächt.} 11. O-O-O Nd7 12. Rhe1 O-O-O 13. f5 $14 {Khalifman - Lautier 
(Moscow, 2001)}) 10. O-O-O (10. Nb3 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. a4 b4 13. Ne2 Rg8 14. g3
O-O-O 15. O-O-O d5 16. exd5 Rxd5 $15 {Kamsky - Paragua (Las Vegas, 2008)})
10... Bd7 11. Kb1 h5 12. Bc4 O-O-O 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bb3 Kb8 15. Rhf1 Qc5 16.
Qd3 h4 17. Qh3 Be7 18. f5 $14 {Topalov - Anand (Dortmund, 1997)}) (9. Be2 Nc6
10. Qd2 (10. Qd3 h5 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. Nf5 $2 {It is not so easy to crack open
Black's position; in fact it is easier to end up at a disadvantage. so leicht
kann man die schwarze Stellung nicht knacken, man kommt eher in Nachteil} exf5
13. Nd5 Qa5 14. Nxf6+ Kd8 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 16. Qb3 Be7 17. Qxb7+ Qc7 18. Qxc7+
Kxc7 19. exf5 $15 {Shirov - Akopian (Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007)}) 10... Bd7 11.
O-O-O {And there arises the same sort of position as after 9.Qd2. Es entsteht
der gleiche Stellungstyp wie nach 9.Qd2.} h5 12. Kb1 O-O-O 13. Nb3 Kb8 14. Bf3
Na5 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Qe3 h4 17. Rd3 Qc5 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Re1 $14 {Spraggett -
Rodshtein (Cappelle la Grande, 2007)}) 9... Qc5 (9... Nc6 10. fxe6 fxe6 11. Bc4
(11. Be2 $5 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 (12. Bh5+ Ke7 13. Qxd4 Qc5 14. Qd1 Bh6 $15) 12... Qf7
13. Na4 Bd7 14. Nb6 Rd8 15. O-O $14 {Van der Wiel - Hou Yifan (Wijk aan Zee,
2007)}) 11... Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Rg8 13. O-O-O Bd7 14. Bb3 O-O-O 15. g3 Be7 16. Na4
Rg5 17. Rd3 $14 {Radjabov - Grischuk (Sochi, 2008)}) 10. Qd3 (10. fxe6 $6 {
In this position, the exchange of pawns does not achieve much, because Black
is controlling both the h5- and the c4-squares. In dieser Stellung bringt der
Bauerntausch eher wenig, weil Schwarz das Feld h5 sowie auch das Feld c4
kontrolliert.} fxe6 11. Be2 Nc6 12. Nb3 (12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bh5+ Ke7 14. Qf3 Bh6
$15) 12... Qe3 $15 {And White is forced to exchange queens. Und Weiß ist
gezwungen, die Damen zu tauschen.}) 10... Nc6 11. Nb3 $1 {The only move, or
else Black will get some counterplay. Der einzige Zug, ansonsten kommt Schwarz
zu Gegenspiel.} (11. O-O-O $2 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Bd7 $15 {Black is
simply better, thanks to his control of the dark squares. Dank der Kontrolle
der schwarzen Felder steht Schwarz einfach besser.}) (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O-O
Rb8 $15) 11... Qe5 12. O-O-O exf5 $6 {This looks suspect. Black opens up the
position with his king in the centre and at the same time offers a whole range
of squares to the white knights. Instead of this, Black should try to
stabilise the position. Das sieht verdächtig aus. Schwarz öffnet die Stellung
mit dem König im Zentrum und bietet gleichzeitig den weißen Springern eine
Menge Felder an. Stattdessen sollte Schwarz versuchen, die Stellung zu
stabilisieren.} (12... Bd7 13. Kb1 (13. Nd2 b5 (13... Bh6 14. Kb1 Bxd2 $2 15.
Qxd2 Ke7 16. Be2 h5 17. Qe3 $1 $14 {The threat is 18.Nd5! exd5 19.Rxd5 winning
the queen. At the same time,White wants to double rooks on the d-file. Black
is simply badly placed.  Es droht 18.Nd5! exd5 19.Rxd5 mit Damengewinn,
gleichzeitig will Weiß seine Türme auf der d-Linie verdoppeln. Schwarz steht
einfach schlecht.}) 14. Nf3 Qc5 15. Kb1 (15. e5 $2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 $15 {
Obviously White does not have enough for the sacrificed pawn. Weiß hat
offensichtlich nicht genug für den geopferten Bauern.}) 15... h5 $132) (13.
fxe6 fxe6 14. Kb1 b5 (14... O-O-O 15. Nd2 Qc5 16. Na4 Qf2 17. Nc4 Kb8 18. Nab6
$36) 15. Be2 h5 $132) 13... b5 (13... O-O-O 14. Nd2 Qc5 15. Na4 Qd4 16. Qxd4
Nxd4 17. Nb6+ Kc7) 14. Be2 (14. a3 $6 {Gives Black something to attack on the
queenside. Gibt Schwarz ein Angriffsziel am Damenflügel.} Rb8 $132) 14... h5 {
It turns out that b4 is hardly a threat. Es stellt sich heraus, dass b4 gar
keine Drohung ist.} (14... b4 15. Na4 Rb8 16. Qxa6 $18) 15. Bf3 Rc8 $13 {
I think this would have been exactly the correct position for Black - there is
no forcing line, the position is unclear, both sides have roughly equal
chances. Ich denke, das wäre genau die richtige Stellung für Schwarz gewesen -
es gibt kein forciertes Spiel, die Stellung ist unklar, beide Seiten haben
ungefähr gleiche Chancen.}) 13. Qe3 $1 {Very strong! White makes the d-file
available for his rook. The obvious move 13.Nd5 leads to unwanted
complications: Sehr stark! Weiß macht die d-Linie für den Turm frei. Der
offensichtliche Zug 13.Nd5 führt zu unerwünschten Komplikationen:} (13. Nd5
fxe4 (13... Bh6+ 14. Kb1 Kf8 15. Nb6 fxe4 16. Qxd6+ Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Rb8 18. Bxa6
Ke7 19. Rxc6 bxc6 20. Nxc8+ Rbxc8 21. Bxc8 Rxc8 22. Nd4 $14) 14. Qxe4 $1 Be6 (
14... Qxe4 15. Nxf6+ Ke7 16. Nxe4 Bg4 17. Re1 Be6 18. Kb1 $11) 15. Nc7+ Ke7 $3
(15... Kd7 16. Nxa8 $3 Bh6+ (16... Qxe4 17. Nc5+ Ke7 18. Nxe4 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Rxa8
20. Nc3 $16) 17. Kb1 Rxa8 18. Qxh7 $16) 16. Qxe5 fxe5 17. Nxa8 Bh6+ 18. Kb1
Rxa8 $44 {Of course Anand did not want to go into anything like this. Auf so
etwas wollte sich Anand natürlich nicht einlassen.}) 13... Bg7 {Anything else
is much worse: Alles andere ist viel schlechter:} (13... h5 14. Kb1 Bh6 15. Qf2
fxe4 16. Nxe4 $1 $16) (13... fxe4 14. Rd5 Qe6 (14... Qe7 15. Nxe4 $16) 15. Nd4
Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Bd7 17. Bc4 $16) 14. Rd5 Qe7 (14... Qe6 15. Rxf5 $16) 15. Qg3 Rg8
(15... O-O 16. exf5 Re8 17. Bd3 Nb4 18. Rd4 Nxd3+ 19. Qxd3 Qe3+ 20. Qxe3 Rxe3
21. Nd5 Re5 22. Nb6 Rb8 23. g4 $18) 16. Qf4 $1 (16. Qh4 fxe4 17. Qxh7 Kf8 18.
Qxe4 f5 19. Qxe7+ Kxe7 20. Rd1 Be6 21. Nd5+ Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Be5 $132) (16. Qxd6
$2 fxe4 17. Qxe7+ Nxe7 18. Rh5 f5 19. Rxh7 Be6 $15) 16... fxe4 {16....Be6
would be better, in order to set a more difficult task for his opponent.
Besser wäre 16....Be6, um den Gegner vor eine schwierigere Aufgabe zu stellen.}
(16... Be6 $1 17. Rd1 (17. Rxd6 $2 Bh6 18. Qxh6 Qxd6 19. Qxf6 Rd8 $17) (17.
exf5 $4 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 Qe1#) (17. Bd3 fxe4 18. Bxe4 f5 $1 19. Rxf5 (19. Bxf5
Bxc3 20. Bxe6 fxe6 $19) 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qg5+ $19) 17... fxe4
18. Nxe4 Kf8 19. Nxd6 Bg4 $1 20. Bc4 $1 (20. Qxg4 $4 Bh6+ $19) 20... Bxd1 21.
Rxd1 Qe5 22. Qxe5 Nxe5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Nxb7 (24. Bxb7 Bh6+ 25. Kb1 Rd8 $15)
24... Bh6+ 25. Kb1 Ng4 $132) 17. Nxe4 f5 $2 {This is the decisive error! Black
had to play 17....Be6, to bring the game to the position which might have
arisen after 16....Be6 17.Rd1 fxe4. Das ist der entscheidende Fehlgriff!
Schwarz hätte 17....Be6 spielen müssen, um die Partie zu der Stellung zu
führen, die nach 16....Be6 17.Rd1 fxe4 hätte entstehen können.} (17... Be6 $5
18. Nxd6+ (18. Rxd6 f5 $17) 18... Kf8 19. Rd1 {->16....Be6. ->16....Be6.}) 18.
Nxd6+ Kf8 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. Kb1 $1 {Now it is all over - Black can do no more.
Jetzt ist es vorbei - Schwarz kann nichts mehr machen.} (20. Bd3 Nb4 21. Qxf5
Rc7 $15) 20... Qe1+ (20... Nb4 $2 21. Rxf5 Qe1+ 22. Nc1 $18) 21. Nc1 Ne7 22.
Qd2 {The exchange of queens is forced. Der Damentausch ist erzwungen.} Qxd2 (
22... Qe6 $4 23. Rd8+ Rxd8 24. Qxd8#) 23. Rxd2 Bh6 24. Rf2 Be3 {Black can only
be worse. It was clear that he could no longer win the game and so Kramnik
offered a draw in this position. Schwarz kann nur schlechter stehen. Es war
klar, dass die Partie nicht mehr zu gewinnen war, deswegen bot Kramnik in
dieser Stellung Remis an.} 1/2-1/2

